Tokenless biometric transaction authorization method and system

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein the buyer identification step is accomplished preferably in less than about 2 seconds, whereby the entire commercial transaction is completed within a commercially acceptable timeframe.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 further comprising a computer system authentication step wherein a private code, distinct from the PIN and not used to gain access to the computer system, is gathered from the buyer during the buyer registration step and presented to only the buyer during the presentation step, whereby the buyer is assured that the authentic computer system was used to process the commercial transaction.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein the buyer registers an emergency PIN during the registration step which, if entered by the buyer during the acceptance step in place of the PIN, triggers a silent alarm.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 wherein the price information comprises any combination of the following: a list of goods and services, a seller name, a date and time, a location, and an invoice number.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 wherein the acceptance step further comprises the buyer entering an amount that is the sum of a cash back value to the proposed transaction amount.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 wherein the seller identification code is identical to the seller financial account.

Claim 9

The method of claim 1 wherein all communications with the computer system are encrypted.

Claim 10

The method of claim 1 wherein the biometric sample is a fingerprint.

Claim 11

The method of claim 1 wherein the biometric sample is retinal image.

Claim 12

The method of claim 1 wherein the biometric sample is a voice print.

Claim 13

The method of claim 1 further comprising a biometric theft resolution step, wherein the PIN of the buyer is changed whenever the buyer's biometric sample is determined to have been stolen.

Claim 14

The method of claim 1 further comprising a seller identification step, wherein the seller is identified by the computer system.

Claim 15

The method of claim 1 wherein the buyer is remote from the seller and communicates with the seller using a computer network.

Claim 16

The method of claim 14 wherein the computer network is any one of the group comprising the Internet, a private intranet, a telephone network, or a cable TV network.

Claim 17

The method of claim 1 further comprising a buyer re-registration check step, wherein the buyer's registration biometric samples are compared against previously designated biometric samples of certain buyers wherein if a match occurs, the computer system is alerted to the fact that the buyer has re-registered, whereby buyers who perpetrate fraud on the system can be automatically identified from their biometrics alone if and when they re-register.

Claim 18

The method of claim 16 wherein the biometrics are collected from a specific finger, such as the index finger, whereby the system can more easily detect re-registrations of previously designated biometric samples of certain buyers by limiting the number of different finger combinations the buyer can use to register without being detected.

Claim 19

The method of claim 1 further comprising a security determination step, wherein an evaluation is made using a set of security factors to determine the overall likelihood of fraud for a particular transaction.

Claim 20

The method of claim 18 wherein the security factors are selected from the group of a biometric-PIN input device security assessment, relative skill of attendant (at an attended location) to detect fraud, physical location and related neighborhood crime information, time at which the authorization takes place, number of recently failed authorization attempts originating from that device, number of recent authorizations issuing from that device related to the historical number of transactions from that device.

Claim 21

The method of claim 1 further comprising a buyer's resource determination step, wherein after successful identification of the buyer, a determination is made if the buyer has sufficient resources to pay for the transaction.

Claim 22

The method of claim 20 wherein during the buyer registration step, the buyer registers at least one buyer financial account and assigns an account index code to each buyer financial account, and during the acceptance step the buyer adds the account index code to the commercial transaction message, wherein the account index code further comprises one or more alphanumeric characters.

Claim 23

The method of claim 21 wherein during the buyer registration step, the buyer registers an emergency account index code, which when added to the commercial transaction message during the acceptance step, triggers a silent alarm.

Claim 24

The method of claim 22 wherein during the registration step, the buyer specifies any combination of actions taken upon the triggering of the silent alarm comprising artificial financial resource limits, presentation of a false private code, rejection of the transaction, or the sending of the silent alarm to the seller.

Claim 25

The method of claim 21 wherein during the buyer's resource determination step, the computer system uses the account index code that was added to the commercial transaction message to select the corresponding buyer financial account.

