System and method of assessing the quality of an identification transaction using an identificaion quality score

• US 6,070,141 A
• Filed: 07/28/1998
• Issued: 05/30/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Image Data Corporation, LexisNexis Risk Solutions, Inc. (RELX PLC)
• Original Assignee: Image Data Corporation
• Inventors: Houvener, Robert C., Hoenisch, Ian P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rosen, Nicholas David
• Application Number:
  US09/124,149
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 705/16, 705/18, 705/39, 705/41, 705/44, 705/45, 705/1, 705/76, 235/380
• US Class Current: 705/76
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/347 Passive cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3821 Electronic credentials
• 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 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/253 visually
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/10 together with a coded signal , e.g. in the form of personal identification information, like personal identification number [PIN] or biometric data
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1075 PIN is checked remotely

Abstract

A system and method of assessing the quality of an identification transaction is disclosed. The method includes the following steps: registering a plurality of persons to be identified by providing at least two identification information (ID) units corresponding to each person and storing the ID units in an identification database; assigning an identification quality score to each ID unit; presenting a first ID unit to initiate a transaction where identification is desired; inputting the first ID unit into a point of identification (POI) terminal; establishing a communications link between the POI terminal and the identification database; transmitting the first ID unit to the identification database; searching the identification database and retrieving at least one second ID unit stored in the identification database along with the identification quality score(s) assigned to the retrieved second ID unit(s); transmitting the second ID unit(s) to the POI terminal; displaying the second ID unit(s) and their associated identification quality score(s) on a POI terminal display; comparing the displayed second ID unit with a corresponding second ID unit physically presented by the person being identified; acknowledging a match by entering a command into the POI terminal; storing first, second ID units and transaction information as a transaction record; and adjusting identification quality scores based on historical data.

Claims

1. A method of assessing the quality of an identification transaction, said method comprising the steps of:

enrolling a plurality of persons to be identified by providing at least two identification information units corresponding to each said person and storing said identification information units in an identification database at a remote database site;

assigning an identification quality score to each said identification information unit and storing each identification quality score in an identification quality score database at said remote database site;

accepting a first of said at least two identification information units from a person to be identified at a point of identification;

inputting said first of said at least two identification information units into a point of identification terminal;

establishing a communications link between said point of identification terminal and said identification database;

transmitting said first of said at least two identification information units from said point of identification terminal to said identification database;

searching said identification database and retrieving at least a second of said at least two identification information units, said at least a second of said at least two identification information units mapped to said first identification information unit in said identification database;

searching said identification quality score database and retrieving said identification quality score assigned to each said retrieved second identification information unit;

transmitting each said second identification information unit and said identification quality score associated therewith to said point of identification terminal over said communications link;

displaying each said second identification information unit and an identification quality indicator associated with each received identification quality score on a display at said point of identification terminal;

reviewing the identification quality indicator to determine the level of scrutiny to apply to said identification transaction;

comparing each said displayed second identification information unit with a corresponding second identification information unit physically presented by the person being identified at said point of identification;

acknowledging the positive identification of said person being identified if a match exists between at least one of said displayed second identification information units with said corresponding second identification information unit physically presented by the person being identified;

storing at least said first and second identification information units along with transaction information as transaction record; and

adjusting said identification quality score stored in said identification quality database based on historical data acquired and stored at said remote database site.

2. The method of assessing the quality of an identification transaction as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of adjusting said identification quality score comprises lowering said identification quality score if transactions are questioned at a later date.

3. The method of assessing the quality of an identification transaction as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of adjusting said identification quality score comprises raising said identification quality score after a number of identification transactions have occurred and none of said transactions are questioned at a later date.

4. The method of assessing the quality of an identification transaction as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of adjusting said identification quality score comprises lowering said identification quality score if at least one identification transaction does not result in a match existing between said displayed identification unit and said corresponding identification unit physically presented by the person being identified.

5. The method of assessing the quality of an identification transaction as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of displaying each said identification quality indicator comprises generating a system user message based on each said received identification quality score and displaying each said system user message on said point of identification terminal display.

