Data security system

• US 7,822,232 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2005
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States CP LLC
• Original Assignee: Pen-One Inc.
• Inventors: Black, Gerald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Seth, Manav
• Application Number:
  US11/124,016
• Publication Number:
  US 20060005042A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,905 Days
• Field of Search: 382115-127
• US Class Current: 382/116
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/316 by observing the pattern of computer usage, e.g. typical user behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• 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 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2139 Recurrent verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• 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 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/12 Details of acquisition arrangements; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/12 Fingerprints or palmprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/13 Sensors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/30 Writer recognition; Reading and verifying signatures
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/02 related to amusement parks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 : electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 : with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 : using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/207 : Surveillance aspects at ATMs
• 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 data security system comprises a host processor, and a plurality of remote computers. Each remote computer provides biometric authentication of a user prior to responding to the user request for data access. The remote computers are handheld when in operational mode. A sensor in the handheld computer captures a biometric image while the remote computer is being used. The biometric sensor is positioned in such a way that the sensor enables the capture of the biometric image continually during computer usage with each request for access to secure data. The biometric authentication occurs in a seamless manner and is incidental to the data request enabling user identity authentication with each request to access secure data.

Claims

1. A handheld computing device for accessing secure data, the handheld computing device selected from the group consisting of a pocket, a palm-type computer, a cell-phone, and a pen-based computer, the handheld computing device including:

a casing;

a first biometric sensor being positioned at a first sensor site in the casing of the handheld computing device, the biometric sensor capturing biometric data relative to a first biometric property, the first biometric sensor being disposed at a first biometric sensor site, the placement of the first biometric sensor site in the casing of the handheld computing device enabling an incidental capture of the first biometric property of the user for purposes of identity authentication prior to each request to access the secure data, the placement of the first biometric sensor site in the casing of the handheld computing device enabling a continuous capture of the first biometric property of the user while the handheld computing device is being used; and

a second biometric sensor being positioned at a second sensor site in the handheld computing device, the biometric sensor capturing biometric data relative to a second biometric property, the second biometric sensor being disposed at a second biometric sensor site, the placement of the second biometric sensor site enabling an incidental capture of the second biometric property of the user for purposes of identity authentication prior to each request to access the secure data, the placement of the second biometric sensor site enabling a continuous capture of the second biometric property of the user while the handheld computing device is being held.

2. The handheld computing device of claim 1, wherein the first biometric sensor captures user fingerprint data.

3. The handheld computing device of claim 1, wherein the first biometric sensor captures user thumb print data.

4. The handheld computing device of claim 1, wherein the second biometric sensor captures user palm print data.

5. The handheld computing device of claim 1, wherein the second biometric sensor captures user facial imaging data.

6. A handheld computing device for accessing secure data, the handheld computing device selected from the group consisting of a pocket, a palm-type computer, a cell-phone, and a pen-based computer, the handheld computing device including:

a casing;

a first biometric sensor being positioned at a first sensor site in the casing of the handheld computing device, the biometric sensor capturing biometric data relative to a first biometric property, the first biometric sensor being disposed at a first biometric sensor site, placement of the first biometric sensor site in the casing of the handheld computing device enabling an incidental capture of the first biometric property of the user for purposes of identity authentication prior to each request to access the secure data, placement of the second biometric sensor site in the handheld computing device enabling an incidental capture of the second biometric property of the user for purposes of identity authentication prior to each request to access the secure data; and

a second biometric sensor being positioned at a second sensor site in the handheld computing device, the biometric sensor capturing biometric data relative to a second biometric property, the second biometric sensor being disposed at a second biometric sensor site, placement of the first biometric sensor site in the casing of the handheld computing device enabling a continuous capture of the first biometric property of the user while the handheld computing device is being used, placement of the second biometric sensor site in the handheld computing device enabling a continuous capture of the second biometric property of the user while the handheld computing device is being held.

7. The handheld computing device of claim 6, wherein the first biometric sensor captures user fingerprint data.

8. The handheld computing device of claim 6, wherein the first biometric sensor captures user thumb print data.

9. The handheld computing device of claim 6, wherein the second biometric sensor captures user palm print data.

10. The handheld computing device of claim 6, wherein the second biometric sensor captures user facial imaging data.

11. A handheld computing device for accessing secure data, the handheld computing device selected from the group consisting of a pocket, a palm-type computer, a cell-phone, and a pen-based computer, the handheld computing device including:

a casing;

a first biometric sensor being positioned at a first sensor site in the casing of the handheld computing device, the biometric sensor capturing biometric data relative to a first biometric property, the first biometric sensor being disposed at a first biometric sensor site, placement of the first biometric sensor site in the casing of the handheld computing device enables capture of the first biometric property of the user while holding the handheld computing device, placement of the biometric sensor site in the handheld computing device enables capture of the second biometric property of the user while holding the handheld computing device; and

a second biometric sensor being positioned at a second sensor site in the handheld computing device, the biometric sensor capturing biometric data relative to a second biometric property, the second biometric sensor being disposed at a second biometric sensor site, placement of the first biometric sensor site in the casing of the handheld computing device enabling a continuous capture of the first biometric property of the user while the handheld computing device is being used, placement of the second biometric sensor site in the handheld computing device enabling a continuous capture of the second biometric property of the user while the handheld computing device is being held.

12. The handheld computing device of claim 11, wherein the first biometric sensor captures user fingerprint data.

13. The handheld computing device of claim 11, wherein the first biometric sensor captures user thumb print data.

14. The handheld computing device of claim 11, wherein the second biometric sensor captures user palm print data.

15. The handheld computing device of claim 11, wherein the second biometric sensor captures user facial imaging data.

16. A handheld computing device for accessing secure data, the handheld computing device selected from the group consisting of a pocket, a palm-type computer, a cell-phone, and a pen-based computer, the handheld computing device including:

a casing;

a fingerprint sensor being positioned at a fingerprint sensor site in the casing of the handheld computing device, placement of the fingerprint sensor site in the casing of the handheld computing device enabling an incidental capture of the thumbprint image or fingerprint image of the user hand for purposes of identity authentication prior to each request to access the secure data, placement of the biometric sensor site in the handheld computing device enabling an incidental capture of the biometric property of the user for purposes of identity authentication prior to each request to access the secure data; and

a biometric sensor being positioned at a sensor site in the handheld computing device, the biometric sensor capturing biometric data relative to a biometric property other than a fingerprint, the biometric sensor being disposed at a biometric sensor site, placement of the fingerprint sensing site in the casing of the handheld computing device enabling a continuous capture of the thumbprint image or fingerprint image of the user hand while the handheld computing device is being held, placement of the biometric sensor site in the handheld computing device enabling a continuous capture of the biometric property of the user while the handheld computing device is being held.

17. The handheld computing device of claim 16, wherein the first biometric sensor captures user fingerprint data.

18. The handheld computing device of claim 16, wherein the first biometric sensor captures user thumb print data.

19. The handheld computing device of claim 16, wherein the second biometric sensor captures user palm print data.

20. The handheld computing device of claim 16, wherein the second biometric sensor captures user facial imaging data.