Claim 26

The method of claim 24 wherein the registration step further comprises assigning an account index name to an account index code.

Claim 27

The method of claim 25 further comprising an account name display step, wherein a list of accounts with their account index names can be retrieved and displayed to the buyer after a successful identification, wherein no transaction needs to take place if it is desired that the account index names be retrieved.

Claim 28

The method of claim 20 wherein during both the resource determination step and the payment step the computer system communicates with one or more external computer systems in order to perform any combination of the following steps: the resource determination, debiting the buyer's financial account, and crediting the seller's financial account.

Claim 29

The method of claim 20 wherein during the payment step, a credit authorization draft is created detailing an agreement to pay the seller from the buyer's financial account up to an amount specified during the proposal step, whereby transactions can be conducted when the exact amount to be transferred is not known at the time of authorization or when a deposit is required but the account may not ever be debited.

Claim 30

The method of claim 28 wherein during both the resource determination step and the payment step the computer system communicates with one or more external computer systems in order to perform any combination of the following steps: the resource determination or the construction of the credit authorization draft.

Claim 31

The method of claim 29 wherein one of the external computer systems comprises VISANet or MAPP.

Claim 38

A tokenless authorization system for commercial transactions between a buyer and a seller using a computer, comprising: a. means for buyer registration, wherein the buyer registers with the computer system a PIN, at least one registration biometric sample, and at least one buyer financial account; b. means for seller registration, wherein the seller registers with the computer system at least one seller financial account and a seller identification code; c. means for making an electronic proposal, wherein the seller offers an electronic proposed commercial transaction to the buyer, the proposed commercial transaction comprising a seller identification code and price information; d. means for acceptance of the electronic proposal by the buyer, wherein the buyer signals acceptance of the seller's proposed commercial transaction by adding to the proposed commercial transaction the buyer's personal authentication information comprising a PIN and at least one bid biometric sample wherein the bid biometric sample is obtained by the system from the buyer's person, the seller's electronic proposal and the buyer's authentication information forming a commercial transaction message; e. means for transmission, wherein the commercial transaction message is forwarded to the computer system; f. means for buyer identification, wherein the computer system compares the personal authentication information in the commercial transaction message with registration biometric samples for producing either a successful or failed identification of the buyer; g. means for electronic payment, wherein upon determination of sufficient resources, a financial account of the buyer is debited and a financial account of the seller is credited, wherein a commercial transaction is conducted without the buyer having to use any portable man made memory devices such as smart cards or swipe cards; and h. means for status presentation, wherein any combination of the results of steps a) through g) are presented to the buyer or seller.

Claim 39

A tokenless authorization system for commercial transactions between a buyer and a seller using a computer, comprising: a. means for buyer registration, wherein the buyer registers with the computer system a PIN, at least one registration biometric sample, and at least one buyer financial account; b. means for seller registration, wherein the seller registers with the computer system at least one seller financial account and a seller identification code; c. means for making an electronic proposal, wherein the seller offers an electronic proposed commercial transaction to the buyer, the proposed commercial transaction comprising a seller identification code and price information; d. means for acceptance of the electronic proposal by the buyer, wherein the buyer signals acceptance of the seller's proposed commercial transaction by adding to the proposed commercial transaction the buyer's personal authentication information comprising a PIN and at least one bid biometric sample wherein the bid biometric sample is obtained by the system from the buyer's person, the seller's electronic proposal and the buyer's authentication information forming a commercial transaction message; e. means for transmission, wherein the commercial transaction message is forwarded to the computer system; f. means for buyer identification, wherein the computer system compares the personal authentication information in the commercial transaction message with registration biometric samples for producing either a successful or failed identification of the buyer; g. means for electronic payment, wherein upon determination of sufficient resources, a financial account of the buyer is debited and a financial account of the seller is credited, wherein a commercial transaction is conducted without the buyer having to use any portable man made memory devices such as smart cards or swipe cards; and h. means for status presentation, wherein any combination of the results of steps a) through g) are presented to the buyer or seller.

