Patent ID: 7856558

Claim:
A biometric security system comprising: a first identification device for detecting an identifier associated with a user; a second identification device for obtaining biometric data of the user; a database for storing said identifier and at least one biometric template and at least one duress indicator; and a processor for detecting an identity of the user and whether the user is not under duress, wherein said identity is determined by matching the detected identifier with a stored identifier and matching the biometric data with the at least one biometric template, wherein said duress is determined by matching the biometric data with said at least one duress indicator, wherein said processor controls the security system based upon said determination, wherein said processor further includes a timer, said timer is activated when said first identification device detects said identifier and said timer is stopped when said second identification device detects said biometric data, and wherein if the timer indicates a value greater than a predetermined threshold value when said second identifier obtains said biometric data, said processor determines that said user is under duress and transmits a duress signal to a central monitoring station.