Patent ID: 8078885

Claim:
An identity authentication system for one or more users, the system comprising: at least one credential issued to one of the users, wherein the credential includes a security token comprising data encrypted by encryption software with a cryptographic algorithm and encrypted based on a biometric key that is generated from a biometric identifier of the user; and at least one decoder including a token interface device and a biometric input device and having access to decryption software with the cryptographic algorithm and conversion software, wherein the biometric input device receives the biometric identifier from the user, the conversion software converts the biometric identifier to the biometric key, the token interface device receives the token from the user credential, and the decryption software applies the cryptographic algorithm and the biometric key to the token to decrypt and thereby open the token, wherein the token is only openable upon the user presenting the biometric identifier used to encrypt the token so that opening the token authenticates the user, and wherein the token is only openable upon the simultaneous presence of the token, the biometric identifier used to encrypt the token, and the decoder with the decryption software including the cryptographic algorithm.