INACTIVE CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD ACTIVATED BY A BIOMETRIC FEATURE FOR A LIMITED TIME OR NUMBER OF PURCHASES

A method of verifying ownership of credit or debit cards is disclosed. An apparatus is provided which can compare a biometric representation on the credit or debit card with a biometric feature of the purchaser. For example, the cardholder's fingerprint may be on the card. The apparatus would contain a spot for the purchaser to place the same portion of his finger that was used to create the biometric on the apparatus. The card would be inserted in the apparatus, and the apparatus would compare the fingerprint on the card with the fingerprint of the customer and if they matched, the card would be activated for a limited period of time, or a limited number of purchases. The apparatus may also comprise a remote biometric feature reader, such as a facial scanner or hand scanner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Biometrics or biometric identification refers to the identification of humans by their characteristics or traits. Biometrics is used in computer science as a form of identification and access control. Biometric identifiers are the distinctive measurable characteristics used to label and describe individuals. Biometric identifiers are often categorized as physiological versus behavioral characteristics. Physiological characteristics are related to the shape of the body. Examples include, but are not limited to, finger prints, facial recognition, DNA, palm print, hand geometry, iris recognition, retina scans and odor or scent or voice recognition. Biometrics makes use of those characteristics which are universal, that is, found in each and every human being. These, and other attributes, are included in biometrics analysis because these characteristics don't change with the growing age of individuals. The characteristics involved in biometrics can't be stolen or copied so you can't expect anyone to steal your face or eye vessels to use them for illegitimate purposes. Biometrics as used in the present invention means any human characteristic which is universal, that is, found in each and every human being.

Because the present invention uses apparatus which does not require any connection to a central source of information in order to operate, but only to the merchant's own existing computer system, they are relatively inexpensive and can be afforded by most any retailer. It could also be connected to a central source. This gives rise to another feature of the present invention, and that is having the same card accepted by a number of retailers. In fact, in one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention a number of small retailers would form a network and a credit card holder may use his credit card at any of the stores in the network. In this manner, a “network” of small stores gains the advantages the big retailers have. This system may also be used with existing networks, such as Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and the like

Referring toFIG. 1, the method of operation is shown. The cardholder will have an inactive credit or debit card10when entering an establishment that he wishes to purchase from. The card will have thereon information on a biometric feature (BF)11that the cardholder will need to have in order to have the card10activated. Such biometric feature11may be such as a fingerprint, hand scan, retina scan, or any other physiological biometric feature known in the art. The biometric feature11may be on the card as an actual feature, i.e. a thumbprint on the card10′ or may be on the card in electronic, photographic, or any other form known in the art.

In order to activate the card10for a purchase, the card10will be inserted into a comparison device12, such as a computer terminal14of the merchant or retailer. The comparison device12will have a card reader16which can read the biometric feature11of the cardholder from the card10. The cardholder10will then permit the biometric feature reader18to read the corresponding biometric feature of the cardholder. The comparison device12will then compare the biometric feature11on the card10with the biometric feature of the cardholder. If biometric feature11on the card10matches the biometric feature of the cardholder, the card10will be activated for a predetermined number of purchases, or a predetermined period of time.

The comparison device12may be self-contained, having its own software, or may be connected to the merchants computer system20, which will have its own software to make the comparison.

If the biometric feature11on the card10matches the biometric feature read by the biometric feature reader18(Box100,110), the card10will be activated (Box120) by placing a suitable indication on the magnetic stripe of the card10, or by any other method, such as an optical device. The card may be activated for a single purchase, any desired number of purchases, or for a desired period of time. The card10may then be used with an existing network (Box130), or with a different, or new, network (Box160).

If the biometric feature11on the card10does not match the biometric feature read by the biometric feature reader18(Box140), the card10is not activated (Box150), whereupon, the approval process may be retried, or the cardholder makes no further attempt to use the card10at the retailer.

Referring toFIG. 2, another modification of the present invention is illustrated. In this modification the merchant's computer system20becomes the comparison device12. A remote biometric feature reader21(not located in comparison device12) is connected to the computer system20. The computer system20in this modification of the invention has sufficient memory19into which the merchant has loaded the biometric features of desirable purchasers or other classification of purchasers. The remote biometric feature reader21, which may be such as a facial scanner, iris scanner, or the like, may be located at a convenient location in the merchant's store such as at the entry door. When the customer comes into the store, he will, for example, undergo a facial scan, and this will constitute the remotely read biometric feature of the purchaser, which must match the information in memory19.

The remote biometric feature reader21then sends the information to the merchant's computer system20. The computer system20then accesses memory19to determine if the biometric feature11read by the remote biometric feature reader21matches the biometric feature information contained in the computer memory19(Box100), and if it does (Box110), the purchaser's card may be activated by means known in the art (Box120) and, as before, the card10may then be used with an existing network (Box130), or with a different, or new, network (Box160).