U.S. patent application number 13/050798 was filed with the patent office on 2011-10-20 for systems and methods for storage of user information and for verifying user identity.
Invention is credited to Lawrence A. Stevens.
Application Number | 20110256852 13/050798 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 30000357 |
Filed Date | 2011-10-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110256852 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stevens; Lawrence A. |
October 20, 2011 |
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR STORAGE OF USER INFORMATION AND FOR
VERIFYING USER IDENTITY
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for maintaining user profile
information and allowing for biometric verification of the user's
identity. The user stores or links to personal, financial, etc.
information in a web page. The user can limit the types of
information that is available to others. The information can be
downloaded to a portable device. The information can be used for
financial transactions, where the financial information is
transmitted to a web site, an ATM, credit card machine, etc. for
financial approval. The information can also be used to find other
users with similar interest. The user stores selected
characteristics that they would like to find in other users, which
are compared with other user's profiles. Matching users are aided
in locating one another, where they may then prove their identity
to each other by biometrically verifying that they are the owner of
the user profile.
Inventors: |
Stevens; Lawrence A.; (New
York, NY) |
Family ID: |
30000357 |
Appl. No.: |
13/050798 |
Filed: |
March 17, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10325678 |
Dec 19, 2002 |
7929951 |
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13050798 |
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60342574 |
Dec 20, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/414.1 ;
455/456.3; 707/769; 707/E17.014 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 21/32 20130101;
G06Q 20/40145 20130101; G06Q 20/04 20130101; G06F 2221/2111
20130101; G07C 9/257 20200101; G06Q 20/4014 20130101; G07C 9/26
20200101; G06F 21/62 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/414.1 ;
707/769; 455/456.3; 707/E17.014 |
International
Class: |
H04W 4/00 20090101
H04W004/00; H04W 24/00 20090101 H04W024/00; G06F 17/30 20060101
G06F017/30 |
Claims
1. A system for comparing user profiles to determine users having
matching interests and biometrically verifying the identity and
information of the matching users to each other as part of a
comparison of user profile information, comprising: a storage
device comprising a user profile database comprising user profile
information for a plurality of users; a user device associated with
said storage device, said user device comprising a user interface
for receiving user profile information from the users; a biometric
verification interface for biometrically verifying each user to the
user's associated profile information stored in said user profile
database; and a processing element in communication with said user
interface, biometric interface, and storage device, wherein said
processing element: receives user profile information input by each
user via said user interface, including user preferences regarding
other users; stores the user profile information for each user in
the user profile database, wherein one or more of the user profile
information for each user is biometrically associated with a
respective third party institution and can be verified by the third
party institution, wherein the user profile information associated
with third party institutions is stored in both the user profile
database and a third party database associated with the respective
third party institution, where the user profile database and the
third party database associated with the third party institution
are separate databases; performs a user profile information
pre-verification for each user by contacting third party
institutions associated with the respective user profile
information to verify the user profile information stored in the
user profile database, such that the user profile information is
verified by the third party institution prior to use; compares user
preferences for each user stored in the user's profile information
with the user preferences of the other of the plurality of users;
returns only those user profiles for users having matching user
preferences, so that only users are indicated in the comparison
that have common interests; and allows via the user interface each
of the users that were indicated as matching to access user profile
information stored in the user profile database for the other user,
including access to the user profile information verified by the
third party institution prior to use, such that mutual access by
the users to the other user's verified user profile information is
provided; wherein the system biometrically links all users to each
other and to their respective institutions so that their associated
biometrically verified information is permitted to be searched by
others to find the best mutual matches for any enquiring user; and
wherein the biometrically linking comprises storing a user's
biometric on the user's own device and on the other user's devices
and requiring a user to have their biometric scanned by and
verified by the other user's device to protect against
tampering.
2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the user profile
information comprises at least one clickable/selectable direct
electronic link to user profile information associated with the
user that is stored on a third party database of a third party
institution, such that the user profile information associated with
the user may be verified by accessing the clickable/selectable
direct electronic link.
3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said storage device is a
central storage device accessible via a network.
4. A system according to claim 1, wherein portions of at least some
of the user profile information stored in said user profile
database is designated as information that can be accessed by other
users.
5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the user profile
information stored in said user profile database is stored in a web
page that includes links to biometrically verified information
regarding the user.
6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said user device
comprises a plurality of user devices each associated with a
respective user and each comprising a network interface for
communicating with said storage device via a network.
7. A system according to claim 6, wherein said biometric interface
comprises a plurality of biometric interfaces each located in a
respective user device.
8. A system according to claim 6, wherein said user device is one
of a cell phone, personal digital assistant, or personal
computer.
9. A system according to claim 6, wherein said user device
comprises a GPS device for tracking the location of said user
interface.
10. A system according to claim 9, wherein said GPS device
comprises a transceiver for transmitting a location of said user
interface.
11. A system according to claim 1 wherein said processing element
further performs a user profile comparison with other users and
providing a list of one or more second users having user profile
information that matches user profile information associated with
the first user, and wherein said processing element allows each
user to create different user profiles to be used in the
searches.
12. A system according to claim 11 further comprising a transceiver
associated with each user device, wherein said transceiver
transmits user profile information in a geographic area surrounding
the user device and receives user profile information from other
user devices in the geographic area, and wherein said processing
element compares user profile information received from another
user device with selected search criteria set by the user of the
user device, and indicates a match if there is a match between the
user profile information received from another user device with the
selected search criteria.
