System and method for validating the identity of a camera used in secure access applications employing biometrics

In a system for validating the identity of a camera used in a secure access application employing biometrics and attached to a workstation, wherein said camera has a detector, a micro controller and a camera casing, wherein the system comprises:

• a. an authorized user for gaining secure access;
• b. a central authority for recording the identity of said camera;
• c. a first identification means for identifying the camera;
• d. a second identification means for identifying the micro controller;
• a method for authenticating the identity of the camera attached to the workstation comprising the following steps:
• i. assigning a visible first identification means to a camera casing;
• ii. recording said first visible identification means in the micro controller;
• iii. assigning a second invisible identification means to a micro controller;
• iv. recording said second identification number in the micro controller;
• v. issuance by the central authority of an identified camera to an identified authorized user;
• vi. recordance by the central authority of the name of the authorized user against the first identification means and the identification and location of the workstation;
• vii. biometric enrolment of the authorized person into the secure access system;
• viii. connection by the authorized user of the issued camera to the identified workstation;
• and,
• ix. initializing the camera by an initialization method.

In a system for validating the identity of a camera used in a secure access application employing biometrics and attached to a workstation, wherein said camera has an image detector, a micro controller and a camera casing and wherein said workstation includes a microprocessor and memory, wherein the system comprises:

• a. an authorized person for gaining secure access;
• b. a central authority for recording the identity of the authorized person against the identity of the camera;
• c. a first identification means for identifying the camera;
• d. a second identification means for identifying the micro controller;
• e. means for authenticating the identity of the camera attached to the workstation;
• and,
• a method for preventing the compromising of the first and second identification means comprising the following steps:
• i. workstation requests first and second identification numbers from the micro controller;
• ii. camera issues a challenge to the workstation;
• iii. workstation responds to micro controller challenge;
• iv. micro controller recognizes response as invalid;
• v. micro controller starts timer to run for a predetermined time;
• vi. micro controller generates false responses during predetermine time.

In a system for validating the identity of a camera used in a secure access application employing biometrics and attached to a workstation, wherein said camera has an image detector, a micro controller and a camera casing and wherein said workstation includes a microprocessor and memory, wherein the system comprises:

• a. an authorized person for gaining secure access;
• b. a central authority for recording the identity of the authorized person against the identity of the camera;
• c. a first identification number for identifying the camera;
• d. a second identification number for identifying the micro controller;
• e. means for authenticating the identity of the camera attached to the workstation;
• and,
• f. means to prevent the compromising of the first and second numbers means wherein said means comprises a timer embedded in the camera driver software installed on the workstation;
• a method for preventing the compromising of the first and second identification means comprising the following steps:
• i. request secure access to workstation;
• ii. workstation issues challenge to micro controller;
• iii. micro controller recognizes challenge as valid;
• iv. micro controller issues an invalid response to the workstation;
• v. workstation recognizes the response as invalid;
• vi. camera driver software starts a timer to run for a predetermined time during which responses to challenges are faked.

A system for validating the identity of a camera used in a secure access application employing biometrics and attached to a workstation, wherein said camera has an image detector, a micro controller and a camera casing and wherein said workstation includes a microprocessor and memory, and wherein the workstation is attached to a remote server;

• the system comprising:
• a. an authorized person for gaining secure access;
• b. a central authority for recording the identity of the authorized person against the identity of the camera;
• c. a first identification means for identifying the camera;
• d. a second identification means for identifying the micro controller;
• e. means for authenticating the identity of the camera attached to the server;
• and,
• f. means for encryption of transmissions between the workstation and server.

The system as claimed in claim 22 wherein the second layer of encryption encrypts the following data between the workstation and the server:

• a. first layer encrypted first identification number;
• b. first layer encrypted second identification number;
• c. challenge issued by the micro controller;
• and,
• d. biometric data.