Abstract:
The present invention provides a system for identifying an individual by which identification of a client can be easily made, comprising: a means for storing the biological information of the client; a means for reading the biological information of the client; a means for checking the read biological information with the stored biological information; and a means for transmitting information to the server that they have matched in the case where the checking has matched.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a system for identifying an individual or a method for identifying an individual, and especially a system for identifying an individual, a method for identifying an individual or a business method which is characterized by identifying an individual by means of biological information.  
         DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART  
         [0002]    In recent years, communication technology for connecting to the Internet by means of communication devices such as a portable telephone, personal computer, or portable information terminal is developing rapidly. Connection to the Internet in homes, offices, etc., is carried out by connecting a telephone line to an installed personal computer. Recently, especially, portable telephones, such as i-mode, which permit of use of the Internet easily became popular and various exchanges of information have been carried out in a simple manner.  
           [0003]    When executing a transaction for handling money, for example, on the Internet by means of communication devices, confirmation of an individual (process for identifying an individual) is required. The process for identifying an individual is carried out by transmitting a personal identification number, which has been registered to the opposite end in advance from the user to the opposite end, and checking the personal identification number at the opposite end.  
           [0004]    In FIG. 11, the conventional flow for identifying an individual is shown. At first, the user makes a connection with the Internet and transmits the numerical value for identification to the opposite end under conditions specified by the opposite end of transaction. The opposite end that has received the data for identification as a numerical value executes a checking of the numerical value sent from the user with the personal identification number which has been registered in advance at his side and confirms whether or not they match. If they match here, the user is identified and becomes able to obtain the desired reception.  
           [0005]    As abovementioned, the following problems exist in the conventional identifying system using a communication device:  
           [0006]    1. In the case where the personal identification number is leaked to another person, there is a risk that it will be abused by someone other than the user (client) and that the confirmation of an individual is difficult.  
           [0007]    2. At the stage of identifying an individual, the communication cost rises because, at least, the personal identification data is transmitted from user to the opposite end and the opposite end (server) transmits the result of identification to the user. Further, as there are many exchanges of data between user and the opposite end, if communication is cut by any kind of error, the identification process would be required to be carried out again from the beginning and the process is complicated.  
           [0008]    3. When the user forgets his (her) personal identification number, a personal identification number should be registered again at the opposite end.  
           [0009]    4. When inputting the personal identification number to communication device, the input by operating keys takes time.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    The present invention aims to solve the abovementioned problems.  
           [0011]    In this invention, the process of identifying an individual is carried out by using only the communication device and the confirmation of whether the operator is the person himself or herself is carried out by checking the biological information of the user by the communication device. In this specification, the biological information means information on a physical feature that a human being naturally has and makes it further possible to identify a human individual, such as the fingerprint, palm print or voice print. The identification process of an individual is carried out by inputting the biological information of the user in the communication device and the opposite end is informed of the identification only in the case where the identification has been made.  
           [0012]    When the identification is accepted by the opposite end, the transaction with the opposite end starts. Alternatively, the opposite end may transmit the result of identification to a third party who is at the final end of the transaction and start the transaction between the user and the third party.  
           [0013]    In the abovementioned process of identifying an individual, the biological information of the user does not match with the reference biological information which is stored in the communication device, the biological information of the user can be inputted again to the communication device. When the checking is attempted by repeatedly inputting the biological information to the communication device, it can be set up so as to inform that a match was not made after more than n attempts, if a match has not been made after more than n times of successive attempts (n is a natural number).  
           [0014]    Further, the biological information of the user stored in the communication device can be plural. For example, it can be composed to carry out the identification process of an individual by inputting both a fingerprint and a voice print into the communication device. Furthermore, for the case where the biological information stored in the communication device is rewritten, rewriting the biological information can be carried out by sending the personal identification number required for changing the biological information to the opposite end, after the identification process of an individual was carried out once by using the communication device, and if the personal identification number matches at the opposite end.  
           [0015]    Further, the input of biological information into the communication device is carried out by a line sensor, an area sensor, a microphone, etc., which employ CCD or photodiodes.  
           [0016]    Abovementioned composition can diminish the risk that the personal identification number is leaked to another person and abused. Further, as there is no necessity of exchanging data between the user and the opposite end for the identification process of an individual, the cost required for the communication with the opposite end can be reduced and the complexity to repeat the identification process from the beginning can also be avoided when the communication is cut by an error. Furthermore, since the identification is carried out by means of biological information of the user, there is no need for the user to register again his or her personal identification number when forgotten. Furthermore, the time and effort of inputting the personal identification number to the communication device can be omitted.  