Description
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of and claims priority
from allowed, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/325,678, filed on Dec. 19, 2002 and entitled "SYSTEMS AND
METHODS FOR STORAGE OF USER INFORMATION AND FOR VERIFYING USER
IDENTITY," and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/342,574,
filed Dec. 20, 2001, entitled "METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MATCHING
ELECTRONIC USER PROFILES," the entire contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to systems and
methods for storing information related to a user and allowing for
biometric verification of the user's identity.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] In the past few years, there has been a significant increase
in the use of portable electronic devices such as personal digital
assistants (PDAs), cell phones, and lap top computers. Users of
these devices have come to rely on them for many of their daily
activities. For example, many people use PDAs to maintain their
activity calendars, address books, etc. Many of these same features
are now being implemented into cell phones. As users have become
more accustomed to the use of these systems, there has been a
desire to add more functionality to these systems. One area of
interest is in the storage of user financial and medical records.
Specifically, currently most people are required to carry various
forms of identification and financial information with them in the
form of identification cards, insurance cards, credit cards, etc.
There is the potential for these various cards to be lost,
misplaced, or stolen. Further, users had typically rather have one
source for retrieval of their information, as opposed to
maintaining the various separate forms of identification and
records.
[0006] Although centralized information storage has been a desired
goal, there have been several issues with regard to security for
such information. While users would prefer one source containing
all of their personal information, such a system also increases the
risk of identity theft by others. As such, there is a need for a
system and method that allows for centralized storage of
information having mechanisms to maintain data security.
[0007] An additional problem with use of electronic systems to
maintain personal and financial data concerning a user is
verification of the user. Specifically, with more traditional forms
of identification, such as driver's licenses and credit cards,
physical attributes such as a photo or signature can be used to
verify that the holder of the identification card is in fact the
owner of the card and the information related thereto. Such
verification is much more difficult with an electronic system. In
such systems, mechanisms are needed that allow a user to verify to
others that the information being presented is their
information.
[0008] As mentioned, PDAs and cell phones are currently used for
storage of calendars, addresses, and phone numbers. There are,
however, other potential uses of these systems that have yet to be
developed. Specifically, many people wish to contact other people
who have similar interests, who have something they want, and/or
who may want something they have. For instance, one may wish to
locate a person with whom they can share their similar interests or
build a relationship. In addition, one may wish to locate a person
who has emergency training and can help in an emergency situation
or a person who wishes to buy or sell a certain item.
[0009] Matching people who are located in the same general area and
who have compatible interests is a difficult task because people
must physically or audibly convey their interests to others and ask
if they share the same interests. This process is made even more
difficult when attempting to limit the number of people who receive
the information and inquiry to those who are interested in the
information. The task of matching compatible people or people who
have similar interests has been solved conventionally through
systems that utilize wireless devices for exchanging certain
personal data between users or computer-based systems that utilize
the Internet and personal computers for exchanging personal data
stored in computer databases.
[0010] For example, wireless devices such as pagers or cordless
phones in which a user profile may be stored or that may interface
with a stored user profile via various wireless communication means
have been designed for exchanging certain personal data between
users. The wireless devices, in operation, transmit and receive
user profile information to and from the general area surrounding
the device via radio or telephone communication in order to find
other matching profiles. A comparison of the stored profile and the
received profiles may be performed by a processor in the wireless
device or at a remote location that is in communication with the
wireless device. While these systems provide for wireless
communication of a user profile and interests in the area
surrounding the user, there are some drawbacks to current wireless
device systems. Specifically, the profiles stored or accessed by
these wireless devices are specific profiles for the particular
users that contain only certain general personal information about
the users. In addition, although a user can choose not to enter
certain information into his or her profile, all of the information
stored in the profile is accessible to other users when it is
transmitted to the surrounding area. Thus, the user cannot store
other personal information in their personal profile that only the
user may access. Another drawback of this type of system is that
there is no way to prevent someone who steals or finds the wireless
device from using the wireless device representing himself as the
owner of the user profile transmitted by the device. Furthermore,
there is no way for users to know if the information stored in
other users' profiles is true.
[0011] Another type of system for exchanging personal information
among users is a computer-based system that utilizes the Internet
and personal computers for exchanging personal data stored in
databases. Typically, these computer-based systems involve the
users entering their personal information into a database on a
server via personal computers connected to the Internet and web
pages. All of the users of the system may search the personal
information database(s) to find another user having the
characteristics they desire by using particular search criteria.
Alternatively, the system may perform a comparison of all of the
users' personal information, determine the best matches among the
users, and present contact information to the compatible users.
These computer-based systems, however, generally do not provide a
wireless device that the users may carry with them to transmit
their information to other users in the general area such that
users may not immediately meet compatible people. In addition, this
system, like the wireless device system described above, does not
permit a user to store other personal information in the database
that only the user may access. The only way for a user to limit
what the other users may access is to choose not to enter certain
information into his profile. Furthermore, this system also does
not provide a way for users to know if the information stored in
other users' profiles is true.
[0012] One type of system that permits users to store all of their
personal information, including financial, medical and other
records, also permits users to choose the portions of their
personal information that they wish to allow others to access. This
system includes handheld wireless devices that may access and/or
store the users' personal information, and transmit and receive
information to and from others or may initiate a consumer
transaction via wireless communication. Furthermore, these systems
may include biometric verification capability, such that the user
of the handheld device must verify he is the owner of the
information in or accessible by the device before using the device
for any purpose. These systems, however, do not permit users to
include in their stored personal profiles or personal information
the profiles of other users that they wish to locate. As such,
these systems do not include functionality to compare various user
profiles to find matches and signal to the user via the handheld
device when a match is found.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The system and method of the present invention provide
several advantages over prior art systems. Specifically, the system
and method of the present invention provide biometric verification
(including, but not limited to, retina or fingerprint scanning,
voice or DNA recognition) using an electronic device (including,
but not limited to, a computer, mobile phone, personal digital
assistant, or pager) to link people to their electronic
identity/profile (including, but not limited to, a personal
description, medical, legal, work, police, financial, religious
records and any other desired affiliation) for the purpose of
exchanging and/or matching verified information and/or desired
profile characterizations.
