Biometric authentication

• US 9,894,064 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2016
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stern, Benjamin J., Wilpon, Jay Gordon
• Primary Examiner(s): Rahman, Mahfuzur
• Application Number:
  US15/216,731
• Publication Number:
  US 20160330198A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231

Abstract

A biometric authentication system is disclosed that provides a trusted third party biometric authentication capability for independent confirmation of identity of parties. A repository of biometric templates for registered parties is disclosed that permit a biometric authenticator to perform independent authentication services for other parties by matching received biometric information against biometric information in the repository, or by providing requested biometric information.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a server, an authentication request associated with a first party, the authentication request requesting a third party to authenticate an electronic transaction associated with the first party and associated with an identity claimed by a second party;

querying, by the server, an electronic database for the identity claimed by the second party, the electronic database electronically associating biometric templates and identities including the identity claimed by the second party;

identifying, by the server, a biometric template of the biometric templates in the electronic database that is electronically associated with the identity claimed by the second party;

retrieving, by the server, a randomly selected portion of biometric data associated with the second party to the electronic transaction;

comparing, by the server, the randomly selected portion of the biometric data associated with the second party to the biometric template electronically associated with the identity claimed by the second party;

determining, by the server, that the randomly selected portion of the biometric data satisfies a confidence threshold associated with the biometric template that is electronically associated with the identity claimed by the second party; and

determining, by the server, an authentication response to the authentication request, the authentication response based on the randomly selected portion of the biometric data satisfying the confidence threshold associated with the biometric template.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising authenticating the second party to the electronic transaction.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising failing an authentication of the second party in response to the randomly selected portion of the biometric data failing to satisfy the confidence threshold associated with the biometric template.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising scoring the comparing of the randomly selected portion of the biometric data to the biometric template.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving speech data associated with the second party.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving a randomly selected phrase that was previously spoken by the second party during a prior conversation with the first party.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating an alert in response to the randomly selected portion of the biometric data failing to satisfy the confidence threshold associated with the biometric template.

8. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory device, the memory device storing code, the code when executed causing the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

receiving an authentication request associated with a first party, the authentication request requesting a third party to biometrically authenticate an electronic transaction associated with the first party and associated with an identity claimed by a second party to the electronic transaction;

querying an electronic database for the identity claimed by the second party, the electronic database electronically associating biometric templates and identities including the identity claimed by the second party;

identifying a biometric template of the biometric templates in the electronic database that is electronically associated with the identity claimed by the second party;

retrieving a randomly selected portion of historical biometric data that is commonly associated with both the first party and with the second party;

comparing the randomly selected portion of the historical biometric data to the biometric template identified in the electronic database;

determining the randomly selected portion of the historical biometric data commonly associated with both the first party and with the second party satisfies a confidence threshold associated with the biometric template identified in the electronic database; and

sending an authentication response to the authentication request, the authentication response confirming a biometric authentication of the identity claimed by the second party.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise determining the randomly selected portion of the historical biometric data fails to satisfy the confidence threshold associated with the biometric template.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise denying an authentication of the second party.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise scoring the comparing of the randomly selected portion of the historical biometric data to the biometric template.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving speech data associated with the second party.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving a randomly selected phrase that was previously spoken by the second party during a prior conversation with the first party.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise generating an alert in response to the randomly selected portion of the biometric data failing to satisfy the confidence threshold associated with the biometric template.

15. A memory device storing instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving, by the processor operatively coupled to the memory device, an authentication request associated with a first party, the authentication request requesting a third party to biometrically authenticate an electronic transaction associated with the first party and associated with an identity claimed by a second party to the electronic transaction;

querying, by the processor operatively coupled to the memory device, an electronic database for the identity claimed by the second party, the electronic database electronically associating biometric templates and identities including the identity claimed by the second party;

identifying, by the processor operatively coupled to the memory device, a biometric template of the biometric templates in the electronic database that is electronically associated with the identity claimed by the second party;

retrieving, by the processor operatively coupled to the memory device, a randomly selected portion of historical biometric data that is commonly associated with both the first party and with the second party;

comparing, by the processor operatively coupled to the memory device, the randomly selected portion of the historical biometric data to the biometric template identified in the electronic database;

determining, by the processor operatively coupled to the memory device, the randomly selected portion of the historical biometric data commonly associated with both the first party and with the second party satisfies a confidence threshold associated with the biometric template identified in the electronic database; and

sending, by the processor operatively coupled to the memory device, an authentication response to the authentication request, the authentication response confirming a biometric authentication of the identity claimed by the second party.

16. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise determining the randomly selected portion of the historical biometric data fails to satisfy the confidence threshold associated with the biometric template.

17. The memory device of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise denying an authentication of the second party.

18. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise scoring the comparing of the randomly selected portion of the historical biometric data to the biometric template.

19. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving a randomly selected phrase that was previously spoken by the second party during a prior conversation with the first party.

20. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise generating an alert in response to the randomly selected portion of the biometric data failing to satisfy the confidence threshold associated with the biometric template.