Patent ID: 7155416

Claim:
A user device for accessing information comprising an authentication system for certifying that the user of the device is the authorized user, the authentication system comprising: a reader on the user device for sensing and reading a fingerprint of a user; a memory for storing an authorized fingerprint on the user device; a comparator on the user device, responsive to the reader and memory, for comparing the read fingerprint to the stored fingerprint; a pseudo-random generator on the user device, responsive to the comparator, for generating a pseudo-random personal identification number (PIN) in accordance with a user specific algorithm when the read fingerprint and the stored fingerprint are equivalent; and a display on the user device for displaying said PIN, said PIN being forwarded by said user to an issuer of said user device which grants access to said information; wherein said issuer receives said PIN at an issuer network that comprises: a customer database having customer information for a plurality of users; an issuer pseudo-random generator, responsive to said customer database, for generating a pseudo-random customer code, wherein said customer code is generated in accordance with said user specific algorithm, and an issuer comparator, coupled to said customer database and said issuer generator, for comparing said customer code to said PIN, wherein the user is authorized and the device activation verified to access information when said customer code is equivalent to said PIN.