           [0017]    The compositions of this invention will be described in the following.  
           [0018]    The present invention provides a system for identifying an individual to identify a client, comprising:  
           [0019]    a means for storing the biological information of the client;  
           [0020]    a means for reading the biological information of the client;  
           [0021]    a means for checking the read biological information with the stored biological information; and  
           [0022]    a means for transmitting information that they have matched to the server in the case where the checking has matched.  
           [0023]    The present invention provides a system for identifying an individual to identify a client, comprising:  
           [0024]    a means for storing a plurality of biological information of the client;  
           [0025]    a means for reading the biological information of the client;  
           [0026]    a means for checking the read biological information with the plurality of stored biological information; and  
           [0027]    a means for transmitting information that they have matched to the server in the case where the read biological information has matched with at least one of the stored plurality of information.  
           [0028]    The present invention provides a system for identifying an individual to identify a client, comprising:  
           [0029]    a means for storing a plurality of biological information of the client;  
           [0030]    a means for reading a plurality of biological information of the client;  
           [0031]    a means for checking the plurality of read biological information with the plurality of stored biological information; and  
           [0032]    a means for transmitting information that they have matched to the server in the case where each of the plurality of read biological information has matched with at least one of the plurality of stored biological information.  
           [0033]    The present invention provides a system for identifying an individual to identify a client, comprising:  
           [0034]    a means for storing the biological information of the client;  
           [0035]    a means for reading the biological information of the client;  
           [0036]    a means for checking the read biological information with the stored biological information; and  
           [0037]    a means for transmitting information that they have matched to the server in the case where the checking has matched through the Internet.  
           [0038]    The present invention provides a system for identifying an individual to identify a client, comprising:  
           [0039]    a means for storing a plurality of biological information of the client;  
           [0040]    a means for reading the biological information of the client;  
           [0041]    a means checking the read biological information with the plurality of stored biological information; and  
           [0042]    a means for transmitting information that they have matched to the server through the Internet, in the case where, as a result of checking, the read biological information has matched with at least one of the plurality of stored biological information.  
           [0043]    The present invention provides a system for identifying an individual to identify a client, comprising:  
           [0044]    a means for storing a plurality of biological information of the client;  
           [0045]    a means for reading a plurality of biological information of the client;  
           [0046]    a means for checking the plurality of read biological information with the plurality of stored biological information; and  
           [0047]    a means for transmitting information that they have matched to the server through the Internet, in the case where, as a result of checking, each of the plurality of read biological information has matched with at least one of the plurality of stored biological information.  
           [0048]    The present invention provides a system for identifying an individual to identify a client, comprising:  
           [0049]    a means for storing the biological information of the client;  
           [0050]    a means for reading the biological information of the client;  
           [0051]    a means for checking the read biological information with the stored biological information,  
           [0052]    a means for transmitting information to the server that they have matched in the case where the checking has matched; and  
           [0053]    a means by which the server transmits information to the final end of transaction with the client that the checking has matched, wherein  
           [0054]    the transaction is started between the client and the final end of transaction after the final end of transaction which has received information that the checking has matched.  
           [0055]    The present invention provides a system for identifying an individual to identify a client, comprising:  
           [0056]    a means for storing a plurality of biological information of the client;  
           [0057]    a means for reading the biological information of the client;  
           [0058]    a means for checking the read biological information with the plurality of stored biological information;  
           [0059]    a means for transmitting information to the server that they have matched in the case where, as a result of checking, the read biological information has matched with at least one of the plurality of stored biological information; and  
           [0060]    a means by which the server transmits information to the final end of a transaction with the client that the checking has matched, wherein  
           [0061]    the transaction is started between the client and the final end of transaction after the final end of transaction which has received information that the checking has matched.  
           [0062]    The present invention provides a system for identifying an individual to identify a client, comprising:  
           [0063]    a means for storing a plurality of biological information of the client;  
           [0064]    a means for reading a plurality of biological information of the client;  
           [0065]    a means for checking the read plurality of biological information with the plurality of stored biological information;  
           [0066]    a means for transmitting information to the server that they have matched in the case where, as a result of checking, each of the plurality of read biological information has matched with at least one of the plurality of stored biological information; and  
           [0067]    a means by which the server transmits information to the final end of transaction with the client that the checking has matched, wherein  
           [0068]    the transaction is started between the client and the final end of transaction after the final end of transaction which has received information that the checking has matched.  
