Method and apparatus for secure issuance of secure firearm identification credentials

• US 20050257068A1
• Filed: 03/14/2005
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Francis John Jr. Cusack
• Original Assignee: Francis John Jr. Cusack
• Inventors: Cusack, Francis John Jr.
• Application Number:
  US11/079,510
• Publication Number:
  US 20050257068A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/186
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/18 Legal services
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/41 with means for the generation of identity documents
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration

Abstract

The invention brings together the components of digital image capture and digital fingerprint capture to both speed up and make more secure the process of applying for a firearm permit and the process of issuing a firearm permit. Biometric data captured, such as face and finger, is used in both verifying the applicant'"'"'s asserted identity (biometric verification) and in ensuring the applicant is not a member of a group (or database) of individuals who should not be granted a permit (biometric identification). Furthermore, the invention discusses issuing a credential that is inherently more secure than printed and laminated credentials that are ubiquitous today. The invention simultaneously improves service to residents via reduced credential issuance timelines, improves the security of who is issued a firearm credential, and improves the integrity of the firearm credential.

Claims

1. This invention consists of a system that produces secure credentials and issues credentials in a secure manner for firearm possession which may also be known as concealed carry weapon (CCW), firearm identification (FID), license to carry (LTC) or any related term to denote possession of a firearm, rifle, shotgun, machine gun, etc.

6. Furthermore, the system of claim 1 can be programmed to manually or automatically search local or remote databases for matching text, numerical and imaged based demographic and/or biometric matches.

2. The system in claim one uses biometric technology to verify the identity of the applicant IS who the applicant asserts to be, in the preferred embodiment this is realized through face recognition, fingerprint recognition, or both, but any biometric is a candidate.

a. Data of persons to be verified may be any combination of text, image, scanned or biometric data and may reside in local or remote databases.

b. Creation of biometric templates and matching of biometric templates may take place locally or remotely.

c. An operator may assist in the verification process by manually comparing text, image or biometric data.

3. The system in claim one may also use biometric technology to identify the applicant and ensure he is NOT a member of group of that should be denied a firearm permit (e.g. known felon).

a. Data of persons to be denied firearm permits may be any combination of text, image, scanned or biometric data and may reside in local or remote databases.

b. Creation of biometric templates and matching of biometric templates may take place locally or remotely.

c. It is envisioned that multiple databases may be employed to provide ability to search local, state, federal and international databases.

d. An operator may assist in the identification process by manually comparing text, image or biometric data.

4. The system in claim one combines the functionality of two or more of the following to facilitate quick and accurate capture of demographic and biometric data of applicants:

a. A digital camera or camera and scanner that together may produce digital face images

b. Facial recognition biometric software that enrolls, manages and matches faces for automated and manually assisted identity verification and identification.

c. A fingerprint scanner that produces either a fingerprint image or a fingerprint biometric template

d. Fingerprint biometric software that enrolls, manages and matches fingerprints for automated and manually assisted identity verification and identification.

e. A digital signature pad

5. The system in claim one may employ the components of two or more of the following:

a. A workstation to support all of the claims above (4a through 4e), support local enrollment of applicant demographic and biometric data, support application process including pass/fail identity annunciation, presentation of match results, produce reports, facilitate production of firearm credential, support communication with a server that is either collocated or remotely located.

b. A server to support all of the claims above (4a through 4e), support local enrollment of applicant demographic and biometric data, support application process including pass/fail identity annunciation, presentation of match results, produce reports, facilitate production of firearm credential, support communication with a workstation that is either collocated or remotely located, facilitate storing of threat database or communication with external threat databases and other databases that may be deemed helpful to the application and screening process.

c. A credential printer, that may or may not be collocated with any of the other components of the system, that produces the credential to be issued to the applicant.

8. The biometric matching referenced in claim 5 may be achieved with biometric software and biometric templates residing at either each remote location, at the central server, or any combination thereof.

7. A secure data communications link or infrastructure may be employed between all components of the system, such as but not limited to;

workstation, workstation peripherals (e.g. biometric devices), server and databases.

9. The system in claim one may produce a credential to be issued to the applicant that is secure and may employ state of the art security features such as but not limited to ultra-violet (UV) or fluorescent inks, holograms, digital watermarks and encrypted local memory storage (smart card).

10. The credential defined in claim 9 may include text, demographic, image and biometric data of the applicant.