Patent ID: 7934102

Claim:
A method for efficient exception handling of the production process of personal identification verification (PIV) smartcards, comprising: receiving an applicant legend from a PIV sponsor; checking the applicant a legend submitted by a PIV sponsor; collecting source identity documents and biometrics of the applicant; verifying the authenticity of the source identity documents and biometrics of the applicant prior to issuing a PIV smartcard at least once through a PIV registrar and at least once through a central security clearance; checking the biometrics by conducting a criminal background check on the applicant prior to issuing a PIV smartcard; inputting the legend, the source identity documents, the biometrics, and security and clearance approvals into an identity management (IDM) system; printing and issuing a PIV smartcard, that contains the biometrics of the applicant; locking the PIV smartcard, wherein the PIV smartcard is locked after issuance; verifying the applicant's authenticity upon receiving the applicant's request for access to security systems, including collecting a second biometrics for the applicant at a registration station; and granting the applicant physical and logical access to the security systems by unlocking the PIV smartcard, wherein the PIV smartcard is unlocked after clearing with the IDM system by: using a personal identification number (PIN) to release the biometrics on the PIV smartcard; and using the IDM system to evaluate the second collected biometrics by comparing the second collected biometrics with the biometrics on the PIV smartcard.