           [0069]    The present invention provides a system for identifying an individual to identify a client, comprising:  
           [0070]    a means for storing the biological information of the client;  
           [0071]    a means for reading the biological information of the client;  
           [0072]    a means for checking the read biological information with the stored biological information; and  
           [0073]    a means for transmitting information to the server that the checking has matched, wherein  
           [0074]    after transmitting information that the checking has matched to the server, the personal identification number information is sent to the server and if the personal identification number matches with the number stored at the server, the stored biological information can be rewritten.  
           [0075]    The present invention provides a system for identifying an individual to identify a client, comprising:  
           [0076]    a means for storing a plurality of biological information of the client;  
           [0077]    a means for reading the biological information of the client;  
           [0078]    a means for checking the read biological information with the plurality of stored biological information; and  
           [0079]    a means for transmitting information to the server that the checking has matched in the case where the read biological information has matched with at least one of the plurality of stored biological information, wherein  
           [0080]    after transmitting information that the checking has matched to the server, the personal identification number information is sent to the server and if the personal identification number has matched with the number stored at the server, the plurality of stored biological information can be rewritten.  
           [0081]    The present invention provides a system for identifying an individual to identify a client, comprising:  
           [0082]    a means for storing a plurality of biological information of the client;  
           [0083]    a means for reading a plurality of biological information of the client;  
           [0084]    a means for checking the plurality of read biological information with the plurality of stored biological information; and  
           [0085]    a means for transmitting information to the server that the checking has matched in the case where each of the plurality of read biological information has matched with at least one of the plurality of stored biological information, wherein  
           [0086]    after transmitting information that the checking has matched to the server, the personal identification number information is sent to the server and if the personal identification number has matched with the number stored at the server, the plurality of stored biological information can be rewritten.  
           [0087]    The present invention may be featured so as to request the identification of the client only in the case where the transaction to be made between the client and the final end of transaction satisfies the conditions which are set at the server.  
           [0088]    Said biological information may be a fingerprint, a palm pattern or a voice print.  
           [0089]    Said palm pattern may be a whole pattern of the palm or a pattern of a part of the palm.  
           [0090]    Said means for storing the biological information of the client may be a flash memory.  
           [0091]    Said means for reading the biological information of the client may be a photodiode or a CCD.  
           [0092]    The present invention may be featured so as to use a portable information terminal, a portable telephone or a personal computer. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0093]    [0093]FIG. 1 is a flow of the system for identifying an individual of the present invention.  
         [0094]    [0094]FIG. 2 is a drawing showing the position to read the palm pattern or fingerprint of the present invention.  
         [0095]    [0095]FIG. 3 is a drawing showing the relationship between a user, a server, and a final end of transaction as a third party of the present invention.  
         [0096]    [0096]FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the structure of the communication device of Embodiment 1.  
         [0097]    [0097]FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the structure of the communication device of Embodiment 2.  
         [0098]    [0098]FIG. 6 is an outside view of the portable information terminal that is an example of a communication device of Embodiment 3.  
         [0099]    [0099]FIG. 7 is an example of use of the portable information terminal that is an example of a communication device of Embodiment 3.  
         [0100]    [0100]FIG. 8 is an example of use of the portable information terminal that is an example of a communication device of Embodiment 3.  
         [0101]    [0101]FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the structure of the portable information terminal that is an example of a communication device of Embodiment 3.  
         [0102]    FIGS.  10 A- 10 B are drawings of electronic apparatuses each is an example of a communication device of Embodiment 5.  
         [0103]    [0103]FIG. 11 is a flow of the conventional identification process of an individual. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0104]    [0104]FIG. 1 shows a flow of the system for identifying an individual or the method for identifying an individual. At first the biological information is collected by operating the operation keys of communication device. If programmed in advance, it is possible to set up to start the collection of biological information by pressing only one operation key. Further, it is possible to set up to automatically start the collection of biological information when the communication device is switched on.  
