Methods and systems for performing tokenless financial transactions over a transaction network using biometric data

• US 20060064380A1
• Filed: 09/14/2005
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Goldfinger Biometric Services Corporation
• Original Assignee: Goldfinger Biometric Services Corporation
• Inventors: Zukerman, Zev
• Application Number:
  US11/227,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20060064380A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/44
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/385 using an alias or single-use codes
• 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 20/4014 Identity check for transactions

Abstract

Systems and methods for performing tokenless financial transactions over a transaction network using biometric data. Financial transactions are completed without tokens, such as credit cards, debit cards, magnetic stripe cards, smart cards, RFID devices, and the like. A customer'"'"'s identity is authenticated and the transaction is accepted by the customer using biometric information obtained at the point of sale from the customer by means of a point of sale terminal. In preferred embodiments, the customer'"'"'s biometric information never leaves the point of sale terminal, but, rather, is authenticated over a transaction network in conjunction with a server that holds reference templates of the customer'"'"'s biometric information, as well as account information. Transactions may be authorized directly by a participating financial institution or indirectly through payment networks such as Visa® and MasterCard®.

Claims

1. A method for authorizing a debit payment transaction, comprising:

collecting a transaction data and a customer registration data at a point of sale terminal, the customer registration data comprising at least a candidate biometric sample and a unique identifier;

transmitting the unique identifier from the point of sale terminal to a central server;

transmitting a primary reference template and a debit account data from the central server to the point of sale terminal;

determining whether the candidate biometric sample matches the primary reference template;

determining whether the debit payment transaction should be authorized based on predetermined criteria; and

if it is determined that the candidate biometric sample matches the primary reference template and it is determined that the debit payment transaction should be authorized based on predetermined criteria, then authorizing the debit payment transaction.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transaction data comprises a merchant offer and a customer acceptance.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transaction data comprises a transaction amount.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the candidate biometric sample comprises fingerprint data.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein if it is not determined that the candidate biometric sample matches the primary reference template, then the method further comprises:

collecting a secondary candidate biometric sample at the point of sale terminal;

transmitting a secondary reference template from the central server to the point of sale terminal;

determining whether the secondary candidate biometric sample matches the secondary reference template; and

if it is determined that the secondary candidate biometric sample matches the secondary reference template and it is determined that the debit payment transaction should be authorized based on predetermined criteria, then authorizing the debit payment transaction.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the debit account data comprises data regarding an available balance in a customer debit account from which the debit payment transaction is to be funded.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the customer debit account is a pre-funded stored value account.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether the debit payment transaction should be authorized based on predetermined criteria comprises determining whether a customer debit account has sufficient funds available to cover the debit payment transaction.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the debit account data comprises data regarding a plurality of customer debit accounts and the method further comprises:

displaying information regarding the plurality of customer debit accounts via the point of sale terminal;

accepting a customer selection via the point of sale terminal of one of the plurality of customer debit accounts from which the debit payment transaction is to be funded; and

using the customer selection in determining whether the debit payment transaction should be authorized based on predetermined criteria.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the debit account data comprises data regarding a plurality of customer debit accounts and the method further comprises:

displaying information regarding the plurality of customer debit accounts via the point of sale terminal;

accepting a customer selection via the point of sale terminal of two or more of the plurality of customer debit accounts from which the debit payment transaction is to be funded, the customer selection including the amount of the debit payment transaction that is to be funded from each selected customer debit account; and

using the customer selection in determining whether the debit payment transaction should be authorized based on predetermined criteria.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein if it is determined that the debit payment transaction should not be authorized due to insufficient funds in the pre-funded stored value account, then the method further comprises:

providing an offer via the point of sale terminal to transfer funds into the pre-funded stored value account from a registered customer checking account;

if the offer is accepted, then requesting the customer to input via the point of sale terminal an amount to be transferred;

issuing a credit block request for the amount to be transferred to an issuing bank of a collateral credit account; and

if the credit block request is confirmed by the issuing bank, then transmitting a request to transfer funds from the registered customer checking account to the pre-funded stored value account and authorizing the debit payment transaction.

12. A method for authorizing a debit payment transaction, comprising:

collecting a transaction data and a customer registration data at a point of sale terminal, the customer registration data comprising at least a candidate biometric sample and a unique identifier;

transmitting the unique identifier from the point of sale terminal to a central server;

transmitting a primary reference template from the central server to the point of sale terminal;

determining whether the candidate biometric sample matches the primary reference template;

if the candidate biometric sample matches the primary reference template, then transmitting a debit account data from the central server to the point of sale terminal;

determining whether the debit payment transaction should be authorized based on predetermined criteria; and

if it is determined that the debit payment transaction should be authorized based on predetermined criteria, then authorizing the debit payment transaction.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the transaction data comprises a merchant offer and a customer acceptance.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the transaction data comprises a transaction amount.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the candidate biometric sample comprises fingerprint data.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein if it is not determined that the candidate biometric sample matches the primary reference template, then the method further comprises:

collecting a secondary candidate biometric sample at the point of sale terminal;

transmitting a secondary reference template from the central server to the point of sale terminal;

determining whether the secondary candidate biometric sample matches the secondary reference template; and

if it is determined that the secondary candidate biometric sample matches the secondary reference template and it is determined that the debit payment transaction should be authorized based on predetermined criteria, then authorizing the debit payment transaction.

