System for identifying an individual, a method for identifying an individual or a business method

• US 7,836,491 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2001
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Koyama, Jun, Yamazaki, Shunpei
• Primary Examiner(s): Henning; Matthew T
• Application Number:
  US09/842,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20020001400A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,491 Days
• Field of Search: 713/202, 713/184, 713/186, 340 552- 553, 340 582- 584, 902/3, 726/5, 726/6
• US Class Current: 726/6
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/13 Sensors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231

Abstract

An individual may be identified by using a portable communication device. Biological information of the user is input into the communication device. The inputted biological information of the user is checked with reference biological information previously stored in the portable communication device. The portable communication device is connected to the Internet after the inputted biological information of the user and the reference biological information have matched. Then information that the inputted biological information of the user and the reference biological information have matched is transmitted to a server from the portable communication device.

Claims

1. A system for identifying a client, the system comprising a server and a portable communication device,

wherein the portable communication device comprises:

a switch for turning on the portable communication device;

a nonvolatile memory for storing at least one reference biological information of the client using the portable communication device, the stored biological information being stored in the nonvolatile memory prior to turning on the portable communication device;

a sensor for reading at least one biological information of the client after using the switch to turn on the portable communication device;

a checking circuit for performing an identification process to confirm an identity of the client by checking the read biological information with the stored biological information, wherein the checking circuit is configured to complete the identification of the client if the read biological information matches with the stored reference biological information; and

a transmitting circuit for transmitting information that the identification of the client is completed and the identity of the client is confirmed to the server,

wherein the portable communication device is configured to complete the identification of the client without a necessity of exchanging data between the portable communication device and the server, and

wherein the server is configured to transmit the information that the identification of the client is completed to a final end of transaction configured to start a transaction with the client conditioned upon receipt of the information that the identification of the client is completed, and

wherein a personal identification number information is sent to the server after transmitting the information that the identification of the client is completed to the server, and the stored biological information is rewritable if the personal identification number matches with a number stored at the server and is not rewritable if the personal identification number does not match with the number stored at the server.

2. A system for identifying a client according to claim 1, wherein the nonvolatile memory stores a plurality of reference biological information of the client, and wherein the checking circuit is configured to complete the identification of the client if the read biological information has matched with at least one of the stored plurality of reference biological information to the server.

3. A system for identifying a client according to claim 2, wherein the sensor reads the plurality of biological information of the client, and wherein the checking circuit is configured to complete the identification of the client if each of the plurality of read biological information has matched with at least one of the plurality of stored reference biological information.

4. A system for identifying a client according to claim 1, wherein the information that the identification of the client is completed and the identity of the client is confirmed is transmitted to the server through the Internet.

5. A system for identifying a client according to claim 1, wherein the read biological information is one selected from the group consisting of a fingerprint, a palm pattern and a voice print.

6. A system for identifying a client according to claim 5, wherein the palm pattern is a whole pattern of the palm or a pattern of a part of the palm.

7. A system for identifying a client according to claim 1, wherein the sensor includes one of a photodiode and a CCD.

8. A system for identifying a client according to claim 1, wherein the portable communication device is a portable information terminal.

9. A system for identifying a client according to claim 1, wherein the portable communication device is a portable telephone.

10. A system for identifying a client according to claim 1, wherein the portable communication device is a personal computer.

11. A method for identifying a client, said method comprising steps of:

turning on a portable communication device;

reading at least one biological information of the client by a sensor in the portable communication device after turning on the portable communication device;

performing an identification process by a checking circuit in the portable communication device to confirm an identity of the client by checking the read biological information with at least one stored reference biological information of the client, the stored reference biological information being stored in a nonvolatile memory in the portable communication device prior to turning on the portable communication device;

using the checking circuit to complete the identification of the client if the read biological information matches with the stored reference biological information;

and transmitting information that the identification of the client is completed and the identity of the client is confirmed from the portable communication device to a server,

wherein the identification of the client is completed without a necessity of exchanging data between the portable communication device and a server,

wherein the server is configured to transmit the information that the identification of the client is completed to a final end of transaction configured to start a transaction with the client conditioned upon receipt of the information that the identification of the client is completed, and

wherein a personal identification number information is sent to the server after transmitting the information that the identification of the client is completed to the server, and the stored biological information is rewritable if the personal identification number matches with a number stored at the server and is not rewritable if the personal identification number does not match with the number stored at the server.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the nonvolatile memory stores a plurality of reference biological information of the client.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the checking is performed between each of a plurality of read biological information and at least one of the plurality of stored biological information.

