Fraud resistant biometric financial transaction system and method

• US 8,818,052 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2012
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EyeLock LLC (VOXX International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EyeLock Inc. (VOXX International Corporation)
• Inventors: Hoyos, Hector T., Hanna, Keith J.
• Primary Examiner(s): STREGE, JOHN B
• Application Number:
  US13/598,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20120321141A1
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 382/117, 382/124
• US Class Current: 382/117
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1382 Detecting the live character of the finger, i.e. distinguishing from a fake or cadaver finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/16 Human faces, e.g. facial parts, sketches or expressions
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/18 Eye characteristics, e.g. of the iris
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/45 Detection of the body part being alive

Abstract

A method and system for authenticating financial transactions is disclosed wherein biometric data is acquired from a person and the probability of liveness of the person and probability of a match between the person or token and known biometric or token information are calculated, preferably according to a formula D=P(p)*(K+P(m)) , wherein K is a number between 0.1 and 100, and authenticating if the value of D exceeds a predetermined value.

Claims

1. A method for authorizing a transaction, comprising:

acquiring biometric data from a person in connection with a transaction;

determining a probability of liveness, P1, of the person, and a probability of match, P2, between the person and data acquired from known individuals; and

providing an authorization decision based on a combination of P1 and P2, the combination emphasizing the contribution of P1 in moving the authorization decision towards acceptance of the transaction.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining P1 and P2 such that means for determining P1 is less sensitive, as compared to means for determining P2, to conditions out of the control of either means.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining P1 and P2 such that means for determining P1 is less sensitive, as compared to a means for determining P2, to illumination changes or orientation of the person.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising moving the authorization decision towards acceptance of the transaction if P1 comprises a value that is near to 1.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising authorizing the transaction if P1 comprises a value that is near to 1, and P2 comprises a value of about 0.25 or greater.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising authorizing the transaction if P1 and P2 are above a threshold, authorizing the transaction if P1 is above the threshold and P2 is below the threshold, and not authorizing the transaction if P1 and P2 are below the threshold.

7. A system for authorizing a transaction, comprising:

a sensor acquiring biometric data from a person in connection with a transaction;

a biometric module;

determining a probability of liveness, P1, of the person, and a probability of match, P2, between the person and data acquired from known individuals; and

providing an authorization decision based on a combination of P1 and P2, the combination emphasizing the contribution of P1 in moving the authorization decision towards acceptance of the transaction.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the biometric module comprises means for determining P1 and P2 such that the means for determining P1 is less sensitive, as compared to the means for determining P2, to conditions out of the control of either means.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the biometric module comprises means for determining P1 and P2 such that the means for determining P1 is less sensitive, as compared to the means for determining P2, to illumination changes or orientation of the person.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the biometric module moves the authorization decision towards acceptance of the transaction if P1 comprises a value that is near to 1.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the biometric module authorizes the transaction if P1 comprises a value that is near to 1, and P2 comprises a value of about 0.25 or greater.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the biometric module authorizes the transaction if P1 and P2 are above a threshold, authorizes the transaction if P1 is above the threshold and P2 is below the threshold, and does not authorize the transaction if P1 and P2 are below the threshold.

13. A method for authorizing a transaction, comprising:

acquiring biometric data from a person in connection with a transaction;

determining a probability of liveness, P1, of the person, and a probability of match, P2, between the person and data acquired from known individuals, wherein means for determining P1 is less sensitive, as compared to means for determining P2, to conditions out of the control of either means; and

providing an authorization decision for the transaction based on a combination of P1 and P2.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein providing the authorization decision comprises providing the authorization decision based on a combination of P1 and P2, the combination emphasizing the contribution of P1 to the combination.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein providing the authorization decision comprises providing the authorization decision based on the combination of P1 and P2, the combination emphasizing the contribution of P1 in moving the authorization decision towards acceptance of the transaction.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein determining P1 and P2 comprises determining P1 and P2 such that means for determining P1 is less sensitive, as compared to a means for determining P2, to illumination changes or orientation of the person.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising moving the authorization decision towards acceptance of the transaction if P1 comprises a value that is near to 1.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising authorizing the transaction if P1 comprises a value that is near to 1, and P2 comprises a value of about 0.25 or greater.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising authorizing the transaction if P1 and P2 are above a threshold, authorizing the transaction if P1 is above the threshold and P2 is below the threshold, and not authorizing the transaction if P1 and P2 are below the threshold.

20. A method for authorizing a transaction, comprising:

acquiring biometric data from a person in connection with a transaction;

determining a probability of liveness, P1, of the person, and a probability of match, P2, between the person and data acquired from known individuals; and

authorizing the transaction if P1 and P2 are above a threshold, authorizing the transaction if P1 is above the threshold and P2 is below the threshold, and not authorizing the transaction if P1 and P2 are below the threshold.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising emphasizing P1'"'"'s contribution to a decision for authorizing the transaction.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein determining P1 and P2 comprises determining P1 and P2 such that means for determining P1 is less sensitive, as compared to a means for determining P2, to illumination changes or orientation of the person.