Claim 40

The device of claim 34 further comprising means for identification of the buyer wherein the buyer identification is accomplished preferably in less than about 2 seconds, whereby the entire commercial transaction is completed within a commercially acceptable timeframe.

Claim 41

The device of claim 34 further comprising means for computer system authentication wherein a private code, distinct from the PIN and not used to gain access to the computer system, is gathered from the buyer during buyer registration and presented to only the buyer during status presentation, whereby the buyer is assured that the authentic computer system was used to process the commercial transaction.

Claim 42

The device of claim 34 further comprising means for the buyer to register an emergency PIN during the buyer registration which, if entered by the buyer during buyer acceptance in place of the PIN, triggers a silent alarm.

Claim 43

The device of claim 34 wherein the price information comprises any combination of the following: a list of goods and services, a seller name, a date and time, a location, and an invoice number.

Claim 44

The device of claim 34 further comprising means for the buyer to enter an amount that is the sum of a cash back value to the proposed transaction amount during buyer acceptance.

Claim 45

The device of claim 39 wherein the seller identification code is identical to the seller financial account.

Claim 46

The device of claim 34 wherein all communications with the computer system are encrypted.

Claim 47

The device of claim 34 wherein the biometric sample is a fingerprint.

Claim 48

The device of claim 34 wherein the biometric sample is retinal image.

Claim 49

The device of claim 34 wherein the biometric sample is a voice print.

Claim 50

The device of claim 34 further comprising means for biometric theft resolution, wherein the PIN of the buyer is changed whenever the buyer's biometric sample is determined to have been stolen.

Claim 51

The device of claim 34 further comprising a means for seller identification.

Claim 52

The device of claim 34 wherein the buyer is remote from the seller and communicates with the seller using a computer network.

Claim 53

The device of claim 47 wherein the computer network is any one of the group comprising the Internet, a private intranet, a telephone network, or a cable TV network.

Claim 54

The device of claim 34 further comprising means for buyer re-registration check, wherein the buyer's registration biometric samples are compared against previously designated biometric samples of certain buyers wherein if a match occurs, the computer system is alerted to the fact that the buyer has re-registered, whereby buyers who perpetrate fraud on the system can be automatically identified from their biometrics alone if and when they re-register.

Claim 55

The device of claim 49 wherein the biometrics are collected from a specific finger, such as the index finger, whereby the system can more easily detect re-registrations of previously designated biometric samples of certain buyers by limiting the number of different finger combinations the buyer can use to register without being detected.

Claim 56

The device of claim 34 further comprising means for security determination, wherein an evaluation is made using a set of security factors to determine the overall likelihood of fraud for a particular transaction.

Claim 57

The device of claim 51 wherein the security factors are selected from the group of a biometric-PIN input device security assessment, relative skill of attendant (at an attended location) to detect fraud, physical location and related neighborhood crime information, time at which the authorization takes place, number of recently failed authorization attempts originating from that device, number of recent authorizations issuing from that device related to the historical number of transactions from that device.

Claim 58

The device of claim 34 further comprising the means for buyer's resource determination, wherein after successful identification of the buyer, a determination is made if the buyer has sufficient resources to pay for the transaction.

Claim 59

The device of claim 53 further comprising means for communication with one or more external computer systems in order to perform any combination of the following: resource determination, debiting the buyer's financial account, and crediting the seller's financial account during both resource determination and electronic payment.

Claim 60

The device of claim 53 further comprising means for creation of a credit authorization draft during the electronic payment detailing an agreement to pay the seller from the buyer's financial account up to an amount specified during the electronic proposal, whereby transactions can be conducted when the exact amount to be transferred is not known at the time of authorization or when a deposit is required but the account may not ever be debited.

Claim 61

The device of claim 55 further comprising means for communication with one or more external computer systems in order to perform any combination of the following: resource determination or construction of the credit authorization draft.

