Patent ID: 7567689

Claim:
An authentication apparatus, comprising: an information readout means for reading out personal information of a primary authenticatee including at least ID information thereof recorded on an authentication card; a registered biometric information storing means for storing registered biometric information of the primary authenticatee and of a secondary authenticatee associated with the primary authenticatee in advance, with the registered biometric information of the primary authenticatee and of the secondary authenticatee being linked to the ID information of the primary authenticatee; a registered biometric information readout means for reading out the registered biometric information of the primary authenticatee and of the secondary authenticatee from registered biometric information storing means based on the personal information read out by the information readout means; a biometric information obtaining means for obtaining biometric information of the primary authenticatee and of the secondary authenticatee; and an authenticating means for performing an authentication process comprising the steps of: matching the registered and obtained biometric information of the primary authenticatee with each other to initially authenticate the primary authenticatee; matching the registered and obtained biometric information of the secondary authenticatee with each other to further authenticate the secondary authenticatee if the authentication of the primary authenticatee is unsuccessful; and determining that the primary authenticatee is successfully authenticated if the authentication of the secondary authenticatee is successful.