Computer network system and personal identification system adapted for use in the same

• US 5,887,140 A
• Filed: 03/26/1996
• Issued: 03/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Uchida, Satoshi, Itsumi, Kazuhiro, Nukui, Harumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Stamber, Eric W.
• Application Number:
  US08/622,608
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: 395/187.01, 395/200.06, 395/200.11, 395/200.54, 395/200.55, 382/115, 382/124, 382/125, 382/126, 382/127, 340/825.3, 340/825.31, 340/825.34, 356/71
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/12 Fingerprints or palmprints
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition

Abstract

When a request to access a file or the like is made, a characteristic measuring unit measures the physical characteristic of a user of a computer system. A data degenerating unit processes the measured physical characteristic as degenerated characteristic data like a one-dimensional projection and outputs the degenerated characteristic data to the computer system. The computer system sends this characteristic data to an identification server via a communication network. The identification server performs an identification process in accordance with characteristic data preregistered in a file system. In accordance with the identification result, it is determined whether or not to approve the access authorization by the user and the permission or rejection of the access is sent back to the computer system via the communication network.

Claims

1. A computer network system comprising:

a communications network portion; and

an access request portion, said access request portion including,

a fingerprint characteristic measurement unit configured to extract degenerated fingerprint data relative to a user as one-dimensional fingerprint characteristic data along a longitudinal direction of a finger of said user,

a data combining device for receiving said degenerated fingerprint data and other predetermined user information and forming combined data, and

a transmitting unit for transmitting the combined data to said communication network.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said communication network includes an access request receiving unit configured to receive and process said combined data to provide access to said communication network to an authorized said user.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said other predetermined user information includes further data identifying the user.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said combined data transmitted by said transmitting unit is received by a verifying unit associated with the communication network, said verifying unit being configured to verify that the degenerated fingerprint data included in said received combined data matches stored one-dimensional projection fingerprint characteristic data to verify that the user has access authority.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said verifying unit is a server.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein said server includes a data entry device configured to enter said one-dimensional projection fingerprint characteristic data into storage.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein said server is configured to permit access by the user to the communication network if a verification result indicates a match between the stored one-dimensional projection fingerprint characteristic data and the degenerated fingerprint data received as part of the combined data.

8. An access management method for a computer network system having a communication network, said method comprising:

extracting degenerated fingerprint data relative to a user seeking to use said computer network system by measuring a fingerprint characteristic of said user along a one-dimensional projection;

combining said extracted degenerated fingerprint data and other predetermined user information to form combined data; and

transmitting the combined data to said communication network as a computer network system access request by the user.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

receiving and processing the transmitted combined data to determine if the user is authorized for computer network system access.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the other predetermined user information includes further data identifying the user.

11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

receiving said combined data and separating at least said extracted degenerated fingerprint data therefrom;

verifying said separated extracted degenerated fingerprint data relative to stored one-dimensional projection fingerprint characteristic data.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the receiving and verifying steps are performed by using a server.

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

entering said one-dimensional projection fingerprint characteristic data into storage using a data input device.

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

granting the user access to said computer network system when the stored one-dimensional projection fingerprint characteristic data matches the separated extracted degenerated fingerprint data.