Patent No. 6898299 Method and system for biometric recognition based on electric and/or magnetic characteristics

Patent No. 6898299

Method and system for biometric recognition based on electric and/or magnetic characteristics (Brooks, May 24, 2005)

Abstract

A method and apparatus for authenticating an individual living organism by recognizing a unique internal electric and/or magnetic and/or acoustic characteristic, which comprises a biometric signature, involve presenting a body part to a sensing device that senses the signature. The sensed presented biometric signature is compared to a known biometric signature to authenticate the individual. This authentication can then be used to authorize any of a wide variety of actions by the individual, such as accessing equipment or an area, or to perform actions, such as conducting financial transactions. A card having sensors is used to sense the biometric signature which is read by a card reader and sent to a local or remote reader for biometric signature comparison.

Notes:

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the detection of unique energy characteristics of an individual living organism. More specifically, the present invention relates to biometric recognition of an organism based on a biometric signature of the individual acquired by sensing unique electric and/or magnetic and/or acoustic properties of the individual by sensors with unique characteristics. Recognition of the individual in this manner enables the individual to perform an action

2. Description of the Related Art

Security methods based on memory data encoded into magnetic cards, such as personal identification numbers or passwords, are widely used in today's business, industrial, and governmental communities. With the increase in electronic transactions and verification, there has been an increase in lost or stolen cards, and forgotten, shared, or observed identification numbers or passwords. Because the magnetic cards offer little security against fraud or theft, there has been a movement toward developing more secure methods of automated recognition based on unique, externally detectable, personal physical anatomic characteristics, such as fingerprints, iris pigment patterns, and retina prints, or external behavior characteristics, such as writing style and voice patterns. Known as biometrics, such techniques are effective in increasing the reliability of recognition systems by identifying a person by characteristics unique to that individual. Some representative techniques include fingerprint recognition, focusing on external personal skin patterns, hand geometry, concentrating on personal hand shape and dimensions, retina scanning, defining a person's unique blood vessel arrangement in the retina of the eye, voice verification, distinguishing an individual's distinct sound waves, and signature verification.

Uses of biometric recognition applications include regulating physical access to restricted areas or devices, and access to computer systems which contain sensitive information used by various governmental, private and public organizations. Additionally, law enforcement applications include home incarceration, parole programs, and physical access into jails or prisons. Also, U.S. government entitlement programs rely on such a system, the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS), for access to deter fraud.

Biometric recognition can be used in an "identification mode", in which the biometric system identifies a person from an entire enrolled population by searching a population database for a match. A biometric recognition system can also be used in a "verification mode", in which the system authenticates a person's claimed identity by comparing previously enrolled patterns of biometric data. In many present biometric applications there is little margin for any inaccuracy in either the identification mode or the verification mode.

Current commercially available biometric methods and systems are limited because they use only externally visible distinguishing characteristics for identification, e.g. fingerprints, iris patterns, hand geometry and blood vessel patterns. The most widely used biometric method is fingerprinting, which is plagued by several problems, including false negative identifications due to dirt, moisture and grease on the print being scanned. Additionally, some individuals have insufficient detail of the print ridge pattern due to trauma or a wearing down of the ridge structure. More importantly, some individuals are reluctant to have their fingerprint patterns memorialized because of the ever-decreasing privacy of personal information.

Other techniques currently in use include iris pigment patterns and retina scanning, which are currently being introduced in many bank systems. However, these are controversial because of the unknown health risks of subjecting eyes to electromagnetic radiation.

Another limitation of current biometric recognition systems is the relative ease with which external physical features can be photographed, copied or lifted. The ease of copying of external characteristics enables unauthorized duplication of fingerprints, eye scans, and other biometric patters. With the advancement of cameras, videos, lasers and synthetic polymers, technology is available to produce a counterfeit human body part with the requisite unique physical patterns and traits of a particular individual. In high-level security systems, which require verification of a presented unique skin or body part for entry, a counterfeit model could be produced, thereby allowing unauthorized entry into a secured facility. As these duplication capabilities become more sophisticated, less costly and more available, there is a greater need to verify whether the body part offered for identification purposes is a counterfeit reproduction or even the severed, lifeless body part of an authorized individual.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,719,950 suggests that verifying an exterior specific characteristic of an individual, such as a fingerprint, in correlation with a non-specific characteristic, such as oxygen level in the blood, can verify the identity of a person. This method may be effective, but still relies on exterior characteristics for verification of the individual. However, this invention is directed to apparatus and a method for utilizing unique internal characteristics for verification of the identity and viability of an individual. Also, the equipment required by that patent is complicated by having dual operations, which introduce more variables to be checked before identity is verified. This complication is obviated in this invention by using a single sensor to conduct both operations.

