Biometric Authentication

• US 20140157384A1
• Filed: 05/03/2013
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stern, Benjamin J., Wilpon, Jay
• Granted Patent: US 9,426,150 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231

Abstract

A biometric authentication system is disclosed that provides a trusted third party biometric authentication capability for independent confirmation of identity of parties. A repository of biometric templates for registered parties is disclosed that permit a biometric authenticator to perform independent authentication services for other parties by matching received biometric information against biometric information in the repository, or by providing requested biometric information.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a biometric authentication request at a server of third party biometric authenticator, the biometric authentication request sent from a first party to a transaction and requesting biometric authentication of a second party to the transaction;

receiving biometric data at the server, the biometric data associated with the second party to the transaction;

storing a repository of biometric templates in memory of the server, the repository of biometric templates associating biometric templates to different identities;

querying the repository of biometric templates for the second party to the transaction;

retrieving a biometric template associated with the second party to the transaction;

comparing the biometric data to the biometric template;

determining a match between the biometric data and the biometric template; and

sending an authentication response to the first party that confirms the biometric authentication of the second party to the transaction.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining a confidence level of the match between the biometric data and the biometric template.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising comparing the biometric data to a threshold value.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising scoring the match between the biometric data and the biometric template.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising sending the biometric template to the first party.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a spoken phrase sent from the first party to the server.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a spoken phrase sent from the second party to the server.

8. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing code that when executed causes the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

receiving a biometric authentication request sent from a first party to a transaction and requesting biometric authentication of a second party to the transaction;

receiving biometric data associated with the first party to the transaction;

storing a repository of biometric templates that associates biometric templates to different identities;

organizing the plurality of biometric templates according to groups;

associating each biometric template in the repository of biometric templates to an individual identifier;

associating each group of the plurality of biometric templates to a group identity;

querying the repository of biometric templates for the second party to the transaction;

retrieving a biometric template associated with the second party to the transaction;

determining a match between the biometric data and the biometric template; and

sending an authentication response to the first party based on the match between the biometric data and the biometric template.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise determining a confidence level of the match between the biometric data and the biometric template.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise comparing the biometric data to a threshold value.

11. The system according to claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise scoring the match between the biometric data and the biometric template.

12. The system according to claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise sending the biometric template to the first party.

13. The system according to claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a spoken phrase sent from the first party to the server.

14. The system according to claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a spoken phrase sent from the second party to the server.

15. A memory storing instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving a biometric authentication request sent from a first party to a transaction and requesting biometric authentication of a second party to the transaction;

receiving biometric data associated with the first party to the transaction;

storing a repository of biometric templates that associates biometric templates to different identities;

organizing the plurality of biometric templates according to groups;

associating each biometric template in the repository of biometric templates to an individual identifier;

associating each group of the plurality of biometric templates to a group identity;

querying the repository of biometric templates for the second party to the transaction;

retrieving a biometric template associated with the second party to the transaction;

determining a match between the biometric data and the biometric template; and

sending an authentication response to the first party based on the match between the biometric data and the biometric template.

16. The memory according to claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise determining a confidence level of the match between the biometric data and the biometric template.

17. The memory according to claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise comparing the biometric data to a threshold value.

18. The memory according to claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise scoring the match between the biometric data and the biometric template.

19. The memory according to claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise sending the biometric template to the first party.

20. The memory according to claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a spoken phrase sent from the first party to the server.