Image Recognition Authentication and Advertising System

• US 20100023400A1
• Filed: 10/02/2009
• Published: 01/28/2010
• 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:
  US12/572,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20100023400A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.530
• 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;

an input device for inputting financial data associated with said current customer;

storage means;

a database stored in said storage means, said database comprising customer images acquired during prior purchases and associated customer financial data inputted in connection with prior purchases;

a processor connected to said image acquisition device, said input device and storage means, said processor comprising;

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

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

means for comparing said acquired image to a plurality of images stored in said database of customer images, wherein said plurality of images are associated with a plurality of customers;

means for comparing inputted financial information with customer financial data associated with a matching image when said means for comparing identifies a matching image in said database; and

means for approving a transaction when said means for comparing an acquired image identifies a matching image and said means for comparing inputted financial information identifies matching financial information; and

a display connected to said processor, wherein said processor displays on said display a message requesting manual identity verification when either of said comparing means fails to find a match.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said image acquisition device comprises a camera.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein said image acquisition device comprises a fingerprint scanner.

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

5. A system according to claim 1 further comprising a second input device connected to said processor for inputting purchase data associated with said customer, wherein said processor stores purchase data inputted through said second input device to said database and associates said purchase data with said image of said current customer in said database.

6. A system for authenticating a customer comprising:

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

means for comparing said acquired image to a plurality of images in said database to identify an image in said database that matches said acquired image, wherein said comparing is performed using only said digitized acquired image and said plurality of digitized images in said database and no external data associated with said customer and said database comprises images and financial data associated with said images acquired during prior transactions;

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;

means for requesting manual identity verification when either of said comparing means fails to find a match.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein said digital camera comprises a video camera.

8. A system according to claim 6, 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.

9. A system according to claim 8, 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; and

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.

10. A system according to claim 6, further comprising:

input means for inputting current purchase data; and

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

11. A system according to claim 6 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.

12. A system according to claim 11 further comprising:

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

13. A system according to claim 11 further comprising:

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

14. A system according to claim 6, further comprising:

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

15. A system according to claim 14 further comprising:

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

16. A system according to claim 14 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.

17. A computer-implemented method for authenticating a purchaser comprising the steps of:

acquiring a digital image associated with said purchaser on an image acquisition device in a retail establishment;

passing said acquired image to a processor and said processor adding said acquired image to a database in a storage;

inputting financial data associated with said purchaser through an input device at said retail establishment and passing said inputted financial data to said processor and said processor adding said financial data to said database and associating said financial data with said acquired image of said purchaser;

comparing in said processor said acquired image to a plurality of images stored in said database, wherein said plurality of images are associated in said database with a plurality of customers;

if said image comparing step performed by said processor results in no matching image being found in said database, said processor requesting a manual identity verification;

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

if said financial data comparing step performed by said processor results in matching financial data being found in said database, approving a transaction with said customer; and

if said financial data comparing step performed by said processor results in no match being found in said database, said processor displaying on a display a request for manual identity verification;

wherein if said manual identity verification is successful, said inputted financial data is added to said database and associated with both said acquired image and said matching image and if said manual identification is unsuccessful a transaction by said purchaser is denied.

18. A computer-implemented method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of said processor adding purchase data associated with said purchaser to said database and associating said purchase data with said acquired image and any matching images in said database.

19. A computer-implemented method according to claim 17, further wherein said comparing said acquired image is performed using only said digitized acquired image and said plurality of digitized images in said database and no external data associated with said customer.

20. A computer-implemented method according to claim 17, wherein if said customer'"'"'s identity is not manually verified, said processor flagging said acquired image in said database in said storage for increased security measures in connection with future purchases.