Authentication system by fingerprint

• US 7,457,442 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2006
• Issued: 11/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Mimura, Masahiro, Seto, Yoichi, Ishizuka, Takuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Bella; Matthew C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TUCKER, WESLEY J
• Application Number:
  US11/606,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20070076925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 382/124
• US Class Current: 382/124
• 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 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1365 Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/29 the pass containing active electronic elements, e.g. smartcards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

A fingerprint identification system comprising: an IC card having a tamper-resistance; and a reader/writer having a tamper-resistance for reading/writing information from/into the IC card. In the reader/writer, a fingerprint image, as read by a fingerprint input unit, is preprocessed in a preprocessing unit, and extracted intermediate information is transmitted to the IC card. This IC card compares the intermediate information with the fingerprint information, and makes authentication information usable for an electronic authentication upon matching. By this electronic authentication with applications, the fingerprint identification system, which has a high level of safety and can reduce the cost is provided.

Claims

1. An authentication system for authenticating a user, using the user'"'"'s biological information, comprising:

a mobile storage device of the user; and

an authentication device that communicates with the mobile storage device,

wherein the authentication device comprises;

an interface for sending and receiving information to and from the mobile storage device;

an input device which receives input of the user'"'"'s biological information; and

a processing unit which sends to the mobile storage device, via the interface of the authentication device, a command to request information for specifying a biological information feature, extracts from the biological information input via the input device a biological information feature corresponding to the information for specifying the biological information feature from the mobile storage device, sends the extracted biological information feature to the mobile storage device via the interface of the authentication device, and receives a result of matching of the biological information feature, from the mobile storage device via the interface of the authentication device, and

wherein the mobile storage device comprises;

an interface for sending and receiving information to and from the authentication device;

a storage device which stores the user'"'"'s biological information that is registered in advance, and information for specifying the biological information feature; and

a processing unit which, when the command is received from the authentication device, sends to the authentication device, via the interface of the mobile storage device, information for specifying the biological information feature stored in the storage device, and when the biological information feature corresponding to information for specifying the biological information feature is received from the authentication device, matches the biological information feature from the authentication device and the biological information feature inside the storage device, and sends a result of the matching to the authentication device via the interface of the mobile storage device,

wherein until the result of the matching of the biological information feature satisfies a condition decided in advance, the processing unit of the authentication device repeats, for every biological information feature, sending the command, extracting the biological information feature, sending the extracted biological information feature, and receiving the result of the matching of the biological information feature, and

wherein until the result of the matching of the biological information feature satisfies a condition decided in advance, the processing unit of the mobile storage device repeats, for every biological information feature, sending information for specifying the biological information feature, matching the biological information feature, and sending the result of the matching.

2. An authentication system according to claim 1, wherein the condition decided in advance is that a number of successes of matching of the biological information feature exceeds a threshold.

3. An authentication system according to claim 2,

wherein when matching of the biological information feature succeeds, the processing unit of the mobile storage device increments the number of successes of matching, and

wherein the processing unit of the mobile storage device repeats, for every biological information feature, incrementing the number of successes of matching, until the number of successes of matching of the biological information feature exceeds the threshold.

4. An authentication system according to claim 1,

wherein when matching of the biological information feature succeeds, the processing unit of the mobile storage device judges whether or not a result of matching of the biological information feature satisfies the condition decided in advance, and

wherein the processing unit of the mobile storage device repeats, for every biological information feature, judging whether or not the result of matching of the biological information feature satisfies the condition decided in advance, until the result of matching of the biological information feature satisfies the condition decided in advance.

5. An authentication system according to claim 1, wherein when a result of matching of the biological information feature does not satisfy the condition decided in advance, the processing unit of the mobile storage device includes in the result of the matching, code indicating that matching of the biological information feature is continuing.

6. An authentication system according to claim 1, wherein when a result of matching of the biological information feature satisfies the condition decided in advance, the processing unit of the mobile storage device includes in the result of the matching, code indicating that matching of biological information feature has succeeded.

7. An authentication system according to claim 1, wherein when matching of the biological information feature fails the processing unit of the mobile storage device includes in a result of the matching, code indicating that matching of the biological information feature is continuing.

8. An authentication system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile storage device is an IC card.

9. An authentication system according to claim 1, the mobile storage device further comprising:

a RAM; and

a ROM housing a matching program,

wherein the storage device of the mobile storage device is an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), and

wherein the processing unit of the mobile storage device is a CPU.

