Biometric device, system, and method for individual access control

• US 20100214057A1
• Filed: 12/11/2009
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Canseco, Medge R., Alvord, Chuck H., Matthews, Marvin M., Hick, Stephen C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,058,474 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.200
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2107 File encryption
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/12 Fingerprints or palmprints
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/03 Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/40 Security arrangements using identity modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences

Abstract

A biometric device, and a corresponding system and a method, is used to control human access to an arbitrary area. The device includes a biometric capture system that reads specified biometric information from an individual and that compares the biometric information to previously stored biometric information to determine a match between the read and stored biometric information; a position location system that records the geographic location of the device, and determines if the device is inside the United States or outside the United States; an encryption system that encrypts the geographic location and a device-unique identification; and a wireless system that sends the encrypted geographic location and the device-unique identification to a remote location, where if the geographic location is inside the United States, the device receives a test satisfactory signal, and where if the geographic location is outside the United States, the device receives an exit satisfactory signal.

Claims

1. A biometric device useable to control human access to an arbitrary area, comprising:

a biometric capture system that reads specified biometric information from an individual and that compares the biometric information to previously stored biometric information to determine a match between the read and stored biometric information;

a position location system that records the geographic location of the device, and determines if the device is inside the United States or outside the United States;

an encryption system that encrypts the geographic location and a device-unique identification; and

a wireless system that sends the encrypted geographic location and the device-unique identification to a remote location, wherein if the geographic location is inside the United States, the device receives a test satisfactory signal, and wherein if the geographic location is outside the United States, the device receives an exit satisfactory signal.

2. The biometric device of claim 1, wherein the biometric capture system uses a minutiae extraction algorithm to read the specified biometric information.

3. The biometric device of claim 1, further comprising a housing enclosing the biometric device, wherein the housing includes tamper-resistant features to prevent unauthorized opening of the biometric device.

4. The biometric device of claim 3, wherein the tamper-resistant features include a disable feature that permanently disables the biometric device should the housing be opened in an unauthorized manner.

5. The biometric device of claim 3, wherein the tamper-resistant features include a disable feature that erases any stored data and programs should be housing be tampered with.

6. The biometric device of claim 1, further comprising one or more of a multipurpose indicator that indicates a satisfactory test of the biometric device, an exit verification indicator that indicates a successful exit from the United States, a wireless connectivity indicator that indicates when the biometric device is able to send and receive wireless communications in a satisfactory manner, and a power indicator that indicates when the biometric device is powered on and when the biometric device has sufficient power to operate and perform its intended functions.

7. The biometric device of claim 1, further comprising a scanning window that records the specified biometric information from the individual.

8. The biometric device of claim 7, wherein the scanning window includes a status window or a touch screen control panel.

9. The biometric device of claim 1, further comprising a microphone/speaker to allow verbal communications between the biometric device and the individual.

10. The biometric device of claim 1, wherein the biometric capture system is set to require capture of fingerprint data from more than one finger.

11. The biometric device of claim 10, wherein the biometric capture system indicates which specific finger(s) is to be scanned.

12. The biometric device of claim 10, wherein the biometric capture system randomly instruct the individual which finger(s) to scan.

13. The biometric device of claim 10, wherein the biometric capture system identifies the finger scanned and compare the biometric information to the previously stored biometric information to determine a match.

14. The biometric device of claim 1, wherein the biometric capture system extracts minutiae and finger identity and prepares the minutiae and the finger identity for transmission to a central server for verification purposes.

15. The biometric device of claim 1, wherein the biometric device is shut down and disabled upon receiving the exit satisfactory signal.

16. The biometric device of claim 1, wherein the biometric device transmits the biometric information to a central server that compares the biometric information to the previously stored biometric information.

17. The biometric device of claim 16, wherein the biometric device transmits minutiae data as opposed to fingerprint data to the central server.

18. A method for controlling human access to an arbitrary area, the method being executed by a computer comprising a processor and a memory and comprising:

reading specified biometric information from an individual using a biometric device;

comparing the biometric information to previously stored biometric information to determine a match between the read and stored biometric information;

recording the geographic location of the device;

determining if the device is inside the United States or outside the United States;

encrypting the geographic location and a device-unique identification;

sending the encrypted geographic location and the device-unique identification to a remote location;

if the geographic location is inside the United States, sending a test satisfactory signal to the device; and

if the geographic location is outside the United States, sending an exit satisfactory signal to the device.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising transmitting the biometric information to a central server that compares the biometric information to the previously stored biometric information.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising transmitting minutiae data as opposed to fingerprint data to the central server.