1.  Function:

A Binder Card represents an passport check and customs officer in one.  It can completely identify its “owner”.  It is completely useless for other persons.

It is capable of sensibly processing information (user data, driving information or similar) input by a random technical unit or “device” (auto, airplane, cash vendor…) and thus together with the identification information to grant, deny or later revoke single or multistage approval for certain operations of the related facility.  It continuously monitors the status using information input (e.g. driving speed, flight altitude, or similar).  Using this information (and/or randomly) additional checks are initiated in continuous operation.  These originate from the card alone and not from the respective technical unit.

The card is capable of giving information about the technical unit to the user visually or acoustically.  It can also take and evaluate information of the user.  The device is always the medium, and (almost) never the starting point or destination of information.

An exception is formed, e.g. by the simulation program of the prototype that permits emergency operation under restricted conditions (e.g. speed).  Similar exceptions will happen in almost all applications.  Information recorded in running operation and still being required (e.g. driving and resting time) shall remain stored on the Binder Card.  Since it has its own real time clock it cannot be misled by related misinformation from outside.

All information stored for the use of the card (hence PIN, voice sample, fingerprint or iris scan) remain in the card.  No central registry is required (data protection!).

2.  Hardware:

The Binder Card prototype consists of 3 modules:

Control Unit, Voice Recognition, Fingerprint Scanner.

Further developments and other designs may also contain other systems to record biometric data.  The fact that the prototype has a finger sensor has purely processing technological reasons and is not definitely required.  Where the sensor is located is not important, but moreover where the biometric data are stored and compared.

A sensor on the card is probably still safer against manipulation.  The current identification modules are standard types for general (experimental) uses.  Modules especially adapted to the Binder Card  (use adapting is offered by producers throughout, but of course from “xyz numbers”) can be matched better to the task and be significantly smaller.

Presently the control unit is a 386 micro PC that enhanced development.  A smaller solution is also here feasible (not only function and price but also mechanically) so that a card size of about 54 x 85 x 6 mm (check card format) could be expected.

The device includes a box in which the Binder Card is inserted.  The box is  n o t  intelligent, i.e. it can only recognise that a Binder Card has been inserted, supply its power and make connection to the PC (…and at least with the prototype operate a few LEDs by the card).  Currently the box gets power from a mains power supply, but in reality surely from the device.