[0014] More specifically, the system and method of the present
invention allows a user to enter various information concerning
themselves into a web-page for access and display via the Internet
or an intranet. The user may include general information about
themselves, such as their occupation, background, etc. The user may
also enter or provide links to information related to their
financials, criminal records, medical, and religious records. The
user can segregate the information such that only certain
individuals can gain access to certain records. The web page may
also include a personal section that allows the user to input
certain characteristics of themselves. These characteristic may
describe the user, such as ethnicity, body type, hair and eye
color, etc., and it may describe the user's hobbies, businesses in
which the are engaged, etc. The user may also enter certain
characteristics that they are looking for in others. This may be
match-making characteristics or it may be characteristics related
to a hobby of interest, etc.
[0015] The user can make certain portions of this information
accessible via the Internet so that other users may view their
information. In a match-making environment, other users may view
the user's information to see if there are common interest.
Further, the a central processor may receive the selected desired
characteristics input by each user and compare these desired
characteristics with each user's information to identify user's
having common interests. In a financial transaction, an entity
interested in doing business with the user may be allowed access to
the user's stored or linked financial information for the
transaction.
[0016] Importantly, the system and method of the present invention
further provide a portable device for storing either all or
portions of the user's information or for accessing via the
Internet the information stored or linked to in the user's web
page. The portable device can be carried by the user and used for
match-making, finding others with common interest either business
or personally related, and for performing various business and
financial transactions.
[0017] In a match-making or finding others with common interest
setting, the portable device is designed to transmit selected
portions of these user's profile to the general area surrounding
the user. Other users receive this information where it is
processed, while the user also receives information from the other
users. The received user profile information is compared to the
user's selected preferences. If a particular user meets the desired
characteristics, an indication of a match is made to the user.
Different methods may be used to then meet the user matching the
criteria. The portable device may include a GPS that allows for the
user's pinpoint each other's location. The portable device may use
a tracking signal that is transmitted by both user's portable
devices; the signal strength of which is used to direct the users
toward each other's location. The system may also include text
messaging capability allowing the users to communicate with each
other.
[0018] Besides match-making this system may be used to locate
others having a similar interest, such as a user who is interested
in purchasing coins looking for a coin dealer. The system may also
be used for emergency purposes. User's having medical training may
include this information in their system. If another user is
experiencing a medical emergency, the user can push a panic button,
which causes their device to transmit an emergency signal. This
signal will be sent to the area surrounding the user. If a user in
the area has medical training, their device will receive the
emergency signal and alert them of the problem so that they may
come to the user's attention.
[0019] The portable device may also be used for financial and other
transactions. Specifically, the portable device may transmit the
user's financial information to an ATM, credit card machine, etc.
The financial information can then be used for a transaction.
[0020] An important aspect of the present invention is verification
of the user. Specifically, in each of the above settings, it is
important to verify that the holder of the device is the actual
person associated with the information stored therein. For this
reason, the system of the present invention includes security
mechanisms to ensure to others that the presenter of the
information is indeed the owner of the information. Specifically,
the system and method of the present invention include a biometric
scanner and storage for maintaining a stored and verified biometric
of the user. The user prestores a biometric of themselves that is
verified as their biometric. This biometric is stored on their own
device. To verify to other users that the user owns the information
in the device, the user scans their biometric with the scanner on
the device. The scanned biometric is compared to the stored and
verified biometric. If there is match, the device indicates the
verification either visually by lighting a verification indicator
on the device or by transmitting a verification signal to another
user.
[0021] In an alternative or further embodiment, the user's
biometric may be stored on other users' devices, if they are for
example, in a network where all other user's biometrics are
downloaded and saved to each user. In this instance, the other user
may also require the user to have their biometric scanned by and
verified by the other user's device. This has the added feature of
protecting against a user tampering with the biometric stored on
their own device by requiring them to also be verified by the other
user's device.
[0022] The various aspects mentioned above are provided in greater
detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] Having thus described the invention in general terms,
reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are
not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
[0024] FIG. 1A is an operational block diagram illustrating the
environment and various applications in which the system and method
of the present invention may be implemented;
[0025] FIG. 1B is an operational block diagram of a portable device
for storing and transmitting user profile information according to
one embodiment of the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 2 is an operational diagram illustrating a method for
locating user's having matches according to one embodiment of the
present invention using the intensity of a search signal
transmitted by the user's devices;
[0027] FIG. 3 is an operational diagram illustrating a method for
locating user's having matches according to another embodiment of
the present invention using the intensity of a search signal
transmitted by the user's devices;
[0028] FIG. 4 is an operational diagram illustrating a method for
locating user's having matches according to another embodiment of
the present invention using a GPS system;
[0029] FIG. 5 is an operational diagram illustrating a method for
locating user's having matches according to another embodiment of
the present invention using a remote server to guide the users to
one another; and
[0030] FIG. 6 is an operational diagram illustrating the portable
user devices used to access user private profile information and
engage in various financial or other types of transactions via the
transmission and/or reception of user profile data according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0031] The present inventions now will be described more fully
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed,
these inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should
not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein;
rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will
satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like
elements throughout.
[0032] The method and system of the present invention generally
include users entering their personal profiles into web pages via
computer-based systems in communication with a network, and storing
their profiles in one or more servers in communication with the
same network. These personal profiles may include any type of
information regarding the users, such as physical descriptions,
interests, financial information, and/or medical records, and the
profiles also may specify the type of profile sought in other
users. Furthermore, users may specify which portions of their
profile they wish to share with other users and which portions they
wish to keep private. The users then may access their personal
profile via portable wireless user devices and a wireless network
that has access to the network that is in communication with the
servers that store the user profiles.