         [0105]    The biological information obtained is compared with the biological information of the person (internal memory data) which is stored in the internal memory, which is formed, for example, of a nonvolatile memory in the communication device. Here, if two of biological information are judged to be the same, the user is identified as the legitimate owner of communication device. After the identification, the data containing information that the identification has completed is transmitted to the opposite end. At this time, as the identification process has been already accomplished, another identification process with the opposite end is not required and it is sufficient for the opposite end to receive the information that the identification process has already been carried out.  
         [0106]    The communication device used for the system for identifying an individual of this embodiment of invention has a built-in sensor or microphone. The sensor, which is used here, is a line sensor or area sensor and utilized to read the biological information of the user.  
         [0107]    Now, the fingerprint and the palm pattern among biological information utilized in the system for identifying an individual will be described.  
         [0108]    [0108]FIG. 2 shows the right hand of human being. What is read as biological information by the communication device is the palm pattern  1  which is a part of palm, the palm pattern  2  which covers whole of the palm, the fingerprint of thumb, the fingerprint of index finger, the fingerprint of middle finger, the fingerprint of ring finger or the fingerprint of little finger. Among the abovementioned biological information, only one or a plurality of biological information can be stored in the communication device.  
         [0109]    As the palm pattern  1  which is a part of palm, the palm pattern  2  which covers whole of the palm, the fingerprint of thumb, the fingerprint of index finger, fingerprint of middle finger, fingerprint of ring finger and the fingerprint of little finger are specific to each human being, the abuse of communication device by a third party can be avoided.  
         [0110]    When the identification process is completed and the information of the identification completion is received by the opposite end from the communication device, a transaction is started between the user and the opposite end. Alternatively, the opposite end may transmit the result of identification to the final end of transaction, who is a third party, to let a transaction start between user and the final end of the transaction.  
         [0111]    [0111]FIG. 3 shows a flow in the case where a user and the final end of the transaction, who is a third party, make a transaction. First, when the process of identifying an individual has been completed by using a communication device by the user, information that the identification process of the person has finished is transmitted from the communication device to the opposite end (server).  
         [0112]    Further, the server in this specification corresponds to a manager of communication between the client who is a communication device user who is a client and the final end of transaction who is a third party. To be concrete, providers and others are included as managers, but the server in this specification is not limited to this and can be any one who manages the communication between the user and a third party.  
         [0113]    The server that has received information that the identification process of an individual has finished transmits information to the final end of the transaction, who is a third party, that the identification process of the person has already been carried out. The final end of the transaction who has received that the identification process of the person has already been carried out starts a direct transaction with the user.  
         [0114]    By the abovementioned composition, the possibility that the personal identification number is leaked to another person and abused can be diminished. Further, because there is no need to exchange data between user and the opposite end for the identification process of an individual, the cost required for the communication with the opposite end can be diminished and the complexity of repeating the identification process of an individual again from the beginning can also be avoided in the case where the communication is cut by an error. Furthermore, as the identification is carried out by means of the biological information of the user, there is no need for the user to register again his or her personal identification number to the opposite end in the case where the user forgets the personal identification number. Furthermore, the time and effort of inputting the personal identification number into the communication device.  
       EMBODIMENTS  
       [0115]    In the following, examples of this invention shall be described.  
       Embodiment 1  
       [0116]    In the following, the compositions of the communication device used in this invention and their actions shall be described.  
         [0117]    [0117]FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of communication device of this example. This communication device has an antenna  601 , a transmitting and receiving circuit  602 , a signal processing circuit  603  to compress, expand and encode signals, a microcomputer  604  for control, a flash memory  605 , operating keys  606 , etc. It further has a sensor  611 , a checking circuit part  612  and so on.  
         [0118]    By operation of the operating keys  606 , the microcomputer  604  for control controls the sensor  611  to let it read the biological information of the user. Further, in this embodiment the case where the palm pattern or fingerprint is used as the biological information will be described. The biological information of the user read by the sensor  611  is inputted into the checking circuit part  612 .  
         [0119]    The biological information of the user, which is inputted into the checking circuit part  612 , is converted into digital signals at the A/D converter  613 . The biological information of the user converted into digital signals is inputted into DSP (digital signal processor)  614  and subjected to signal processing. The signal processing means, in concrete, distinguishing the light and shade of an image by means of a differential filter, etc., in order to make the biological information easier to distinguish. The biological information obtained is digitized in DSP  614  and then inputted into the comparator circuit  615 .  
         [0120]    The comparator circuit  615  checks by comparing the biological information of the user of reference, which is stored in the flash memory  605 , with the biological information which has been digitized in DSP  614  and inputted into the comparator circuit  615 .  
