Apparatus and methods for identity verification
First Claim
1. A network system for performing electronic transactions or processes comprising:
- (a) terminal apparatus for generating instructions for the performance of said electronic transactions or processes;
(b) at least one computer separate from the terminal apparatus and for performing the electronic transactions or processes;
(c) a plurality of verification devices each comprising a cellular telecommunications modem and a biometric sensor, each verification device for storing first biometric data in an enrollment process, for performing a verification process in response to a verification command received by said modem, and for transmitting a response signal to a predetermined destination by said modem in the event the result of the verification process is positive, wherein each of the verification devices is separate from the terminal apparatus;
(d) a data storage device configured for storing data identifying said verification devices;
(e) a verification command generator for generating verification commands; and
(f) a receiver for receiving the response signals;
wherein;
(g) said terminal apparatus, without communication to said verification devices, generates said instructions and transmits said instructions to said at least one computer via a telecommunications network connecting the terminal apparatus to the at least one computer,(h) said at least one computer in response to receipt of said instruction causes said verification command generator to generate said verification command,(i) said verification command generator causes the verification command to be transmitted to said verification device whose identity is determined in dependence upon data in the instruction and data in the data storage device,(j) the verification process performed by the verification device comprises obtaining second biometric data from said biometric sensor, comparing the first and second biometric data with each other and, in the event of a match between said first and second biometric data, generating said response signal indicative of said match and transmitting said response signal to said receiver,(k) said at least one computer is configured to not authorize said transaction or process unless said response signal indicating said match is received by said receiver, and(l) said verification command is transmitted to said verification device and said response signal is transmitted to said receiver via a cellular telecommunications network without communication to said terminal apparatus, the cellular telecommunications network connecting each of the verification devices to the receiver.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An identity verification device comprises a cellular telecommunications modem and a fingerprint scanner coupled to the modem, the verification device being configured for storing first fingerprint data in an enrollment process and being operable, in response to the modem receiving a verification command via a cellular telecommunications network, to perform a verification process in which the fingerprint scanner scans a fingerprint to obtain second fingerprint data, the first and second fingerprint data are compared with each other, and in the event of a match between the first and second fingerprint data, the modem transmits a response signal to a predetermined destination via the telecommunications network. The device may be used in a networked telecommunications system in which the electronic transactions may be initiated by smart cards and other devices.
67 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A network system for performing electronic transactions or processes comprising:
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(a) terminal apparatus for generating instructions for the performance of said electronic transactions or processes; (b) at least one computer separate from the terminal apparatus and for performing the electronic transactions or processes; (c) a plurality of verification devices each comprising a cellular telecommunications modem and a biometric sensor, each verification device for storing first biometric data in an enrollment process, for performing a verification process in response to a verification command received by said modem, and for transmitting a response signal to a predetermined destination by said modem in the event the result of the verification process is positive, wherein each of the verification devices is separate from the terminal apparatus; (d) a data storage device configured for storing data identifying said verification devices; (e) a verification command generator for generating verification commands; and (f) a receiver for receiving the response signals; wherein; (g) said terminal apparatus, without communication to said verification devices, generates said instructions and transmits said instructions to said at least one computer via a telecommunications network connecting the terminal apparatus to the at least one computer, (h) said at least one computer in response to receipt of said instruction causes said verification command generator to generate said verification command, (i) said verification command generator causes the verification command to be transmitted to said verification device whose identity is determined in dependence upon data in the instruction and data in the data storage device, (j) the verification process performed by the verification device comprises obtaining second biometric data from said biometric sensor, comparing the first and second biometric data with each other and, in the event of a match between said first and second biometric data, generating said response signal indicative of said match and transmitting said response signal to said receiver, (k) said at least one computer is configured to not authorize said transaction or process unless said response signal indicating said match is received by said receiver, and (l) said verification command is transmitted to said verification device and said response signal is transmitted to said receiver via a cellular telecommunications network without communication to said terminal apparatus, the cellular telecommunications network connecting each of the verification devices to the receiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A verification device for verifying the identity of an individual, comprising:
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a processor circuit; a memory circuit in communication with the processor circuit; a communications modem in communication with the processor circuit; and a biometric sensor in communication with the processor circuit, wherein the processor circuit is configured to; receive, in an enrollment process, first biometric data from the biometric sensor, store, in the enrollment process, the first biometric data in the memory circuit, receive a verification command from a verification command generator via the communications modem, the verification command being generated by the verification command generator in response to a computer receiving instructions for the performance of an electronic transaction or process from a terminal apparatus, the terminal apparatus being separate from the computer, the instructions being generated by the terminal apparatus and being transmitted from the terminal apparatus to the computer via a communications network without communication to the verification device, the communications network connecting the terminal apparatus to the computer, the verification command being received by the communications modem via a cellular telecommunications network without communication between the verification device and the terminal apparatus, perform a verification process in response to receiving the verification command, the verification process comprising;
i) receiving second biometric data from the biometric sensor, ii) comparing the first biometric data with the second biometric data, iii) in the event of a match between said first and second biometric data indicating that the verification process is positive, generating a response signal indicative of a match, and iv) controlling the communications modem to transmit the response signal to a receiver, the response signal sent from the communications modem to the computer causing the computer to perform the electronic transaction or process, and not transmitting the response signal from the communications modem to the computer thereby causing the computer to not authorize of the electronic transaction or process, based on the comparison of the first biometric data with the second biometric data,wherein receiving the verification command from the verification command generator is based on data in the instructions received by the computer and data stored in a data storage device of the computer, when receiving the verification command from the verification command generator is via the cellular telecommunications network without communication with the terminal apparatus, and control the communications modem to transmit the response signal to the receiver via the cellular telecommunications network without communication to the terminal apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A computer system for performing an electronic transaction or process, comprising:
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a processor circuit; a data storage device in communication with the processor circuit, the data storage device being configured to store data identifying a plurality of verification devices; a receiver in communication with the processor circuit and configured to receive a response signal; a verification command generator; and a transmitter in communication with the processor circuit, the receiver and transmitter being connected to the verification devices, wherein the processor circuit is configured to; receive instructions for the performance of the electronic transaction or process from a terminal apparatus via a communications network, the terminal apparatus being separate from the verification devices, the communications network connecting the terminal apparatus to the processor circuit, the instructions received by the processor circuit being generated by the terminal apparatus and transmitted to the processor circuit without communication to the verification devices, control the verification command generator to generate a verification command in response to receiving the instructions, the verification command generator transmitting the verification command to a selected one of the verification devices based on the data identifying a plurality of verification devices stored in the data storage device, the verification command being transmitted to the selected verification device via a cellular telecommunications network without communication to the terminal apparatus and causing the selected verification device to;
i) receive first biometric data from a biometric sensor of the verification device, ii) compare the first biometric data with second biometric data previously received from the biometric sensor and stored in a memory circuit of the verification device, iii) in the event of a match between the first and second biometric data indicating that the verification process is positive, generate the response signal indicative of a match, and iv) control a communications modem of the verification device to transmit the response signal to the receiver, the receiver receiving the response signal from the verification device via the cellular telecommunications network without communication to the terminal apparatus,perform the electronic transaction or process in response to the receiver receiving the response signal from the communications modem, and not authorize the electronic transaction or process unless the receiver receives the response signal. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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Specification