Telephone with biometric sensing device

• US 5,872,834 A
• Filed: 09/16/1996
• Issued: 02/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Activcard Ireland, Limited (Assa Abloy AB)
• Original Assignee: DEW Engineering and Development Limited (Trelleborg AB)
• Inventors: Teitelbaum, Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing F.
• Application Number:
  US08/714,614
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 379/91.01, 379/91.02, 379/93.01-93.03, 379/93.05, 379/93.08, 379/93.12, 379/93.23-93.28, 379/110.01, 379/201, 382/115, 382/116, 382/124
• US Class Current: 379/93.03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems

Abstract

A telephone is provided with a biometric input sensor for receiving a biometric input and providing a signal in dependence upon said biometric input to the telephone network. Such a signal may identify an individual using certain telephone equipment. When used in conjunction with a public phone system, the telephone provides identification for billing, access privileges, and follow me call routing.

Claims

1. A method of registering a communication between a first telephone, operated by an initiator of a registered communication, and a second telephone operated by a recipient of a registered communication, and for communication via a network comprising the steps of:

a) prompting the recipient of a registered communication for biometric information of a registered communication;

b) the recipient providing input biometric information to a biometric input means;

c) encoding the input biometric information to provide encoded biometric information;

d) providing a signal to the network in dependence upon the encoded biometric information;

e) receiving the signal at a processor within the network;

f) using the processor, analyzing the signal to establish an identification of the recipient;

g) storing information relating to the identification of the recipient and the communication for later retrieval; and

,

h) providing the stored information to the initiator of the registered communication.

2. A method of registering a communication as defined in claim 1 wherein the information relating to the recipient and the communication comprises recipient'"'"'s name, biometric information, a source telephone number, a destination telephone number, a time of the communication, a duration of the communication, and a recording of the communication.

3. A method of registering a communication as defined in claim 1 wherein biometric information comprises fingerprint information.