Mobile Presentable Certificate (MPC)

Abstract

The present invention teaches systems and methods for validating a user's identity to a validating agent. The system includes a verifiable digital certificate (MPCs—Mobile Presentable Certificates) issued by a certifying authority to a user. The digital certificate is validated by a user device, configured to store and transmit the digital certificate, and an agent device, configured to receive the digital certificate from the user device. Preferably, the devices have a graphical display. MPCs can be transmitted by various communication methods. Verification of MPCs can be performed via a remote certifying authority. MPCs include: a driver's license, a customer discount card, a membership card, a competition-ranking status, and a venue admission ticket. Optionally, MPCs include quadrants which conform to an MPC standard. The method includes issuing an MPC to the user; and transmitting the MPC from a user device to an agent device of the validating agent.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a simplified schematic diagram of an MPC system, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a simplified schematic diagram of the general layout of a CVR, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A shows a driver's license CVR, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3B shows a customer card CVR for a large consumer chain, according to a preferred embodiment the present invention;

FIG. 3C shows an electronic medal CVR, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3D shows a theater ticket CVR, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A system for validating a user's identity to a validating agent, the system comprising: (a) a verifiable digital certificate issued by a certifying authority to a user;(b) a user device configured to store and transmit said digital certificate; and(c) an agent device configured to receive said digital certificate from said user device for validating said digital certificate.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one said device is a mobile phone.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said user device is configured to store a plurality of said digital certificates and to transmit any of said plurality of digital certificates to said agent device, as selected by said user.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said devices is configured to display said digital certificate.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said devices is configured to scroll, zoom, and unzoom a display image of said digital certificate.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein each said at least one device is configured to display a display image, of said digital certificate, that has a segmentation of at least two sub-areas, each of said at least two sub-areas containing information regarding said digital certificate.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said segmentation includes four segments.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein each of said four segments has a different size, and is positioned at an edge of said display image.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said four segments are four quadrants defined by a horizontal separator on said display image perpendicular to a vertical separator on said display image.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein at least one of said devices is configured to selectively scroll, zoom, and unzoom each of said four quadrants to substantially fill a display screen of said at least one device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said digital certificate includes an encrypted file.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said agent device includes an authentication mechanism for authenticating said digital certificate.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said authentication mechanism is configured: (a) to transmit a verification request from said agent device to said certifying authority, wherein said verification request includes at least one digital certificate credential; and(b) to receive a verification response from said certifying authority to said agent device, wherein said verification response indicates whether said digital certificate is authentic.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said at least one digital certificate credential is selected from the group consisting of: a mobile phone number, a mobile phone serial number, a mobile phone SIM card number, a UFD serial number, an MP3 player serial number, a notebook computer serial number, a digital certificate identification number, and a password.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said user device is configured to transmit said digital certificate using a wireless communication method selected from the group consisting of: IR communication, WiFi communication, and Bluetooth® communication.

16. A method for validating a user's identity to a validating agent, the method comprising the steps of: (a) issuing a digital certificate to the user; and(b) transmitting said digital certificate from a user device to an agent device of the validating agent.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said digital certificate includes a driver's license.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said digital certificate includes a customer discount card.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said digital certificate includes a membership card.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein said digital certificate includes a competition-ranking status.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein said digital certificate includes a venue admission ticket.

22. The method of claim 16, the method further comprising the step of: (c) verifying said at least one user credential, by a certifying authority.