Data security system

• US 9,042,608 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2013
• Issued: 05/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States CP LLC
• Original Assignee: Pen-One Inc.
• Inventors: Black, Gerald R
• Primary Examiner(s): Seth, Manav
• Application Number:
  US13/974,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20130336549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• US Class Current: 382/116
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/13 Sensors therefor

Abstract

A data security system comprises a host processor, and a plurality of remote computers. Each remote computer provides biometric authentication of a user prior to responding to the user request for data access. The remote computers are handheld when in operational mode. A sensor in the handheld computer captures a biometric image while the remote computer is being used. The biometric sensor is positioned in such a way that the sensor enables the capture of the biometric image continually during computer usage with each request for access to secure data. The biometric authentication occurs in a seamless manner and is incidental to the data request enabling user identity authentication with each request to access secure data.

Claims

1. A handheld communications device for accessing and entering secure data into a secure network, said handheld communications device selected from the group consisting of a pen-based computer, a pocket computer, a palm-type computer, and a cell-phone, said handheld communications device including a fingerprint sensor for capturing user fingerprint data, said fingerprint sensor being embedded in a casing of said handheld communication device positioned at a fingerprint sensor site;

whereby placement of said fingerprint sensor site in said casing of said handheld communications device enables an incidental capture of a fingerprint image of a user for purposes of identity authentication by a remote host computer prior to each request to enter said secure data;

whereby placement of said fingerprint sensor site in said casing of said handheld communications device enables a continuous capture of a fingerprint or thumbprint while said handheld communications device is being used; and

whereby user identity authentication is provided either prior to or simultaneously with each request to enter each data stream into said secure network, providing assurance that any mobile worker seeking to enter data is authorized prior to each data entry.

2. The handheld communications device of claim 1, wherein said handheld communications device is a pen-based computer which includes a stylus, said fingerprint sensor site being disposed in a casing of said stylus.

3. The handheld communications device of claim 1, wherein said handheld communications device includes a processor, said fingerprint sensor site being disposed in a casing of said processor.

4. The handheld communications device of claim 1, wherein said fingerprint sensor captures user fingerprint data.

5. The handheld communications device of claim 1, wherein said fingerprint sensor captures user thumb print data.

6. The handheld communications device of claim 1, wherein entry of said secure data is enabled only if said user fingerprint data matches reference fingerprint data.

7. The handheld communications device of claim 1, wherein entry of said secure data is enabled only if another user biometric matches another reference user biometric.

8. A handheld communications device for accessing and entering secure data into a secure network, said handheld communications device selected from the group consisting of a pen-based computer, a pocket computer, a palm-type computer, and a cell-phone, the handheld communications device having a fingerprint sensor for capturing user fingerprint data, said fingerprint sensor being embedded in said handheld communication device positioned at a fingerprint sensor site;

whereby placement of said fingerprint sensor site in said handheld communications device enables an incidental capture of said user fingerprint data for purposes of identity authentication prior to each request to enter said secure data;

whereby placement of said fingerprint sensor site in said handheld communications device enables a continuous capture of fingerprint or thumbprint data while the handheld communications device is in use; and

whereby user identity authentication is enabled prior to each request to enter data into said secure network, providing capability to authenticate any mobile worker seeking to enter data prior to each data entry.

9. The handheld communications device of claim 8, wherein said handheld communications device is a pen-based computer which includes a stylus, said fingerprint sensor site being disposed in a casing of said stylus.

10. The handheld communications device of claim 8, wherein said handheld communications device includes a processor, said fingerprint sensor site being disposed in a casing of said processor.

11. The handheld communications device of claim 8, wherein said fingerprint sensor captures user fingerprint data.

12. The handheld communications device of claim 8, wherein said fingerprint sensor captures user thumb print data.

13. The handheld communications device of claim 8, wherein entry of said secure data is enabled only if said user fingerprint data matches reference fingerprint data.

14. The handheld communications device of claim 8, wherein entry of said secure data is enabled only if another user biometric matches another reference user biometric.

15. A handheld communications device for accessing and entering secure data into a secure network, said handheld communications device selected from the group consisting of a pen-based computer, a pocket computer, a palm-type computer, and a cell-phone, the handheld communications device having a fingerprint sensor for capturing user fingerprint data, said fingerprint sensor being embedded in said handheld communication device positioned at a fingerprint sensor site;

whereby placement of said fingerprint sensor site in said handheld communications device enables an incidental capture of said user fingerprint data for purposes of identity authentication prior to each request to enter said secure data;

whereby placement of the fingerprint sensor site in the casing of said handheld communications device enables a continuous capture of fingerprint or thumbprint data while said handheld communications device is in use; and

whereby user identity authentication is enabled prior to each request to enter data in said secure network, providing capability to authenticate any mobile worker seeking to enter data prior to each data entry.

16. The handheld communications device of claim 15, wherein said handheld communications device is a pen-based computer which includes a stylus, said fingerprint sensor site being disposed in a casing of said stylus.

17. The handheld communications device of claim 15, wherein said handheld communications device includes a processor, said fingerprint sensor site being disposed in a casing of said processor.

18. The handheld communications device of claim 15, wherein said fingerprint sensor captures user fingerprint data or thumbprint data.

19. The handheld communications device of claim 15, wherein entry of said secure data is enabled only if said user fingerprint data matches reference fingerprint data.

20. The handheld communications device of claim 15, wherein entry of said secure data is enabled only if another user biometric matches another reference user biometric.

21. A handheld communications device for accessing and entering secure data into a secure network, said handheld communications device selected from the group consisting of a pen-based computer, a pocket computer, a palm-type computer, and a cell-phone, the handheld communications device having a fingerprint sensor for capturing user fingerprint data, said fingerprint sensor being embedded in said handheld communication device positioned at a fingerprint sensor site;

whereby placement of said fingerprint sensor site in said handheld communications device enables an incidental capture of said user fingerprint data for purposes of identity authentication prior to each request to enter said secure data;

whereby placement of the fingerprint sensor site in said handheld communications device enables a continual capture of fingerprint or thumbprint data while said handheld communications device is in use; and

whereby user identity authentication is enabled prior to each request to enter data in said secure network, providing capability to authenticate any mobile worker who uses the handheld communication device seeking to enter data prior to each data entry.

22. The handheld communications device as claimed in claim 21 having a biometric sensor in addition to the fingerprint sensor,

the biometric sensor being positioned at a first sensor site in the handheld communications device, the biometric sensor capturing biometric data relative to a first biometric property, the placement of the biometric sensor site in the handheld communications device enabling continual capture of the first biometric property of the user while holding the handheld communications device.