Claim 62

The device of claim 56 wherein one of the external computer systems comprises VISANet or MAPP.

Claim 63

The device of claim 53 wherein means for buyer registration further comprises means for registering at least one buyer financial account, the buyer assigning an account index code to each buyer financial account, and at the time of buyer acceptance, the buyer adds the account index code to the commercial transaction message, wherein the account index code further comprises one or more alphanumeric characters.

Claim 64

The device of claim 58 further comprising means for registration of an emergency account index code, wherein the buyer registers an emergency account index code, which when added to the commercial transaction message during the buyer acceptance, triggers a silent alarm.

Claim 65

The device of claim 59 further comprising means for the buyer to specify any combination of actions taken upon the triggering of the silent alarm comprising artificial financial resource limits, presentation of a false private code, rejection of the transaction, or the sending of the silent alarm to the seller during buyer registration.

Claim 66

The device of claim 58 wherein means for buyer's resource determination further comprises means for selecting the corresponding buyer financial account through the account index code that was added to the commercial transaction message.

Claim 67

The device of claim 61 wherein further comprising means for assigning an account index name to an account index code.

Claim 68

The device of claim 62 further comprising means for account name display, wherein a list of accounts with their account index names can be retrieved and displayed to the buyer after a successful identification, wherein no transaction needs to take place if it is desired that the account index names be retrieved.

Claim 69

A tokenless authorization system for commercial transactions between a buyer and a seller using a computer system, wherein the buyer may select one of many registered financial accounts from which to make payment, the system comprising: a. means for buyer registration, wherein the buyer registers with the computer system a PIN, at least one registration biometric sample, and at least one buyer financial account, and each buyer financial account is assigned an account index code; b. means for seller registration, wherein the seller registers with the computer system at least one seller financial account and a seller identification code; c. means for making an electronic proposal, wherein the seller offers an electronic proposed commercial transaction to the buyer, the proposed commercial transaction comprising a seller identification code and price information; d. means for acceptance of the electronic proposal by the buyer, wherein the buyer signals acceptance of the seller's proposed commercial transaction by adding to the proposed commercial transaction an account index code and the buyer's personal authentication information comprising a PIN and at least one bid biometric sample wherein the bid biometric sample is obtained by the system from the buyer's person, the seller's electronic proposal and the buyer's authentication information forming a commercial transaction message; e. means for transmission, wherein the commercial transaction message is forwarded to the computer system; f. means for buyer identification, wherein the computer system compares the personal authentication information in the commercial transaction message with registration biometric samples for producing either a successful or failed identification of the buyer; g. means for account selection, wherein the computer system obtains a buyer financial account using the account index code from the commercial transaction message; h. means for electronic payment, wherein upon determination of sufficient resources, a financial account of the buyer is debited and a financial account of the seller is credited, wherein a commercial transaction is conducted without the buyer having to use any portable man made memory devices such as smart cards or swipe cards; and i. means for status presentation, wherein any combination of the results of steps a) through g) are presented to the buyer or seller.

