Patent ID: 8438385

Claim:
A method for identity verification comprising: at a communication device, receiving a request for proof of identity from a service provider; at the communication device, receiving biometric information associated with a user of the communication device; at the communication device, determining that the received biometric information matches a biometric profile, wherein the biometric profile contains biometric information associated with a registered user of the communication device; at the communication device, unlocking a private key associated with the registered user in response to determining that the received biometric information matches a biometric profile; sending a request for a digital certificate from the communication device to a verification server, wherein the request for the digital certificate is signed with the private key associated with the registered user; receiving the digital certificate from the verification server, wherein the digital certificate: includes a public key associated with the registered user, wherein the verification server stores a public key associated with the private key of the registered user; is signed using a private key associated with a verification server; and satisfies the request for proof of identity; forwarding the digital certificate from the communication device to the service provider.