17. The method according to claim 12, wherein the debit account data comprises data regarding available funds in a customer debit account.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the customer debit account is a pre-funded stored value account.

19. The method according to claim 12, wherein the step of determining whether the debit payment transaction should be authorized based on predetermined criteria comprises determining whether a customer debit account has sufficient funds available to cover the debit payment transaction.

20. The method according to claim 12, wherein the debit account data comprises data regarding a plurality of customer debit accounts and the method further comprises:

displaying information regarding the plurality of customer debit accounts via the point of sale terminal;

accepting a customer selection via the point of sale terminal of one of the plurality of customer debit accounts from which the debit payment transaction is to be funded; and

using the customer selection in determining whether the debit payment transaction should be authorized based on predetermined criteria.

21. The method according to claim 12, wherein the debit account data comprises data regarding a plurality of customer debit accounts and the method further comprises:

displaying information regarding the plurality of customer debit accounts via the point of sale terminal;

accepting a customer selection via the point of sale terminal of two or more of the plurality of customer debit accounts from which the debit payment transaction is to be funded, the customer selection including the amount of the debit payment transaction that is to be funded from each selected customer debit account; and

using the customer selection in determining whether the debit payment transaction should be authorized based on the transaction data and the debit account data.

22. The method according to claim 18, wherein if it is determined that the debit payment transaction should not be authorized due to insufficient funds in the pre-funded stored value account, then the method further comprises:

providing an offer via the point of sale terminal to transfer funds into the pre-funded stored value account from a registered customer checking account;

if the offer is accepted, then requesting the customer to input via the point of sale terminal an amount to be transferred;

issuing a credit block request for the amount to be transferred to an issuing bank of a collateral credit account;

if the credit block request is confirmed by the issuing bank, then transmitting a request to transfer funds from the registered customer checking account to the pre-funded stored value account and authorizing the debit payment transaction.

23. A method for authorizing a credit payment transaction, comprising:

collecting a transaction data and a customer registration data at a point of sale terminal, the customer registration data comprising at least a candidate biometric sample and a unique identifier;

transmitting the unique identifier from the point of sale terminal to a central server;

transmitting a primary reference template and a credit account data from the central server to the point of sale terminal;

determining whether the candidate biometric sample matches the primary reference template; and

if it is determined that the candidate biometric sample matches the primary reference template, then sending an authenticated authorization request to an issuing bank corresponding to the credit account data.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the transaction data comprises a merchant offer and a customer acceptance.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein the transaction data comprises a transaction amount.

26. The method according to claim 23, wherein the candidate biometric sample comprises fingerprint data.

27. The method according to claim 23, wherein if it is not determined that the candidate biometric sample matches the primary reference template, then the method further comprises:

collecting a secondary candidate biometric sample at the point of sale terminal;

transmitting a secondary reference template from the central server to the point of sale terminal;

determining whether the secondary candidate biometric sample matches the secondary reference template; and

if it is determined that the secondary candidate biometric sample matches the secondary reference template, then sending an authenticated authorization request to an issuing bank corresponding to the credit account data.

28. The method according to claim 23, wherein the credit account data comprises data regarding a registered customer credit account.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the registered customer credit account is a VISA®

, MASTERCARD®

, or DISCOVER®

account.

30. The method according to claim 23, wherein the credit account data comprises data regarding a plurality of registered customer credit accounts and the method further comprises:

displaying information regarding the plurality of registered customer credit accounts via the point of sale terminal;

accepting a customer selection via the point of sale terminal of one of the plurality of registered customer credit accounts from which the credit payment transaction is to be funded; and

using the customer selection in sending the authenticated authorization request to the issuing bank corresponding to the selected customer credit account.

31. The method according to claim 23, wherein the credit account data comprises data regarding a plurality of registered customer credit accounts and the method further comprises:

displaying information regarding the plurality of registered customer credit accounts via the point of sale terminal;

accepting a customer selection via the point of sale terminal of two or more of the plurality of registered customer credit accounts from which the credit payment transaction is to be funded, the customer selection including a amount of the credit payment transaction to be funded from each selected registered customer credit account; and

using the customer selection in sending the authenticated authorization request to the issuing bank for each selected registered customer credit account.

32. A method for authorizing a debit payment transaction, comprising:

collecting a transaction data and a customer registration data at a point of sale terminal, the customer registration data comprising at least a candidate biometric sample and a unique identifier;

transmitting the unique identifier from the point of sale terminal to a central server;

transmitting a primary reference template and a debit account data from the central server to the point of sale terminal, the debit account data comprising data regarding available funds in a pre-funded stored value account from which the debit payment transaction is to be funded;

determining whether the candidate biometric sample matches the primary reference template;

determining whether the debit payment transaction should be authorized based on predetermined criteria;

if it is determined that the candidate biometric sample matches the primary reference template and it is determined that the debit payment transaction should not be authorized due to insufficient funds in the pre-funded stored value account, then providing an offer via the point of sale terminal to transfer funds into the pre-funded stored value account from a registered customer checking account;

if the offer is accepted, then requesting the customer to input via the point of sale terminal an amount to be transferred;

issuing a credit block request for the amount to be transferred to an issuing bank of a collateral credit account; and

if the credit block request is confirmed by the issuing bank, then transmitting a request to transfer funds from the registered customer checking account to the pre-funded stored value account and authorizing the debit payment transaction.