10. An authentication system according to claim 1,

wherein the biological information is a fingerprint,

wherein the biological information feature is a feature point of the fingerprint, and

wherein the information for specifying a biological information feature is a coordinate of the feature point of the fingerprint.

12. A mobile storage device according to claim 1, wherein the condition decided in advance is that a number of successes of matching of the biological information feature exceeds a threshold.

13. A mobile storage device according to claim 12,

wherein when which matching of the biological information feature succeeds, the processing unit of the mobile storage device increments the number of successes of matching, and

wherein the processing unit of the mobile storage device repeats, for every biological information feature, incrementing the number of successes of matching, until the number of successes of matching of the biological information feature exceeds the threshold.

11. A mobile storage device for authentication using a user'"'"'s biological information, the mobile storage device communicating with an authentication device which receives input of the user'"'"'s biological information, the mobile storage device comprising:

an interface for sending and receiving information to and from the authentication device;

a storage device which stores the user'"'"'s biological information that is registered in advance, and information for specifying a biological information feature; and

a processing unit,

wherein the authentication device comprises;

an interface for sending and receiving information to and from the mobile storage device;

an input device which receives input of the user'"'"'s biological information; and

a processing unit which sends to the mobile storage device, via the interface of the authentication device, a command to request information for specifying a biological information feature, extracts from the biological information input via the input device a biological information feature corresponding to the information for specifying the biological information feature from the mobile storage device, sends the extracted biological information feature to the mobile storage device via the interface of the authentication device, and receives a result of matching of the biological information feature, from the mobile storage device via the interface of the authentication device,

wherein when the command is received from the authentication device, the processing unit of the mobile storage device sends to the authentication device, via the interface of the processing unit, information for specifying the biological information feature stored in the storage device, and when the biological information feature corresponding to information for specifying the biological information feature is received from the authentication device, the processing unit of the mobile storage device matches the biological information feature from the authentication device and the biological information feature inside the storage device, and sends a result of the matching to the authentication device via the interface of the mobile storage device,

wherein until the result of the matching of the biological information feature satisfies a condition decided in advance, the processing unit of the authentication device repeats, for every biological information feature, sending the command, extracting the biological information feature, sending the extracted biological information feature, and receiving the result of the matching of the biological information feature, and

wherein until the result of the matching of the biological information feature satisfies a condition decided in advance, the processing unit of the mobile storage device repeats, for every biological information feature, sending information for specifying the biological information feature, matching the biological information feature, and sending the result of the matching.

14. A mobile storage device according to claim 11,

wherein when matching of the biological information feature succeeds, the processing unit of the mobile storage device judges whether or not a result of matching of the biological information feature satisfies the condition decided in advance, and

wherein the processing unit of the mobile storage device repeats, for every biological information feature, judging whether or not the result of matching of the biological information feature satisfies the condition decided in advance, until the result of matching of the biological information feature satisfies the condition decided in advance.

15. A mobile storage device according to claim 11, wherein when a result of matching of the biological information feature does not satisfy the condition decided in advance, the processing unit of the mobile storage device includes in the result of the matching, code indicating that matching of the biological information feature is continuing.

16. A mobile storage device according to claim 11, wherein when a result of matching of the biological information feature satisfies the condition decided in advance, the processing unit of the mobile storage device includes in the result of the matching, code indicating that the matching of biological information feature has succeeded.

17. A mobile storage device according to claim 11, wherein when matching of the biological information feature fails, the processing unit of the mobile storage device includes in a result of the matching, code indicating that matching of the biological information feature is continuing.

18. A mobile storage device according to claim 11, wherein the mobile storage device is an IC card.

19. A mobile storage device according to claim 11, wherein the mobile storage device further comprises:

a RAM; and

a ROM housing a matching program,

wherein the storage device of the mobile storage device is an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), and

wherein the processing unit of the mobile storage device is a CPU.

20. A mobile storage device according to claim 11,

wherein the biological information is a fingerprint,

wherein the biological information feature is a feature point of the fingerprint, and

wherein the information for specifying a biological information feature is a coordinate of the feature point of the fingerprint.

