Portable electronic authorization system and method

• US 20020099665A1
• Filed: 10/01/2001
• Published: 07/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kioba Processing, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Chameleon Network Incorporated
• Inventors: Cohen, Robert M., Burger, Todd O.
• Granted Patent: US 7,080,037 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/67
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3576 Multiple memory zones on card
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0264 based upon schedule
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0886 the card reader being portable for interacting with a POS or ECR in realizing a payment transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

In one embodiment, an electronic device is used to authenticate an identity of a user to determine that the user is permitted to access restricted information on a server. In response to the electronic device authenticating the identity of the user, a software module on a computer operated by the user is permitted to access the restricted information. In another embodiment, an electronic device is used to authenticate an identity of a user. In response to the electronic device authenticating the identity of the user, the settings on a computer are altered to correspond to settings on the electronic device.

Claims

1. A method for enabling a software module on a computer operated by a user to access restricted information on a server, comprising steps of:

(A) with an electronic device distinct from the computer, authenticating an identity of the user to determine that the user is permitted to access the restricted information on the server; and

(B) in response to the electronic device authenticating the identity of the user operating the computer, enabling the software module on the computer to access the restricted information on the server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (A) comprises comparing, with the electronic device, a measured bio-metric parameter of the user with a stored bio-metric parameter of the user.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of:

(C) accessing, with the software module on the computer, the restricted information on the server.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising a step of:

(D) establishing a connection between the electronic device and the server.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step (D) includes establishing the connection via a driver in the computer.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising steps of:

(D) in response to input to the computer by the user, altering settings stored on the server; and

(E) transmitting a signal from the server to the electronic device via the connection, the signal causing the settings on the electronic device to be changed to correspond to the altered settings stored on the server.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of:

(C) transmitting a signal from the computer to the server, which signal indicates that the electronic device has authenticated the identity of the user of the computer and determined that the user is permitted to access the restricted information on the server.

8. A method for altering settings on a computer to correspond to settings on an electronic device distinct from the computer, comprising steps of:

(A) with the electronic device, authenticating an identity of a user to determine that the user is authorized to use the electronic device; and

(B) in response to authenticating the identity of the user to determine that the user is authorized to use the electronic device, altering the settings on the computer to correspond to settings on the electronic device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising a step of:

(C) with the computer, accessing a server based upon the settings on the computer.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising a step of:

(D) establishing a connection between the electronic device and the server.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step (D) includes establishing the connection via a driver in the computer.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step (B) includes, using the driver to update the settings on the computer.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising steps of:

(E) altering the settings on the computer in response to user input to the computer; and

(F) transferring at least some of the altered settings on the computer to the electronic device when the connection is de-established.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising a step of:

(E) restoring the settings on the computer to their original state when the connection is de-established.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the step (A) comprises comparing, with the electronic device, a measured bio-metric parameter of the user with a stored bio-metric parameter of the user.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the settings comprise at least one of a bookmark list, a web site cookie, an encoding of a user password, and personal user data.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the user authenticator includes a bio-metric authenticator.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

means for accessing, with the software module on the computer, the restricted information on the server.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

means for establishing a connection between the electronic device and the server.

21. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

means for, in response to input to the computer by the user, altering settings stored on the server; and

means for transmitting a signal from the server to the electronic device via the connection, the signal causing the settings on the electronic device to be changed to correspond to the altered settings stored on the server.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

means for transmitting a signal from the computer to the server, which signal indicates that the electronic device has authenticated the identity of the user of the computer and determined that the user is permitted to access the restricted information on the server.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising:

means for accessing a server with the computer based upon the settings on the computer.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising:

means for establishing a connection between the electronic device and the server.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

means for altering the settings on the computer in response to user input to the computer; and

means for transferring at least some of the altered settings on the computer to the electronic device when the connection is de-established.

27. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

means for restoring the settings on the computer to their original state when the connection is de-established.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein the user authenticator includes a bio-metric authenticator.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein the settings comprise at least one of a bookmark list, a web site cookie, an encoding of a user password, and personal user data.

17. A system for enabling a software module on a computer operated by a user to access restricted information on a server, comprising:

an electronic device distinct from the computer, the electronic device including a user-authenticator to authenticate an identity of the user to determine that the user is permitted to access the restricted information on the server; and

means for, in response to the electronic device authenticating the identity of the user operating the computer, enabling the software module on the computer to access the restricted information on the server.

23. A system for altering settings on a computer to correspond to settings on an electronic device distinct from the computer, comprising:

a user authenticator included in the electronic device to authenticate an identity of a user to determine that the user is authorized to use the electronic device; and

means for, in response to authenticating the identity of the user to determine that the user is authorized to use the electronic device, altering the settings on the computer to correspond to settings on the electronic device.