[0033] The portable user devices may be any type of portable
wireless device, such as key chains, cellular phones, pagers,
and/or personal digital assistants, and a particular user's
portable device may store or access that user's profile from the
remote server. The portable user device may transmit its user
profile to the surrounding area, receive other users' profiles and
compare the profiles for a variety of purposes. For example, one
user may sell gold coins and wish to locate another user that would
like to buy gold coins, such that a comparison of the users'
accessible profiles would create a match. A further example is that
one user may wish to find another user with similar personal
interests, and a comparison of one user's sought profile with
another user's accessible profile would create a match if the
interests specified therein are similar. The portable user devices
also may have a "panic" button, such that a user in need of help in
an emergency may depress the panic button and locate other users in
the surrounding area that can assist, such as those users with
accessible user profiles that include police, medical or any other
type of emergency training The portable user devices include an
indicator for signaling to the users when a match is found. The
signal may be visual, vibratory, audible and/or any other type of
signal that indicates a match to the users.
[0034] Furthermore, either or both the portable user device and the
user's computer incorporate biometric verification, such as retina
or fingerprint scanning, voice recognition, DNA or any other type
of biometric verification, functionality for security and
validation purposes. Thus, matching users may verify to each other
by using the scanner and stored biometric on their own device or
the scanner and stored biometric on the other user's device that
they are the owners of their device and the profiles stored thereon
to thereby ensure that the person they are meeting has not stolen
or found another user's portable device. Additionally, users may
biometrically verify certain types of personal information in their
profiles such that other users are ensured the information is
true.
[0035] Because the user profiles may include any type of electronic
information or records and because all or portions of the
information may be completely private, the profiles can be a
central repository of electronic information for the users. As
such, users may access their personal profile via their portable
user device to perform transactions, financial or otherwise, that
require the information stored in their profiles. The biometric
verification functionality of the portable user devices ensure the
security of the private information stored in the user profiles and
of the transactions because users may not access their profiles,
particularly the private portions of their profiles, or execute
transactions until the biometrics of the users are verified. Thus,
the portable user devices may be utilized in any instance in which
a biometric proof of identity is associated with any exchange of
information, such as use of a credit card, making a phone call, or
any other type of information exchange.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 1A, the system 10, according to one
embodiment of the present invention, includes a network 12, such as
the Internet, Wide Area Network (WAN), Local Area Network (LAN),
etc., at least one server, and at least one personal computer 14.
The server(s) is/are in communication with the network 12 and may
include a server 16 that stores web pages and user profiles, and at
least one server 18 that stores other user information.
Alternatively, the web pages and the user profiles may be stored on
separate servers. Furthermore, the user profiles may be stored in
databases located on one or more servers. The personal computers 14
are also in communication with the network 12 and able to access
the web pages stored in server 16. The personal computers 14 may
receive the user profile data that the users enter into the web
pages, and the user profile data may be stored in server 16.
Additionally, a personal computer 14 may be associated with the
biometric of a particular user. As such, the web pages may also be
stored in the personal computer and the user may store their
profile data in the personal computer and only that particular user
may access the personal computer after biometric verification by
the computer. The personal computer also may perform continuous
biometric verification such that another person may not access the
information stored in the personal computer after an initial
biometric verification. Each user profile stored in server 16
and/or a personal computer associated with the biometric of a
particular user is associated with the biometric(s) of the
particular user and a unique ID number that represents the
particular user. The server 16 or any other network server may also
contain a secure look-up table or list that correlates the
biometrics and unique ID numbers with the profile of the particular
user, such that when a user transmits information, the system 10
can immediately associate that information with the user's profile
by looking up, in the table or list, the unique ID number and
biometric associated with the transmitted information.
[0037] The web pages may prompt users to enter certain information,
but the web pages also allow the users to enter any type of
information in their personal profile that they desire.
Additionally, the user may include links to any other electronic
user information that resides on servers that are in communication
with the network 12. For example, the user profile data may also
include the location, such as the IP address or domain name, of
other user information, such as banking records, medical records,
criminal records, driving records, etc. Users also may verify
certain types of personal information, such as by associating the
information with their biometric. For example, users may associate
their biometric with their medical records, their salary, or with
their name in an organization's membership list and have it
verified by someone who may vouch for the authenticity. Users then
may include links to the databases or servers containing the
verified information to add credibility to the information
contained in their profiles.
[0038] The web pages also permit users to select the portion(s) of
their profiles that they will allow other users to access. Thus,
users may store completely private information in their profiles
for their own purposes of having a common repository for all of
their personal information. In addition, users may set up multiple
profiles specifying different levels of access to their personal
information, such that they may select the profile they will allow
others to access on a case-by-case basis. For example, for purposes
of exchanging personal information with another user that they are
very interested in meeting, the user may set up one profile that
allows other users to access only the information that they view as
positive information regarding themselves. Thus, users may tailor
multiple profiles according to what they believe other users are
seeking, and may choose the profile to allow other users to access
depending upon the environment, situation, or application.
[0039] Users also may specify the type of profile or profiles
sought in other users via the web page that may also be stored in
each user's profile. For example, if certain users sell gold coins,
the users may specify that they wish to find other users interested
in buying gold coins. Another example may be that users specify the
type of interests they are seeking in other users in order to share
the interests or get to know the other users better. Any
information users enter and store in their profiles may be changed
at any time by the users via the personal computers 14 in the same
manner as described hereinabove and/or via the portable user
devices, as described hereinbelow.
[0040] In specifying the profiles sought in other users, users may
assign weights to certain characteristics such that when a user's
sought profile is compared to other users' profiles, a score is
obtained. Any type of weighting program, algorithm, or matrix known
to those skilled in the art may be utilized. For example, weights
from zero to ten may be assigned to certain characteristics, zero
representing an unacceptable characteristic and ten representing a
perfect match for that characteristic. Thus, if a user is seeking a
person that is six feet tall, but would not mind a few inches
deviation, the user may assign six feet a weight of ten and lower
weights to other acceptable heights, then the heights omitted
default to a weight of zero. Alternatively, if a user is seeking a
person that is six feet tall only, the user assigns a weight of ten
to six feet and any other height will be assigned a weight of zero.