         [0121]    As for the method of checking the biological information, there are the feature collating method, which collates the collected biological information with the reference biological information by comparing the features of each of them, and the image matching method which compares directly corresponding two of the biological information, but either method can be used. Further, To make identification more sure, it is better that not only single reference data but a plurality of identification data are prepared by changing the direction of hand.  
         [0122]    If the matching is observed here, the microcomputer  604  for control generates a identification signal, which is output from the communication device via the signal processing circuit  603 , the transmitting and receiving circuit  602  and the antenna  601 . The identification signal outputted from the communication device is transmitted through the Internet for example. Otherwise, the identification signal outputted from the communication device may be sent directly to the opposite end without passing through the Internet.  
       Embodiment 2  
       [0123]    In the following, another composition of communication device and its actions, which are different from Embodiment 1, will be described.  
         [0124]    [0124]FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of the communication device of this embodiment. This communication device has a antenna  501 , a transmitting and receiving circuit  502 , a signal processing circuit  503  to compress, expand and encode signals, a microcomputer  504  for control, a flash memory  505 , operating keys  506 , etc. It has further a microphone  511 , an amplifier  516 , a checking circuit part  512  and so on.  
         [0125]    By operation of the operating keys  506 , the microcomputer  504  for control controls the microphone  511  to let it read the biological information of the user. Further, in this embodiment, the case where the voice print is used as the biological information will be described. The biological information of the user read by microphone  511  is amplified by the amplifier  516  and inputted into the checking circuit part  512 .  
         [0126]    The biological information of the user inputted into the checking circuit part  512  is converted into digital signals in the A/D converter  513 . The biological information of the user converted into digital signals is inputted into DSP (digital signal processor)  514  and subjected to a signal processing. The signal processing means, in concrete, digitizing the sound intensity of each frequency by means of a band-pass filter or the like in order to make the biological information easier to distinguish. The biological information digitized in DSP  514  is inputted into the comparator circuit  515 .  
         [0127]    The comparator circuit  515  checks by comparing the reference biological information of the user, which is stored in the flash memory  505 , with the biological information which has been digitized in DSP  514  and inputted into the comparator circuit  515 .  
         [0128]    As for the method of checking the biological information, there are the feature collating method, which collates the collected biological information with the reference biological information by comparing the features of each of them, and the image matching method which compares directly corresponding two of the biological information, but either method can be used. Further, to make identification more sure, it is better that not only single reference data but a plurality of identification data are prepared by slightly changing the voice tone.  
         [0129]    If the matching is observed here, the microcomputer  504  for control outputs a identification signal, which is outputted from the communication device via the signal processing circuit  503 , the transmitting and receiving circuit  502  and the antenna  501 . The identification signal outputted from communication device is transmitted through the Internet or the like. Alternatively, the identification signal outputted from communication device may be sent directly to the opposite end without passing through the Internet.  
         [0130]    The composition of this example can be carried out in any combination with Embodiment 1.  
       Embodiment 3  
       [0131]    Now, the portable information terminal, which is one of the communication devices used in this invention will be described. FIG. 6 shows a portable information terminal where  2701  denotes a display panel and  2702  denotes an operating panel. The display panel  2701  and the operating panel  2702  are connected at the connection part  2703 . And at the connection part  2703 , the angle θ between the surface on which the sensor-incorporated display  2704  of display panel  2701  is provided and the surface on which the voice input part  2708  of operating panel  2702  is provided can be changed arbitrary.  
         [0132]    The display panel  2701  has a sensor-incorporated display  2704 . The sensor-incorporated display  2704  functions not only as a sensor but also as a display and is able to display an image. In this example, an EL display is used for the sensor-incorporated display  2704 .  
         [0133]    Further, the portable information terminal shown in FIG. 6 is provided with the function of a telephone, and the display panel  2701  has a voice output part  2705 , so that the voice is outputted from the voice output part  2705 .  
         [0134]    The operating panel  2702  has operating keys  2706 , a power switch  2707  and a voice input part  2708 . Further, although the operating keys  2706  and the power switch  2707  are provided separately in FIG. 6, they can be composed so as to contain the power switch  2707  in the operating keys  2706 . The voice is inputted by the voice input part  2708 .  
