Patent EA-001050-B1 (EA)
Title: Positive identification system and method
Inventor: HOUVENER ROBERT C
IPC: G06Q20/40
Filed: 1996-05-08
Abstract: 1. A positive identity verification system comprising: a point of verification terminal having a means for accepting information presented by a person to be positively identified at a point of verification and a means for displaying a digital photographic images of persons; at least one remote database site having stored therein a database comprising a plurality of digital photographic images of persons to be identified; a means of communicating between said point of identification terminal and said remote database to interchange information data between the two; a means for verifying that said point of verification terminal is authorised to access said remote database site; and  a means for verifying that an identifier present at the point of verification terminal has compared the digital photographic images displayed on the display means with the physical appearance of said person being identified at the point of verification terminal and that a match exists between at least one of said digital photographic images and the physical appearance of said person being identified.  2. The positive identity verification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for verifying that the identifier present at the point of verification terminal has compared and verified that the identifying information unit matches the physical information presented by the person to be identified is a personal identification number unique to said identifier, which is input into the point of verification terminal using an input means.  3. The positive identity verification system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said input means is a multi-function keypad.  4. The positive identity verification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said verification means is a standard caller identification means.  5. The positive identity verification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said verification means is a software key, communicated by said point of verification terminal to said database site to unlock the database site for access.  6. The positive identity verification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means of communication comprises a point of verification modem communicating with a modem located at one of said database sites over a data flow path.  7. The positive identity verification system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said data flow path comprises public access telephone lines.  8. The positive identity verification system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said data flow path is a dedicated wide area network.  9. The positive identity verification system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said data flow path is a satellite communications link.  10. A positive identity verification system for use in verifying that a presenter of a credit card is the owner of said credit card, comprising: a point of verification terminal comprising a means for accepting account information presented by said presenter, said information associated with a credit card account; a remote database storage and retrieval site for storing, retrieving, processing and transmitting digital photographic images, said digital photographic images being stored at said remote database site, each of said digital photographic images stored at said remote database site being associated with at least one credit card account and corresponding to at least one authorised user of said credit card; a means for communicating between the point of verification terminal and the remote database site;  a means for verifying that said point of verification terminal is authorised to access said information stored as said remote database site;  a means for transmitting said account information to said remote database site;  a means for retrieving said one or more of said digital photographic images associated with said credit card account;  a means for displaying at least one digital photographic image at said point of verification terminal; and  a means for inputting information at the point of verification terminal to indicate that an identifier at the point of verification terminal has visually verified that at least one of said digital photographic images displayed on the display means matches the physical appearance of the presenter of the credit card for use.  11. The positive identity verification system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said means for accepting said credit card account information is a magnetic strip reader for reading a standard magnetic strip associated with a credit card, said strip containing said credit card account information.  12. The positive identity verification system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said means for accepting said credit card account information is a bar code reader for reading a bar code associated with a credit card, said bar code containing said credit card account information.  13. The positive identity verification system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said means for accepting said credit card account information is a multi-function keypad.  14. A positive identity verification system to ensure that a presenter of a credit card is authorised to use said credit card comprising:  a credit card reader means for use by a sales clerk for accepting credit card account information, said credit card reader being located at a point of sale and identity verification;  a remote database means for storing digital photographic images of individuals, each of said digital photographic images being associated with specified credit card account information;  a means for communicating between said credit card reader and said remote database means to transmit said credit card account information from said card reader to said database means and for transmitting the digital photographic images associated at said database storage means with said transmitted account information to said card reader;  a means for verifying that said credit card reader is authorised to access said remote database site;  a means for displaying said received digital photographic images at the point of verification for visual observation by said sales clerk for comparison with the physical appearance of said presenter at the point of identity verification; and  a user means for accepting input from said sales clerk to indicate that at least one of the digital photographic images displayed on said display has been compared to and matches the physical appearance of the presenter of said credit card. 15. A positive identity verification system comprising:  a database storage and retrieval site remote from a point of identity verification, said database site storing digital photographic images corresponding to a plurality of persons to be positively identified, each of said digital photographic images corresponding to a person to be identified and further corresponding to at least one information unit presented by said person to be identified;  a means for establishing communications between said database site and said point of verification, said communication means capable of accepting and transmitting said presented information unit to said database site;  a search means for searching said database to find each of said digital photographic images corresponding to said presented information unit received by said database;  a means for transmitting each of said digital photographic images to the point of verification;  a means at said point of verification for displaying each of said digital photographic images transmitted to the point of verification from said database site;  a means for verifying that an identifier present at the point of verification terminal has compared the digital photographic images displayed on the display means with the physical appearance of the person being identified at the point of verification terminal and that a match exists between the two; and  a means for verifying that said means at said point of verification for displaying each of said digital photographic images is authorised to access said remote database site.  16. A method of positive identity verification comprising the steps of:  inputting a first information unit presented by a presenter to be positively identified into a point of verification terminal;  establishing communications between said point of verification terminal and a remote database site said database site having stored therein a database comprising a plurality of digital photographic images, at least one of said digital photographic images corresponding to said first information unit input at said point of verification terminal;  verifying that the point of verification terminal is authorised to access said remote database site;  transmitting said first information unit from said terminal to said remote database site over a communications means;  retrieving at least one of said digital photographic images corresponding to said first information unit transmitted to said database site;  transmitting at least one of said digital photographic images over the communications means to said point of verification terminal; displaying at least one of said digital photographic images received from said database site on a display means located at said point of identity verification;  comparing said displayed digital photographic image with the physical appearance of the presenter at the point of verification;  inputting identifier specific data into said point of verification terminal to indicate that the identifier has compared the displayed digital photographic images with the physical appearance of the presenter and that the physical appearance of the presenter match at least one of the displayed digital photographic images; and  transmitting and storing said identifier specific data at said remote database site for recall should a positive identification transaction be questioned at a later date.  17. The method of positive identity verification claimed in claim 16, wherein said first information unit is a credit card account