Weights may be assigned for any type of characteristics and users
also may specify that verified information is assigned a higher
weight than non-verified information. Furthermore, users may set up
multiple sought profiles, varying the type of characteristics
sought, whether the characteristic must be verified and/or the
weights assigned. User may then choose, on a case-by-case basis,
the particular profile sought depending upon the particular
environment, situation or application.
[0041] Once stored, the user may use the information for many
purposes. For example, the user may perform various on-line
financial transactions in which the stored or linked financial data
is used. An important aspect of this embodiment of the present
invention is verification. Specifically, as mentioned, the computer
may have associated therewith a biometric scanner, which can be
located in the screen, mouse, mouse pad, keyboard, etc. of the
user's computer. The user may have stored on the computer a
verified biometric of themselves. Further or alternatively, the
individual with whom the user is conducting the transaction with
may also have a verified copy of the user's biometric stored in
their system. When a user initiates a transaction, the scanner will
scan the user's biometric and the user's own computer may compare
it to the stored biometric and verify to the individual with whom
the user is conducting the transaction that the user is the owner
of the financial information. Further or alternatively, the user's
scanned biometric may be sent to the other user's computer where it
can be compared with the pre-verified user biometric stored on the
other individual's computer to thereby verify the user. This added
or alternative approach reduces the risk that the user has tampered
with the pre-verified biometric stored on their own computer by
requiring them to verify their scanned biometric with that stored
on the other user's device.
[0042] One example of this may be on-line banking, where to ensure
that the person accessing the account is the owner of the account.
In this instance, the user's biometric is scanned by a scanner at
the user's location and sent to either a central processor or the
remote user. The central processor and/or the remote user has a
prestored verified biometric for the owner of the account. If the
scanned biometric and verified biometric match, the user is the
owner of the account. A similar scenario could be used for example
in an on-line auction program, where users all submit a verified
biometric, which is either stored at a central computer and/or at
each user's computer. When a transaction is occurring between
users, each user will have their biometric scanned and sent to
either the other user or the central processor where they can be
verified by comparison to the stored pre verified biometrics.
[0043] In addition to financial and other business transactions,
the stored user profile can be used in a network application for
match-making and/or finding others with similar interests.
Specifically, a plurality of users may subscribe to a service,
whereby their profiles and preferences are accessible by a central
processor. The central processor may compare the users' profiles to
other users' preferences and determine like interest. These users
are then notified concerning matches and may be provided with the
matching user's information. Similar to the financial transaction
scenario, the present invention allows for user verification of
their profile information by using scanners that scan the user's
biometric for comparison to a pre-verified biometric of the user
stored on either or all of the user's own computer, the central
processor, or the other users' computers.
[0044] The network 12 is also capable of communicating with a
wireless communication network 20, such as a cellular, RF, or other
type of wireless network or combination of wireless networks, via
any method known to those skilled in the art. The wireless network
20 includes a tower 22 that transmits and receives signals to and
from the network 12, and multiple portable user devices that
transmit and receive signals to and from each other, and to and
from the tower 22. The portable user devices may be any type of
device capable of wireless communication and it may be a device
that is dedicated to the system 10 or a device that is also capable
of other functions. For example, the portable user device may be a
key chain device 24, a cellular phone device 26, and/or a Personal
Digital Assistant (PDA) 28. Regardless of the type, the portable
user device is associated with the same unique ID number and
biometric as the user profile that is stored in server 16, a
personal computer that is associated with the user's biometric, or
any other secure database or server that is in communication with
the network 12.
[0045] FIG. 1B illustrates the components that may be included in
the portable user devices. The portable user devices may have at
least one antenna 40, a receiver 42, a transmitter 44, a memory 46,
a keypad 48 with at least one key, at least one biometric sensor
50, a match indicator 52, an optional display 54, an optional
Global Positioning System (GPS) 58, and a processor 56. The antenna
40 may be any type of reception and transmission component located
along the exterior of the device, such as an infrared sensor, or
extending from the exterior of the device. The receiver 42 and
transmitter 44, therefore, receive and transmit, respectively,
signals via the antenna 40 or other type of transceiver. The
signals transmitted to and from the device are processed by the
processor 56.
[0046] Users may select the range over which their portable user
devices receive and transmit signals. For example, users may set
the range of transmission and reception of their portable user
devices for the area of a room if they are seeking other users who
may help them or have compatible interests in that room.
Furthermore, users may set the range of transmission and reception
of their portable user devices to a larger area if they are
outdoors and are seeking other users in the general area who may
help them or have compatible interests. In addition, users may set
their portable user devices to transmit a signal to a server in
communication with the network 12 that indicates the users are
seeking any other users who may help them or have compatible
interests, regardless of their locations.
[0047] The memory 46 stores the unique ID number for the user that
is also associated with the user's profile. In one embodiment of
the method and system of the present invention, the profile of the
user may also be stored in the memory 46 of the portable device. As
such, the portable device transmits a request through the system 10
for the user profile that is associated with the unique ID number
for the user. The system servers that are in communication with the
network 12 are searched for the appropriate user profile and that
user profile, along with the ID number, is securely transmitted to
the portable user device such that only the portable user device
that is associated with that ID number may receive the user
profile. The appropriate portable user device then receives the
user profile via the antenna 40 and the receiver 42. In this
example, the processor 56 determines that the received signal is
the user profile and stores the user profile in the memory 46. As
an alternative to, or in addition to, storing the user profile in
the memory 46 of the portable user device, the portable user device
may access a portion or all of the appropriate user profile that is
stored in a server or database that is in communication with the
network 12 each time the user requests any type of action that
involves his user profile.
