Systems and methods for authenticating an individual

Abstract

Systems and methods for employing histological and physiological biometric markers that are substantially unique to an individual in order to activate a device, participate in a transaction, or identify himself or herself, wherein at least one biometric marker is obtained by one or more electrical contacts on the surface of the skin. A biometric identification of an individual is obtained by a heartbeat waveform, which is acquired by one or more direct electrical contacts. A mechanism for biometric authentication is used that includes one or more electrodes, an electrical signal receiver, a memory module, and a processing module.

1 . A computer-readable medium comprising instructions to cause a computing device to perform a method of biometric authentication, the method comprising:
 emitting an energy signal toward a user to measure a first characteristic of an internal, non-volitional physiological process occurring within the user and a second biometric characteristic of the user;   detecting an energy signal from the user responsive to the emitted energy signal;   extracting from the detected energy signal a first signal corresponding to the first characteristic of an internal, non-volitional physiological process occurring within the user and a second signal corresponding to the second biometric characteristic of the user;   comparing the first signal and the second signal to a biometric profile of the user; and   authenticating the user if the first signal and the second signal correspond to the biometric profile.   
   
   
       2 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the first characteristic corresponds to a flexibility of an arterial wall of the user. 
   
   
       3 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 24 , wherein the first characteristic corresponds to a skeletal structure of the user. 
   
   
       4 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the first characteristic corresponds to a feature of the cardiovascular system of the user. 
   
   
       5 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 4 , wherein the first characteristic corresponds to a user's blood flow. 
   
   
       6 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the first characteristic corresponds to one selected from the group consisting of the user's nervous system and the user's sensory system. 
   
   
       7 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the second biometric characteristic corresponds to a characteristic of a subdermal tissue of the user. 
   
   
       8 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the second characteristic corresponds to a histological characteristic of a dermal tissue of the user. 
   
   
       9 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the second characteristic corresponds to an anatomical structure of the user. 
   
   
       10 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises establishing a biometric profile of the user, by;
 emitting an energy signal toward the user to measure at least a first biometric characteristic of an internal, non-volitional physiological process occurring within the user and a second biometric characteristic of the user,   detecting an energy signal from the user responsive to the emitted energy signal,   extracting from the detected energy signal a first signal corresponding to the first characteristic of the internal, non-volitional physiological process occurring within the user and a second signal corresponding to the second biometric characteristic of the user, and   storing the first signal and the second signal in a biometric profile of the user.   
   
   
       11 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises establishing a biometric profile of the user, by;
 separately emitting a plurality of energy signals toward the user, wherein each of the plurality of energy signals is to measure at least a first biometric characteristic of an internal, non-volitional physiological process occurring within the user and a second biometric characteristic of the user,   for each of the plurality of separately transmitted energy signals,
 detecting an energy signal responsive to the respective emitted energy signal, 
 extracting from the detected energy signal a first signal corresponding to the first characteristic of the internal, non-volitional physiological process occurring within the user and a second signal corresponding to the second biometric characteristic of the user, and 
 combining the plurality of first signals corresponding to the first biometric characteristic and the second signals corresponding to the second biometric characteristic in a biometric profile of the user. 
   
   
   
       12 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein combining the plurality of first signals corresponding to the first biometric characteristic comprises averaging the plurality of first signals. 
   
   
       13 . A device for biometric authentication, comprising:
 an energy emitter to emit an energy signal toward a user to measure at least a first characteristic of an internal, non-volitional physiological process occurring within the user and a second biometric characteristic of the user;   an energy receiver capable of detecting an energy signal from the user responsive to the emitted energy signal;   a processor communicatively coupled to the energy receiver to extract from the detected energy signal a first signal corresponding to the first characteristic of the internal, non-volitional physiological process occurring within the user and a second signal corresponding to the second biometric characteristic of the user; and   a memory unit communicatively coupled to the processor to store a biometric profile of the user,   wherein the processor is configured to compare the first signal and the second signal to the biometric profile of the user and to authenticate the user if the first signal and the second signal corresponds to the biometric profile of the user.   
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the first signal corresponds to a flexibility of an arterial wall strength of the user. 
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the first signal corresponds to a skeletal structure of the user. 
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the first signal corresponds to a feature of the cardiovascular system of the user. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the first signal corresponds to a user's blood flow. 
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the first signal corresponds to one selected from the group consisting of the user's nervous system and the user's sensory system. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the second signal corresponds to a characteristic of a subdermal tissue of the user. 
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the second signal corresponds to a histological characteristic of a dermal tissue of the user. 
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the second signal corresponds to an anatomical structure of the user. 
   