6. The method of assessing the quality of an identification transaction as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of transmitting an alert message to said point of identification terminal if said identification quality score corresponding to at least one identification information unit retrieved from said identification quality score database is below a threshold score.

7. The method of assessing the quality of an identification transaction as claimed in claim 6, wherein said alert message is encoded so that it is identifiable as such by a system user and is not identifiable as such by a person being identified.

8. The method of assessing the quality of an identification transaction as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of enrolling a plurality of persons to be identified by providing at least two identification units corresponding to each said person comprises providing at least one biometric identifier associated with each said person to be identified.

9. The method of assessing the quality of an identification transaction as claimed in claim 8, wherein said at least one biometric identifier comprises a digital photographic image of each said person to be identified.

10. A method of assessing the quality of an identification transaction, said method comprising the steps of:

enrolling a plurality of persons to be identified by providing at least two identification information units corresponding to each said person and storing said identification information units in an identification database at a remote database site;

assigning an identification quality score to each said identification information unit and storing each identification quality score in an identification quality score database at said remote database site;

accepting a first of said at least two identification information units from a person to be identified at a point of identification;

inputting said first of said at least two identification information units into a point of identification terminal;

establishing a communications link between said point of identification terminal and said identification database;

transmitting said first of said at least two identification information units from said point of identification terminal to said identification database;

searching said identification database and retrieving at least a second of said at least two identification information units, said at least a second of said at least two identification information units mapped to said first identification information unit in said identification database;

searching said identification quality score database and retrieving said identification quality score assigned to each said retrieved second identification information unit;

generating a system user command for each said retrieved identification quality score and linking each said system user command to its associated second identification information unit;

transmitting each said second identification information unit and associated system user command to said point of identification terminal over said communications link;

comparing each said received second identification information unit with physical information presented by said person being identified and determining whether a match exists between said physical information presented and at least one of said received second identification information units;

displaying said system user command associated with at least one second identification information unit on a display at said point of identification terminal;

complying with the displayed system user command;

storing at least said first and second identification information units along with transaction information as a transaction record; and

adjusting said identification quality score stored in said identification quality database based on historical data acquired and stored at said remote database site.

11. A method of assessing the identity of a person initiating a non cash-based financial instrument transaction comprising the steps of:

accepting a non cash financial instrument from a person initiating said non cash-based financial transaction, said non cash-based financial instrument including an account number identifying a financial account from which funds necessary to complete said non cash-based financial transaction may be drawn;

inputting said account number into a point of identification terminal;

establishing a communications link between said point of identification terminal and a remote database site, said database site having stored therein an identification database comprising a plurality of identification information units, each said identification information unit mapped to at least one account number, said identification information units corresponding to persons authorized to initiate financial transactions using said financial account, each said identification information unit further having an identification quality score associated therewith, said identification quality scores stored in an identification quality database at said remote database site;

transmitting said account number from said point of identification terminal to said remote database site over said communications link;

searching said identification database and retrieving at least one identification information unit stored in said identification database, which is mapped to said transmitted account number;

searching said identification quality score database and retrieving said identification quality score assigned to each said retrieved identification information unit;

transmitting each said retrieved identification information unit and each said retrieved identification quality score assigned thereto to said point of identification terminal over said communications link;

displaying each said transmitted identification information unit and an identification quality indicator on a display at said point of identification terminal;

comparing each said displayed identification information unit with a corresponding identification information unit physically presented by the person being identified at said point of identification and reviewing said displayed identification quality score to identify non cash-based financial transactions where heightened identification scrutiny is required;

acknowledging the positive identification of said person being identified if a match exists between at least one of said displayed identification information units and said corresponding identification information unit physically presented by the person being identified;

storing said displayed, matching identification information unit along with transaction information as a transaction record; and

adjusting said identification quality score stored in said identification quality score database based on historical data acquired and stored at said remote database site.

12. The method of assessing the identity of a person initiating a non cash-based financial instrument transaction as claimed in claim 11, wherein said displayed identification quality indicator comprises a system user command generated by said point of identification terminal in response to said received identification quality score assigned to said displayed, matching identification information unit.