[0048] The processor 56 may also include software that is capable
of comparing other user profiles received by the portable user
device via the antenna 40 and the receiver 42 with the user's
profile, particularly the part of the user's profile that specifies
the type of profiles sought in other users. As an alternative to,
or in addition to, the comparison software residing in the
processor 56, a server that is in communication with the network 12
may include the comparison software, which the portable user device
may access. The processor 56 and/or the server may also include
translation software such that user profiles written in different
languages may be compared. Once the comparison software finds a
match between the user's sought profile and another user's profile,
a match indicator 52 of the portable user device is activated.
[0049] In one embodiment, the comparison software may compute a
score for each comparison between one user's sought profile and
another user's accessible profile. The score is based upon the
weights assigned to the characteristics included in the user's
sought profile and which characteristics the other user's
accessible profile includes. The raw score based upon the weights
may then be scaled to a score of one to one hundred, for example,
according to any weighting and scaling method known to those
skilled in the art. Users may specify in their user profiles a
score under which they should not be indicated of a match. In
addition, users may specify different minimum scores associated
with different sought profiles. For example, if one sought profile
contains only highly-weighted characteristics representing the
exact characteristics sought in another user, the minimum score for
that profile may be relatively high to ensure the seeking user is
only notified of almost exact matches. Another sought profile may
include many weights for a variety of sought characteristics and
the minimum score for that profile may be low enough to ensure the
seeking user will be notified if another user exactly matches one
or more characteristic and is in an acceptable range for other
characteristics.
[0050] The match indicator 52 may create any type of signal to
indicate the match to the user, such as a visual, audible or
vibratory signal. The processor 56 may also evaluate the strength
of the matching user's signal, which is an indication of how far
away the users are, such that the processor 56 may instruct the
match indicator 52 to correspondingly signal the match to the user.
For instance, if the processor 56 determines that the matching
user's signal is relatively weak, representing that the users are
relatively far away from each other, the processor will instruct
the match indicator 52 to create a relatively weak signal to
indicate the match to the user. Because the portable user devices
may continuously transmit the user's accessible profile with the
unique user's ID number, the matching user's profile will be
continuously received by the seeking user and as the signal from
the matching user gets stronger, the processor 56 may instruct the
match indicator 52 to create a stronger signal. Furthermore, if the
seeking user's portable user device contains a display 54, the
scores of the matches with other users may be displayed to the
seeking user along with the specific characteristics that matched
and those that did not match. In other embodiments, the matching
user may also receive the score and match information if their
device also contains a display 54.
[0051] An optional GPS 58 further indicates the location of the
matching user to the seeking user. The GPS 58 tracks the
coordinates of the location of portable user devices containing the
GPS 58. Thus, along with the user ID and user profile signals that
are transmitted by the portable user device, the coordinates of the
location of the portable user device may also be transmitted.
Therefore, when the comparison software finds a match, it can not
only indicate the match with a signal to the seeking user, but also
can provide the seeking user with the exact location of the
matching user, if the seeking user's portable user device has a
display 54, which is also optional.
[0052] In an alternative embodiment, the portable user devices may
transmit their location information and unique ID to a server that
is in communication with the network 12 and the server may track
the users that are in the same general area, compare their
profiles, and transmit a match indication signal and/or location
information of the matching user to the seeking user, if a match is
found. Although the above embodiments have been described with
reference to only the seeking user receiving the match indication
signal and/or the location information of the matching user, the
matching user may also receive the match indication signal and/or
location of the seeking user in the same way. Descriptions of
typical embodiments of the method and system of the present
invention that further detail the functionality of the match
indicator 52, the optional GPS 58 and the optional display 54 in
the portable user devices are included hereinbelow.
[0053] The keypad 48 includes at least one key may provide user
interaction with the portable user device. That is, users may
depress a key and transmit a signal to the processor 56 that may
instruct the processor 56 to perform certain functions. For
example, the key may represent an "on/off" button that instructs
the processor 56 to begin or end transmitting signals to and
receiving signals from the other activated portable user devices in
the area. The keypad 48 also may permit users to select the range
of transmission and reception for their portable user devices, as
described hereinabove. One embodiment of the method and system of
the present invention may also include user interaction via the
keypad 48 to alter their user profiles that are stored in the
personal user device and/or in a server that is in communication
with the network 12. For this embodiment, the personal user devices
may also have the display 54, which is optional. Another embodiment
of the method and system of the present invention may include a key
that represents a "panic" button that, when depressed by the user,
immediately searches for profiles of other users that may be able
to help the user in an emergency situation, such as a police
officer, doctor or any type of emergency personnel. Users may
specify in their user profiles the range of the area to search when
the panic button is depressed or the portable user devices may
default to a pre-defined range, such as the maximum transmission
range for the devices.
[0054] Finally, the biometric sensors 50 may be any type of
biometric sensors known to those skilled in the art, such as voice
recognition, retinal or fingerprint scan, DNA or some other
biometric sensor. The biometric sensors 50 provide a security
system for the portable user devices such that no one but the owner
of the device and the profile stored in or accessed by the device
may use the device. Thus, the memory 46 of the portable user device
may store the user's biometric(s) and before the portable user
device may be activated, the user must pass a biometric test via
the biometric sensors 50. The biometric sensors 50 will scan or
record the biometric of the user and compare that biometric to the
stored biometric. If the biometrics match, the user may activate
the portable user device. If the biometrics do not match, however,
the portable user device cannot be activated.
[0055] In addition, after the user device is activated and if a
matching user is found and physically located, the matching users
may perform the biometric tests for each other such that they are
ensured that the person they are meeting is the owner of the
matching user profile. This verification can occur in more than one
way. In a first embodiment, the user may have a pre-verified
biometric stored in their device. When verification that they are
the owner of the device is required, the user can scan their
biometric with the scanner on the device, and the device will
compare the scanned biometric to the stored biometric and indicate
to another user if there is a match. In an alternative or further
embodiment, the user's biometric may be stored on other users'
devices, if they are for example, in a network where all other
user's biometrics are downloaded and saved to each user. In this
instance, the other user may also require the user to have his or
her biometric scanned by and verified by the other user's device.
