Positive identification system and method

• US 20020138351A1
• Filed: 05/24/2002
• Published: 09/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1995
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Image Data Corporation
• Original Assignee: Image Data Corporation
• Inventors: Houvener, Robert C., Hoenisch, Ian P.
• Application Number:
  US10/154,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20020138351A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network 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 20/347 Passive cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/389 Keeping log of transactions for guaranteeing non-repudiation of a transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/23 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/253 visually
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0833 Card having specific functional components
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/10 together with a coded signal , e.g. in the form of personal identification information, like personal identification number [PIN] or biometric data
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1075 : PIN is checked remotely

Abstract

The present invention is a system and method of positively identifying individuals. The system comprises a point of identity verification terminal having a means for inputting data presented by a particular individual, at least one database storage and retrieval site having stored therein a plurality of corroborating identifying information unique to persons to be identified, and a means for exchanging data between the point of verification terminal and the database site. The database site comprises a means for validating that a point of verification terminal seeking to exchange data with the site is authorized to do so. At the database site, the system receives the information presented at the point of verification terminal and searches the database to find the unique corroborating identifying data corresponding to the unique input data. The system then transmits the corroborating data to the point of verification terminal where it is displayed on a display means. Finally, the system incorporates a means for verifying that an identifier present at the point of verification has adequately verified that the corroborating identifying data displayed on the display means matches physical information or other verified criteria provided by the person to be identified at the point of verification terminal.

Claims

1. A positive identity verification system comprising:

a point of verification terminal having a means for accepting identification information presented by a person to be positively identified at a point of verification and a means for displaying corroborating identifying information about a person;

at least one remote database site having stored therein a database comprising a plurality of records of corroborating identifying information about a person, each such record of corroborating identifying information accessible in response to corresponding identification information accepted from a properly corresponding person to be positively identified at said point of verification terminal;

a means of communicating between said point of identification terminal and said remote database to interchange information data between the two;

a means for verifying that said point of verification terminal is authorized to access said remote database site; and

a means for verifying that an identifier present at the point of verification terminal has compared the corroborating identifying information about a person retrieved from said database and displayed on the display means with at least one physical characteristic of said person being identified at the point of verification terminal.

2. The positive identity verification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for accepting identification information presented by a person to be positively identified at said point of verification terminal includes at least one device selected from the group consisting of:

a keypad;

a check scanner;

a bar code reader;

a magnetic stripe reader;

a CCD imager;

a microphone;

a video camera;

a signature pad;

a retinal scanner;

a signature digitizer;

a hand geometry reader; and

a fingerprint reader.

3. The positive identity verification system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means of communicating between said point of identification terminal and said remote database to interchange information data between the two is selected from the group consisting of:

a Wide Area Network (WAN) both public, such as the internet, as well as a private or dedicated network;

Local Area Network (LAN);

wireless;

a modem connection to a telephone line;

a high speed telephone line;

an ISDN line;

a DSL line;

a T1 or other digital line;

;

computer comport;

Infrared;

Laser;

Radio; and

Microwave communications mechanisms.

4. The positive identity verification system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for verifying that said point of verification terminal is authorized to access said remote database site is selected from the group consisting of:

standard caller identification information;

a software token;

a hardware token;

a hardware identification code;

a software key, a smart card;

a user'"'"'s fingerprint scan;

a user'"'"'s retinal scan;

a user'"'"'s voice scan; and

a user PIN (personal identification number);

login identification and or password entered into to said point of verification terminal.

5. The positive identity verification system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for verifying that an identifier present at the point of verification terminal has compared the corroborating identifying information about a person displayed on the display means with said at least one physical characteristic of said person being identified at the point of verification terminal includes at least one device selected from the group consisting of:

a computer;

a keypad;

an accept key;

a decline key;

an alphanumeric keyboard;

a touch screen;

a signature digitizer;

a bar code reader;

a mouse or similar pointing device;

a display screen such as a CRT or LCD flat panel;

a “

yes”

key;

a “

no”

key;

an “

accept”

key;

a “

decline”

key;

a “

match”

key;

a “

no match”

key; and

an “

allow to proceed”

key.

6. The positive identity verification system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said corroborating identifying information about a person includes a digital photographic image.

7. The positive identity verification system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said corroborating identifying information about a person includes a fingerprint scan;

a retinal scan;

a voice scan;

a hand geometry scan; and

a facial image scan.

8. A positive identity verification system for use in verifying that a presenter of a credit card, check, boarding pass, or other input indicia is an authorized user of said credit card or other input indicia, comprising:

a point of verification terminal having a means for accepting information presented by a person to be positively identified at said point of verification, said information associated with a credit card account;

at least one remote database site having stored therein a database comprising a plurality of records of corroborating identifying information about a person, each such record of corroborating identifying information accessible in response to said information accepted from a properly corresponding person to be positively identified at said point of verification terminal, said properly corresponding person properly associated with at least one credit card account or other input indicia and corresponding to at least one authorized user of said credit card or other input indicia.;

a means for communicating between the point of verification terminal and the remote database site;

a means for verifying that said point of verification terminal is authorized to access said corroborating identifying information stored at said remote database site;

a means for transmitting said account or other input indicia information to said remote database site;

a means for retrieving said one or more of corroborating identifying information associated with said credit card account or other input indicia;

a means for displaying at least one corroborating identifying information at said point of verification terminal; and

a means for inputting information at the point of verification terminal to indicate that an identifier at the point of verification terminal has visually verified that said at least one corroborating identifying information displayed on the display means matches a physical characteristic of the presenter of the credit card or other input indicia for use.