21. An authentication device for authenticating a user, using the user'"'"'s biological information, comprising:

an interface for sending and receiving information to and from a mobile storage device of the user;

an input device which receives input of the user'"'"'s biological information; and

a processing unit which sends to the mobile storage device, via the interface of the authentication device, a command to request information for specifying a biological information feature, extracts from the biological information input via the input device a biological information feature corresponding to the information for specifying the biological information feature from the mobile storage device, sends the extracted biological information feature to the mobile storage device via the interface of the authentication device, and receives a result of matching of the biological information feature, from the mobile storage device via the interface of the authentication device;

wherein the mobile storage device comprises;

an interface for sending and receiving information to and from the authentication device;

a storage device which stores the user'"'"'s biological information that is registered in advance, and information for specifying the biological information feature; and

a processing unit which, when the command is received from the authentication device, sends to the authentication device, via the interface of the mobile storage device, information for specifying the biological information feature stored in the storage device, and when the biological information feature corresponding to information for specifying the biological information feature is received from the authentication device, the processing unit of the mobile storage device matches the biological information feature from the authentication device and the biological information feature inside the storage device, and sends a result of the matching to the authentication device via the interface of the mobile storage device,

wherein until the result of the matching of the biological information feature satisfies a condition decided in advance, the processing unit of the authentication device repeats, for every biological information feature, sending the command, extracting the biological information feature, sending the extracted biological information feature, and receiving the result of the matching of the biological information feature, and

wherein until the result of the matching of the biological information feature satisfies a condition decided in advance, the processing unit of the mobile storage device repeats, for every biological information feature, sending information for specifying the biological information feature, matching the biological information feature, and sending the result of the matching.

22. An authentication device according to claim 21, wherein the condition decided in advance is that a number of successes of matching of the biological information feature exceeds a threshold.

23. An authentication device according to claim 22,

wherein when matching of the biological information feature succeeds, the processing unit of the mobile storage device increments the number of successes of matching, and

wherein the processing unit of the mobile storage device repeats, for every biological information feature, incrementing the number of successes of matching, until the number of successes of matching of the biological information feature exceeds the threshold.

24. An authentication device according to claim 21,

wherein when matching of the biological information feature succeeds, the processing unit of the mobile storage device judges whether or not a result of matching of the biological information feature satisfies the condition decided in advance, and

wherein the processing unit of the mobile storage device repeats, for every biological information feature, judging whether or not the result of matching of the biological information feature satisfies the condition decided in advance, until the result of matching of the biological information feature satisfies the condition decided in advance.

25. An authentication device according to claim 21,

wherein when a result of matching of the biological information feature does not satisfy the condition decided in advance, the processing unit of the mobile storage device includes in the result of the matching, code indicating that matching of the biological information feature is continuing.

26. An authentication device according to claim 21, wherein when a result of matching of the biological information feature satisfies the condition decided in advance, the processing unit of the mobile storage device includes in the result of the matching, code indicating that matching of biological information feature has succeeded.

27. An authentication device according to claim 21, wherein when matching of the biological information feature fails, the processing unit of the mobile storage device includes in a result of the matching, code indicating that matching of the biological information feature is continuing.

28. An authentication device according to claim 21, wherein the mobile storage device is an IC card.

29. An authentication device according to claim 21,

wherein the mobile storage device comprises a RAM and a ROM housing a matching program;

wherein the storage device of the mobile storage device is an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory); and

wherein the processing unit of the mobile storage device is a CPU.

30. An authentication device according to claim 21,

wherein the biological information is a fingerprint;

wherein the biological information feature is a feature point of the fingerprint; and

wherein the information for specifying a biological information feature is a coordinate of the feature point of the fingerprint.

31. An authentication system for authenticating a user, using the user'"'"'s biological information, comprising:

a mobile storage device of the user; and

an authentication device that can communicate with the mobile storage device,

wherein the authentication device comprises;

an interface for sending and receiving information to and from the mobile storage device;

an input device which receives input of the user'"'"'s biological information; and

a processing unit which sends the biological information input via the input device to the mobile storage device via the interface of the authentication device, and receives a result of matching of the biological information, from the mobile storage device via the interface of the authentication device,

wherein the mobile storage device comprises;

an interface for sending and receiving information to and from the authentication device;

a storage device which stores the user'"'"'s biological information that is registered in advance; and

a processing unit which, when the biological information is received from the authentication device, matches the biological information from the authentication device and the biological information inside the storage device, and sends a result of the matching to the authentication device via the interface of the mobile storage device,

wherein the processing unit of the mobile storage device judges whether or not a result of matching of the biological information satisfies a condition decided in advance, includes in the result of the matching, code indicating that matching of the biological information is repeating for every biological information feature when a result of matching of the biological information does not satisfy the condition decided in advance, and includes in the result of the matching, code indicating that matching of biological information has succeeded when a result of matching of the biological information satisfies the condition decided in advance.

