Biometric access control and time and attendance network including configurable system-on-chip (CSOC) processors with embedded programmable logic

• US 20020133725A1
• Filed: 03/14/2002
• Published: 09/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Profile Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Paladin Electronic Services Incorporated
• Inventors: Sadlon, John C., Roy, Ronald B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,424,618 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/12 Fingerprints or palmprints
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/10 together with the recording, indicating or registering of other data, e.g. of signs of identity
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition

Abstract

A biometric access control and time and attendance system comprises an integrated network including one or more remote access devices in electronic communication with a computer database. Each remote access device comprises a silicon chip based system and preferably includes a biometric input device, a liquid crystal display (LCD), computer processing capabilities based on embedded system architecture with configurable system-on-chip (CSOC) technology, and an electrical output for controlling a door lock or the like. The use of CSOC architecture in lieu of conventional personal computer technology (e.g. mother boards, hard drives, video controllers and the like) allows for a more compact and cost efficient design. A plurality of remote access devices is configured for communication with a primary computer database wherein data corresponding to biometric samples for all authorized users is stored. In an embodiment wherein the biometric input devices comprise fingerprint scanners, the devices are configured to facilitate fingerprint identification by incorporating an auto-targeting capability that enables the user to simply place his or her finger on the fingerprint scanner whereafter the system adjusts the scanned image by automatically shifting the scanned image data to a properly targeted position thereby enabling the system compare the scanned print to the biometric samples in the system'"'"'s data storage memory. Auto-targeting capability eliminates the requirement for manual targeting present in systems of the background art thereby improving system performance and minimizing reliance on human interaction. The present invention contemplates the use of auto-targeting with other biometric systems, such as facial recognition and/or retinal scanning systems, or any other biometric identification technology.

Claims

1. A biometric access control and time and attendance system comprising:

a computer server including a data storage means for storing digital data in a database, said digital data including biometric identification and authorization data corresponding to a plurality of users;

at least one remote biometric input device in electronic communication with said computer database;

said at least one remote biometric input device including means for obtaining a digital biometric sample from a user, computer processor means for analyzing said digital biometric sample and generating a biometric identification model from said sample, a data storage means for storing data corresponding to said biometric identification model, and data output means for transmitting said biometric identification model to said computer server;

said computer server including verification means for determining whether said biometric identification sample matches a biometric identification sample of a user;

said computer server including authorization means for determining whether a verified user is authorized for system access.

2. A biometric access control and time and attendance system according to claim 1, wherein said computer processor means comprises a configurable system-on-chip embedded system.

3. A biometric access control and time and attendance system according to claim 1, wherein said biometric input device comprises a fingerprint scanner.

4. A biometric access control and time and attendance system according to claim 3, wherein said means for obtaining a digital biometric sample from a user includes auto-targeting means for positional adjustment of said digital biometric sample by automatically shifting said digital biometric sample to a centered position whereby said digital biometric sample may be compared with other digital biometric samples.

5. A biometric access control and time and attendance system comprising:

a biometric station including an embedded computer processing system having a configurable system-on-chip computer processor, data storage means for storing digital data in a database, said digital data including biometric sample data and authorization data corresponding to a plurality of users;

at least one biometric input device in electronic communication with said embedded computer processing system, said biometric input device including scanner means for obtaining a digital biometric sample from a user, said digital biometric sample having a center portion;

auto-targeting means for identifying said center portion of a scanned digital biometric sample and causing positional adjustment of said digital biometric sample such that said center portion is centrally positioned within a scanning field by automatically shifting said digital biometric sample to a centered position within said field;

digital analysis means for analyzing said digital biometric sample and generating a biometric identification model from said sample;

digital comparison means for comparing said digital biometric identification model with a plurality of previously stored digital biometric models corresponding to authorized users;

verification means for determining whether said biometric identification model matches a biometric identification model of a user by comparing said biometric identification model to a plurality of biometric identification models stored in said database;

authorization means for determining whether a verified user is authorized for time and attendance participation or for access to a restricted space;

data logging means for recording user identification, date, time, and remote biometric input device identification;

output means for activating an entry point relay circuit for a predetermined time period thereby enabling access to a restricted space.

6. A biometric access control and time and attendance system according to claim 5, wherein said biometric input device is a fingerprint scanner.

7. A biometric access control and time and attendance system according to claim 5, wherein said biometric input device is a retinal scanner.

8. A biometric access control and time and attendance system according to claim 5 wherein said biometric input device is a facial scanner.

9. A method of biometric access control and time and attendance, said method comprising:

providing at least one biometric station including an embedded computer processing system having a configurable system-on-chip computer processor, data storage means for storing digital data in a database, said digital data including biometric sample data and authorization data corresponding to a plurality of users;

providing at least one biometric input device in electronic communication with said embedded computer processing system, said biometric input device including scanner means for obtaining a digital biometric sample from a user, said digital biometric sample having a center portion;

obtaining digital biometric record samples from a plurality of authorized users and generating digital biometric record models corresponding to said record samples and storing said digital biometric record models in said database;

obtaining a current digital biometric sample from a user at one of said at least one biometric stations and adjusting said digital biometric sample using auto-targeting means for identifying the center portion of a scanned digital biometric sample and causing positional adjustment of said digital biometric sample such that said center portion is centrally positioned within a scanning field by automatically shifting said digital biometric sample to a centered position within said field;

generating a digital biometric identification model from said positionally adjusted digital biometric sample;

comparing said current digital biometric identification model with a plurality of previously stored digital biometric record models corresponding to authorized users;

verifying whether said current biometric identification model matches a stored biometric record model of a user by comparing said biometric identification model to a plurality of biometric record models stored in said database;

determining whether a verified user is authorized for time and attendance participation or for access to a restricted space;

recording user identification, date, time, and remote biometric input device identification;

activating an entry point relay circuit for a predetermined time period thereby enabling access to a restricted space.