14. A method according to claim 11, wherein the information that the identification of the client is completed and the identity of the client is confirmed is transmitted to the server through the Internet.

15. A method according to claim 11, wherein the read biological information is one selected from the group consisting of a fingerprint, a palm pattern and a voice print.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the palm pattern is one of a whole pattern of the palm and a part pattern of the palm.

17. A method according to claim 11, wherein the portable communication device is a portable information terminal.

18. A method according to claim 11, wherein the portable communication device is a portable telephone.

19. A method according to claim 11, wherein the portable communication device is a personal computer.

20. A business method using Internet, said business method comprising:

identifying a client by an identifying element loaded in a portable communication device; and

controlling a communication between the client and a plurality of dealers by a control element in a server;

wherein said identifying step comprises;

storing at least one reference biological information of the client in a nonvolatile memory in the portable communication device prior to turning on the portable communication device;

turning on the portable communication device;

reading at least one biological information of the client after turning on the portable communication device; and

performing an identification process to confirm the identity of the client by checking the read biological information with the at least one stored reference biological information stored in the nonvolatile memory in the portable communication device;

using the portable communication device to complete the identification of the client if the read biological information matches with the stored reference biological information; and

transmitting information that the identification of the client is completed and the identity of the client is confirmed from the identifying element to the control element,

wherein the identifying step is completed without a necessity of exchanging data between the portable communication device and the server, and

wherein said controlling step comprises;

admitting the communication between the client and the plurality of dealers after identifying the client by the identifying element; and

providing a password to the client, and

wherein the server is configured to transmit the information that the identification of the client is completed and the identity of the client is confirmed to a final end of transaction configured to start a transaction with the client conditioned upon receipt of the information that identification of the client is completed and the identity of the client is confirmed, and

wherein a personal identification number information is sent to the server after transmitting the information that the identification of the client is completed to the server, and the stored biological information is rewritable if the personal identification number matches with a number stored at the server and is not rewritable if the personal identification number does not match with the number stored at the server.

21. A business method according to claim 20, wherein the read biological information is one selected from the group consisting of a fingerprint, a palm pattern and a voice print.

22. A business method according to claim 21, wherein the palm pattern is one of a whole pattern of the palm and a part pattern of the palm.

23. A business method according to claim 20, wherein the portable communication device is a portable information terminal.

24. A business method according to claim 20, wherein the portable communication device is a portable telephone.

25. A business method according to claim 20, wherein the portable communication device is a personal computer.

26. A system for identifying an individual to identify a client, said system comprising a portable communication device having:

an activation means for turning on the portable communication device;

a storing means for storing a reference biological information of the client prior to turning on the portable communication device;

a reading means for reading a biological information of the client after turning on the portable communication device;

a checking means for performing an identification process to confirm an identity of the client by checking the read biological information with the stored biological information and completing the identification of the client if the read biological information matches with the stored reference biological information; and

a transmitting means for transmitting information to a server that the identification of the client is completed and the identity of the client is confirmed,

wherein the checking means is configured to complete the identification of the client without a necessity of exchanging data with the server, and

wherein a personal identification number information is sent to the server after transmitting the information that the identification of the client is completed to the server, and the stored biological information is rewritable if the personal identification number matches with a number stored at the server and is not rewritable if the personal identification number does not match with the number stored at the server.

27. A method for identifying an individual to identify a client, said method comprising:

storing at least one reference biological information of the client in a portable communication device prior to turning on the portable communication device;

reading a biological information of the client after turning on the portable communication device;

performing an identification process at the portable communication device to confirm the identity of the client by checking the read biological information with the at least one stored reference biological information of the client and completing the identification of the client if the read biological information matches with the stored reference biological information,

wherein the identification process is completed without a necessity of a communication with a server, and

wherein information that the identification of the client is completed and the identity of the client is confirmed is transmitted to the server after identifying the client, and

wherein a personal identification number information is sent to the server after transmitting the information that the identification of the client is completed to the server, and the stored biological information is rewritable if the personal identification number matches with a number stores at the server and is not rewritable if the personal identification number does not match with the number stored at the server.