Apparatus, methods and computer program products for biometric confirmation of location-based tracking

• US 7,764,812 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2006
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wantage Technologies LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: McQuaide, Arnold Chester Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Werner; Brian P
• Application Number:
  US11/551,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20080095409A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,373 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 382115-127
• US Class Current: 382/124
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0261 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect trespassing over a fixed physical boundary, e.g. the end of a garden
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0272 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect exact location of child or item using triangulation other than GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus, methods and/or systems for providing location based tracking with biometric confirmation. Some embodiments can include, a location identifier configured to determine the geographical location of the device and a biometric identifier configured to determine an identity of a proximate person who is proximate the device and generate an identity validation value corresponding to the identity.

Claims

1. A method of biometric confirmation in location-based tracking, the method comprising:

storing, in a setup operation of a remote device, reference biometric data of a user;

locating the remote device using a wireless communication technique;

receiving, into the remote device, biometric data corresponding to a proximate person;

comparing the received biometric data with the stored biometric data to confirm an identity of the proximate person; and

validating the identity of the user based on results of the comparing,

wherein receiving biometric data includes initiating a countdown timer corresponding to a user response time to provide the biometric data and generating a confirmation report based on a previously logged validation responsive to the countdown timer.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a confirmation report corresponding to results of the comparing; and

transmitting the confirmation report to a recipient;

wherein the confirmation report comprises;

a validation value that is correspondent to whether the proximate individual is the user;

a location of the remote device; and

a time stamp, configured to identify the time and date that the biometric data is received.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising transmitting the received biometric data from the remote device to an external device,

wherein storing reference biometric data of a user comprises storing the reference biometric data in the external device, and

wherein comparing the received biometric data with the stored biometric data to confirm the identity of the proximate person is performed in the external device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising logging, in the remote device, a validation value, a validation location, and a validation time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving biometric data comprises:

before initiating the countdown timer, prompting the user to provide the biometric data.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a query from a recipient;

verifying the identity of the recipient; and

generating a confirmation report corresponding to the validating; and

transmitting the confirmation report to the recipient.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating an alert report if the remote device traverses an approved geographical boundary, wherein the alert report comprises the location of the remote device; and

transmitting the alert report to a recipient.

8. A system for providing location based tracking with biometric confirmation, comprising:

a location module in a remote device configured to determine a location of the remote device;

an identification module in the remote device configured to use biometric data to validate a user identification and proximity to the remote device at the location;

a report module configured to generate a report corresponding to the location and the user identification; and

a communication module configured to receive query data from a recipient and to transmit the report to the recipient,

wherein the report module is further configured to generate a confirmation report based on a previously logged validation responsive to a countdown timer.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the identification module comprises:

a storage module configured to store biometric profile data of at least one user;

a detection module configured to receive biometric data from the at least one user; and

an evaluation module configured to compare the received biometric data with the stored biometric profile data and generate a validation value that corresponds to a correlation between the received biometric data and the stored biometric data.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the detection module comprises:

a prompt generator configured to provide the user with a prompt to provide biometric data; and

a biometric input device configured to collect the biometric data.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the biometric input device comprises a fingerprint scanner configured to receive image data corresponding to a fingerprint of the user.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the communication module is further configured to transmit the report responsive to receipt of updated location and/or biometric data.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the communication module is further configured to transmit an alert report if the location of the remote device is not in a first location zone and to transmit the alert report if the location of the remote device is in a second location zone, wherein the first location zone comprises an approved zone and the second location zone comprises a restricted zone.

14. The system of claim 8, further comprising a tracking module configured to store historical report data comprising location data, a validation value, and a timestamp.

15. An portable device for providing location based tracking with biometric confirmation, the portable device comprising:

a location identifier in the portable device configured to determine a geographical location of the portable device; and

a biometric identifier in the portable device configured to determine an identity of a proximate person who is proximate to the portable device and to generate an identity validation value corresponding to the identity of the proximate person,

wherein the biometric identifier is further configured;

to prompt the proximate person to provide biometric data,

to initiate a countdown timer corresponding to a response time to provide the biometric data; and

to generate a confirmation report based on a previously logged validation responsive to the countdown timer.

16. The portable device of claim 15, further comprising a location data transmitter configured to transmit the geographical location of the portable device and the identity validation value to a recipient.

17. The portable device of claim 16, further comprising a receiver configured to receive a query from the recipient, wherein the location data transmitter transmits responsive to the query.

18. The portable device of claim 15, wherein the biometric identifier further comprises:

a data storage device configured to store biometric profile data corresponding to the user;

a biometric data detector configured to collect proximate person biometric data; and

an identity evaluator configured to compare the biometric profile data with the collected proximate person biometric data to determine if the proximate person is the user.

19. The portable device of claim 15, wherein the biometric identifier comprises a retinal scanner.

20. The portable device of claim 15, further comprising:

a first function module configured to provide a function that is different from the location identifier and the biometric identifier; and

a non-identifier interface that is configured to receive input from the proximate person related to a first function, wherein a biometric detector is integrated into the non-identifier interface.