Identification system

Abstract

A method for remote verification in which a first party at a first telephone confirms their identity to a second person at a second telephone. The fingerprint of the first person is read and compared to a stored fingerprint pattern. If the stored and sensor fingerprint patterns match, the first telephone transmits a signal to the second telephone which controls a display on the second telephone to display an image of the first person.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An identification method including the steps of generating a signal corresponding to a fingerprint pattern, comparing the generated signal to a stored fingerprint signal, generating a coincidence signal when the stored and generated fingerprint signals match, and using the coincidence signal to address a memory storing a feature signal representing a feature characteristic of a pre-determined person or group of persons, transmitting the feature signal to a location remote from that where the fingerprint pattern is sensed, and generating an output at the remote location of the feature represented by the stored feature signal.  
     
     
         2 . A method according to    claim 1    including the steps of providing a portable data processing device including a fingerprint sensor for generating a signal corresponding to a sensed fingerprint pattern, providing a first communications terminal having connection means for connection to the data processing device to allow signals to pass from the data processing device to the first terminal, and providing a second communications terminal couplable to the first terminal to allow signals to pass between the two communications terminals, the second communications terminal having an output for outputting the feature represented by a feature signal supplied to the second communications terminal.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to    claim 2    where the portable data processing device is a card such as a PCMCIA, PC or smart card having a data processing capacity and on-card memory.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to    claim 2    or wherein the data processing device includes a first memory containing the stored fingerprint pattern, a second memory containing the stored feature signal as well as data processing means for comparing the generated and stores signals, generating the coincidence signal, and supplying the first communications terminal with the feature signal.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to    claim 2    wherein the first and second communications terminals are telephones.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to    claim 1    wherein the feature represented by the stored feature signal is audible or visible.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to    claim 6    wherein the feature is an image of at least a portion of the predetermined person whose fingerprint pattern is stored in the first memory means.  
     
     
         8 . An identification or verification system including fingerprint sensing means for sensing a fingerprint pattern, data processing means for producing a signal representing a sensed fingerprint pattern, a first memory for storing a signal representing a selected fingerprint pattern of a pre-determined person, signal comparison means for comparing a signal generated by the data processing means from a sensed fingerprint pattern with the stored fingerprint pattern and generating a coincidence signal when the two match, second memory means for storing a feature signal representing a feature characteristic of the pre-determined person or a group of persons including the pre-determined person, addressing means for retrieving the characteristic signal from the second memory when a coincidence signal is generated by the comparison means, and display means connected to and remote from the fingerprint sensing means for converting the feature signal into an output of the stored characteristic feature.  
     
     
         9 . A system according to    claim 8    including a portable data processing device including a fingerprint sensor for generating a signal corresponding to a sensed fingerprint pattern, a first communications terminal having connection means for connection to the data processing device to allow signals to pass from the data processing device to the first terminal, and a second communications terminal couplable to the first terminal to allow signals to pass between the two communication terminals, the second communications terminal having an output for outputting the feature represented by a feature signal supplied to the second communications terminal.  
     
     
         10 . A system according to    claim 9    where the portable data processing device is a card such as a PCMCIA, PC or smart card, having a data processing capacity and on-card memory.  
     
     
         11 . A system according to    claim 9    wherein the data processing devices includes a first memory containing the stored fingerprint pattern, a second memory containing the stored feature signal as well as data processing means for comparing the generated and stores signals, generating the coincidence signal, and supplying the first communications terminal with the feature signal.  
     
     
         12 . A system according to    claim 9    wherein the first and second communications terminals are telephones.  
     
     
         13 . A system according to    claim 8    wherein the feature represented by the stored feature signal is audible or visible.  
     
     
         14 . A system according to    claim 13    wherein the feature is an image.  
     
     
         15 . A system according to    claim 14   , wherein the second memory means stores an image of at least a portion of the pre-determined person whose fingerprint pattern is stored in the first memory means.  
     
     
         16 . An identification device according to    claim 15    wherein the second memory stores the image signal in digital form.