Methods, systems, and products for identity verification

• US 8,095,974 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2007
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Aaron, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barron, Jr., Gilberto
• Assistant Examiner(s): KANAAN, SIMON P
• Application Number:
  US11/710,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20080209543A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,782 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 726/17
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/126 the source of the received data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for identification verification. A signature, representing the presence of a device, is acquired. The signature is compared to a reference signature. When the signature favorably compares to the reference signature, then the identity of a user associated with the device is verified.

Claims

1. A method of verifying an identity of a person, comprising:

receiving a request for verification from a device, the request for verification comprising a set of rules supplied by a requestor that determines how strictly the identity of the person is verified;

retrieving a signature associated with the device;

determining the signature is stale;

acquiring multiple signatures from the device representing presences of multiple devices;

comparing only the multiple signatures to a constellation of reference signatures historically received from the device according to the set of rules; and

when the multiple signatures match the constellation of reference signatures, then verifying the identity of the person carrying the device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein comparing only the multiple signatures comprises comparing the multiple signatures to an historical signature.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein when the multiple signatures match the historical signature, then verifying the identity of the person.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising declining to verify the identity of the person when the multiple signatures do not match the constellation of reference signatures.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein acquiring the multiple signatures comprises acquiring transponder signals from multiple articles.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising querying for the constellation of reference signatures based on at least one of a date, a time, and a location.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising sending a verification message that verifies the identity of the person.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising permitting a percentage variation between the multiple signatures and the constellation of reference signatures.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising associating the constellation of reference signatures to a wireless phone.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising requiring presence of a signature in the multiple signatures to verify the identity of the person.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein acquiring the multiple signatures comprises acquiring unique identification numbers that represent presences of multiple radio frequency identification devices, and

wherein comparing the multiple signatures comprises comparing the unique identification numbers to at least one reference number historically associated with the constellation of reference signatures;

and

when the unique identification numbers match the at least one reference number, then verifying the identity of the person.

12. A system for verifying identity, comprising:

a processor executing code stored in memory that causes the processor to;

receive a request for verification from a device, the request for verification comprising a set of rules supplied by a requestor that specifies a membership set for a work day for verifying the identity of a single user;

retrieve a signature associated with the device;

determine the signature is stale;

acquire a new set of identification numbers sent by the device that represent presences of multiple radio frequency identification devices;

query a database of signatures that stores identification numbers that have been historically received from the device on the work day;

retrieve an historical set of identification numbers that are historically associated with the device on the work day;

match the new set of identification numbers to the historical set of identification numbers;

verify the identity of the single user when the new set of identification numbers matches the historical set of identification numbers on the work day; and

authorize a financial transaction using the identity of the single user carrying the device.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the code further causes the processor to retrieve a membership rule describing an identification number that must be present in the set of identification numbers.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein when the set of identification numbers does not match the historical set of identification numbers, then the code further causes the processor to decline to authorize the transaction.

15. The system according to claim 12, wherein the code further causes the processor to retrieve a membership rule describing multiple identification numbers that must be present in the set of identification numbers.

16. The system according to claim 12, wherein the code further causes the processor to retrieve a membership rule according to a location of the device.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer-readable instructions for performing a method, the method comprising:

receiving a request for verification from a device, the request for verification comprising a set of rules supplied by a requestor that specifies a membership set for a work day for verifying the identity of a single user;

retrieving a signature associated with the device;

determining the signature is stale;

acquiring a new set of identification numbers sent by the device that represent presences of multiple radio frequency identification devices;

querying a database of signatures that stores identification numbers that have been historically received from the device on the work day;

retrieving an historical set of identification numbers associated with the device;

comparing the set of identification numbers to the historical set of identification numbers;

verifying the identify of the single user when the new set of identification numbers matches the historical set of identification numbers; and

authorizing a financial transaction using the identity of the single user associated with the device.

18. The computer readable medium according to claim 17, further comprising instructions for retrieving a rule associated that specifies an identification number that must be present in the set of identification numbers.

19. The computer readable medium according to claim 17, further comprising instructions for when the new set of identification numbers do not match the historical set of identification numbers, then declining to authorize the financial transaction.

20. The computer readable medium according to claim 17, further comprising instructions for:

receiving location coordinates; and

requiring identification numbers in the set of identification numbers when the location coordinates match a work facility.