Tokenless identification system for authorization of electronic transactions and electronic transmissions

Claims

I claim:

1. A voluntary tokenless identification computer system for determining an individual's identity from an examination of at least one biometric sample and a personal identification code gathered during a bid step, and comparison with previously recorded biometric sample and personal identification code gathered during a registration step, wherein the system is authenticated to the individual, said system comprising:

a. at least one computer;

b. first gathering and display means for voluntary input of at least one biometric sample, personal identification code, and a private code from an individual during the registration step, wherein the private code is not used for gaining access to the system;

c. second gathering and display means for voluntary input of at least one biometric sample and personal identification code, from an individual during a bid step;

d. first interconnecting means for interconnecting said first and second gathering and display means to said computer for transmitting the gathered biometric sample, personal identification code, or private code from said first and second gathering means to said computer;

e. means for comparison of biometric sample and personal identification code gathered during the bid step with the biometric samples and personal identification codes gathered during the registration step, for producing an evaluation;

f. execution means within said computer for storage of data and processing and execution of commands for producing a determination;

g. means for output of said evaluation, determination, or private code from said computer; and

h. system authentication means wherein the private code gathered during the registration step, is displayed to the authorized user of the system during the output step to authenticate that the computer system was accessed.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the computer comprises means for detecting and preventing electronic intrusion of the computer system.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the computer is placed remote from the first and second gathering and display means.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, the first and second gathering and display means further comprising:

a. at least one biometric input means for gathering biometric samples further comprising a hardware and software component;

b. at least one terminal means that is functionally partially or fully integrated with the biometric input means for input of and appending additional data;

c. at least one data entry means for input of a personal identification code wherein the data entry means is integrated either with the biometric input means or the terminal means; and

d. second interconnecting means for interconnecting said biometric input means, data entry means and said terminal.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said terminal further comprises at least one display means for display of data.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the biometric input means has a hardware identification code previously registered with the computer, which makes the biometric input means uniquely identifiable to the computer.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the hardware component further comprises:

a. at least one computing module for data processing;

b. erasable and non-erasable memory modules for storage of data and software;

c. biometric scanner device for input of biometrics data;

d. data entry means for entering data;

e. digital communication port; and

f. means for prevention of electronic eavesdropping.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein when there are more than one computing modules, the computing modules are connected in a manner to prevent monitoring of communications between said computing modules.

9. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the hardware component further comprises display means for display of data.

10. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the hardware component further comprises RF shielding.

11. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the hardware component further comprises a wireless communications means.

12. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the biometric input means is secured from physical tampering.

13. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising means for detection of physical penetration of the biometric input means.

14. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising means for electronic self destruction whereby software and data stored within the erasable memory modules are erased.

15. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising means for physical self destruction whereby the computing modules and the erasable and non erasable memory modules are destroyed.

16. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the hardware component further comprises means for reading magnetic strip cards.

17. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the hardware component further comprises means for reading a smart card.

18. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the software component resides in a computing module and further comprises;

a. electronically erasable memory module wherein at least one command interface module, a first set of software and associated data specifically configured for the intended use of the biometric input device and data are stored; and

b. non-erasable memory module wherein a second set of software and associated data are stored.

19. The apparatus of claim 4 said software component further comprising means for encryption of data from plaintext to ciphertext.

20. The apparatus of claim 4 said software component further comprising means to detect alteration of data further comprising;

a. a secret key; and

b. an irreversible one way transformation of the data that cannot be reproduced without the secret key.

21. The device of claim 4 wherein the first set of software and associated data further comprise:

a. biometric encoding algorithm; and

b. encryption code.

22. The device of claim 4 wherein the second set of software and associated data further comprise:

a. an operating system; and

b. a device driver.

23. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said terminal is any electronic device and which issues commands to and receives results from the biometric input means.

24. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said terminal is selected from the group of facsimile machines, telephones, television remote control, personal computers, credit/debit card processors, cash registers, automated teller machines, wireless personal computers.

25. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said second interconnecting means is means for wireless communications.

26. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first interconnecting means is selected from the group X.25, ATM network, Telephone network, Internet network, cable television network, cellular telephone network.

27. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the comparison means further comprises means for encryption and decryption of data.

28. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein comparison means further comprises means for identifying the biometric input device.

29. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the computer system further comprises:

a. at least one independent computer network system; and

b. third interconnecting means for interconnecting said computer system with said at least one independent computer network system.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the third interconnecting means comprises an X.25 network.

31. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the execution means comprises at least one database for storage and retrieval of data.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the data base further comprises an individual biometric data base.

33. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the data base further comprises a prior fraud check data base.

34. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the data base further comprises an electronic document data base.

35. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the data base further comprises an electronic signature data base.

36. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said output means is selected from the group of an X.25 network, ATM network, Telephone network, Internet network, cable television network.

37. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said private code is generated by the computer.

38. A method for voluntary and tokenless identification of individuals using a computer system, wherein the computer system is authenticated to the individual, said method comprising the steps of:

a. registration step, wherein at least one biometric sample is gathered, and a personal identification code and private code are selected and stored, wherein the private code is not used for gaining access to the computer system;

b. a bid step wherein at least one biometric sample and personal identification code for an individual is gathered;

c. a comparison step wherein the biometric sample and personal identification code gathered during the bid step is compared with biometric samples and personal identification codes gathered and stored during the registration step, for producing either a successful or failed identification result;

d. an execution step wherein a command is processed and executed to produce a determination;

e. an output seep wherein said identification result or determination is externalized and displayed; and

f. a presentation step wherein on successful identification of the individual, the private code is presented to the individual being identified, for authenticating the system to the individual.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein both the registration and bid steps further comprise a biometric sample check step wherein the quality of the biometric sample is verified.

40. The method of claim 38 wherein the registration step further comprises a personal identification code and biometric sample duplication check step wherein the biometrics and personal identification code gathered during the registration step is checked against all previously registered biometrics currently associated with the identical personal identification code.

41. The method of claim 38 wherein the registration step further comprises an ancillary data input step wherein ancillary data is collected.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein the ancillary data further comprises name and address of the individual.

43. The method of claim 41 wherein the ancillary data further comprises a title of an individual.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein the ancillary data input step further comprises a title index assignment step wherein each title of the individual is assigned a code.

45. The method of claim 41 wherein the ancillary data further comprises a financial asset account number.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein the ancillary data input step further comprises an account index assignment step wherein each financial asset account number is assigned an index code.

47. The method of claim 38 wherein the registration step further comprises a prior fraud check step wherein the biometric sample gathered during registration is compared to a subset of previously registered biometric samples.

48. The method of claim 38 wherein the registration step further comprises an emergency mechanism setup step.

49. The method of claim 48 further comprising an emergency account index assignment step wherein an account index is labeled as an emergency account where in the event the account is accessed appropriate authorities are notified of the emergency.

50. The method of claim 49 further comprising a false screen display setup step wherein there is assignment of false screen data.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein access to various financial asset accounts is limited.

52. The method of claim 38 wherein the registration step further comprises a modification step wherein any previously entered ancillary data can be modified or deleted.

53. The method of claim 38 wherein both the registration and bid steps further comprise a data sealing step to provide the ability to detect alteration of the data further comprising:

a. a secret key; and

b. an irreversible one way transformation of the data that cannot be reproduced without the secret key.

54. The method of claim 38, wherein the registration and bid steps further comprise an encryption step to convert the data from plaintext to ciphertext.

55. The method of claim 38 wherein the bid or registration steps further comprise a transmission step wherein the data is transmitted.

56. The method of claim 38 wherein the bid or registration steps is further provided with a unique transmission code having a unique hardware identification code and incrementing sequence number which increases by one for each transmission.

57. The method of claim 38 wherein the registration step further comprises choosing a language for communication in a set language step.

58. The method of claim 38 wherein the bid step further comprises choosing a title in a set title number step.

59. The method of claim 38 wherein the bid step further comprises choosing an account number in a set account number step.

60. The method of claim 38 wherein the bid step further comprises validating an amount in a validate amount step.

61. The method of claim 38 wherein the bid step further comprises entering an amount in an enter amount step.

62. The method of claim 38 wherein the bid step further comprises validating a document in a validate document step.

63. The method of claim 38 wherein the bid step further comprises appending ancillary data in an assign register step.

64. The method of claim 63 the ancillary data further comprising a counter party identification code.

65. The method of claim 38 wherein the bid or registration step further comprise aborting or cancelling said registration or bid step in a reset step.

66. The method of claim 38 wherein the bid step further comprises transmission of data in a transmission step.

67. The method of claim 38 wherein the bid step further comprises choosing a language for communication in a set language step.

68. The method of claim 38 wherein the comparison step further comprises use of the unique transmission codes to detect repeat transmissions.

69. The method of claim 38 wherein the comparison step further comprises a counter party identification step using the counter party identification