System for biometric security using a smartcard

• US 7,451,925 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2007
• Issued: 11/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): WALSH, DANIEL I
• Application Number:
  US11/859,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20080010214A1
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/487, 235/492, 340/10.1, 340/572.1, 340/5.52
• US Class Current: 235/380
• 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 20/40145 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

The present invention discloses a system and methods for biometric security using biometrics in a smartcard-reader system. The biometric security system also includes a biometric sensor that detects biometric samples and a device for verifying biometric samples. In one embodiment, the biometric security system includes a smartcard configured with a biometric sensor. In another embodiment, the system includes a reader configured with a biometric sensor. The device for verifying samples compares the biometric samples with information stored on databases.

Claims

1. A smartcard transaction system configured with a hand geometry security device, said system comprising:

a smartcard configured to communicate with a reader, wherein said reader and said hand geometry security device are configured to communicate with a host;

an integrated circuit device disposed within said smartcard and configured to communicate with said reader, said integrated circuit device comprising a common application and a second application, said second application being configured to store travel-related information associated with a cardholder;

said second application comprising a common file structure and a partner file structure, wherein said partner file structure provides write access to a field within said partner file structure for a first partnering organization and denies write access to said field for a second partnering organization, and said common file structure provides write access for said first partnering organization and said second partnering organization to a field in said common file structure;

said hand geometry security device comprising a hand geometry sensor configured to communicate with said system and detect a first proffered hand geometry sample and a second proffered hand geometry sample, wherein said first proffered hand geometry sample is a different type of hand geometry sample from said second proffered hand geometry sample, and wherein said first proffered hand geometry sample and said second proffered hand geometry sample are from the same person, and wherein said first proffered hand geometry sample is required to access said common file structure and said second proffered hand geometry sample is required to access said partner file structure;

a verification device configured to verify said first proffered hand geometry sample to facilitate access to said common file structure and configured to verify said second proffered hand geometry sample to facilitate access to said partner file structure;

wherein upon verification by said verification device, said common application is configured to transfer common data to facilitate said transaction, and said second application is configured to transfer said travel-related information, information related to said common file structure and information related to said partner file structure to facilitate said transaction;

a first enterprise data collection unit associated with a first enterprise, said first enterprise data collection unit configured to store update transactions and pending transactions associated with said smartcard and said first enterprise;

a second enterprise data collection unit associated with a second enterprise, said second enterprise data collection unit configured to store update transactions and pending transactions associated with said smartcard and said second enterprise;

at least one access point configured to interface with said smartcard and said first and second enterprise data collection units;

a card object database system coupled to said first and second enterprise data collection units and configured to store said smartcard information in accordance with said update transactions and said pending transactions, wherein said smartcard information includes a card object having at least one application;

an update logic system configured to route said smartcard information from said first and second enterprise data collection units to said at least one access point in order to effect synchronization of said smartcard information associated with said smartcard and said card object database system; and

,

wherein said verification device activates said update logic system upon verification of said first proffered hand geometry sample and said second hand geometry sample.

2. The smartcard transaction system of claim 1, wherein said device is configured to verify said proffered hand geometry scan sample by comparing said proffered hand geometry scan sample with a stored hand geometry scan sample, wherein said stored hand geometry scan sample is associated with at least one of:

personal information, credit card information, debit card information, savings account information, membership information, PayPal account information, Western Union Account information, electronic bill payment information, automatic bill payment information and loyalty point information.

3. The smartcard transaction system of claim 1, wherein said device is configured to verify said proffered hand geometry scan sample by comparing said proffered hand geometry scan sample with a stored hand geometry scan sample, wherein different stored hand geometry scan samples are associated with a different one of:

personal information, credit card information, debit card information, savings account information, membership information, PayPal account information, Western Union Account information, electronic bill payment information, automatic bill payment information and loyalty point information.

4. The smartcard transaction system of claim 1, wherein said hand geometry scan sample is primarily associated with first user information, wherein said first information comprises at least one of:

personal information, credit card information, debit card information, savings account information, membership information, PayPal account information, Western Union Account information, electronic bill payment information, automatic bill payment information and loyalty point information, and wherein said hand geometry scan sample is secondarily associated with second user information, wherein said second information comprises at least one of personal information, credit card information, debit card information, savings account information, membership information, PayPal account information, Western Union Account information, electronic bill payment information, automatic bill payment information and loyalty point information, and wherein said second user information is different than said first user information.

