Data security system

• US 20060005042A1
• Filed: 08/08/2005
• Published: 01/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States CP LLC
• Original Assignee: Pen-One Inc.
• Inventors: Black, Gerald R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,822,232 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/186
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/316 by observing the pattern of computer usage, e.g. typical user behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/83 input devices, e.g. keyboards, mice or controllers thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0336 Mouse integrated fingerprint sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2139 Recurrent verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/12 Details of acquisition arrangements; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/12 Fingerprints or palmprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/13 Sensors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/30 Writer recognition; Reading and verifying signatures
• 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: G07C 9/37 : using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/207 : Surveillance aspects at ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 : Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

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 computer network comprising:

a host processor; and

a plurality of computing devices, at least one of the computing devices being remote from the host processor, the at least one of the computing devices being handheld and portable, the at least one of the computing devices enabling capture by at least one biometric sensor of a user biometric image of a finger, thumb, or palm, the at least one of the computing devices providing authentication of a user prior to responding to user access to network data, the authentication being biometric authentication, placement of the biometric sensor enabling capture of the user biometric image that becomes available at continual intervals during routine computer usage, the capture of the user biometric image being incidental to routine computer usage, the capture of the user biometric image being seamless and incidental to the data request from the at least one of the computing devices to the host processor enabling user identity authentication with user request to access network data.

2. The computer network of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the computing devices includes a second biometric sensor.

3. The computer network of claim 1, wherein the biometric sensor is a fingerprint sensor disposed on a side portion of the at least one of the computing devices so as to capture a print image of a user thumb.

4. The computer network of claim 1, wherein the biometric sensor is a fingerprint sensor disposed on a back surface of the at least one of the computing devices so as to capture a print image of a user index finger.

5. The computer network of claim 1, wherein access to network data is enabled whenever the captured print image matches a reference print image of an authorized user.

6. The computer network of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the computing devices includes means to enable the host processor to determine if the computing device is counterfeit.

7. A computer network comprising:

a host processor; and

a plurality of computing devices, at least one of the computing devices being remote from the host processor, the at least one of the computing devices being handheld and portable, at least one of the computing devices enabling capture through at least one biometric sensor of a user biometric image, the at least one of the computing devices providing biometric authentication of a user prior to responding to user access to network data, the authentication being biometric authentication;

whereby capture of the user biometric image is available at continual intervals during routine computer usage; and

whereby the capture of the user biometric image is incidental to routine computer usage, the biometric authentication being seamless, the capture of the biometric image being in an incidental manner as the data request is submitted from the at least one computing device to the host processor enabling user identity authentication with the request to access the network data.

8. The computer network of claim 7, wherein the at least one of the computing devices includes a second biometric sensor.

9. The computer network of claim 7, wherein the biometric sensor is a fingerprint sensor disposed on a side portion of the at least one of the computing devices so as to capture a print image of a user thumb.

10. The computer network of claim 7, wherein the biometric sensor is a fingerprint sensor disposed on a back surface of the at least one of the computing devices so as to capture a print image of a user index finger.

11. The computer network of claim 7, wherein access to network data is enabled whenever the captured print image matches a reference print image of an authorized user.

12. The computer network of claim 7, wherein the at least one of the computing devices includes means to enable the host processor to determine if the computing device is counterfeit.

13. A computing device for access to a secure data, the computing device being handheld and portable, the computing device including at least one sensor for capture of a user biometric image, the computing device providing authentication of user identity prior to responding to user access to secure data, placement of the biometric sensor enabling capture of an image of a portion of a hand of a user during routine computer usage, the capture of the user biometric image being incidental to routine computer usage, the capture of the user biometric image being seamless to the data request enabling identity authentication with each user request for data access.

14. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the computing device is part of a computer network, network data being available to the computing device from a host processor upon biometric identity authentication.

15. The computer network of claim 13, wherein the computing device includes a second biometric sensor.

16. The computer network of claim 13, wherein the biometric sensor is a fingerprint sensor disposed on a side portion of the computing device so as to capture a print image of a user thumb.

17. The computer network of claim 13, wherein the biometric sensor is a fingerprint sensor disposed on a back surface of the computing device so as to capture a print image of a user index finger.