Claim 70

A tokenless authorization system for commercial transactions between a buyer and a seller using a computer system, wherein the buyer may select one of many registered financial accounts from which to make payment, the system comprising: a. means for buyer registration, wherein the buyer registers with the computer system a PIN, at least one registration biometric sample, and at least one buyer financial account, and each buyer financial account is assigned an account index code; b. means for seller registration, wherein the seller registers with the computer system at least one seller financial account and a seller identification code; c. means for making an electronic proposal, wherein the seller offers an electronic proposed commercial transaction to the buyer, the proposed commercial transaction comprising a seller identification code and price information; d. means for acceptance of the electronic proposal by the buyer, wherein the buyer signals acceptance of the seller's proposed commercial transaction by adding to the proposed commercial transaction an account index code and the buyer's personal authentication information comprising a PIN and at least one bid biometric sample wherein the bid biometric sample is obtained by the system from the buyer's person, the seller's electronic proposal and the buyer's authentication information forming a commercial transaction message; e. means for transmission, wherein the commercial transaction message is forwarded to the computer system; f. means for buyer identification, wherein the computer system compares the personal authentication information in the commercial transaction message with registration biometric samples for producing either a successful or failed identification of the buyer; g. means for account selection, wherein the computer system obtains a buyer financial account using the account index code from the commercial transaction message; h. means for electronic payment, wherein upon determination of sufficient resources, a financial account of the buyer is debited and a financial account of the seller is credited, wherein a commercial transaction is conducted without the buyer having to use any portable man made memory devices such as smart cards or swipe cards; and i. means for status presentation, wherein any combination of the results of steps a) through g) are presented to the buyer or seller.

Claim 71

A tokenless authorization system for commercial transactions between a buyer and a seller using a computer system, wherein the buyer may select one of many registered financial accounts from which to make payment, with a provision for sending a silent alarm during coerced transactions, the system comprising: a. means for buyer registration, wherein the buyer registers with the computer system a PIN, at least one registration biometric sample, and at least one buyer financial account, and each buyer financial account is assigned an account index code, and at least one emergency account index code; b. means for seller registration, wherein the seller registers with the computer system at least one seller financial account and a seller identification code; c. means for making an electronic proposal, wherein the seller offers an electronic proposed commercial transaction to the buyer, the proposed commercial transaction comprising a seller identification code and price information; d. means for acceptance of the electronic proposal by the buyer, wherein the buyer signals acceptance of the seller's proposed commercial transaction by adding to the proposed commercial transaction an account index code and the buyer's personal authentication information comprising a PIN and at least one bid biometric sample wherein the bid biometric sample is obtained by the system from the buyer's person, the seller's electronic proposal and the buyer's authentication information forming a commercial transaction message; e. means for transmission, wherein the commercial transaction message is forwarded to the computer system; f. means for buyer identification, wherein the computer system compares the personal authentication information in the commercial transaction message with registration biometric samples for producing either a successful or failed identification of the buyer; g. means for account selection, wherein the computer system obtains a buyer financial account using the account index code from the commercial transaction message, and if the account index code is the same as the emergency account index code, a silent alarm is sent; h. means for electronic payment, wherein upon determination of sufficient resources, a financial account of the buyer is debited and a financial account of the seller is credited wherein a commercial transaction is conducted without the buyer having to use any portable man made memory devices such as smart cards or swipe cards; and i. means for status presentation, wherein any combination of the results of steps a) through g) are presented to the buyer or seller, whereby a commercial transaction is conducted from one of many possible buyer accounts.

Claim 72

A tokenless authorization system for commercial transactions between a buyer and a seller using a computer system, wherein the buyer may select one of many registered financial accounts from which to make payment, with a provision for sending a silent alarm during coerced transactions, the system comprising: a. means for buyer registration, wherein the buyer registers with the computer system a PIN, at least one registration biometric sample, and at least one buyer financial account, and each buyer financial account is assigned an account index code, and at least one emergency account index code; b. means for seller registration, wherein the seller registers with the computer system at least one seller financial account and a seller identification code; c. means for making an electronic proposal, wherein the seller offers an electronic proposed commercial transaction to the buyer, the proposed commercial transaction comprising a seller identification code and price information; d. means for acceptance of the electronic proposal by the buyer, wherein the buyer signals acceptance of the seller's proposed commercial transaction by adding to the proposed commercial transaction an account index code and the buyer's personal authentication information comprising a PIN and at least one bid biometric sample wherein the bid biometric sample is obtained by the system from the buyer's person, the seller's electronic proposal and the buyer's authentication information forming a commercial transaction message; e. means for transmission, wherein the commercial transaction message is forwarded to the computer system; f. means for buyer identification, wherein the computer system compares the personal authentication information in the commercial transaction message with registration biometric samples for producing either a successful or failed identification of the buyer; g. means for account selection, wherein the computer system obtains a buyer financial account using the account index code from the commercial transaction message, and if the account index code is the same as the emergency account index code, a silent alarm is sent; h. means for electronic payment, wherein upon determination of sufficient resources, a financial account of the buyer is debited and a financial account of the seller is credited wherein a commercial transaction is conducted without the buyer having to use any portable man made memory devices such as smart cards or swipe cards; and i. means for status presentation, wherein any combination of the results of steps a) through g) are presented to the buyer or seller, whereby a commercial transaction is conducted from one of many possible buyer accounts.