5. The smartcard transaction system of claim 1, wherein said device configured to verify is configured to facilitate at least one of access, activation of a device, a financial transaction, a non-financial transaction, and use of a secondary security procedure.

6. The smartcard transaction system of claim 1, further comprising a secure support client server configured to communicate with said access point, said secure support client server further configured to adaptively provide communication functionality in accordance with the communication functionality available at said access point.

7. The smartcard transaction system of claim 6, further including a personalization system comprising:

a security server;

at least one key system associated with said at least one application, said key system configured to communicate with said security server and to supply a key in response to a request from said security server;

a personalization utility configured to receive said card object and to communicate with said security server;

said personalization utility further configured to add said key to said card object, a card management system, said card management system configured to accept a card request and communicate said card request to said personalization utility; and

a gather application module configured to communicate with said card management system and gather application information from a first database and a second database in accordance with said card request, wherein said first database is associated with said first enterprise, and said second database is associated with said second enterprise.

8. A method for facilitating hand geometry security in a smartcard transaction system, said method comprising:

receiving a first proffered hand geometry sample and a second proffered hand geometry sample at a hand geometry sensor configured on a smartcard, wherein said smart card comprises a common application and a second application, said second application storing travel-related information associated with a cardholder, said second application comprising a common file structure and a partner file structure, and receiving a first proffered hand geometry sample and a second proffered hand geometry sample, wherein said first proffered hand geometry sample is a different type of hand geometry sample from said second proffered hand geometry sample, and wherein said first proffered hand geometry sample and said second proffered hand geometry sample are from the same user, and wherein said first proffered hand geometry sample is required to access said common file structure and said second proffered hand geometry sample is required to access said partner file structure;

generating data representing said first proffered hand geometry sample and a second proffered hand geometry;

verifying said first proffered hand geometry sample and a second proffered hand geometry; and

enabling write access to a field within said partner file structure upon verification of said second proffered hand geometry sample and upon request by a first partnering organization;

denying write access to said field upon request by a second partnering organization;

enabling write access for said first partnering organization and said second partnering organization to a field in said common file structure, upon verification of said first proffered hand geometry sample;

transferring common data to facilitate authorization of said transaction;

transferring said travel-related information, information related to said common file structure and information related to said partner file structure to facilitate said transaction;

storing, by a first enterprise data collection unit, update transactions and pending transactions associated with said smartcard and a first enterprise, wherein said first enterprise data collection unit is associated with a first enterprise;

storing, by a second enterprise data collection unit, update transactions and pending transactions associated with said smartcard and a second enterprise, wherein said second enterprise data collection unit is associated with a second enterprise;

interfacing with said smartcard and said first and second enterprise data collection units, at an access point;

storing, by a card object database system coupled to said first and second enterprise data collection units, said smartcard information in accordance with said update transactions and said pending transactions, wherein said smartcard information includes a card object having an application;

routing, by an update logic system, said smartcard information from said first and second enterprise data collection units to said access point in order to effect synchronization of said smartcard information associated with said smartcard and said card object database system; and

,

activating, by said verification device, said update logic system upon verification of said first proffered hand geometry sample and said second proffered hand geometry sample.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said step of verifying comprises comparing said proffered hand geometry scan sample with a stored hand geometry scan sample.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising securely routing, by an update logic system, card information between said enterprise data synchronization interface and said enterprise data collection units, wherein said update logic system is coupled to an enterprise data synchronization interface, and communicating, by said enterprise network, with said access point, wherein said enterprise data synchronization interface is coupled to said enterprise network.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising, by a secure support client server, communicating with said access point, and adaptively providing communication functionality in accordance with the communication functionality available at said access point.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

communicating, by a key system, with a security server and supplying a key in response to a request from said security server, wherein said key system is associated with said application;

receiving, by a personalization utility, said card object and communicating with said security server;

adding, by said personalization utility, said key to said card object;

accepting, by a card management system, a card request and communicating said card request to said personalization utility; and

communicating, by a gather application module, with said card management system and gathering application information from a first database and a second database in accordance with said card request, wherein said first database is associated with said first enterprise, and said second database is associated with said second enterprise.