This has the added feature of protecting against a user tampering
with the biometric stored on their own device by requiring them to
also be verified by the other user's device.
[0056] The processors 56 of the portable user devices may also
require users to pass another biometric test if the users wish to
access the private records or information contained in their user
profiles, such that someone could not steal or find an activated
portable user device and immediately have access to all of the
information stored in or accessible by the device.
[0057] Because the users' biometrics are also stored in a server
that is in communication with the network 12 and each user's
biometric is associated with their profile and unique ID number,
wireless biometric verification devices that are in communication
with the wireless network 20 may be located in various places, such
as places of business, and users may securely access their profiles
via the verification devices. As such, users may enter the place
without any identification and submit their biometrics to the
device. The device then transmits the biometric through the system
10 to a server that is in communication with network 12. The server
compares the biometric to the stored biometrics and, if a match is
located, the user and/or the authorized personnel of the business
or organization may access the portions of the user profile that
permit execution of the desired transaction. For example, a bank
may have a wireless biometric verification device, and users may
enter the bank and submit their biometrics to the device. If the
biometric of a user is verified, then the appropriate portions of
the user's profile may be accessed by the user, or the user may
authorize the bank personnel to access selected portions of the
profile.
[0058] As another example, the user may have his or her credit card
information stored in the device. When the user wishes to purchase
an item, the user's credit card information is transmitted to a
receiver on the cash register and recognized for payment of the
items. The verification that the credit card information belongs to
the user may occur in at least two ways. First, the user may use
the scanner on the device to scan the biometric and compare it with
the biometric on the device. If there is a match, the indicator
will show the match, which can be verified by the salesperson
similar to the salesperson verifying the signature of the holder as
it appears on a conventional credit card. As a second example of
verification, the user's biometric may be scanned using a scanner
associated with the cash register. This scanned biometric can be
compared to a biometric of the user stored in a central database
accessible by the cash register such as from the credit card
company or the biometric may be provided by the device of the
present invention along with the financial information to the cash
register, so that the cash register can compare the stored
biometric with the scanned biometric to verify that the presenter
of the card is the owner of the credit card information. Similar
systems and methods may be employed for any like situation where
verification is needed.
[0059] FIGS. 2 through 6 are flow diagrams that further illustrate
advantageous embodiments of the method and system of the present
invention. FIG. 2 illustrates the manner in which users that find
matches for their sought profiles in other users may locate the
matching users. As discussed hereinabove, users, after biometric
verification, may activate their portable user devices, which
enables the devices to begin transmitting their accessible profile
information and unique user IDs, and receiving other users'
accessible profile information and unique user IDs, (see steps 70
and 72). The received user profiles are compared with the receiving
user's sought profile, (see step 74). If a match is found, the
portable user device may store the matching user's unique ID in the
memory 46 and the processor 56 may monitor the received signals for
that ID to track the matching user's signal, (see step 76). Next,
the processor 56 may evaluate the strength of the matching user's
signal to assess the relative distance between the users, (see step
78). The processor 56 then may instruct the match indicator 52 to
signal the match to the seeking user, and the signal intensity may
correspond to the relative distance between the users, (see step
80). The processor 56 continues to evaluate the intensity of the
matching user's signal and instructs the match indicator 52 to
increase or decrease the intensity of the match indication signal
correspondingly, (see step 82), such that the seeking user knows if
the matching user is getting closer or farther away. When the
processor 56 determines that the matching user's signal is intense
enough to indicate that the matching user is within a relatively
short distance, which may be pre-determined by the user and stored
in the user's profile and/or the memory 46, the processor 56 may
instruct the match indicator 52 to create a type of signal that
will indicate the short distance between the users to the seeking
user. The seeking user may then locate the matching user and
initiate a meeting between the users, (see step 84), if
desired.
[0060] FIG. 3 illustrates the manner in which a seeking user and a
matching user may locate each other. The first steps, 70, 72, and
74, in this embodiment are the same as described above. If a match
is found, however, the portable user device of the seeking user may
transmit a signal that includes the seeking user's unique ID to the
matching user's unique ID to indicate the match, (see step 86).
Both users' portable user devices then may store the other user's
unique ID in the memories 46 and the processors 56 may monitor the
received signals for that ID to track the other user's signal, (see
step 88). Next, the processors 56 may evaluate the strength of the
other user's signal to assess the relative distance between the
users, (see step 90). The processors 56 then may instruct the match
indicators 52 to signal the match to the users with a signal
intensity that corresponds to the relative distance between the
users, (see step 92). The processors 56 continue to evaluate the
intensity of the other user's signal and instruct the match
indicator 52 to increase or decrease the intensity of the match
indication signal correspondingly, (see step 94), such that the
users know if they are getting closer or farther away from each
other. When the processors 56 determine that the other user's
signal is intense enough to indicate that the other user is within
a relatively short distance, which may be pre-determined by each
user and stored in each user's profile and/or the memories 46, the
processors 56 may instruct the match indicators 52 to create a type
of signal that indicates the short distance between the users to
the users. The users may then locate each other and initiate a
meeting, (see step 96), if desired.
[0061] FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the method and system of
the present invention that includes portable user devices with GPS
58 functionality. As discussed hereinabove, users, after biometric
verification, may activate their portable user devices, which
enable the devices to begin transmitting their accessible profile
information, unique user IDs, and location information, in addition
to receiving other users' accessible profile information, unique
user IDs, and location information, (see steps 98 and 100). The
received user profiles are compared with the receiving user's
sought profile, (see step 102). If a match is found, the portable
user device may store the matching user's unique ID in the memory
46 and the processor 56 may monitor the received signals for that
ID to track the matching user's location, (see step 104). The
processor 56 may then instruct the match indicator 52 to signal the
match to the seeking user and may display the location of the
matching user on the display 54 of the portable user device, (see
step 106). The processor 56 continues to track the matching user's
location signal and updates the display 54 accordingly, (see step
108). The seeking user may then locate the matching user and
initiate a meeting between the users, (see step 110), if desired.