         [0135]    Further, although in FIG. 6 the display panel  2701  has the voice output part  2705  and the operation panel  2702  has the voice input part  2708 , this example is not limited to this composition. It is also possible that the display panel  2701  has the voice input part  2708  and the operation panel has the voice output part  2705 . Further, both the voice output part  2705  and voice input part  2708  may be provided on the display panel  2701  or may be provided on the operation panel  2702 .  
         [0136]    With reference to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the method of use of the portable information terminal shown in FIG. 6 will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, when executing the identification by means of the portable information terminal, it is used by covering the sensor-incorporated display  2704  by with palm of hand. The identification is carried out by operation of the operating keys  2706 , the sensor-incorporated display  2704  reads the palm pattern of the user and executes the identification process.  
         [0137]    Further, although in FIG. 7 an example of operation of the operating keys  2706  by the index finger is shown, the operating keys  2706  can be operated also by the thumb as shown in FIG. 8. Further, the operating keys  2706  may be provided on the side of operation panel  2702 . The operation is possible by only the index finger or thumb of one (dominant) hand.  
         [0138]    In the following, the composition of portable information terminal shown in FIG. 6 and its actions will be described.  
         [0139]    [0139]FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of a portable information terminal of this embodiment. This portable information terminal has an antenna  901 , a transmitting and receiving circuit  902 , a signal processing circuit  903  to compress, expand and encode signals, a microcomputer  904  for control, a flash memory  905 , operating keys  906 , a voice input circuit  907 , a voice output circuit  908 , a microphone  909 , a speaker  910 , etc. And further this portable information terminal has a sensor  911 , a checking circuit part  912  and so on.  
         [0140]    The voice inputted by the voice input part  2708  is inputted into the microphone  909  and inputted into the voice input circuit  907  as an analog signal. The analog signal inputted into the voice input circuit  907  is amplified and converted into a digital signal, then inputted into the signal processing part  903 . The digital signal, which has been compressed, expanded and encoded in the signal processing part  903 , is changed in frequency in the transmitting and receiving circuit  902 , amplified depending on the circumstances and transmitted from the antenna  901 .  
         [0141]    The digital signal having voice information, which has been received by the antenna  901 , is changed in frequency in the transmitting and receiving circuit  902 , and amplified depending on the circumstances, then inputted into the signal processing part  903 . The digital signal inputted into the signal processing part  903  is compressed, expanded, encoded and inputted into the voice output circuit  908 . The digital signal inputted into the voice output circuit  908  is amplified after converted into an analog signal, outputted from the speaker  910  and enters the ears of the user as a voice from the voice output part  2708 .  
         [0142]    By operation of the operating keys  906 , the microcomputer  904  for control controls the sensor  911  and let it read the biological information of the user. Further, in this example, the case where a palm pattern or fingerprint is used as the biological information will be described. The biological information of the user that is read by the sensor  911  is inputted into the checking circuit part  912 .  
         [0143]    The biological information of the user inputted into the checking circuit part  912  is converted into digital signals in the A/D converter  913 . The biological information of the user, which has been converted into digital signals, is inputted into DSP (digital signal processor)  914  and subjected to a signal processing. The signal processing is, in concrete, to distinguish the light and shade of an image by means of a differential filter or the like. The obtained biological information is digitized in DSP  914  and inputted into the comparator circuit  915 .  
         [0144]    The comparator circuit  915  checks by comparing the biological information, which has been digitized in DSP  914  and inputted into the comparator circuit  915 , with the reference biological information which is stored in the flash memory  905 .  
         [0145]    As for the method of checking the biological information, there are the feature collating method, which compares the features of the biological information and the features of the reference biological information, and the image matching method which compares directly the abovementioned two of biological information, but either method can be used. Further, to make identification more sure, it is better that not only single reference data but a plurality of identification data are prepared by changing the direction of the hand.  
         [0146]    If the matching is observed here, the microcomputer  904  for control generates an identification signal, and this signal is outputted from the portable information terminal via the signal processing circuit  903 , transmitting and receiving circuit  902  and the antenna  901 . The identification signal outputted from the portable information terminal is transmitted through the Internet and others. Otherwise, the identification signal outputted from the portable information terminal may be sent directly to the opposite end without passing through the Internet.  
         [0147]    Further, the communication device used in this invention is not limited to the portable information terminal whose composition is shown in this embodiment. Further, although the portable information terminal shown in this embodiment utilizes the fingerprint or palm pattern as the biological information, it can be composed to use the voice print as the biological information.  
