Certified digital photo authentication system

• US 7,207,480 B1
• Filed: 09/02/2004
• Issued: 04/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Geddes, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, SEUNG H
• Application Number:
  US10/932,994
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 902/2, 902/22, 713/186
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3274 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being displayed on the M-device
• 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: G07C 9/253 visually
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration

Abstract

A system is described for providing certified digital photos as a form of photo identification. In an m-wallet transaction, a vendor requests photo identification from the user of a mobile station, such as a mobile telephone or smart card. In response to the request, the mobile station displays a digital image of an authorized user of the mobile station. The mobile station also displays a trust-certification indicator to indicate to the vendor that the image is authentic. The mobile station may retrieve the image of the authorized user, together with a trust-certification, from a service provider.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

wirelessly receiving into a mobile station (i) a digital image of a user of the mobile station and (ii) a trust-certification authenticating the digital image; and

when the mobile station is thereafter being used to engage in an m-wallet transaction, the mobile station presenting as a form of picture-ID (i) the digital image and (ii) an indication of the trust-certification.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the trust-certification comprises the trust-certification.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of trust-certification comprises a watermark in the digital image.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the indication of the trust-certification comprises:

wirelessly transmitting to a vendor terminal a signal that causes the vendor terminal to present the indication of trust-certification.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the digital image and the indication of the trust-certification comprises:

displaying both the digital image and the indication on a display screen of the mobile station.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the digital image and the indication of the trust-certification comprises:

displaying the digital image on a display screen; and

lighting an LED as the indication of trust-certification.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

a service provider capturing the digital image and sending the digital image to the mobile station.

8. A method carried out by a mobile station, the method comprising:

detecting that the mobile station is being presented to a vendor at a point of sale; and

responsively displaying on a display screen of the mobile station a digital image of a person authorized to use the mobile station wherein said digital image is received wirelessly.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

displaying, in association with the digital image, a trust-indication.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising transmitting payment information from the mobile station to the vendor.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

wirelessly receiving the digital image into the mobile station before the mobile station is presented to the vendor at the point of sale.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein detecting that the mobile station is being presented to the vendor at the point of sale comprises:

wirelessly receiving into the mobile station a vendor request to provide payment information.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein detecting that the mobile station is being presented to the vendor at the point of sale comprises:

receiving into the mobile station a user-authorization for the mobile station to convey payment information to the vendor.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein detecting that the mobile station is being presented to the vendor at the point of sale comprises:

detecting that the mobile station has conveyed payment information to the vendor.

15. A mobile station comprising:

a wireless communication interface;

a display screen;

a processor;

data storage;

program instructions stored in the data storage and executable by the processor (i) to detect when the mobile station is being presented to a vendor at a point of sale and (ii) to responsively display on the display screen a digital image of a person authorized to operate the mobile station wherein said digital image is received wirelessly.

16. The mobile station of claim 15, wherein the program instructions are executable by the processor to detect when the mobile station is presented to the vendor at the point of sale by carrying out a process comprising:

detecting that the mobile station has received a signal from the vendor requesting payment information.

17. The mobile station of claim 15, wherein the program instructions are executable by the processor to detect when the mobile station is presented to the vendor at the point of sale by carrying out a process comprising:

detecting that the mobile station has received user authorization to provide payment information to the vendor.

18. The mobile station of claim 15, wherein the program instructions are executable by the processor to detect when the mobile station is presented to the vendor at the point of sale by carrying out a process comprising:

detecting that the mobile station has sent a signal to the vendor providing payment information.

19. The mobile station of claims 15, wherein the program instructions are further executable by the processor to receive the (i) digital image and (ii) a trust-certification authenticating the digital image.

20. The mobile station of claim 19, wherein the program instructions are further executable to present, in conjunction with the digital image, an indication of the trust-certification.

21. The mobile station of claim 20, wherein the indication of the trust-certification comprises the trust-certification.

22. The mobile station of claim 20, wherein the indication of the trust-certification comprises a lighted LED.

23. The mobile station of claim 20, wherein the indication of the trust-certification comprises a watermark in the digital image.