13. The method of assessing the identity of a person initiating a non cash-based financial instrument transaction as claimed in claim 11, wherein said plurality of identification information units stored in said remote identification database comprise biometric identifiers associated with persons authorized to draw funds from specified financial accounts.

14. The method of assessing the identity of a person initiating a non cash-based financial instrument transaction as claimed in claim 13, wherein said biometric identifiers comprise digital photographic images of persons authorized to draw funds from specified financial accounts.

15. The method of assessing the quality of an identification transaction as claimed in claim 11 further comprising the step of transmitting an alert message to said point of identification terminal if at least one of said retrieved identification quality scores corresponding to a retrieved identification information unit is below a threshold score.

16. The method of assessing the quality of an identification transaction as claimed in claim 15, wherein said alert message is encoded so that it is identifiable as such by a person operating said identification terminal and is not identifiable as such by said person initiating said non cash-based financial transaction.

17. A method of assessing the identity of a person initiating a non cash-based financial instrument transaction comprising the steps of:

accepting a non cash financial instrument from a person initiating said non cash-based financial transaction, said non cash-based financial instrument including an account number identifying a financial account from which funds necessary to complete said non cash-based financial transaction may be drawn;

inputting said account number into a point of identification terminal;

establishing a communications link between said point of identification terminal and a remote database site, said database site having stored therein an identification database comprising a plurality of identification information units and an identification quality score database comprising a plurality of identification quality scores, wherein each said identification information unit is mapped to at least one account number, said identification information units corresponding to persons authorized to initiate financial transactions using said financial account and wherein each identification quality score is mapped to a corresponding identification information unit;

transmitting said account number from said point of identification terminal to said remote database site over said communications link;

searching said identification database and retrieving at least one identification information unit stored in said identification database, which is mapped to said transmitted account number;

searching said identification quality score database and retrieving said identification quality score assigned to each said retrieved identification information unit;

generating an identification quality indicator for each retrieved identification quality score assigned to each said retrieved identification information unit;

transmitting each said retrieved information unit and each said generated identification quality indicator assigned thereto to said point of identification terminal over said communications link;

comparing each said received identification information unit with a corresponding identification information unit physically presented by the person being identified at said point of identification and determining if a match exists between at least one received identification information unit and said physically presented identification information unit;

displaying at least said identification quality indicator associated with said received identification information unit corresponding to said identification information unit physically presented by the person being identified on a point of identification terminal display;

reviewing said displayed identification quality indicator to identify non cash-based financial transaction where heightened identification scrutiny is required; and

storing said matching identification information unit along with transaction information as a transaction record.

18. The method of assessing the quality of an identification transaction as claimed in claim 17 further comprising the step of adjusting said identification quality score stored in said identification quality score database based on historical data acquired and stored at said remote database site.

19. The method of assessing the quality of an identification transaction as claimed in claim 17, wherein said step of generating an identification quality indicator for each retrieved identification quality score assigned to each said retrieved identification information unit comprises generating a system user command based on each said retrieved identification quality score, each said system user command tailored to instruct a system user as to the level of scrutiny to apply to a particular identification transaction.

20. A system for assessing the quality of an identification transaction comprising:

a remote database site having stored therein an identification database, including a plurality of identification information units corresponding to a plurality of persons to be identified, at least two identification information units corresponding to each said person, and an identification quality score database, including an identification quality score assigned to each identification information unit stored in said identification database;

a point of identification terminal including an input device configured to input a first identification information unit received from a person to be identified at said point of identification terminal, said first identification information unit corresponding to at least one of said plurality of identification information units stored in said identification database at said remote database site, said point of identification terminal further including a display device for displaying at least a second identification information unit and an identification quality score assigned thereto; and

a means for communicating between said point of identification terminal and said remote database site to allow said identification information units and identification quality scores to be transmitted therebetween.

21. The system for assessing the quality of an identification transaction as claimed in claim 20, wherein at least one of said at least two identification information units corresponding to each person being identified comprises a biometric identifier associated with said person.

22. The system for assessing the quality of an identification transaction as claimed in claim 21, wherein said biometric identifier comprises a digital photographic image of said person.