Current biometric systems are also limited in size. For example, a fingerprint scanner must be at least as big as the fingerprint it is scanning. Other limitations include the lack of moldability and flexibility of some systems, which prevents incorporation into flexible and moving objects. Finally, the complex scanning systems used in current biometric identification methods are expensive, which prevents their widespread use.

Accordingly, there is a need for more automated and reliable biometric recognition methods and systems, which use non-visible physical characteristics that are not easily copied, photographed, or duplicated. This would eliminate concerns regarding fingerprints that are unidentifiable due to dirt, grease, moisture or external surface deterioration, potential risks involved in eye scanning, costly instrumentation that depends on external characteristics, and the possibility of deceiving a system through use of an artificial reproduction of a unique external characteristic.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention pertains to an apparatus for authenticating an individual living organism by recognition of the individual organism's identity. The apparatus comprises a sensing mechanism for sensing unique internal electric and/or magnetic and/or acoustic properties of the organism, and a mechanism for recognizing the organism. In one application, this authentication enables authorization of an action by the individual.

The present invention pertains to a method for authenticating an individual living organism by recognition of an individual organism's identity. The method comprises the steps of sensing unique internal electric and/or magnetic and/or acoustic properties of the organism, and recognizing the organism from the property. In one application, this authentication enables authorization of an action by the individual.

As used herein, "unique internal characteristic" means a characteristic that cannot be seen by visual inspection of or through the outer integument, or surface, of the organism.

The present invention pertains to a method and apparatus for verifying the identity and viability of an individual organism by identifying a non-specific characteristic, such as blood oxygen level, combined with a unique internal characteristic of the organism, such as an electric and/or magnetic and/or acoustic characteristic.

The apparatus preferably comprises a sensing mechanism having a contact area of less than 2.0 cm.sup.2 to identify an attribute of the organism. The sensing mechanism produces a signal corresponding to the attribute, which is sent to the recognizing mechanism. The sensing mechanism preferably has a thickness of less than 0.2 cm.

The apparatus includes a mechanism for recognizing the organism from the attribute with an accuracy of greater than one in one billion. The sensing mechanism is preferably moldable into a shape having a non-flat surface. The electrodes can be concave, flat, convex, or a combination thereof, enabling molding into numerous shapes for inclusion in various devices. Characteristics of an individual organism can be detected by its unique electrical and/or magnetic properties. I. These properties can be measured A. Using any mechanism which uses a DC, AC, electric field, magnetic field, and/or EM field. B. Using touch and/or touchless methods. C. By positioning the organism in relation to the applied energy 1. as part of an energy flow 2. interrupts an energy flow 3. responds to an energy field by generating its own energy flow 4. using induced currents. D. For a single body segment or for multiple segments. Multiple segments can be compared with each other, i.e., a measured segment from the left hand can be compared to a measured segment on the right hand. E. Using one or more frequencies. F. Using one or more waveform shapes. G. Generating 3 or more dimensional matrices. H. Using unique sensors. I. To an accuracy of one in one billion or greater. J. Detecting energy emitted by the organism. II. An individual organism can be recognized by its electrical and/or magnetic properties using any of the mechanisms described in I. Although the absolute measurements of these properties may vary from day to day, the relative ratios of these measurements will remain constant enough to derive a unique biometric pattern. III. Diagnostic characteristics of an organism can be detected by its electrical and/or magnetic properties. The method of positioning the organism in relation to applied energy as part of an energy flow, interrupting the energy flow, and detecting emitted energy is described in the prior art. However, this invention is based on the new discovery that an organism responds to an energy field by generating its own energy flow, such as an induced current. Induced currents can be used to measure the electrical and/or magnetic properties of an organism to determine diagnostic characteristics such as: A. Presence or absence of bone trauma B. Presence or absence of tumors C. Presence or absence of toxins D. Levels of metabolites.

The present invention pertains to an apparatus for identifying electric and/or magnetic properties of an individual living organism comprising a sensing mechanism for sensing the electric and/or magnetic properties and a mechanism for forming matrices of sensed properties having at least four dimensions.

