Systems and methods for storage of user information and for verifying user identity

• US 20040014457A1
• Filed: 12/19/2002
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lawrence A. Stevens
• Original Assignee: Lawrence A. Stevens
• Inventors: Stevens, Lawrence A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,929,951 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/26 using a biometric sensor integrated in the pass

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for maintaining user profile information and allowing for biometric verification of the user'"'"'s identity. The user stores or links to personal, financial, etc. information in a web page. The user can limit the types of information that is available to others. The information can be downloaded to a portable device. The information can be used for financial transactions, where the financial information is transmitted to a web site, an ATM, credit card machine, etc. for financial approval. The information can also be used to find other users with similar interest. The user stores selected characteristics that they would like to find in other users, which are compared with other user'"'"'s profiles. Matching users are aided in locating one another, where they may then prove their identity to each other by biometrically verifying that they are the owner of the user profile.

Claims

1. A method for conducting an on-line transaction with user verification capability comprising:

storing user profile information in a web page;

storing a verified user biometric;

initiating a transaction with a remote user via a network;

scanning the user'"'"'s biometric;

comparing the scanned biometric with the verified user biometric; and

indicating to the remote user if the scanned biometric and verified user biometric at least substantially match to thereby verify to the remote user that the user profile information is associated with the user.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said storing a verified user biometric comprises storing the verified user biometric at the remote user, said method further comprising transmitting the scanned biometric to the remote user and said comparing comprises comparing the scanned biometric with the verified user biometric stored at the remote user.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said storing a verified user biometric comprises storing the verified user biometric at the user and said comparing comprises comparing the scanned biometric with the verified user biometric stored at the user.

4. A system for conducting an on-line transaction with user verification capability comprising:

a first storage device having a web page containing a user profile;

a second storage device storing a verified user biometric therein;

a processor for initiating a transaction with a remote user via a network;

a scanner for scanning the user'"'"'s biometric;

a comparator that compares the scanned biometric with the verified user biometric; and

an indicator to indicate the remote user if the scanned biometric and verified user biometric at least substantially match to thereby verify to the remote user that the user profile information is associated with the user.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein said second storage device for storing a verified user biometric and said comparator are located at the remote user.

6. A system according to claim 4, wherein said second storage device for storing a verified user biometric and said comparator are located at the user.

7. A method for matching participants based on their user profiles comprising:

storing respective user profile information for each of a plurality of participants;

storing respective desired user profile characteristics selected by each of said plurality of participants;

storing a verified biometric for each of said plurality of participants;

comparing at least one of the respective user profiles with at least one of the desired user profile characteristics selected by a participant;

indicating to at least one of the participants if there is a match between a user profile and the desired user profile characteristics indicating matching users;

scanning the biometric of at least one of the matching users;

comparing the scanned biometric to the verified biometric associated with the user; and

verifying to the other of the matched users that the scanned biometric of the user matches the verified biometric.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said storing a verified biometric comprises storing the verified biometric in a central storage device, and wherein said comparing step comprises comparing the scanned biometric to the verified biometric stored in the central storage device.

9. A method according to claim 7, where said storing a verified biometric comprises storing the verified biometric for at least one participant at at least one other participant'"'"'s location, and wherein said comparing step comprises:

transmitting the scanned user'"'"'s biometric to the other participant'"'"'s location; and

comparing the scanned biometric to the verified biometric stored at the other participant'"'"'s location to verify the user.

10. A method according to claim 7, wherein said storing user profile information further comprises selecting portions of at least one of the participant'"'"'s user profile information that other participants may access.

11. A system for matching participants based on their user profiles comprising:

at least one storage device for storing

respective user profile information for each of a plurality of participants;

respective desired user profile characteristics selected by each of said

plurality of participants; and

a verified biometric for each of said plurality of participants;

a first comparator that accesses said storage device and compares at least one of the respective user profiles with at least one of the desired user profile characteristics selected by a participant;

an indicator that indicates to at least one of the participants if there is a match between a user profile and the desired user profile characteristics indicating matching users;

a scanner for scanning the biometric of at least one of the matching users; and

a second comparator that compares the scanned biometric to the verified biometric associated with the user and verifies to the other of the matched users that the scanned biometric of the user matches the verified biometric.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein said storage device is a central storage device located at a remote location for at least one of the participants, and wherein said comparator compares the scanned biometric to the verified biometric stored in the central storage device.

13. A system according to claim 11 further comprising a storage device located at one of the participant'"'"'s location, where said storage device stores verified biometrics for at one other participant, and wherein said comparator transmits the scanned user'"'"'s biometric to the other participant'"'"'s location and compares the scanned biometric to the verified biometric stored at the other participant'"'"'s location to verify the user.