   
       22 . A method for authenticating a user, comprising:
 emitting an energy signal toward the user to measure at least a first characteristic of an internal, non-volitional physiological process occurring within the user and a second biometric characteristic of the user;   detecting an energy signal from the user responsive to the emitted energy signal;   extracting from the detected energy signal a first signal corresponding to the first characteristic of the internal, non-volitional physiological process occurring within the user and a second signal corresponding to the second biometric characteristic of the user;   comparing the first signal and the second signal to a biometric profile of the user; and   authenticating the user if the first signal and the second signal correspond to the biometric profile.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the first characteristic corresponds to a feature of the cardiovascular system of the user. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the first characteristic corresponds to a user's blood flow. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the second characteristic corresponds to a fingerprint of the user. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising establishing a biometric profile of the user, by;
 emitting an energy signal toward the user to measure at least a first biometric characteristic of an internal, non-volitional physiological process occurring within the user and a second biometric characteristic of the user,   detecting an energy signal from the user responsive to the emitted energy signal,   extracting from the detected energy signal a first signal corresponding to the first characteristic of the internal, non-volitional physiological process occurring within the user and a second signal corresponding to the second biometric characteristic of the user, and   storing the first profile signal and the second profile signal in a biometric profile of the user.   
   
   
       27 . A method for authenticating a user, comprising:
 measuring a characteristic of the user's respiratory system, the characteristic corresponding to an internal respiratory process occurring within the user;   comparing the measured characteristic of the user's respiratory system to a biometric profile of the user; and   authenticating the user if the measured characteristic of the user's respiratory system corresponds to the biometric profile of the user.   
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the characteristic of the user's respiratory system is a characteristic of an exhalant expelled by the user as part of the user's respiratory process. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the characteristic of the user's respiratory system is a composition of the user's exhalant. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the characteristic of the user's respiratory system relates to a carbon dioxide content of the user's exhalant. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the characteristic of the user's respiratory system relates to an oxygen content of the user's exhalant. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the characteristic of the user's respiratory system relates to a metabolic process of the user. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the characteristic of the user's respiratory system relates to a respiration rate of the user. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the characteristic of the user's respiratory system relates to pulmonary activity of the user. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising establishing a biometric profile of the user, by;
 measuring a characteristic of the user's respiratory system; and   storing the characteristic in a biometric profile of the user.   
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein establishing a biometric profile of the user comprises:
 separately measuring a plurality of measurements of the characteristic of the user's respiratory system;   combining the plurality of measurements; and   storing the combined measurements in a biometric profile of the user.   
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein combining the plurality of measurements comprises averaging the plurality of measurements. 
   
   
       38 . A method of authenticating a user, comprising:
 monitoring a respiratory activity of the user;   extracting a biometric characteristic relating to the user's respiratory system from the monitored respiratory activity;   comparing the characteristic relating to the user's respiratory system to a biometric profile of the user; and   authenticating the user if the characteristic relating to the user's respiratory system corresponds to the biometric profile of the user.   
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein monitoring the respiratory activity of the user comprises capturing a portion of an exhalant exhaled by the user. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein extracting a biometric characteristic relating to the user's respiratory system comprises extracting a characteristic from the exhalant. 
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the characteristic relating to the user's respiratory system relates to a composition of the captured exhalant. 
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the characteristic relating to the user's respiratory system relates to an oxygen content of the captured exhalant. 
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the characteristic relating to the user's respiratory system relates to a carbon dioxide content of the captured exhalant. 
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the characteristic relating to the user's respiratory system relates to a metabolic process of the user. 
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising establishing a biometric profile for the user, by;
 monitoring a respiratory activity of the user,   extracting a biometric characteristic relating to the user's respiratory system from the monitored respiratory activity, and   storing the characteristic relating to the user's respiratory system in the biometric profile of the user.   
   
   
       46 . A computer-readable medium comprising instructions to cause a computing device to perform a method of authenticating a user, the method comprising:
 monitoring a respiratory activity of the user;   extracting a biometric characteristic relating to the user's respiratory system from the monitored respiratory activity;   comparing the characteristic relating to the user's respiratory system to a biometric profile of the user; and   authenticating the user if the characteristic relating to the user's respiratory system corresponds to the biometric profile of the user.   
   
