IMAGE RECOGNITION AUTHENTICATION AND ADVERTISING SYSTEM

• US 20080040278A1
• 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:
  US11/837,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20080040278A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/44
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• 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 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0268 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

A 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 system for authenticating a current customer comprising the steps of:

an image acquisition device for acquiring an image associated with said current customer;

storage means,

a database of customer images and associated customer data stored on said storage means;

means for adding said image associated with said current customer to said database;

input means for inputting financial data associated with said current customer; and

means for adding said financial data to said database and associating said financial data with said image of said current customer.

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

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

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein said input means comprises a credit card scanner.

5. A system according to claim 1 further comprising means for adding purchase data associated with said customer to said database and associating said purchase data with said image of said current customer.

6. A system according to claim 1 wherein said financial data comprises check data.

7. A system for authenticating a customer comprising:

a digital camera for acquiring an image associated with said customer;

means for identifying an image in a database that matches said acquired image, said database comprising images and financial data associated with said images;

input means for inputting financial data associated with said customer;

means for comparing financial data from said input means to financial data in said database associated with said matching image;

means for approving a transaction with said customer if said financial data from said input means matches said financial data associated with said matching image in said database.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein said digital camera comprises a video camera.

9. A system according to claim 7, further comprising:

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

means for requesting a manual identity verification.

10. A system according to claim 9, further comprising:

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

11. A system according to claim 9, further comprising:

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

12. A system according to claim 7, further comprising:

input means for inputting current purchase data; and

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

13. A system according to claim 7 further comprising:

means for adding said acquired image to said database; and

means for associating said acquired image in said database with a plurality of matching images in said database.

14. A system according to claim 13 further comprising:

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

15. A system according to claim 13 further comprising:

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

16. A system according to claim 7, further comprising:

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

17. A system according to claim 16 further comprising:

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

18. A system according to claim 16 wherein said means for selecting an advertisement comprises:

a queue of electronically stored advertisements; and

means for selecting an advertisement that best matches data of previous purchases of said customer.

19. An apparatus comprising:

an image acquisition device;

a financial data input device;

a computer connected to said image acquisition device and said financial data input device;

storage means connected to said computer for storing images and financial data associated with said images.

20. A system according to claim 19 wherein said image acquisition device comprises a camera.