USING BIOMETRIC TOKENS TO PRE-STAGE AND COMPLETE TRANSACTIONS

• US 20080114697A1
• Filed: 11/13/2006
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: McWhinnie, Shaun, Birnie, Steven James, Black, Jonathan Simon
• Granted Patent: US 9,141,956 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/67
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• 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: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/38 with central registration

Abstract

A system that supports multi-stage transactions through the use of biometric tokens, such as fingerprint images or iris scans. A user pre-stages a transaction by providing transaction details that can be used a later time to complete the transaction, and the system stores the transaction details in a transaction record that is identified by a biometric token captured from the user. In some systems, the biometric token is captured as part of the pre-staging process. In other systems, the biometric token is retrieved from a data store after the user has provided authentication information, such as a bank card or user-identification code coupled with a secret PIN code. When the user is ready to complete the pre-staged transaction, the system captures a second biometric token from the user and matches the second token to the one identifying the user'"'"'s transaction record. The transaction details contained in that transaction record are then used to complete the user'"'"'s transaction.

Claims

1. A method for use in conducting a transaction with a user, the method comprising:

pre-staging the transaction by;

receiving from the user information that includes transaction details related to the transaction;

creating a transaction record that stores the transaction details for use in completing the transaction at a later time; and

storing a first biometric token that is captured from the user'"'"'s body as an identifier of the transaction record; and

at some time thereafter;

capturing a second biometric token from the user'"'"'s body;

concluding that the second biometric token matches the first biometric token;

and, in response;

retrieving the transaction record identified by the first biometric token; and

making the transaction details available for use in completing the transaction pre-staged by the user.

2. The method of claim 1, where pre-staging the transaction includes capturing the first biometric token from the user'"'"'s body.

3. The method of claim 1, where pre-staging the transaction includes receiving from the user information that authenticates the user.

4. The method of claim 3, where pre-staging the transaction includes, after authenticating the user, retrieving the first biometric token from a data store.

5. The method of claim 1, where pre-staging the transaction takes place when the user is engaged with a first terminal and completing the transaction takes places when the user is engaged with a second terminal.

6. The method of claim 5, where pre-staging the transaction and completing the transaction take place when the user is engaged with terminals residing at a single physical location.

7. The method of claim 5, where pre-staging the transaction and completing the transaction take place when the user is engaged with terminals residing at different physical locations.

8. The method of claim 1, where pre-staging the transaction takes place when the user is engaged with a personal computer in the user'"'"'s home.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising destroying the first biometric token after the transaction details have been made available for use in completing the pre-staged transaction.

10. The method of claim 1, where pre-staging the transaction includes:

receiving from the user information that includes transaction details related to multiple transactions to be completed at a later time; and

including in the transaction record the transaction details for each of the multiple transactions.

11. The method of claim 1, where storing the first biometric token includes storing an image of a fingerprint captured from the user.

12. The method of claim 11, where capturing the second biometric token includes capturing another image of the user'"'"'s fingerprint.

13. The method of claim 1, where storing the first biometric token includes storing an iris scan captured from the user.

14. The method of claim 12, where capturing the second biometric token includes conducting another scan of the user'"'"'s iris.

15. A method for use at a terminal in pre-staging a transaction with a user of the terminal, the method comprising:

while the user is engaged with the terminal;

receiving information that includes details of the transaction; and

receiving a biometric token that is captured from the user'"'"'s body;

creating a transaction record that stores the transaction details for use in completing the transaction at a later time; and

storing the biometric token as an identifier of the transaction record.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising, while the user is engaged with the terminal, receiving information that authenticates the user.

17. The method of claim 16, where receiving the biometric token includes receiving the biometric token from a data store after authenticating the user.

18. The method of claim 15, where pre-staging the transaction takes place while the user is engaged with a terminal residing at a physical location separate from that at which the transaction is to be completed at the later time.

19. The method of claim 15, where pre-staging the transaction takes place while the user is engaged with a terminal residing at a physical location at which the transaction is to be completed at the later time

20. The method of claim 15, where receiving the biometric token includes receiving a fingerprint captured from the user.

21. The method of claim 15, where receiving the biometric token includes receiving an iris scan captured from the user.

22. A method for use in completing at a terminal a transaction pre-staged by a user of the terminal, the method comprising:

receiving a biometric token that is captured from the user at the terminal;

concluding that the biometric token captured at the terminal matches a previously captured token;

retrieving a transaction record identified by the previously captured token, where the transaction record contains transaction details related to the transaction pre-staged by the user; and

making the transaction details available for use at the terminal in completing the transaction pre-staged by the user.

23. The method of claim 22, where receiving the biometric token includes receiving an image of a fingerprint captured from the user at the terminal.

24. The method of claim 22, where receiving the biometric token includes receiving an iris scan captured from the user at the terminal.