BIOMETRIC SAFEGUARD METHOD WITH A SMARTCARD

• US 20060016877A1
• Filed: 07/01/2004
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liberty Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Bonalle, David S., Salow, Glen
• Granted Patent: US 7,318,550 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• 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 20/367 involving electronic purses or money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/26 using a biometric sensor integrated in the pass
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• 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 method for facilitating biometric security in a smartcard-reader transaction system is provided. The method includes determining if a transaction violates an established rule, such as a preset spending limit. The method also includes notifying a user to proffer a biometric sample in order to verify the identity of said user, and detecting a proffered biometric at a sensor to obtain a proffered biometric sample. The method additionally comprises verifying the proffered biometric sample and authorizing a transaction to continue upon verification of the proffered biometric sample.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating biometric security in a smartcard transaction system, said method comprising:

determining if a transaction violates at least two established rules;

notifying a user to proffer a biometric sample to verify an identity of said user;

detecting a proffered biometric at a sensor communicating with said system to obtain a proffered biometric sample;

verifying said proffered biometric sample; and

authorizing said transaction to proceed upon verification of said proffered biometric sample.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of determining if said transaction violates said at least two established rules includes determining if said transaction is at least two of a purchase exceeding an established per purchase spending limit, a purchase exceeding a preset number of transactions, any portion of a purchase using non-monetary funds, and a purchase exceeding an established limit.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of notifying includes providing notification by at least one of an audible signal, a visual signal, an optical signal, a mechanical signal, a vibration, blinking, signaling, beeping, providing an olfactory signal, providing a physical touch signal, and providing a temperature signal to said user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of detecting further includes detecting a said proffered biometric at said sensor communicating with said system via at least one of a smartcard, a reader, and a network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of detecting includes at least one of:

detecting, storing, and processing said proffered biometric sample.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of detecting includes receiving a finite number of proffered biometric samples during said transaction.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of detecting includes logging each said proffered biometric sample.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of detecting includes at least one of detecting, processing and storing a second proffered biometric sample.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of verifying includes comparing said proffered biometric sample with a stored biometric sample.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein comparing said proffered biometric sample with said stored biometric sample includes comparing said proffered biometric sample with a biometric sample of at least one of a criminal, a terrorist, and a cardmember.

11. The method of claim 1;

wherein said step of verifying includes verifying said proffered biometric sample using information contained on at least one of a local database, a remote database, and a third-party controlled database.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of verifying includes verifying said proffered biometric sample using one of a local CPU and a third-party security vendor.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of detecting said proffered biometric at said biometric sensor includes detecting said proffered biometric at at least one of:

a retinal scan sensor, an iris scan sensor, a fingerprint sensor, a hand print sensor, a hand geometry sensor, a voice print sensor, a vascular sensor, a facial sensor, an ear sensor, a signature sensor, a keystroke sensor, an olfactory sensor, an auditory emissions sensor, and a DNA sensor.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of requiring submission of a personal identification number at said biometric sensor after said step of verifying said proffered biometric sample and before said step of authorizing said transaction to proceed.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising facilitating a selection of an account least two accounts to facilitate said step of authorizing said transaction.