Transaction authentication card

• US 7,543,156 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2004
• Issued: 06/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Resilent LLC (Gabriel Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Resilent LLC (Gabriel Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Campisi, Steven E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh; Ayaz R
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHEN, SHIN HON
• Application Number:
  US10/844,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20070220273A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,847 Days
• Field of Search: 713/169, 713/186, 340/5.53, 340/5.6, 705/51
• US Class Current: 713/186
• 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 20/3574 Multiple applications on card
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/367 involving electronic purses or money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/12 Fingerprints or palmprints
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/26 using a biometric sensor integrated in the pass
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/086 by passive credit-cards adapted therefor, e.g. constructive particularities to avoid counterfeiting, e.g. by inclusion of a physical or chemical security-layer for security documents G07D7/00; for the reading of record-carriers in general G06K7/00; for the design of coded credit-cards G06K19/10
• 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 transaction authentication card uses a biometric input and a wireless output. The biometric input may be a sensor pad on the transaction authentication card that measures blood flow patterns, temperature, and/or fingerprint patterns to identify a user to permit access. The transaction authentication card is preferably substantially rigid, but may be formed to have some flexibility. Power to the transaction authentication card may be accomplished through an internal battery that is optionally rechargeable. Biometric data is stored on the card only and used for user verification. Biometric data will not be transferred from the card. If authorized biometric data is authenticated the card will transmit a wireless access code to a proximity reader or transaction equipment.

Claims

1. A method, executable by a transaction authentication card including a biometric sensor, processor and memory for enrolling a user, comprising:

activating a user enrollment mode of said transaction authentication card upon detection of a wireless signal, said activating a user enrollment mode including initiating power for said transaction authentication card from a battery;

receiving a biometric of a user, said biometric is received when a finger of said user is placed upon a biometric sensor of said transaction authentication card;

providing an alert when said biometric of said user is properly received;

transforming said biometric into data, said data being representative of said biometric; and

storing data in a memory of said transaction authentication card, whereby said user is enrolled for use of said transaction authentication card, wherein said user is enrolled for use of said transaction authentication card without employment of a device external to said transaction authentication card.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising providing an alert when said biometric of said user is not properly received.

3. A method, executed by a transaction authentication card, for granting access to a user in a system employing a security module and the transaction authentication card, comprising:

activating a user enrollment mode of said transaction authentication card upon detection of a wireless signal, said activating a user enrollment mode including initiating power for said transaction authentication card from a battery;

enrolling a biometric of a user, said enrolling of said biometric performed exclusively on said transaction authentication card and creating a stored biometric data;

receiving the biometric of the user via the transaction authentication card, said biometric is received when a finger of said user is placed upon a biometric sensor of said transaction authentication card;

enabling an operation mode of said transaction authentication card;

validating said biometric to determine if the biometric matches an authenticated user, wherein said validating said biometric to determine if biometric matches an authenticated user includes;

transforming said biometric into data, said data being representative of said biometric; and

determining if data matches the stored biometric data in a memory of said transaction authentication card;

receiving a signal from said security module; and

sending a authentication signal to said security module when said biometric is validated and said signal has been received by said transaction authentication card, the authentication signal being based upon the biometric of said user.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said authentication signal is sent to said security module via a wireless connection.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3, further providing a visual indication if received biometric is validated.

6. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein data being representative of said biometric is a set of minutia points.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said authentication signal sent by said transaction authentication card is based upon said set of minutia points.

8. A transaction authentication card, comprising:

a body for at least partially encompassing a circuit board;

a biometric sensor communicatively coupled with the circuit board and disposed in the body, the biometric sensor for sensing a biometric feature of a user;

a memory disposed upon the circuit board in the body, the memory for storage of biometric data;

a battery disposed within said body for providing power to said transaction authentication card;

a processor disposed upon the circuit board in the body, the processor communicatively coupled with the memory and the biometric sensor, the processor for retrieving stored biometric data from the memory, the processor exclusively performing enrollment of the biometric feature of the user subsequent to activating a user enrollment mode of said transaction authentication card upon detection of a wireless signal, said activating a user enrollment mode including initiating power for said transaction authentication card from said battery;

a security device disposed within the body, the security device erases data from said memory when said body is opened; and

a wireless transmitter capable of generating a wireless authentication signal, wherein said wireless authentication signal is transmitted on a one-to-one validation of the biometric feature, the wireless authentication signal being based upon a set of minutia points.

9. The transaction authentication card as claimed in claim 8, wherein said biometric data is encrypted during storage within said memory.

10. The transaction authentication card as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a visual indicator.

11. The transaction authentication card as claimed in claim 10, wherein said visual indicator is suitable for indicating when said biometric feature is received by said transaction authentication card.

12. The transaction authentication card as claimed in claim 8, wherein said wireless authentication signal is generated when a signal from a security module has been received.

13. The transaction authentication card as claimed in claim 8, wherein said security device includes a light sensitive diode.

14. The transaction authentication card as claimed in claim 13, wherein said security device erases data from said memory when said light sensitive diode is exposed to light.