   
       47 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 46 , wherein monitoring the respiratory activity of the user comprises capturing a portion of an exhalant exhaled by the user, and wherein extracting a biometric characteristic relating to the user's respiratory system comprises extracting a characteristic from the exhalant. 
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the characteristic relating to the user's respiratory system relates to a metabolic process of the user. 
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the characteristic relating to the user's respiratory system relates to a composition of the captured exhalant. 
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the characteristic relating to the user's respiratory system relates to an oxygen content of the captured exhalant. 
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the characteristic relating to the user's respiratory system relates to a carbon dioxide content of the captured exhalant. 
   
   
       52 . A method for authenticating a user, comprising:
 measuring a heartbeat waveform of the user, the measured heartbeat waveform comprising a plurality of measured heartbeat waveform characteristics;   accessing a biometric profile of the user, the biometric profile comprising a profile heartbeat waveform of the user comprising a plurality of profile waveform characteristics;   comparing each of the plurality of measured heartbeat waveform characteristics to a corresponding profile waveform characteristic; and   authenticating the user if one or more measured heartbeat waveform characteristics correspond to a respective profile waveform characteristic.   
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the measured heartbeat waveform corresponds to a pressure waveform. 
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein one of the plurality of measured heartbeat waveform characteristics corresponds to a peak systolic pressure. 
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein one of the plurality of measured heartbeat waveform characteristics corresponds to a dicrotic notch. 
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein one of the plurality of measured heartbeat waveform characteristics corresponds to a diastolic pressure. 
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein one of the plurality of measured heartbeat waveform characteristics corresponds to an anacrotic notch. 
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein one of the plurality of measured heartbeat waveform characteristics corresponds to a pulse pressure. 
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the measured heartbeat waveform is a hemodynamic waveform. 
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the measured heartbeat waveform corresponds to a fluid dynamic of the user's blood flow. 
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the measured heartbeat waveform is measured using a clamping device. 
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the measured heartbeat waveform corresponds to an electrical signal produced responsive to pressure exerted on the clamping device. 
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the measured heartbeat waveform is measured using a receiving pad. 
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the measured heartbeat waveform corresponds to an electrical signal produced responsive to pressure differential detected by the receiving pad. 
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the measured heartbeat waveform is measured using a magnetic pressure differential sensor. 
   
   
       66 . A computer-readable medium comprising instructions to cause a computing device to perform a method for authenticating a user, the method comprising:
 measuring a heartbeat waveform of the user, the measured heartbeat waveform comprising a plurality of measured heartbeat waveform characteristics;   accessing a biometric profile of the user, the biometric profile comprising a profile heartbeat waveform of the user comprising a plurality of profile waveform characteristics;   comparing each of the plurality of measured heartbeat waveform characteristics to a corresponding profile waveform characteristic; and   authenticating the user if one or more measured heartbeat waveform characteristics correspond to a respective profile waveform characteristic.   
   
   
       67 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 66 , wherein the measured heartbeat waveform corresponds to a pressure waveform. 
   
   
       68 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 67 , wherein one of the plurality of measured heartbeat waveform characteristics corresponds to a peak systolic pressure. 
   
   
       69 . The computer-readable medium of  67 , wherein one of the plurality of measured heartbeat waveform characteristics corresponds to a dicrotic notch. 
   
   
       70 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 67 , wherein one of the plurality of measured heartbeat waveform characteristics corresponds to a diastolic pressure. 
   
   
       71 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 67 , wherein one of the plurality of measured heartbeat waveform characteristics corresponds to an anacrotic notch. 
   
   
       72 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 67 , wherein one of the plurality of measured heartbeat waveform characteristics corresponds to a pulse pressure. 
   
   
       73 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 67 , wherein the measured heartbeat waveform is a hemodynamic waveform. 
   
   
       74 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 67 , wherein the measured heartbeat waveform corresponds to a fluid dynamic of the user's bloodflow. 
   
   
       75 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 67 , wherein the measured heartbeat waveform is measured using a clamping device. 
   
   
       76 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 67 , wherein the measured heartbeat waveform corresponds to an electrical signal produced responsive to pressure exerted on the clamping device. 
   
   
       77 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 66 , wherein the measured heartbeat waveform is measured using a receiving pad. 
   
   
       78 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 77 , wherein the measured heartbeat waveform corresponds to an electrical signal produced responsive to pressure differential detected by the receiving pad. 
   
   
       79 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 66 , wherein the measured heartbeat waveform is measured using a magnetic pressure differential sensor.