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Abstract

A method of offline personal authentication in a multi-terminal system uses a secret user PIN, a secret key and other nonsecret data stored on a customer memory card and a nonsecret validation value stored in each terminal connected in a network. The technique of 'tree authentication' is used which employs an authentication tree with an authentication tree function comprising a one-way function. An authentication parameter is calculated as a function of a personal key and a user identifier read from the user's card and the PIN entered by the user. The calculated authentication parameter is mapped to a verification value using the one-way function to the root of the authentication tree. The verification value obtained by mapping the calculated authentication parameter is then compared with a global verification value stored at the terminal. If the comparison is favorable, the system is enabled for the user; otherwise, the user is rejected.

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First Claim