Identity verfication method using a central biometric authority

Abstract

A method performs biometric verifications to authenticate the identification of users using a central biometric authority (CBA). This allows parties to an electronic transaction to be assured of each other's identity. Specifically, at the sender side, a first message to a receiver is generated, wherein the first message includes a message text and a unique message identifier (UMI). At the sender side, a second message concerning a posting to the CBA is also generated, wherein the second message includes the sender's biometric sample, the UMI, and the sender's submission profile record. At a receiver side, it is decided that if a receiver wishes to verify the sender's identity and if so, the first message is automatically verified. At the receiver side, a third message concerning a receiver's posting to the CBA is issued, the third message including only the UMI, as received from the sender side. Finally, at the CBA, a reply to the third message is provided, the reply including the sender's verification result.

1 . An identity verification system comprising: 
 a) data storage;    b) at least one database of biometric data related to biometric samples obtained from enrollees during an enrollment process, said at least one database stored in said data storage, and said biometric data accessible in said at least one database using a non-private code;    c) at least one incoming identity verification request message processor for receiving an electronic request to verify the identity of an enrollee, said incoming identity verification request message including biometric data about the enrollee whose identity is to be verified, and a non-private code chosen by the enrollee at the time of enrollment;    d) a biometric data comparator in communication with the at least one incoming identity verification request message processor and with said data storage, said comparator accessing the at least one database of biometric data, and using the non-private code in the incoming identity verification request message, making a comparison of the biometric data in the incoming message with the biometric data in the at least one database corresponding to the enrollee's non-private code and scoring the comparison; and    e) at least one outgoing identity verification request message processor for communicating the results of said comparison to a party interested in verifying the identity of the enrollee.    
   
   
       2 . An identity verification method comprising: 
 a) creating at least one database of biometric data related to biometric samples obtained from enrollees during the enrollment process, said biometric data accessible in said at least one database using a non-private code;    b) receiving at least one electronic request to verify the identity of an enrollee, said incoming identity verification request message including biometric data about the enrollee whose identity is to be verified, and a non-private code chosen by the enrollee at the time of enrollment;    c) comparing the biometric data in the incoming message with the biometric data in the at least one database corresponding to the enrollee's non-private code,    d) scoring the comparison; and    e) communicating the results of said comparison to a party interested in verifying the identity of the enrollee.