Pen-based transponder identity verification system

• US 20050261972A1
• Filed: 04/20/2005
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States CP LLC
• Original Assignee: Gerald R. Black
• Inventors: Black, Gerald R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,281,135 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/21
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/02 related to amusement parks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/207 Surveillance aspects at ATMs

Abstract

This pen-based, identity verification uses biometric technology. For use in commercial transactions at a point-of-sate terminal, a customer registers advising the system of a customer account that is to be used for payment. The customer also submits a digital signature for reference purposes—a fingerprint. The customer is then issued a transponder that links the customer to the customer account and to the reference digital signature. When the customer is at the point-of-sale terminal for making payment, an interrogator disposed at the point-of-sale terminal transmits a radio signal requesting identity verification. The transponder submits data to the interrogator. Thereafter, when the customer uses a stylus to submit written data (a signature), a sensor in the stylus makes incidental capture of biometric data that enables the interrogator to confirm customer identity. Similarly, at a security checkpoint in an office building, the system is utilized when a written log is used to track access and egress to the building. Again, a transponder is issued to a party having authorized access after the party has registered and submitted a digital signature for reference purposes.

Claims

2-33. -33. (canceled)

34. A system for conducting a commercial transaction, a user of the commercial transaction system being registered and digitally linked with an account for payment, the system comprising:

a. a host computer having access to data that digitally links the user with the user account;

b. a first electronic device disposed at a point-of-sale terminal, the first electronic device being digitally linked to the host computer;

c. a second electronic device that is wireless, the second electronic device being carried by the user, the second electronic device communicating identity verification data with the first electronic device, radio frequency transmission being used for data transfer between the first electronic device and the second electronic device; and

d. a member for capturing a digital signature image of the user while the member is being used;

whereby the sensed digital signature image is compared to a reference digital signature image upon a request to process the commercial transaction, the reference digital signature image being captured during a registration process; and

whereby the request to process the commercial transaction is denied absent a match of the sensed digital signature image and the reference digital signature image.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the digital signature image is a fingerprint image.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the reference digital signature image is disposed in the second electronic device.

37. The system of claim 34, wherein the reference digital signature image is disposed in a user record, the user record being accessible by the host computer.

38. A system for regulating access to a secure area, the system comprising:

a. a host computer having access to data a plurality of reference digital signature images;

b. a first and a second electronic device, the first electronic device being disposed at a security checkpoint, the second electronic device being wireless, the second electronic device being carried by a user the first and second electronic devices being in communication with the host computer, radio frequency transmission being used for data transfer between the first electronic device and the second electronic device; and

c. a member having at least one sensor, the member being useful in preserving a log of access to the secure area, the sensor capturing a digital signature image of the user during usage of the member;

whereby the sensed digital signature image is compared to a reference digital signature image upon a request to access the secure area, the reference digital signature image being captured during a registration process; and

whereby the request to access the secure area is denied absent a match of the sensed digital signature image and the reference digital signature image.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the digital signature image is a fingerprint image.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein the reference digital signature image is disposed in the second electronic device.

41. The system of claim 38, wherein the reference digital signature image is disposed in a user record, the user record being accessible by the host computer.

42. A method for conducting a commercial transaction for payment at a point-of-sale terminal, the method comprising:

a. requesting identity verification through cooperative engagement between a first and a second electronic device, the first electronic device being disposed at the point-of-sale terminal, the second electronic device being wireless, the second electronic device being carried by the user, the first and second electronic devices being in digital communication with a host computer, the host computer having access to data that digitally links at least one registered user to a reference digital signature image;

b. using a member for submission of data relative to the identity verification, the member having a sensor that enables capture of a digital signature image of a user during engagement of a finger of the user with the member;

c. transmitting data between the first electronic device and the second electronic device by radio frequency transmission; and

d. denying access to the user account absent a match of the sensed digital signature image and a reference digital signature image, the reference digital signature image being captured during a registration process.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the digital signature image is a fingerprint image.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the reference digital signature image is disposed in the second electronic device.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein the reference digital signature image is disposed in a user record, the user record being accessible by the host computer.

46. A method of enabling access to a secure area, the method comprising:

a. requesting identity verification through cooperative engagement between a first and a second electronic device, the first electronic device being disposed at a security checkpoint, the second electronic device being wireless, the second electronic device being carried by the user, the first and second electronic devices being in digital communication with a host computer, the host computer having access to data that digitally links at least one registered user to a reference digital signature image;

b. using a member to submit written data pertinent to the identity verification, the member having a sensor that enables capture of a digital signature image of a user during engagement of a finger of the user with the member;

c. transmitting data between the first electronic device and the second electronic device by radio frequency transmission; and

d. denying access to the secure area absent a match of the sensed digital signature image and the reference digital signature image, the reference digital signature image being captured during a registration process.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the digital signature image is a fingerprint image.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein the reference digital signature image is disposed in the second electronic device.

