Biometric authorization transaction

• US 20090145972A1
• Filed: 12/11/2007
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa USA, Inc. (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Evans, James Douglas
• Application Number:
  US12/001,499
• Publication Number:
  US 20090145972A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

Devices and methods for biometric authentication of a user during financial transactions are provided. In one aspect, a payment processor device comprising a biometric input sensor configured to receive user biometric information; a biometric verification processor configured to authenticate the input user biometric information; and a communication element configured to activate when the biometric information entered into the biometric verification system is authenticated and maintain an inactive status for the communication element on the payment processor device when the biometric information entered into the biometric verification system is not authenticated, is provided.

Claims

1. A payment card, comprising:

a fingerprint sensor configured to receive input biometric information from a finger of a user;

a processor, coupled to the fingerprint sensor, configured to authenticate user identity by interrogating the input biometric information against a pre-stored user biometric profile stored within the card; and

a communication element coupled to the processor and configured to activate upon the authentication of the input biometric information.

2. The payment card of claim 1 wherein the communication element is a magnetic stripe.

3. The payment card of claim 1 wherein the communication element is a contactless radio frequency (R.F.) unit.

4. A method of authenticating a user for a financial transaction, comprising:

receiving user biometric information into a biometric verification system in a payment processing device;

authenticating the user biometric information entered into the biometric verification system;

activating a communication element in the payment processing device when the input biometric information entered into the biometric verification system is authenticated; and

maintaining an inactive status for the communication element in the payment processing device when the biometric information entered into the biometric verification system is not authenticated.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the communication element is an active magnetic stripe.

6. The method according to claim 4 further comprising:

authenticating user identity by interrogating input biometric information profile with pre-stored user biometric information profile.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the biometric verification system comprises a biometric fingerprint pressure sensor.

8. The method according to claim 4 wherein the fingerprint is a thumbprint.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the sensor is configured to recognize the directionality and the orientation of the fingerprint information.

10. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

deactivating the communication element when the biometric information entered into the biometric verification system and the pre-stored biometric information do not match after a predetermined number of attempted entries.

11. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

deactivating the communication element on the card when the biometric information entered into the biometric verification system and the pre-stored biometric information do not match after a predetermined amount of time.

12. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

permanently deactivating all functions of the card after the biometric information entered into the biometric input system and the pre-stored biometric information do not match after a predetermined number of attempted entries.

13. A payment processor device, comprising:

a biometric input sensor configured to receive user biometric information;

a biometric verification processor configured to authenticate the input user biometric information; and

a communication element configured to activate when the biometric information entered into the biometric verification system is authenticated and maintain an inactive status for the communication element on the payment processor device when the biometric information entered into the biometric verification system is not authenticated.

14. The payment processor device according to claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to authenticate user identity by interrogating input biometric information profile with pre-stored user biometric information profile.

15. The payment processor device according to claim 13, wherein the communication element is an active magnetic strip.

16. The payment processor device according to claim 13, wherein the communication element is a contactless radio frequency (R.F.) unit.

17. The payment processor device according to claim 13, wherein the biometric verification system comprises a biometric fingerprint sensor.

18. The payment processor device according to claim 17, wherein the biometric fingerprint sensor is a fingerprint pressure sensor.

19. A computer readable medium, encoded with data and instructions, such that when executed by a device, the instruction causes the device to:

receive user biometric information into a biometric verification system;

generate input user biometric information profile;

authenticate input user biometric information entered into the biometric verification system with pre-stored authorized user biometric profile;

activate a communication element on the payment processing device when the biometric information entered into the biometric verification system is authenticated; and

maintain an inactive status for the communication element on the payment processing device when the biometric information entered into the biometric verification system is not authenticated.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the encoded data and instructions are executed by a system comprising:

a payment processor device;

a communication element configured to activate;

a non-volatile programmable memory configured to store an authorized user biometric information profile; and

a biometric verification system configured to authenticate input biometric information of the user.