9. The positive identity verification system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said corroborating identifying information includes a digital photographic image.

10. The positive identity verification system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said means for accepting said credit card account or other input indicia information is a magnetic strip reader for reading a standard magnetic strip associated with a credit card or other input indicia., said strip containing said credit card account or other input indicia information.

11. The positive identity verification system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said means for accepting said credit card account or other input indicia information is a bar code reader for reading a bar code associated with a credit card or other input indicia, said bar code containing said credit card account or other input indicia information.

12. The positive identity verification system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said means for accepting said credit card account or other input indicia information is a multi-function keypad.

13. A positive identity verification system to ensure that a presenter of a credit card is authorized to use said credit card comprising:

a credit card reader means for use by a sales clerk for accepting credit card account information, said credit card reader being located at a point of sale and identity verification;

a remote database means for storing corroborating identifying information in the form of physical characteristics individuals, each of said physical characteristics being associated with specified credit card account information;

a means for communicating between said credit card reader and said remote database means to transmit said credit card account information from said card reader to said database means and for transmitting the physical characteristics associated at said database storage means with said transmitted account information to a point of identity verification;

a means for verifying that said credit card reader is authorized to access said remote database site;

a means for displaying said received physical characteristics at the point of verification for visual observation by said sales clerk for comparison with the physical appearance of said presenter at the point of identity verification; and

a user means for accepting an input from said sales clerk to indicate that at least one of the physical characteristics displayed on said display means has been compared to and matches the physical appearance of the presenter of said credit card.

14. A positive identity verification system comprising:

a database storage and retrieval site remote from a point of identity verification, said database site storing a plurality of corroborating identifying information, said plurality of corroborating identifying information corresponding to a plurality of persons to be positively identified, each of said corroborating identifying information corresponding to a person to be identified and further corresponding to at least one information unit presented by said person to be identified;

a means for establishing communications between said database site and said point of verification, said communication means capable of accepting and transmitting said presented information unit to said database site;

a search means for searching said database to find each of said corroborating identifying information corresponding to said presented information unit received by said database;

a means for transmitting each of said corroborating identifying information to the point of verification;

a means, at said point of verification, for displaying each of said corroborating identifying information transmitted to the point of verification from said database site;

a means for verifying that an identifier, present at the point of verification terminal, has compared the corroborating identifying information displayed on the display means with the physical appearance of the person being identified at the point of verification terminal and that a match exists between the two; and

a means for verifying that said means at said point of verification for displaying each of said corroborating identifying information is authorized to access said remote database site.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said corroborating identifying information includes digital photographic images.

16. A method of positive identity verification comprising the steps of:

inputting a first information unit presented by a presenter to be positively identified into a point of verification terminal;

establishing communications between said point of verification terminal and a remote database site said database site having stored therein a database comprising a plurality of corroborating identifying information, at least one of said corroborating identifying information associated with said first information unit input at said point of verification terminal;

verifying that the point of verification terminal is authorized to access said remote database site;

transmitting said first information unit from said terminal to said remote database site over a communications means;

retrieving at least one of said corroborating identifying information associated with said first information unit transmitted to said database site;

transmitting at least one of said corroborating identifying information over the communications means to said point of verification terminal;

displaying at least one of said corroborating identifying information received from said database site on a display means located at said point of identity verification;

comparing said displayed corroborating identifying information with the physical appearance of the presenter at the point of verification;

inputting identifier specific data into said point of verification terminal to indicate that the identifier has compared the displayed corroborating identifying information with the physical appearance of the presenter and that the physical appearance of the presenter match at least one of the displayed corroborating identifying information; and

transmitting and storing said identifier specific data at said remote database site for recall should a positive identification transaction be questioned at a later date.

17. The method of positive identity verification claimed in claim 16, wherein said first information unit is a credit card account number.

18. The method of positive identity verification claimed in claim 16, wherein said corroborating identifying information includes digital photographic images.

19. A positive identity verification system comprising:

a point of verification terminal having a means for accepting identification information presented by a person to be positively identified at said point of verification;

at least one remote database site having stored therein a database comprising a plurality of records of corroborating identifying information about a plurality of person to potentially be positively identified, each such record of identifying information about a person accessible in response to corresponding identification information received from said person to be positively identified;

means of communicating between said point of identification terminal and said remote database to interchange information data between the two;

means for verifying that said point of verification terminal is authorized to access said remote database site; and

means for verifying whether or not said accepted identification information presented by a person to be positively identified at a point of verification terminal matches said corroborating identifying information about a corresponding person retrieved from said database.