The present invention pertains to a method for sensing an induced current in an individual living organism comprising the steps of inducing current in the organism and detecting the current induced in the organism. This method can be used to diagnose a fracture or break in a bone.

The present invention pertains to an apparatus for sensing an induced current in an individual living organism comprising a mechanism for inducing current in the organism and a mechanism for detecting the induced current. This apparatus can be used to diagnose a bone fracture or break.

The apparatus of this invention comprises a mechanism for transmitting electric and/or magnetic energy into the organism and a mechanism for receiving the electric and/or magnetic energy after it has passed through the organism.

The present invention pertains to methods and apparatus for authorizing actions by an individual using a computer. The method comprises the steps of sensing a non-visible attribute of an individual, recognizing the individual, and authorizing an action by the individual. The non-visible attribute amounts to a biometric signature. The present invention pertains to an apparatus for authorizing an action. The apparatus comprises a mechanism for recognizing a biometric signature of an individual, and a mechanism for allowing or enabling the action.

These actions can include computer, database or program access, TV channel access, communications access, access to financial accounts, conducting financial transactions (e.g. paying bills, charging purchases, accessing ATM machines, transferring funds, buy/sell stocks/bonds/mutual funds), location access (e.g. vault, safe, room, building, compound, etc.), political access (e.g. passport, visa, membership, etc.) unlocking a lock, equipment access/maintenance/operation (e.g. gambling machines, vehicles, medical equipment, weapons), automatic cost charging (e.g. tolls, transportation fares, entry fees, retail purchases, etc.), library book/recording/video loan, video or other rental, bank safe deposit box access, or any other situation where it is necessary to establish the identity of an individual to authorize an action.

The apparatus can comprise a contact card having sensors, which an individual touches to generate a biometric signature, and a card reader for recognizing the individual from the biometric signature. The card reader can include a touchless electric field sensor for measuring induced current in the individual to obtain the biometric signature. The card can have a memory which stores a known biometric signature, and the recognizing mechanism can have a reader for obtaining the known biometric signature from the card.

The apparatus can include a memory stick storing a known biometric signature and account information of the individual, and a memory stick reader connected to the recognizing mechanism. The presented and read biometric signature of the individual is compared to the known biometric signature in the memory stick.

The apparatus can include a driver's license having a known biometric signature of the individual and sensors for obtaining the biometric signature of the individual to enable law enforcement officials to verify the cardholder's identity.

The apparatus can include an identification card having the biometric signature of the individual, and a microprocessor.

The apparatus can include a time clock, having a memory with an account of the individual.

The apparatus can include a biometric glove for obtaining the biometric signature of the individual, and electronic records which are accessed by the individual as long as the individual wears the biometric glove and the recognizing mechanism recognizes the individual.

The apparatus can include a touch electrode wrist band that is worn by the individual, and a portable recognizing mechanism to which the wrist bank communicates to provide the biometric signature of the individual to the recognizing mechanism.

The apparatus can include a forehead mounted headset having (1) sensors for obtaining a biometric signature to obtain medical records from a database via a receiver, (2) virtual screen glasses, having see through mode which allows the individual to view actual reality and virtual records at the same time through the glasses, and (3) a transmitter for transmitting the biometric signature to the recognizing mechanism.

The apparatus can include a vehicle having a door handle and steering wheel, either or both of which have biometric sensors.

The apparatus can include a remote controller having biometric sensors and the recognizing mechanism for recognizing the biometric signature of the individual and allowing the controller to transmit a control signal.

The apparatus can include an ankle band with biometric sensors and a transmitter which transmits the biometric signature of the individual obtained from the sensor.

The apparatus can include a flip-up sensor mounted on a device to be controlled (e.g. vehicle, weapon, machine), or a sensor molded into the surface of the device (e.g. gun handle/stock, steering wheel, door handle).

The present invention pertains to a method for authenticating an individual including the steps of touching sensors of a card by the individual to generate a biometric signature of the individual, reading the card with a reader, and recognizing the individual from the biometric signature.

The sensors can sense acoustic characteristics, or electric, or magnetic, or combinations of these characteristics of the individual to generate a biometric signature.

The present invention pertains to a method for monitoring, comprising the steps of obtaining a biometric signature of an individual via a touchless mechanism having a sensor mechanism sensing an electric and/or magnetic characteristic of the individual, and transmitting the signature along with to a mechanism ID, to a remote site to monitor the location of the individual. To track this location as the individual moves, the method includes transmitting a GPS signal.