14. A method for matching electronic user profiles, comprising:

storing user profile information in a web page, including profile information that is sought in other user profiles;

associating the web page with a portable user device via wireless communication;

transmitting the accessible user profile information from the portable user device to a region surrounding the portable user device via wireless communication;

receiving other accessible profile information by the portable user device that is in a region surrounding another transmitting portable user device;

determining whether a match between the received user profile information and the stored user profile information exists;

signaling to the user via the portable user device if a match between the received user profile information and the stored user profile information exists; and

verifying that the user profile information transmitted by the portable user devices is associated with the user of the portable user device.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein storing user profile information in a web page comprises storing links to biometrically verified information regarding a user.

16. A method according to claim 14, wherein associating the web page with the portable user device comprises linking the user profile information stored in the web page to the portable user device.

17. A method according to claim 14, wherein associating the web page with the portable user device comprises storing the user profile information stored in the web page in the portable user device.

18. A method according to claim 14, wherein verifying the user profile information comprises verifying that the user profile information transmitted by the portable user device is associated with the user of the portable user device via a biometric security system contained in the portable user device.

19. A method according to claim 14, wherein said verifying user profile information comprises verifying that the user profile information transmitted by the portable user device is associated with the user of the portable user device via a biometric security system contained in the portable device of the other user.

20. A system for matching electronic user profiles, comprising:

a first client element capable of receiving user profile information, including profile information that is sought in other user profiles, and said first client element also capable of receiving a selection of a portion of the user profile information that other users may access;

a storage element capable of storing user profile information in a web page;

a second client element capable of transmitting the accessible user profile information to a region surrounding said second client element via wireless communication, and said second client element also capable of receiving other accessible user profile information; and

a processing element that is responsive to said second client element and capable of associating said second client element with said storage element via wireless communication, said processing element also capable of determining whether a match between the received user profile information and the stored user profile information exists, said processing element further capable of signaling to the user via said second client element if a match between the received user profile information and the stored user profile information exists, and said processing element also capable of verifying that the user profile information transmitted by said second client element is associated with the user of said second client element.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein said storage element is further capable of storing links to biometrically verified information regarding a user.

22. A system according to claim 20, wherein said processing element is further capable of associating said second client element with said storage element by linking the user profile information in said storage element to said second client element.

23. A system according to claim 20, wherein said processing element is further capable of associating said second client element with said storage element by storing the user profile information from said storage element in said second client element.

24. A system according to claim 20, wherein said processing element is further capable of verifying that the user profile information transmitted by said second client element is associated with the user of said second client element by utilizing a biometric security system contained in said second client element.

25. A system according to claim 20, wherein said processing element is further capable of verifying that the user profile information transmitted by said second client element is associated with the user of said second client element via a biometric security system contained in the portable device of the other user.

26. A method for locating users having matching electronic profiles, comprising:

providing a portable positioning system to a plurality of users;

providing a central positioning system in communication with the portable positioning systems via a network;

transmitting a unique user identification and a location from the portable positioning system to the central positioning system;

grouping unique user identifications based upon the associated locations;

accessing a stored user profile associated with the unique user identification;

comparing the stored user profiles for each group of unique user identifications;

determining matching user profiles;

tracking the locations of matching users;

transmitting a match signal from the central positioning system to the portable positioning systems associated with the matching users;

indicating a match to the matching users; and

displaying the location of the matching users on the portable position systems.

27. A system for locating users having matching electronic profiles, comprising:

a client element capable of transmitting a location signal associated with a unique user identification, said client element also capable of displaying the location of a matching user; and

a processing element in communication with said client element via a network and capable of receiving the location signal associated with the unique user identification from said client element, said processing element also capable of grouping the unique user identifications based upon the associated locations, said processing element further capable of accessing a stored user profile associated with the unique user identification, said processing element also capable of comparing the stored user profiles for each group of unique user identifications, said processing element further capable of determining matching user profiles, tracking the locations of matching users, and transmitting a match signal from to the client element indicating a match to the matching users.

28. A method for matching users located within a selected geographic area comprising:

transmitting from at least two client elements associated with different users location signals indicating a current geographic location of each of the client elements;

receiving at a remote location the location signals from the client elements;

comparing the current location of the client elements as provided by the location signals to a preselected geographic area;

comparing stored user profile information associated with the client elements if the client elements are both determined to be located within the preselected geographic area; and

transmitting a match signal to the client elements if there is a match between criterions in the user profiles associated with each of the client elements.

29. A system for matching users located within a selected geographic area comprising:

at least two client elements associated with different users, wherein each of said client elements is capable of transmitting a location signal indicating a current geographic location of said client element;

a storage device remote from said client elements, wherein said storage device includes user profile information associated with each of said client elements; and

a processing element in communication with said client elements and said storage device, wherein said processing element receives location signals from said client elements and compares the current location of each of said client elements to a preselected geographic area, wherein if said client elements are both in the preselected geographic area, said processing element compares user profile information associated with each of said client elements stored in said storage device, and if there is a match between criterion in the user profiles, said processing element transmits a match signal to each of said client elements.