49. The method of claim 46, wherein the reference digital signature image is disposed in a user record, the user record being accessible by the host computer.

50. A system for conducting a commercial transaction, a user of the commercial transaction system being registered and digitally linked with an account for payment, the system comprising:

a. a host computer having access to data that digitally links the user with the user account;

b. an electronic device disposed at a point-of-sate terminal, the electronic device being digitally linked to the host computer; and

c. a member that is wireless, the member being carried by the user, the member having at least one sensor, the sensor capturing a digital signature image of the user while the member is being used, the member communicating with the electronic device transmitting data therebetween relative to an identity verification, at least some of the data transmission between the electronic device to the member being by radio frequency;

whereby the sensed digital signature image is compared to a reference digital signature image upon a request to process the commercial transaction, the reference digital signature image being captured during a registration process; and

whereby the request to process the commercial transaction is denied absent a match of the sensed digital signature image and the reference digital signature image.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the digital signature image is a fingerprint image.

52. The system of claim 50, wherein the reference digital signature image is disposed in the second electronic device.

53. The system of claim 50, wherein the reference digital signature image is disposed in a user record, the user record being accessible by the host computer.

54. A system for conducting a commercial transaction, a user of the commercial transaction system being registered and digitally linked with an account for payment, the system comprising:

a. a host computer having access to data that digitally links the user with the user account;

b. a first electronic device disposed at a point-of-sale terminal, the first electronic device being digitally linked to the host computer;

c. a second electronic device that is wireless, the second electronic device being carried by the user, the second electronic device communicating identity verification data with the first electronic device, radio frequency transmission being used for data transfer between the first electronic device and the second electronic device; and

d. a member having at least one digital signature image sensor thereon, the sensor being capable of capturing a digital signature image of the user while the member is being used;

whereby identity verification is determined by the comparison of the user digital signature image and the reference digital signature image, the reference digital signature image being captured during a registration process; and

whereby the written request is denied absent a match of the user digital signature image and the reference digital signature image.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein the digital signature image is a fingerprint image.

56. The system of claim 54, wherein the reference digital signature image is disposed in the second electronic device.

57. The system of claim 54, wherein the reference digital signature image is disposed in a user record, the user record being accessible by the host computer.

58. A system for cashing a check at a check-cashing terminal, the system comprising:

a. a host computer having access to data that digitally links the user with the user account;

b. a first electronic device disposed at the check-cashing terminal, the first electronic device being digitally linked to the host computer;

c. a second electronic device that is wireless, the second electronic device being carried by the user, the second electronic device communicating identity verification data with the first electronic device, the second electronic device enabling access to a reference digital signature image, radio frequency transmission being used for data transfer between the first electronic device and the second electronic device; and

d. a sensor being disposed proximate to the check-cashing terminal, the sensor enabling a capture of a user digital signature image, the user digital signature image being captured during a request to cash the check;

whereby identity verification is determined by the comparison of the user digital signature image and the reference digital signature image, the reference digital signature image being captured during a registration process; and

whereby the written request for cashing the check is denied absent a match of the user digital signature image and the reference digital signature image.

59. The system of claim 58, wherein the digital signature image is a fingerprint image.

60. The system of claim 58, wherein the reference digital signature image is disposed in the second electronic device.

61. The system of claim 58, wherein the reference digital signature image is disposed in a user record, the user record being accessible by the host computer.

62. A system for gaining access to a secure area, the system comprising:

a. a host computer having access to data that digitally links the user with a user account;

b. a first electronic device disposed at a site proximate to the access to the secure area, the first electronic device being digitally linked to a host computer;

c. a second electronic device that is wireless, the second electronic device being carried by the user, the second electronic device communicating identity verification data with the first electronic device, radio frequency transmission being used for data transfer between the first electronic device and the second electronic device, the second electronic device enabling access to a reference digital signature image; and

d. a sensor positioned proximate to the access to the secure area, the sensor enabling a capture of a user digital signature image, the user digital signature image being captured during a request to access the secure area;

whereby identity verification is determined by a comparison of the user digital signature image and the reference digital signature image; and

whereby access to the secure area is denied absent a match of the user digital signature image and the reference digital signature image.

63. The system of claim 62, wherein the digital signature image is a fingerprint image.

64. The system of claim 62, wherein the reference digital signature image is disposed in the second electronic device.

65. The system of claim 62, wherein the reference digital signature image is disposed in a user record, the user record being accessible by the host computer.