System and method for biometric signature authorization

• US 10,068,234 B1
• Filed: 03/22/2016
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Open Invention Network LLC
• Inventors: Robinson, Timothy L., Schildt, Bradford R., Goff, Tennille V., Corwin, Daniel J., Watson, Timothy Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): Coppola, Jacob C
• Application Number:
  US15/077,216
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3821 Electronic credentials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 involving digital signatures

Abstract

A system and method of obtaining and storing a signed agreement authorizing the use of a user'"'"'s biometric data for the purpose of offering legal consent to agreements and transactions with one or more operators. The present invention imparts a process by which merchants and other service providers can access a verifying agreement indicating a user'"'"'s intent to submit biometric data as a substitute for a written signature and the user'"'"'s consent to abide by the terms and conditions of any agreements entered into by the submission of biometric data.

Claims

1. A method for authorizing and validating submission of biometric data as a substitute for a written signature, comprising:

utilizing a processing device connected via the Internet to a first authorization station device and a second authorization station device to;

receive, at the processing device via the first authorization station device, an electronic document including a handwritten signature of a user and user biometric data, the electronic document being as a legally binding statement that authorizes a substitution of the user biometric data for a handwritten signature for a purpose of a consent to a transaction;

embed, at the processing device, a digital watermark in the user biometric data;

append, at the processing device, the electronic document with the user biometric data containing the embedded digital watermark;

store the appended electronic document at the processing device, wherein storing the appended electronic document makes it accessible via the processing device;

receive, at the processing device via the second authorization station device, user biometric data from the user as an electronic indication of consent to a proposed transaction between the user and an operator of the second authorization station device;

receive, at the processing device via the second authorization station device, operator biometric data presented by the operator and an electronic request from the operator for a secondary user consent to the proposed transaction, the secondary user consent being the stored appended electronic document; and

grant, at the processing device via the second authorization station device and based on a successful authentication of the operator biometric data presented by the operator, the operator access to the stored appended electronic document.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the first authorization station device and second authorization device is operably connected to the processing device via the Internet via a wireless network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the operator is an employee of a business, and the stored appended electronic document binds the business to the proposed transaction.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a request for a secondary user consent to the proposed transaction includes an evaluation of a transaction type including one or more of a financial transaction, a rental agreement, a leasing agreement, a mortgage loan, a living will, and a power of attorney.

5. A method for authorizing and validating submission of biometric data as a substitute for a written signature, comprising:

utilizing a processing device connected via the Internet to a first authorization station device and a second authorization station device to;

receive, at the processing device via the first authorization station device, an electronic document including a handwritten signature of a user and user biometric data, the electronic document being as a legally binding statement that authorizes a substitution of the user biometric data for a handwritten signature for a purpose of a consent to a transaction;

embed, at the processing device, a digital watermark in the user biometric data;

append, at the processing device, the electronic document with the user biometric data containing the embedded digital watermark;

store the appended electronic document by the processing device in a data store, wherein storing the appended electronic document makes it accessible via the processing device;

receive, at a processing device via a second authorization station device, user biometric data presented by the user presented to authorize a proposed transaction between the user and an operator of the second authorization station device;

receive, at the processing device via the second authorization station device, operator biometric data presented by the operator and an electronic instruction to retrieve the stored electronic document;

retrieve, at the processing device and based on a successful authentication of the operator biometric data presented by the operator, the stored appended electronic document from the data store; and

transmit, from the processing device to the second authorization station device, the stored appended electronic document, wherein the stored appended electronic document verifies that receipt of the user biometric data indicates legal user consent to the proposed transaction.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein one or more of the first authorization station device and the second authorization device is operably connected to the processing device via the Internet via a wireless network.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the user initiates the electronic instruction to retrieve the electronic document.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the user initiation is indicated after terms of the proposed transaction have been made available for review to the user.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the user initiation is indicated via provision of user biometric data after terms of the proposed transaction have been made available for review to the user.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the electronic instruction to retrieve the electronic document is indicated by notice when the operator conducts the proposed transaction to the user.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein the operator is an employee of a business, and the electronic document binds the business to the proposed transaction.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein the electronic document designates one or more of an operator.

13. The method of claim 5, wherein the processing device receives from the user additional identity verification information.

14. The method of claim 5, wherein the processing device issues to the user a receipt that acknowledges the authorization of the substitution of the user biometric data as a substitute for the user'"'"'s handwritten signature for the proposed transaction.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the receipt contains one or more of a term and a condition of the authorization.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the receipt includes a method of revocation of the authorization.

17. The method of claim 5, wherein receiving the electronic instruction to retrieve the electronic document includes an evaluation of a transaction type including one or more of a financial transaction, a rental agreement, a leasing agreement, a mortgage loan, a living will, and a power of attorney.

18. A method for authorizing and validating submission of biometric data as a substitute for a written signature, comprising:

utilizing a processing device connected via the Internet to a first authorization station device and a second authorization station device to;

receive, at the processing device via the first authorization station device, an electronic document including a handwritten signature of a user and user biometric data, the electronic document being as a legally binding statement that authorizes a substitution of the user biometric data for a handwritten signature for a purpose of a consent to a transaction;

embed, at the processing device, a digital watermark in the user biometric data;

append, at the processing device, the electronic document with the user biometric data containing the embedded digital watermark;

store the appended electronic document by the processing device in a data store, wherein storing the appended electronic document makes it accessible via the processing device;

receive, at a processing device via a second authorization station device, user biometric data from a user presented to authorize a proposed transaction between the user and an operator of the second authorization station device;

receive, at the processing device via the second authorization station device, operator biometric data presented by the operator and an electronic instruction to retrieve the stored appended electronic document;

retrieve, at the processing device and based on a successful authentication of the operator biometric data presented by the operator, the stored appended electronic document from the data store; and

transmit, from the processing device to the second authorization station device, the stored appended electronic document, wherein the stored appended electronic document verifies that receipt of the user biometric data indicates legal user consent to the proposed transaction.