Biometric chain of provenance

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed towards methods and systems for ensuring integrity of biometric data for one or more transactions. A mobile biometric device may acquire biometric information of an individual. A ranging module of a transaction device may determine that a distance between the mobile biometric device and a physical location of a first transaction with the individual is within a predefined value. The transaction device may link, responsive to the determination, the acquired biometric information to the first transaction if the biometric information is acquired within a specific time limit from the distance determination. The transaction device may link the acquired biometric information to a universal biometric record of the individual. A biometric integrity engine may compare information from the first transaction and a second transaction for inconsistency or fraud.

1 . A method for ensuring integrity of biometric data linked to one or more transactions, comprising:
 acquiring, by a mobile biometric device, biometric information of an individual;   determining that a distance between the mobile biometric device and a physical location of a transaction with the individual is within a predefined value; and   linking, responsive to the determination, the acquired biometric information to the transaction if the biometric information is acquired within a specific time limit from the distance determination.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising computing the specific time limit based on an amount or rate of change in the location of the mobile biometric device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining the distance between the mobile biometric device and the physical location via a global positioning system. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining the distance between the mobile biometric device and the physical location using a short-range location system, using one or more of a: radio-frequency, laser, infra-red and audio ranging process. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting the acquired biometric information to a biometric matching device located at or connected to the physical location. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting the acquired biometric information to a transaction device located at or connected to the physical location if the distance is determined to be within the predefined value. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein linking the acquired biometric information comprises linking the acquired biometric information to the transaction if the acquired biometric information is received by a transaction device associated with the physical location within a predetermined time period of initiating the transaction. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein linking the acquired biometric information comprises linking the acquired biometric information to the transaction if the distance between the physical location and the biometric device at the time the transaction is initiated is within a specified value. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising allowing or denying the transaction at the physical location based on biometric verification using the acquired biometric information. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising allowing or denying the transaction based on biometric verification using the acquired biometric information, the transaction comprising one of: a point-of-sale transaction, a point-of-service transaction, and an access control transaction. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining the distance between the mobile biometric device and a physical location based on strength of a signal received at one of: the physical location and the mobile biometric device, and transmitted by the other. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising identifying the individual based on the acquired biometrics, and linking the transaction at the physical location with the individual. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising retrieving an identifier of the individual based on the acquired biometrics, and linking the transaction at the physical location with the identifier. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising linking the transaction with another transaction linked to the individual, and comparing information of both transactions for inconsistency or fraud. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising linking the transaction to a universal biometric record of the individual, the universal biometric record comprising biometric information of a first type that matches the acquired biometric information. 
     
     
         16 . A method for ensuring integrity of biometric data linked to one or more transactions, comprising:
 acquiring, by a biometric device, biometric information of an individual;   linking the acquired biometric information to a first transaction of the individual and a universal biometric record of the individual, the universal biometric record comprising biometric information of a first type that matches the acquired biometric information, and biometric information of a second type;   identifying, via the universal biometric record, a second transaction, the second transaction linked to acquired biometric information that matches the biometric information of the second type; and   comparing information from the first transaction and the second transaction for inconsistency or fraud.   
     
     
         17 . A method for ensuring integrity of biometric data linked to one or more transactions, comprising:
 acquiring, by a biometric device, biometric information of an individual;   linking the acquired biometric information to a first transaction of the individual and a universal biometric record of the individual, the universal biometric record comprising an identifier of the individual and biometric information of a first type that matches the acquired biometric information, and;   identifying a second transaction linked with the identifier of the individual; and   comparing information from the first transaction and the second transaction for inconsistency or fraud.   
     
     
         18 . A system for ensuring integrity of biometric data linked to one or more transactions, the system comprising:
 a mobile biometric device acquiring biometric information of an individual;   a ranging device, determining that a distance between the mobile biometric device and a physical location of a transaction with the individual is within a predefined value, and linking, responsive to the determination, the acquired biometric information to the transaction if the biometric information is acquired within a specific time limit from the distance determination.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising a universal biometric record of the individual, for linking to the transaction, the universal biometric record comprising biometric information of a first type that matches the acquired biometric information, and biometric information of a second type. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the ranging device computes the specific time limit based on an amount or rate of change in the location of the mobile biometric device. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising a mirror module at the physical location, the mirror module oriented to allow the acquisition of the biometric data using a rear-facing camera on the biometric device. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising a second biometric device for acquiring imagery of the individual at substantially the same time as the acquisition of the biometric data.