32. An authentication system according to claim 31, wherein the condition decided in advance is that a number of successes of matching of the biological information exceeds a threshold.

33. An authentication system according to claim 32, wherein when matching of the biological information succeeds, the processing unit of the mobile storage device increments the number of successes of matching.

34. An authentication system according to claim 31, wherein when matching of the biological information succeeds, the processing unit of the mobile storage device judges whether or not a result of matching satisfies the condition decided in advance.

35. An authentication system according to claim 31, wherein when matching of the biological information fails, the processing unit of the mobile storage device includes in a result of the matching, code indicating that matching of the biological information is continuing.

36. An authentication system according to claim 31, wherein the mobile storage device is an IC card.

37. An authentication system according to claim 31,

wherein the mobile storage device comprises a RAM and a ROM housing a matching program,

wherein the storage device of the mobile storage device is an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), and

wherein the processing unit of the mobile storage device is a CPU.

38. An authentication system according to claim 31, wherein the biological information is a fingerprint.

39. A mobile storage device for authentication using a user'"'"'s biological information, the mobile storage device communicating with an authentication device which receives input of the user'"'"'s biological information, the mobile storage device comprising:

an interface for sending and receiving information to and from the authentication device;

a storage device which stores the user'"'"'s biological information that is registered in advance; and

a processing unit,

wherein the authentication device comprises;

an interface for sending and receiving information to and from the mobile storage device;

an input device which receives input of the user'"'"'s biological information; and

a processing unit which sends the biological information input via the input device to the mobile storage device via the interface of the authentication device, and receives a result of matching of the biological information, from the mobile storage device via the interface of the authentication device,

wherein when the biological information is received from the authentication device, the processing unit of the mobile storage device matches the biological information from the authentication device and the biological information inside the storage device, and sends a result of the matching to the authentication device via the interface of the mobile storage device, and

wherein the processing unit of the mobile storage device judges whether or not a result of matching of the biological information satisfies a condition decided in advance, includes in the result of the matching, code indicating that matching of the biological information is repeating for every biological information feature when a result of matching of the biological information does not satisfy the condition decided in advance, and includes in the result of the matching, code indicating that matching of biological information has succeeded when a result of matching of the biological information satisfies the condition decided in advance.

40. A mobile storage device according to claim 39, wherein the condition decided in advance is that a number of successes of matching of the biological information exceeds a threshold.

41. A mobile storage device according to claim 40, wherein when matching of the biological information succeeds, the processing unit of the mobile storage device increments the number of successes of matching.

42. A mobile storage device according to claim 39, wherein when matching of the biological information succeeds, the processing unit of the mobile storage device judges whether or not a result of matching satisfies the condition decided in advance.

43. A mobile storage device according to claim 39, wherein when matching of the biological information fails, the processing unit of the mobile storage device includes in a result of the matching, code indicating that matching of the biological information is continuing.

44. A mobile storage device according to claim 39, wherein the mobile storage device is an IC card.

45. A mobile storage device according to claim 39, wherein the mobile storage device further comprises:

a RAM; and

a ROM housing a matching program,

wherein the storage device of the mobile storage device is an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), and

wherein the storage device of the mobile storage device is a CPU.

46. A mobile storage device according to claim 39, wherein the biological information is a fingerprint.

47. An authentication device for authenticating a user, using the user'"'"'s biological information, comprising:

an interface for sending and receiving information to and from a mobile storage device of the user;

an input device which receives input of the user'"'"'s biological information; and

a processing unit which sends the biological information input via the input device to the mobile storage device via the interface of the authentication device, and receives a result of matching of the biological information, from the mobile storage device via the interface of the authentication device,

wherein the mobile storage device comprises;

an interface for sending and receiving information to and from the authentication device;

a storage device which stores the user'"'"'s biological information that is registered in advance; and

a processing unit which, when the biological information is received from the authentication device, matches the biological information from the authentication device and the biological information inside the storage device, and sends a result of the matching to the authentication device via the interface of the mobile storage device,

wherein the processing unit of the mobile storage device judges whether or not a result of matching of the biological information satisfies a condition decided in advance, includes in the result of the matching, code indicating that matching of the biological information is repeating for every biological information feature when a result of matching of the biological information does not satisfy the condition decided in advance, and includes in the result of the matching, code indicating that matching of biological information has succeeded when a result of matching of the biological information satisfies the condition decided in advance.

