Methods and systems for biometric verification

Abstract

Pursuant to some embodiments, methods, systems, apparatus, computer program code and means for verifying a cardholder during a transaction involving a transaction device and a terminal are provided. Pursuant to some embodiments, the invention includes transmitting biometric rule information from a transaction device to a terminal, the biometric rule information defining a biometric sample to be acquired at the terminal, receiving, from the terminal, a detected biometric sample. The detected biometric sample is compared to a biometric reference template stored in the transaction device, and the cardholder is verified if the detected biometric sample matches the biometric reference template.

1 . A method for operating a reader to verify a cardholder during a transaction, the method comprising:
 receiving a biometric information template from said transaction device;   prompting the cardholder to present a required biometric feature for reading by said reader, said required biometric feature determined based on information in said biometric information template;   returning a response to said biometric information template to said transaction device;   receiving a verification response from said transaction device, said verification response including at least one of a success code, a further biometric information template, and a failure code.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising reading said required biometric feature to create a sample template of biometric data, said response returned to said transaction device further comprising said sample template of biometric data. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said response returned to said transaction device includes data indicating that no biometric feature was captured by said reader. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said verification response includes a failure code, the method further comprising:
 prompting said cardholder to represent said required biometric feature for reading by said reader;   reading said required biometric feature to create a second sample template of biometric data;   transmitting said second sample template of biometric data to said transaction device; and   receive a second verification response from said transaction device, said second response including at least one of a success code, a further biometric information template, and a failure code.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said verification response includes both a failure code and a request to repeat said reading said required biometric feature to create a second sample template of biometric data. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said verification response includes a further biometric information template, the method further comprising:
 prompting the cardholder to present an additional required biometric feature for reading by said reader, said additional required biometric feature determined based on information in said further biometric information template;   reading said additional required biometric feature to create a sample template of additional biometric data;   transmitting said sample template of additional biometric data to said transaction device; and   receiving a further verification response from said transaction device, said further verification response including at least one of a success code, a further biometric information template, and a failure code.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said biometric information template is selected based on a currently active rule in said transaction device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said biometric information template includes information specifying a particular biometric feature to be sampled. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said particular biometric feature to be sampled includes at least one of: a finger image, a finger pattern, an iris image, a signature image, a vascular image, and a hand image. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said biometric information template further comprises information specifying an algorithm to be used to create said sample template of biometric data. 
     
     
         11 . A method for verifying a cardholder during a transaction involving a transaction device and a terminal, comprising:
 transmitting biometric rule information from the transaction device to the terminal, the biometric rule information defining a biometric sample to be acquired at said terminal;   receiving, from said terminal, a detected biometric sample;   comparing said detected biometric sample to a biometric reference template, and   verifying said cardholder if said detected biometric sample matches said biometric reference template.   
     
     
         12 . A transaction device, comprising:
 a processor;   an input/output device coupled to said processor;   a memory unit in communication with said processor and storing at least a first biometric verification rule, at least a first biometric information template and a program, wherein the processor is operative with said program to:   receive a transaction request from a terminal device;   determine a current biometric verification rule, and based on said current biometric verification rule transmit said at least first biometric information template to said terminal device;   receive a biometric sample template from said terminal device;   compare said biometric sample template with a stored biometric sample; and   determine a verification status based on said comparison.   
     
     
         13 . The transaction device of  claim 12 , wherein said transaction device is a payment card. 
     
     
         14 . The transaction device of  claim 12 , wherein said input/output device communicates with said terminal device, said input/output device including at least one of a plurality of electrical contacts and an antenna, said input/output device communicating with said terminal device. 
     
     
         15 . The transaction device of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further operative with said program to:
 transmit said verification status to said terminal device.   
     
     
         16 . The transaction device of  claim 12 , wherein said verification status is at least one of a success code, a further biometric information template, and a failure code. 
     
     
         17 . The transaction device of  claim 12 , wherein said at least first biometric template includes information specifying a particular biometric feature to be sampled. 
     
     
         18 . The transaction device of  claim 17 , wherein said particular biometric feature to be sampled is at least one of: a fingerprint, a finger pattern, an iris, a signature, a vascular image, and a handprint. 
     
     
         19 . A computer-readable medium storing processor-executable process steps that, when executed by a processor, perform a method, wherein the method comprises:
 transmitting biometric rule information from the transaction device to the terminal, the biometric rule information defining a biometric sample to be acquired at said terminal;   receiving, from said terminal, a detected biometric sample;   comparing said detected biometric sample to a biometric reference template stored in said transaction device; and   verifying said cardholder if said detected biometric sample matches said biometric reference template.