Biometric financial transaction system and method

• US 7,970,678 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2009
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Open Invention Network LLC
• Original Assignee: Open Invention Network LLC
• Inventors: Lapsley, Philip D., Gioia, Philip J., Kleeman, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Colbert; Ella
• Assistant Examiner(s): Malhotra; Sanjeev
• Application Number:
  US12/423,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20090205033A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 705/3, 705/67, 705/75, 705/76, 715/811, 713/186, 379/145, 382/100, 382/115, 382/126, 235/492, 435/5, 380/258, 702/104
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3821 Electronic credentials
• 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: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Tokenless biometric authorization of transaction between a consumer and a merchant uses an identicator and an access device. A consumer registers with the identicator a biometric sample taken from the consumer. The consumer and merchant establish communications via the access device. The merchant proposes a transaction to the consumer via the access device. The access device communicates to the merchant associated with the access device. After the consumer and merchant have agreed on the transaction, the consumer and the identicator use the access device to establish communications. The access device communicates to the identicator the code associated with the access device. The identicator compares biometric sample from the consumer with registered biometric sample. Upon successful identification, the identicator forwards information regarding the consumer to the merchant. These steps accomplish a biometrically authorized electronic financial transaction without the consumer having to present any personalized man-made memory tokens.

Claims

1. A system for a triangular transaction involving tokenless biometric authorization of a commercial transaction between a consumer and a merchant, comprising:

sequentially using an electronic identicator, comprising at least one computer further comprising at least one database wherein the consumer registers at least one registration biometric sample taken directly from the consumer'"'"'s person;

an access device capable of establishing communications between the consumer and the merchant, and between the consumer and the electronic identicator, and further comprising biometric input means, said access device not being required to contain in memory any data that is personalized to the consumer;

a transaction forwarding means, wherein the merchant forwards information regarding the commercial transaction to the electronic identicator;

first communication means for enabling communications between the consumer and the merchant, including transmission of an access device identification code to the merchant;

second communication means for enabling communications between the merchant and the electronic identicator, including transmission of transaction information between the merchant and the electronic identicator;

an identification code forwarding means, wherein the merchant communicates to the electronic identicator the identification code associated with the access device that was previously communicated to the merchant;

third communication means for enabling communications between the consumer and the electronic identicator, and capable of transmission of the access device identification code and a bid biometric sample obtained by the access device from the person of the consumer to the electronic identicator;

a comparator engine for comparing a bid biometric sample to the at least one registration biometric sample; and

an association means, wherein the identification code associated with the access device is used to associate the bid biometric sample comparison accomplished by the comparator engine with the information regarding the commercial transaction;

an execution module for authorizing a transfer of a transaction amount from a financial account of the consumer to a financial account of the payor;

a financial transaction authorization step, wherein the electronic identicator executes a financial transaction on behalf of the merchant;

wherein a financial transaction is conducted without the consumer being required to possess any man-made tokens containing information in memory that is personalized to the consumer.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the execution module is located at the merchant.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the execution module is located at the electronic identicator.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the execution module is operated by a third-party financial transaction processor.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the electronic identicator'"'"'s database stores at least one of the items in the set comprising:

a consumer'"'"'s name, a consumer'"'"'s age, a consumer'"'"'s address, a financial account identifier belonging to a consumer.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the access device biometric input means is selected from the set comprising:

a microphone for voice input, a finger image scanner for fingerprint input, a camera for facial image input, an iris scanner for inputting an image of the iris, a retinal scanner for inputting an image of the retina.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the bid biometric sample is selected from the set comprising:

a finger image, a facial image, a retinal image, an iris image, a voiceprint.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the registration biometric sample is selected from the set comprising:

a finger image, a facial image, a retinal image, an iris image, a voiceprint.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the communication means is selected from the set comprising:

a wired telephone connection, a wireless telephone connection, a wireless digital communications system, a packet-switched communication system, a circuit-switched communication system.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the access device is selected from the set comprising:

a wireline telephone, a wireless telephone, a two-way pager, a personal digital assistant, a personal computer.