Image Recognition Authentication and Advertising Method

• US 20080040277A1
• Filed: 08/10/2007
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Timothy Robert DeWitt
• Original Assignee: Timothy Robert DeWitt
• Inventors: DeWitt, Timothy R.
• Application Number:
  US11/837,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20080040277A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/44
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/24 Credit schemes, i.e. "pay after"
• 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 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A method and system for authenticating a purchaser, collecting data of purchasers, and displaying personalized advertisements. The system uses video cameras to capture an initial image of the customer upon entry and/or at the register prior to checkout. The image is then sent via LAN or wireless LAN to a computer with image recognition software. The computer is connected to a credit card reader and to an in-store database where it can then be checked for a matching image. The database will then choose from a pool of advertisements to find one that matches the current customers shopping habits most accurately. The advertisement will then be projected onto a monitor in the customer'"'"'s field of vision. At checkout, if the customer pays with a credit card, the information on the card will be sent to the computer where it will also be checked for a match in the database. The in-store database is connected with a larger central database which shares all recorded information with all stores.

Claims

1. A method for authenticating a purchaser comprising the steps of:

acquiring an image associated with said purchaser;

digitizing said image;

adding said digitized image to database;

inputting financial data associated with said purchaser; and

adding said financial data to said database and associating said financial data with said image of said purchaser.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said acquired image comprises a facial image.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said acquired image comprises a fingerprint image.

4. A method according to claim 1 further comprises adding purchase data associated with said purchaser to said database and associating said purchase data with said acquired image.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said financial data comprises credit card data.

6. A method for authenticating a customer comprising the steps of:

acquiring an image associated with said customer;

digitizing said acquired image;

comparing said digitized acquired image to digitized images in a database;

inputting financial data associated with said customer;

if said comparing step results in a matching image being found in said database, comparing said inputted financial data to financial data in said database associated with said matching image;

if said inputted financial data matches said financial data associated with said matching image in said database, approving a transaction with said customer.

7. A method according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

if no matching image is found in said database, adding said acquired image to said database; and

requesting a manual identity verification.

8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of:

if said customer'"'"'s identity is manually verified, adding said financial data to said database and associated said financial data with said acquired image in said database.

9. A method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of:

if said customer'"'"'s identity is not manually verified, flagging said acquired image in said database for increased security measures in connection with future purchases.

10. A method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of:

if no matching image is found in said database, adding said acquired image to said database.

11. A method according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

inputting current purchase data; and

associating said current purchase data with said matching image in said database.

12. A method according to claim 6 further comprising the step of:

adding said acquired image to said database; and

associating said acquired image in said database with all matching images in said database.

13. A method according to claim 12 further comprising the step of:

associating said acquired image in said database with all financial data associated with any matching image in said database.

14. A method according to claim 12 further comprising the step of:

associating said acquired image in said database with all purchase data associated with any matching image in said database.

15. A method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of:

selecting an advertisement based upon purchase data associated with said matching image in said database.

16. A method according to claim 15 further comprising the step of

displaying said selected advertisement on a monitor in said customer'"'"'s field of vision.

17. A method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of:

displaying a general advertisement on a monitor in the customer'"'"'s field of vision if no matching image is found in said database.

18. A method according to claim 15 wherein said step of selecting an advertisement comprises selecting from a queue of advertisements an advertisement that best matches data of previous purchases of said customer.

19. A method for displaying personalized advertising comprising the steps of:

acquiring an image associated with a customer;

digitizing said acquired image;

identifying a matching image in a database;

selecting an advertisement for display based upon prior purchase data associated with said matching image in said database; and

displaying said advertisement.