Claim 73

A tokenless authorization system for commercial transactions between a buyer and a seller using a computer, comprising: a. means for buyer registration, wherein the buyer registers with the computer system a PIN, at least one registration biometric sample, and at least one buyer financial account; b. means for seller registration, wherein the seller registers with the computer system at least one seller financial account and a seller identification code; c. means for making an electronic proposal, wherein the seller offers an electronic proposed commercial transaction to the buyer, the proposed commercial transaction comprising a seller identification code and price information, d. means for acceptance of the electronic proposal by the buyer, wherein the buyer signals acceptance of the seller's proposed commercial transaction by adding to the proposed commercial transaction the buyer's personal authentication information comprising a PIN and at least one bid biometric sample wherein the bid biometric sample is obtained by the system from the buyer's person, the seller's electronic proposal and the buyer's authentication information forming a commercial transaction message; e. means for transmission, wherein the commercial transaction message is forwarded to the computer system; f. means for buyer identification, wherein the computer system compares the personal authentication information in the commercial transaction message with registration biometric samples for producing either a successful or failed identification of the buyer; g. means for electronic payment, wherein upon determination of sufficient resources, a financial account of the buyer is debited and a financial account of the seller is credited, wherein a commercial transaction is conducted without the buyer having to use any portable man made memory devices such as smart cards or swipe cards; h. means for status presentation, wherein any combination of the results of steps a) through g) are presented to the buyer or seller; and i. means for biometric theft resolution, wherein the PIN of the buyer is changed whenever the buyer's biometric record is determined to have been stolen, and any theft of biometric information can be made useless immediately upon detection.

Claim 74

A tokenless authorization system for commercial transactions between a buyer and a seller using a computer, comprising: a. means for buyer registration, wherein the buyer registers with the computer system a PIN, at least one registration biometric sample, and at least one buyer financial account; b. means for seller registration, wherein the seller registers with the computer system at least one seller financial account and a seller identification code; c. means for making an electronic proposal, wherein the seller offers an electronic proposed commercial transaction to the buyer, the proposed commercial transaction comprising a seller identification code and price information, d. means for acceptance of the electronic proposal by the buyer, wherein the buyer signals acceptance of the seller's proposed commercial transaction by adding to the proposed commercial transaction the buyer's personal authentication information comprising a PIN and at least one bid biometric sample wherein the bid biometric sample is obtained by the system from the buyer's person, the seller's electronic proposal and the buyer's authentication information forming a commercial transaction message; e. means for transmission, wherein the commercial transaction message is forwarded to the computer system; f. means for buyer identification, wherein the computer system compares the personal authentication information in the commercial transaction message with registration biometric samples for producing either a successful or failed identification of the buyer; g. means for electronic payment, wherein upon determination of sufficient resources, a financial account of the buyer is debited and a financial account of the seller is credited, wherein a commercial transaction is conducted without the buyer having to use any portable man made memory devices such as smart cards or swipe cards; h. means for status presentation, wherein any combination of the results of steps a) through g) are presented to the buyer or seller; and i. means for biometric theft resolution, wherein the PIN of the buyer is changed whenever the buyer's biometric record is determined to have been stolen, and any theft of biometric information can be made useless immediately upon detection.