In the same way the embodiment of FIG. 3 describes the users
locating each other, the embodiment of FIG. 4 may be modified to
include the matching user also receiving the unique ID and location
information of the seeking user, such that the users may locate
each other and initiate a meeting, if desired.
[0062] The embodiment of the method and system of the present
invention of FIG. 5 illustrates the manner in which a remote server
may determine and notify matching users that are located in the
same general area. Users may activate their portable user devices
having GPS functionality and transmit their location information
along with their unique user IDs to the remote server, (see step
112). The remote server receives the location information and user
IDs via the wireless network 20 that is in communication with the
network 12. The server then evaluates the location information and
groups the user IDs based upon the location information, (see step
114). The server may evaluate the location information by comparing
the location information to predetermined areas and/or
predetermined distances, such that users in the same general area
are grouped together. Thus, a user may be part of more than one
group based upon the relative distance between that user and other
users in surrounding areas. The server accesses the user profiles
associated with the unique user IDs for each group, (see step 116).
The user profiles may be located on the server or another server or
database that is also in communication with network 12. The server
compares the user profiles in each group, (see step 118). If the
server discovers a match, the server records the matching user IDs
and begins tracking their user IDs for their location signals, (see
step 120). The server transmits signals to the users' portable user
devices that instruct the match indicator 52 to signal the match to
the users and may display the location of the other user on the
display 54 of each user's portable user device, (see step 122).
Alternatively, the server may transmit the match signal only to the
user whose sought profile is matched and that user may receive the
location information of the matching user in the same manner as
discussed regarding FIG. 4. The server continues to track the users
location signals and update the displays 54 accordingly, (see step
124). The users may then locate each other and initiate a meeting,
(see step 126), if desired.
[0063] Furthermore, users may transmit a signal associated with
their unique user IDs, from a personal computer 14 or their
portable user device to a server that is in communication with the
network 12, indicating that they want their user profiles to be
compared to all of the other user profiles of system 10. Users may
specify in their profiles whether they permit their accessible
profile to be globally compared in this way, and, if so, how the
users want matching to users to contact them. The server, utilizing
the comparison software that is located on that server or another
server in communication with the network 12, compares the
requesting user's profile to all of the other user profiles that
permit such a global comparison. If the server locates a match or
matches, then the server will transmit that information and the
predetermined contact information for the matching user(s) to the
requesting user. The requesting user's contact information may also
be transmitted to the matching users if the requesting user so
desires. The contact information may be displayed in the portable
user devices, if they have displays 54, or to a predetermined email
address, street address, post office box, telephone number, voice
mailbox, or any other type of transmission to the particular user.
Once the users have the contact information, they may initiate a
meeting, if desired.
[0064] The devices of the present inventions may also allow for
user's to transmit messages to one another. For example, a user of
one device may construct an email type message and sent it to the
owner of another device. This messaging could also be used to
locate people who have been indicated as a match. For example, if
someone has been indicated as a match, using the ID of the matching
user that was sent with the indication of the match, the seeker
could send a message to the match's location indicating the seeker
current location or a message of where they may meet. For example,
a coin seller may find a match to a person interested in buying
coins. The coin seller could the address of his or her place of
business to the match or send information about the types of coins
they have available.
[0065] In all of the embodiments described above, the users may
verify their ownership of the portable user device and the user
profile associated with the device that matched with the other
user's profile through the biometric security system that is
included in the portable user devices. In addition, all of the
examples described above apply to specific application examples
that include users seeking other users for the purpose of sharing
common interests and/or dating, for the purpose of obtaining
specific information, such as other users' interest in buying or
selling something, and for the purpose of locating other users that
can assist in an emergency situation.
[0066] Moreover, the embodiment of the system and method of FIG. 6
illustrates that the portable user devices may be employed by users
to access their private profile information and engage in various
financial or other types of transactions via the transmission
and/or reception of their profile data by the devices. Users store
their profile containing any type of personal information or links
to their person information, which may include physical
descriptions, financial information, bank records, criminal
records, medical records, and/or any other type of user
information, in a server 16, (see step 128). Users then may select
the portions of their profile that they wish to keep private and
the portions that they wish to allow other users to access, (see
step 130). Users may access their profile via their portable user
devices, whether the device accesses the profile stored in the
server 16 or whether the profile is transmitted to and stored in
the portable user device as described hereinabove. Before users may
access the private portions of their profile via their portable
user devices, however, they must verify their biometric by the
biometric sensors 50, (see step 132). If the user passes the
biometric verification, the user has access to all portions of the
user's stored profile and may engage in transactions using the
profile information, (see steps 134 and 136). For example, the user
may wish to transfer money from one bank account to another. The
user may do so by transmitting the appropriate signals to a
receiver associated with the bank(s) and the bank(s) may transmit
confirmation of the transaction to the portable user device. Each
transaction may be recorded in the memory 46 of the devices and/or
a remote server that is in communication with the network 12 and,
following each transaction, the user profiles may be updated
accordingly, (see step 138).
[0067] Thus, the method and system of the present invention provide
an efficient manner in which users may securely store all of their
personal electronic information in a central repository, securely
access the information from a remote location via portable user
devices, select portions of their profile information to share with
other users, locate other users having accessible profiles that
match selected criteria, and execute transactions utilizing their
profile via their portable user devices.
[0068] Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions
set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to
which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings
presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated
drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are
not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that
modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included
within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms
are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive
sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
* * * * *