48. An authentication device according to claim 47, wherein the condition decided in advance is that a number of successes of matching of the biological information exceeds a threshold.

49. An authentication device according to claim 48, wherein when matching of the biological information succeeds, the processing unit of the mobile storage device increments the number of successes of matching.

50. An authentication device according to claim 47, wherein when matching of the biological information succeeds, the processing unit of the mobile storage device judges whether or not a result of matching satisfies the condition decided in advance.

51. An authentication device according to claim 47, wherein when matching of the biological information fails, the processing unit of the mobile storage device includes in a result of the matching, code indicating that matching of the biological information is continuing.

52. An authentication device according to claim 47, wherein the mobile storage device is an IC card.

53. An authentication device according to claim 47,

wherein the mobile storage device comprises a RAM and a ROM housing a matching program,

wherein the storage device of the mobile storage device is an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory, and

wherein the processing unit of the mobile storage device is a CPU.

54. An authentication device according to claim 47, wherein the biological information is a fingerprint.

55. An authentication system for authenticating a user, using the user'"'"'s biological information, comprising:

a mobile storage device of the user; and

an authentication device that communicates with the mobile storage device,

wherein the authentication device comprises;

an interface for sending and receiving information to and from the mobile storage device;

an input device which receives input of the user'"'"'s biological information; and

a processing unit which sends the biological information input via the input device to the mobile storage device via the interface of the authentication device, and receives a result of matching of the biological information, from the mobile storage device via the interface of the authentication device,

wherein the mobile storage device comprises;

an interface for sending and receiving information to and from the authentication device;

a storage device which stores the user'"'"'s biological information that is registered in advance; and

a processing unit which, when the biological information is received from the authentication device, matches the biological information from the authentication device and the biological information inside the storage device, and sends a result of the matching to the authentication device via the interface of the mobile storage device, and

wherein when matching of the biological information fails, the processing unit of the mobile storage device includes in a result of the matching, code indicating that matching of the biological information is repeating for every biological information feature.

56. An authentication system according to claim 55, wherein

the condition decided in advance is that a number of successes of matching of the biological information exceeds a threshold.

57. An authentication system according to claim 56,

wherein when matching of the biological information succeeds, the processing unit of the mobile storage device increments the number of successes of matching, and

wherein the processing unit of the mobile storage device repeats, for every biological information, incrementing the number of successes of matching, until the number of successes of matching of the biological information exceeds the threshold.

58. An authentication system according to claim 55, wherein when matching of the biological information succeeds, the processing unit of the mobile storage device judges whether or not a result of matching of the biological information satisfies the condition decided in advance.

59. An authentication system according to claim 55, wherein when a result of matching of the biological information does not satisfy the condition decided in advance, the processing unit of the mobile storage device includes in the result of the matching, code indicating that matching of the biological information is continuing.

60. An authentication system according to claim 55, wherein when a result of matching of the biological information satisfies the condition decided in advance, the processing unit of the mobile storage device includes in the result of the matching, code indicating that matching of biological information feature has succeeded.

61. An authentication system according to claim 55, wherein the mobile storage device is an IC card.

62. An authentication system according to claim 55,

wherein the mobile storage device comprises a RAM and a ROM housing a matching program,

wherein the storage device of the mobile storage device is an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), and

wherein the processing unit of the mobile storage device is a CPU.