         [0148]    Further, this example can be carried out in any combination with the example 1 or 2.  
       Embodiment 4  
       [0149]    This embodiment explains the situations in which this invention is utilized. If the identification of an individual is not necessarily a highly sophisticated identification involving biological information, this invention need not be used. In case of transfer of small amounts of money, this invention is not always required.  
         [0150]    For this reason, the invention can be arranged so that it becomes possible to select whether or not identification is made, for example, identification is selectively made only in the case where a large amount of money is to be transferred. It is possible to use it depending on the situation of the final end of transaction or to use it only when the numerical value is over a predetermined value upon setting in advance the criteria for judgment on the microcomputer for control of portable information terminal. Further, it is possible to transmit through the Internet the result of identification only when the result is required.  
         [0151]    Further, this example can be carried out in any combination with the examples 1 through 3.  
       Embodiment 5  
       [0152]    Various electronic apparatuses can be used as the communication device to be used in this invention.  
         [0153]    [0153]FIG. 10A shows a personal computer including main body  2501 , casing  2502 , display  2503 , keyboard  2504 , sensor  2505 , etc. In this invention, the biological information can be taken into the personal computer by means of the sensor  2505 .  
         [0154]    Further, although in this example the case where the fingerprint or palm pattern is utilized as the biological information has been described, it can also be provided with a voice input to utilize the voice print as the biological information. Further, it can also be provided with both a sensor  2505  and a voice input to utilize both the fingerprint or palm pattern and the voice print.  
         [0155]    [0155]FIG. 10B shows a portable telephone including the main body  2601 , voice output part  2602 , voice input part  2603 , display  2604 , operating keys  2605  and antenna  2606 . During an ordinary telephone call, the phone number of the opposite end, and the condition of reception of radio waves are displayed on the display  2604 . In the case where the Internet is utilized, the necessary information concerning the opposite end is displayed. Further, the display  2604  is able to function as a sensor to take in the biological information.  
         [0156]    Further, although in the portable telephone shown in FIG. 10B the display  2604  has both functions of display and sensor, however it can be composed so that the display  2604  is used only as a display by providing a sensor separately. Further, the communication device utilized in this invention is not limited to the electronic apparatus shown in this example. Any other electronic apparatus can be used if it is provided with functions to taken in the biological information, check the biological information with the reference biological information stored in advance, and inform the opposite end that the identification has been finished when the checking has matched.  
       Embodiment 6  
       [0157]    In this embodiment, an example in which the system for identifying an individual of the invention is used in a e-commerce of virtual mall system will be described.  
         [0158]    The virtual mall system is a type of net sales (e-commerce) where a plurality of dealers constitute together a virtual shopping mall, which allows clients to access websites of many dealers by only accessing the shopping mall.  
         [0159]    It is supposed that the owner of a e-commerce of virtual mall system is a server. And when a client accesses the mall, it is arranged to give the right of accessing many dealers websites to the client only after identifying the client by the system for identifying an individual of this invention and transmitting the result of identification to the server.  
         [0160]    Then, when a transaction is carried out between a dealer and the client, it can be arranged so that the dealer can draw the personal information of the client from the owner of a mall if the dealer wants it. And the dealers pay a rental fee to the owner of the mall. Further, it can be arranged so that the client pays a fee to the owner of the mall in order to access the mall.  
         [0161]    Further, it can also be arranged so that when the client accesses for the first time to the mall and the client is identified as himself or herself, the server sends him a password and the client uses the password for the transaction with dealers. The dealers can use the password sent from the client to make an inquiry concerning the client to the server. By the use of a password, a client identifying process between different dealers in the case where the client deals with a plurality of dealers can be omitted.  
         [0162]    By the abovementioned system, a dealer can expect, upon participation in the mail, to get more hits from clients in comparison with the case where the dealer creates a website alone.  
         [0163]    The system for identifying an individual of this invention diminishes the risk that the personal identification number is leaked to another person and abused. Further, since there is no need to exchange data between a user and the opposite end during the identification process of an individual, the cost of communication with the opposite end can be decreased, and the complexity of repeating the identification process of an individual from the beginning when the communication is cut by an error can be avoided. Further, with the identification being carried out by means of the biological information of the user, it becomes unnecessary for the user to register again his or her personal identification number when the user forgets the number. Furthermore, the time and effort to input the personal identification number into the communication device can be omitted.