Biometric system for biometric input, comparison, authentication and access control and method therefor

• US 6,487,662 B1
• Filed: 11/03/1999
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BioLink Technologies International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: BioLink Technologies International, Inc.
• Inventors: Kharon, Jurij Jakovlevich, Rozenberg, Roman
• Primary Examiner(s): HUA, LY
• Application Number:
  US09/432,235
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 713/201, 713/200, 713/202, 713/186, 340/825.34, 340/825.31, 717/11, 382/124
• US Class Current: 713/186
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• 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 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/12 Fingerprints or palmprints
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition

Abstract

A biometric file securing system including a computer processor assembly containing an item to be secured and depicted on a corresponding display operatively associated with the computer processor assembly as an item icon. An access control icon is also represented on the display of the computer processor assembly and is structured to be moved on the display onto the item icon resulting in a restriction of subsequent access to the item to only an authorized user identified by biometric comparison of a biometric identifier with a stored biometric reference data corresponding to the authorized user.

Claims

1. A file securing system comprising:

a computer processor assembly, said computer processor assembly including at least one item to be secured thereon;

a display operatively associated with said computer processor assembly;

said computer processor assembly further structured to represent said item to be secured as an icon on said display;

an access control icon represented on said display of said computer processor assembly at least temporarily independent from said icon representing said item to be secured;

said access control icon and said icon representing said item to be secured structured to be at least temporarily and at least partially moved on said display into operative, engaging proximity with one another;

said computer processor assembly structured to restrict, to only an authorized user, subsequent future access to said item to be secured in response to said access control icon and said icon representing said item to be secured being moved into operative proximity with one another;

a biometric access control assembly, said biometric access control assembly including a biometric input device operatively associated with said computer processor assembly and structured to identify a biometric identifier of an accessing user, said biometric access control assembly structured to at least partially determine if said accessing user is one of said authorized users based upon said biometric identifier.

2. A file securing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said biometric access control assembly further comprises a biometric reference data storage assembly structured to maintain at least biometric reference data relating to at least one authorized user.

3. A file securing system as recited in claim 2 wherein said computer processor assembly at least partially includes said biometric reference data storage assembly.

4. A file securing system as recited in claim 2 wherein said biometric input device at least partially includes said biometric reference data storage assembly.

5. A file securing system as recited in claim 2 wherein said biometric access control assembly is structured to compare said biometric identifier of said accessing user identified by said biometric input device to said biometric reference data.

6. A file securing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said biometric access control assembly is structured to identify a biometric identifier of a restricting user attempting to move said access control icon into operative proximity with said item to be secured.

7. A file securing system as recited in claim 6 wherein said biometric access control assembly is structured to designate said restricting user as one of said authorized users.

8. A file securing system as recited in claim 6 wherein said biometric access control assembly is structured to permit said restricting user to designate said authorized users.

9. A file securing system as recited in claim 6 wherein said biometric access control assembly is structured to permit said restriction of subsequent access to said item to be secured only if said restricting user is identified as one of said authorized users.

10. A file securing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said biometric input device comprises a fingerprint scanner.

11. A file securing system as recited in claim 10 wherein said biometric input device is operatively associated with a computer pointer assembly.

12. A file securing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said item to be secured comprises an application.

13. A file securing system as recited in claim 1 wherein said item to be secured comprises a data file.

14. A file securing system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of said authorized users.

15. A method of securing an item contained on a computer processor assembly comprising of:

representing the item as an item icon;

designating an access control icon;

moving said access control icon and said item icon into operative proximity with one another;

restricting subsequent future access to the item to only an authorized user in response to said movement of said access control icon and said item icon into operative proximity with one another;

verifying that an accessing user is said authorized user utilizing a biometric identifier of the accessing user.

16. The method securing an item recited in claim 15 wherein verifying that the accessing user is said authorized user utilizing said biometric identifier of the accessing user further comprises:

storing a quantity of biometric reference data corresponding to said authorized user;

identifying said biometric identifier of said accessing user seeking access to the item;

comparing said biometric identifier of said accessing user to said biometric reference data; and

determining if said biometric identifier of said accessing user corresponds said biometric reference data of at least one of said authorized users.

17. The method securing an item recited in claim 16 wherein said step of identifying said biometric identifier of said accessing user further comprises scanning a fingerprint of said accessing user.