63. An authentication system according to claim 55, wherein the biological information is a fingerprint.

64. A mobile storage device that can be used for authentication using a user'"'"'s biological information, the mobile storage device communicating with an authentication device which receives input of the user'"'"'s biological information, the mobile storage device comprising:

an interface for sending and receiving information to and from the authentication device;

a storage device which stores the user'"'"'s biological information that is registered in advance; and

a processing unit,

wherein the authentication device comprises;

an interface for sending and receiving information to and from the mobile storage device;

an input device which receives input of the user'"'"'s biological information; and

a processing unit which sends the biological information input via the input device to the mobile storage device via the interface of the authentication device, and receives a result of matching of the biological information, from the mobile storage device via the interface of the authentication device,

wherein when the biological information is received from the authentication device, the processing unit of the mobile storage device matches the biological information from the authentication device and the biological information inside the storage device, and sends a result of the matching to the authentication device via the interface of the mobile storage device,

and wherein when matching of the biological information fails, the processing unit of the mobile storage device includes in a result of the matching, code indicating that matching of the biological information is repeating for every biological information feature.

65. A mobile storage device according to claim 64, wherein the condition decided in advance is that a number of successes of matching of the biological information exceeds a threshold.

66. A mobile storage device according to claim 65,

wherein when matching of the biological information succeeds, the processing unit of the mobile storage device increments the number of successes of matching, and

wherein the processing unit of the mobile storage device repeats, for every biological information, incrementing the number of successes of matching, until the number of successes of matching of the biological information exceeds the threshold.

67. A mobile storage device according to claim 64, wherein when matching of the biological information succeeds, the processing unit of the mobile storage device judges whether or not a result of matching of the biological information satisfies the condition decided in advance.

68. A mobile storage device according to claim 64, wherein when a result of matching of the biological information does not satisfy the condition decided in advance, the processing unit of the mobile storage device includes in the result of the matching, code indicating that matching of the biological information is continuing.

69. A mobile storage device according to claim 64, wherein when a result of matching of the biological information satisfies the condition decided in advance, the processing unit of the mobile storage device includes in the result of the matching, code indicating that matching of biological information feature has succeeded.

70. A mobile storage device according to claim 64, wherein the mobile storage device is an IC card.

71. A mobile storage device according to claim 64, wherein the mobile storage device further comprises:

a RAM; and

a ROM housing a matching program,

wherein the storage device of the mobile storage device is an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), and

wherein the processing unit of the mobile storage device is a CPU.

72. A mobile storage device according to claim 64, wherein the biological information is a fingerprint.

73. An authentication device for authenticating a user, using the user'"'"'s biological information, comprising:

an interface for sending and receiving information to and from a mobile storage device of the user;

an input device which receives input of the user'"'"'s biological information; and

a processing unit which sends the biological information input via the input device to the mobile storage device via the interface of the authentication device, and receives a result of matching of the biological information, from the mobile storage device via the interface of the authentication device,

wherein the mobile storage device comprises;

an interface for sending and receiving information to and from the authentication device;

a storage device which stores the user'"'"'s biological information that is registered in advance; and

a processing unit which, when the biological information is received from the authentication device, matches the biological information from the authentication device and the biological information inside the storage device, and sends a result of the matching to the authentication device via the interface of the mobile storage device, and

wherein when matching of the biological information fails, the processing unit of the mobile storage device includes in a result of the matching, code indicating that matching of the biological information is repeating for every biological information feature.

74. An authentication device according to claim 73, wherein the condition decided in advance is that a number of successes of matching of the biological information exceeds a threshold.

75. An authentication device according to claim 74,

wherein when matching of the biological information succeeds, the processing unit of the mobile storage device increments the number of successes of matching, and

wherein the processing unit of the mobile storage device repeats, for every biological information, incrementing the number of successes of matching, until the number of successes of matching of the biological information exceeds the threshold.

76. An authentication device according to claim 73, wherein when matching of the biological information succeeds, the processing unit of the mobile storage device judges whether or not a result of matching of the biological information satisfies the condition decided in advance.

77. An authentication device according to claim 73, wherein when a result of matching of the biological information does not satisfy the condition decided in advance, the processing unit of the mobile storage device includes in the result of the matching, code indicating that matching of the biological information is continuing.

78. An authentication device according to claim 73, wherein when a result of matching of the biological information satisfies the condition decided in advance, the processing unit of the mobile storage device includes in the result of the matching, code indicating that matching of biological information feature has succeeded.

79. An authentication device according to claim 73, wherein the mobile storage device is an IC card.

80. An authentication device according to claim 73,

wherein the mobile storage device comprises a RAM and a ROM housing a matching program,

wherein the storage device of the mobile storage device is an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), and

wherein the processing unit of the mobile storage device is a CPU.

81. An authentication device according to claim 73, wherein the biological information is a fingerprint.