Electronic transaction verification system

• US 20050097037A1
• Filed: 11/22/2004
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biometric Payment Solutions LLP
• Original Assignee: Biometric Payment Solutions LLP
• Inventors: Tibor, Joan
• Granted Patent: US 7,349,557 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/39
• 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 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/206 comprising security or operator identification provisions, e.g. password entry
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/26 Debit schemes, e.g. "pay now"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4016 involving fraud or risk level assessment in transaction processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/12 Fingerprints or palmprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/30 Writer recognition; Reading and verifying signatures
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• 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 7/0813 Specific details related to card security
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/122 Online card verification
• 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

Abstract

An electronic transaction verification system for use with transaction tokens such as checks, credit cards, debit cards, and smart cards that gathers and transmits information about the transaction token and biometric data. The system preferably has the ability to read or scan transaction and account information printed or encoded on the transaction token, digitally encode biometric data, scan drivers'"'"' licenses or other identification cards, and take a signature of a customer, all at a transaction location for purposes of account verification. The electronic transaction verification system preferably digitizes various indicia of the token, such as the magnetic ink (MICR) line on a presented check or the magnetic strip on a credit card or debit card, and transmits the transaction information data to a central processing system, at which the central processing system compares the inputted data with an existing database of information to determine if the customer at the point of the transaction is in fact authorized to use the account, and if the account is in satisfactory condition for approval of the transaction. The electronic verification system includes a biometric data device for recording and/or transmitting biometric data taken at the transaction location. The electronic transaction verification system can be used in conjunction with a tokenless transaction processing system to determine if the token presented for payment is associated with an account established for an authorized user that has registered with the tokenless transaction processing system.

Claims

1. An electronic transaction verification system for use at a location where a transaction token is presented for payment by an individual comprising:

a transaction information database for storing an account information for an authorized user;

a biometric database for storing biometric information for the authorized user;

a processor for receiving transaction information from the location where the transaction token is presented and determining if a biometric authentication is required to verify an identity of the individual;

a reading device for reading and selectively transmitting transaction information to the processor for comparison with the stored account information for the authorized user; and

a biometric data device for scanning and selectively transmitting biometric information for the individual to the processor for comparison with the stored biometric information for the authorized user to verify the identity of the individual presenting the transaction token.

2. The electronic transaction verification system of claim 1 wherein the transaction information database is stored within a tokenless transaction processing system.

3. The electronic transaction verification system of claim 1 wherein the biometric information database is stored within a tokenless transaction processing system.

4. The electronic transaction verification system of claim 1 wherein the processor determines that biometric authentication is required to verify an identity of the individual if the transaction token is associated with the stored account information for the authorized user.

5. The electronic transaction verification system of claim 1 wherein the processor is operative with a plurality of transaction information databases.

6. The electronic transaction verification system of claim 5 wherein at least one transaction database is stored in a tokenless transaction processing system.

7. The electronic transaction verification system of claim 5 wherein at least one transaction database is stored in a token-based transaction processing system.

8. The electronic transaction verification system of claim 1 wherein the transaction token comprises at least one of a check, a substitute check, a promissory note, and a traveler'"'"'s check.

9. The electronic transaction verification system of claim 1 wherein the transaction token comprises at least one of a credit card, a debit card, a customer loyalty card and a smart card.

10. The electronic transaction verification system of claim 1 wherein the biometric information is at least one of a fingerprint scan, a retinal scan, an iris scan, a voice print, a hand geometry scan and a facial scan.

11. The electronic transaction verification system of claim 8 wherein the transaction information includes data written in magnetic ink on the transaction token.

12. The electronic transaction verification system of claim 9 wherein the, transaction information includes data encoded on the transaction token.

13. The electronic transaction verification system of claim 1 wherein the reading device and the biometric data device are located remotely from the biometric database and the transaction information database.

14. The electronic transaction verification system of claim 1 wherein the reading device and the biometric data device are located in proximity to the biometric database and the transaction information database.

15. The electronic transaction verification system of claim 1 wherein the reading device comprises a magnetic card swipe.

16. The electronic transaction verification system of claim 1 wherein the reading device comprises a magnetic ink character reader.

17. The electronic transaction verification system of claim 1 wherein the biometric data device comprises a fingerprint scanner.

18. The electronic transaction verification system of claim 2 wherein the transaction information database comprises a plurality of electronic wallets, each electronic wallet including the account information for an authorized user.

19. The electronic transaction verification system of claim 18 wherein the account information includes an identity of the authorized user and at least one of checking account information, credit card information, debit card information, customer loyalty card information and smart card information.

20. An electronic transaction verification system for use at a location where a transaction token is presented for payment by an individual, comprising:

a transaction information database for storing an account information for an authorized user;

a biometric database for storing biometric information for the authorized user;

processing means for receiving transaction information from the location where the transaction token is presented and determining if a biometric authentication is required to verify an identity of the individual;

reading means for reading and selectively transmitting transaction information to the processing means for comparison with the stored account information for the authorized user; and

biometric data means for recording and selectively transmitting biometric data for the individual to the processing means for comparison with the stored biometric information for the authorized user to verify the identity of the individual presenting the transaction token.

21. The electronic transaction verification system of claim 20 wherein the transaction information database is stored within a tokenless transaction processing system.

22. The electronic transaction verification system of claim 20 wherein the biometric information database is stored within a tokenless transaction processing system.

23. The electronic transaction verification system of claim 20 wherein the reading means comprises a magnetic card swipe.

24. The electronic transaction verification system of claim 20 wherein the reading means comprises a magnetic ink character reader.

25. The electronic transaction verification system of claim 20 wherein the biometric data means comprises a fingerprint scanner.

26. The electronic transaction verification system of claim 21 wherein the transaction information database comprises a plurality of electronic wallets, each electronic wallet including the account information for an authorized user.

27. The electronic transaction verification system of claim 26 wherein the account information includes an identity of the authorized user and at least one of checking account information, credit card information, debit card information, customer loyalty card information and smart card information.

28. A method for verifying the identity of an individual presenting a transaction token is presented for payment for goods or services comprising the steps of:

storing an account information for an authorized user in a transaction information database;

storing biometric information for the authorized user in a biometric database;

reading and selectively transmitting transaction information to a processor for comparison with the stored account information for the authorized user;

receiving transaction information from a location where the transaction token is presented and determining if a biometric authentication is required to verify an identity of the individual;

scanning and selectively transmitting biometric information for the individual to the processor; and

comparing the transmitted biometric information with the stored biometric information for the authorized user to verify the identity of the individual presenting the transaction token.

29. The method for verifying the identity of a person of claim 28 further comprising the step of encoding the biometric information on the transaction token.

30. The method for verifying the identity of a person of claim 28 further comprising the step of transmitting data indicative of whether the individual is the authorized user to the location where the transaction token is presented.