Method for Confirming the Identity of an Individual While Shielding that Individual's Personal Data

• US 20150039527A1
• Filed: 01/26/2011
• Published: 02/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EyeLock LLC (VOXX International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Eyelock Corporation (VOXX International Corporation)
• Inventors: Hanna, Keith J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,043,229 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/325
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/105 Human resources
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/265 Personal security, identity or safety
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/53 Measures to keep reference information secret, e.g. cancellable biometrics
• 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 method for confirming the identity of an individual while shielding that individual'"'"'s personal data. At least one biometric such as the image of the iris of an individual is captured and stored in a database. A unique identification code is assigned to the biometric without reference to the first individual'"'"'s personal information. A subsequent biometric data collect is compared with the contents of the database. If a match between the subsequent biometric is found with the original biometric, the system transmits the identification code corresponding to the matched biometric. In a second aspect of the invention, in order to protect the privacy of individuals, the unique identification code is encrypted such that only the individual to whom the biometric belongs holds the de-encryption key. In a third aspect of the invention also intended to protect the privacy of individuals, a non-unique group identification code is assigned to the biometric. Preferably, in the case where the biometric used is the iris, the system replaces enrollment and live iris images with iris templates and bases comparisons on these templates, rather than storing/comparing actual images. The system is adapted to assist in locating missing persons and in verifying transactions. If an individual is missing and a live iris template is matched to that person'"'"'s stored template, the system automatically contacts another individual.

Claims

1. A method for confirming the identity of an individual while shielding that individual'"'"'s personal data, comprising the steps of :

i) capturing at least one image of the iris of a first individual and storing the iris image in a central database;

ii) assigning a unique identification code to the iris image without reference to the first individual'"'"'s personal information;

iii) comparing a subsequent iris image with the contents of the central database; and

iv) if a match between the subsequent iris image is found with a stored iris image in step iii), transmitting the unique identification code corresponding to the matched stored iris image.

2. A method for confirming the identity of an individual according to claim 1, said transmitting step further comprising the step of transmitting the unique identification code to at least one of the first individual, the first individual'"'"'s parent or guardian, or a law enforcement individual.

3. A method for confirming the identity of an individual according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(i) registering with the central database that the first individual is missing;

(ii) providing contact information of a second individual to be associated with the first individual'"'"'s stored iris image;

(iii) capturing subsequent iris images and comparing the subsequent iris images to the contents of the database; and

(iv) when a match is made in the comparing step, automatically contacting the second individual via the provided contact information.

4. A method for confirming the identity of an individual according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of

(i) issuing a physical object to the first individual bearing the unique identification code;

(ii) if a match is found in step iii), performing step iv) by transmitting the unique identification code to a merchant at which the first individual is attempting to make a transaction;

(iii) if a match is found between the transmitted identification code and the identification code on a physical object presented at the merchant, enabling authorization of the transaction by the merchant.

5. A method for confirming the identity of an individual while shielding that individual'"'"'s personal data, comprising the steps of:

(i) capturing at least one image of the iris of a first individual, replacing the captured iris image with an iris template corresponding to the iris image, and storing the iris template in a central database;

(ii) assigning a unique identification code to the stored iris image template without reference to the first individual'"'"'s personal information;

(iii) capturing a subsequent iris image and replacing the subsequent iris image with a live iris template;

(iv) comparing the live iris template with the contents of the central database; and

(v) if a match between the live iris template is found with a stored iris template, transmitting the unique identification code corresponding to the matched stored iris template.

6. A method for confirming the identity of an individual according to claim 5, said transmitting step further comprising the step of transmitting the unique identification code to at least one of the first individual, the first individual'"'"'s parent or guardian, or a law enforcement individual.

7. A method for confirming the identity of an individual according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

(i) registering with the central database that the first individual is missing;

(ii) providing contact information of a second individual to be associated with the first individual'"'"'s stored iris template;

(iii) capturing subsequent iris images, replacing the subsequent iris images with live iris templates, and comparing the live iris templates to the contents of the database; and

(iv) when a match is made in the comparing step, automatically contacting the second individual via the provided contact information.

8. A method for confirming the identity of an individual according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

(i) issuing a physical object to the first individual bearing the unique identification code;

(ii) if a match is found in step iii), performing step iv) by transmitting the unique identification code to a merchant at which the first individual is attempting make a transaction;

(iii) if a match is found between the transmitted identification code and the identification code on a physical object presented at the merchant, enabling authorization of the transaction by the merchant.

9. A method for confirming the identity of an individual while shielding that individual'"'"'s personal data, comprising the steps of:

(i) capturing a biometric of a first individual and storing the biometric in a central database;

(ii) assigning a non-unique group identification code to the biometric without reference to the first individual'"'"'s personal information;

(iii) comparing a subsequent biometric with the contents of the central database; and

(iv) if a match between the subsequent biometric is found with a stored biometric in step iii), transmitting the non-unique group identification code corresponding to the matched stored biometric.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the biometric is the iris

11. A method for confirming the identity of an individual while shielding that individual'"'"'s personal data, comprising the steps of:

(i) capturing a biometric of a first individual and storing the biometric in a central database;

(ii) assigning a unique identification code to the biometric and encrypting it such that only those individuals authorized by the individual to whom the biometric belongs hold the de-encryption key;

(iii) comparing a subsequent biometric with the contents of the central database; and

(iv) if a match between the subsequent biometric is found with a stored biometric in step iii), transmitting the encrypted identification code corresponding to the matched stored biometric.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the biometric is the iris.