Secure identification system

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are described which provide secure interactive communication of text and image information between a central server computer and one or more client computers located at remote sites for the purpose of storing and retrieving files describing and identifying unique products, services, or individuals. Textual information and image data from one or more of the remote sites are stored separately at the location of the central server computer, with the image data being in compressed form, and with the textual information being included in a relational database with identifiers associated with any related image data. In response to a request from a remote terminal with an authorizing code, the particular information stored in the central computer is downloaded to the requesting terminal for authentication purposes.

Having thus described the invention, I claim: 
     
         1 . A method of authenticating the identity of an individual in connection with a transaction, employing a computer network comprising a central computer and one or more remote terminals connected to the central computer by said network, said method comprising:
 storing in a relational database associated with the central computer, a plurality of files, each storing textual information descriptive of one of a plurality of individuals;   storing one or more compressed digital files in said relational database, each file representing the image of one of said individuals;   storing at the central computer a database of correspondence between each file representing the image of an individual, said textual information descriptive of the individual represented by said image, and one or more identification codes associated with such individual; and   allowing any of the remote terminals to authenticate the identity of an individual in connection with a transaction utilizing such remote terminal, by transmitting a request to the central computer from such remote terminal accompanied by one of said identification codes associated with said individual, to cause the downloading of the image of the individual and at least a subset of the textual information descriptive of the individual, to the requesting remote terminal.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said identification code associated with an individual whose image is represented in a file stored at the central computer is provided to a remote terminal by scanning a card issued to the individual. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said identification code associated with an individual whose image is represented in a file stored at the central computer is provided to a remote terminal by capturing an image of the individual using a camera associated with said remote terminal. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said identification code associated with an individual whose image is represented in a file stored at the central computer is provided to a remote terminal by the individual providing the remote terminal with a personal identification code. 
     
     
         5 . A secure identification system, comprising:
 at least one central computer storing a database of compressed image files, each image file representing the image of an individual;   an information database resident at said central computer storing textual information descriptive of, and associated with, each such individual;   a cross-reference database resident at said central computer storing information associating one or more cross-reference codes with each image file and the stored textual information descriptive of and associated with the individual represented by the image file;   one or more remote terminals connected to the centralized computer by a network; and   an application program resident in each remote terminal for downloading from the centralized computer, through the network, and displaying, at the remote terminal, at least one of said images from the image database and/or at least a subset of the textual information descriptive of and associated with such image in response to a request from the said remote terminal communicating one of the said cross-reference codes to the centralized computer.   
     
     
         6 . The secure identification system of  claim 5  further comprising a scanner for a card issued to an individual having an image file stored in the central computer database of image files, the scanner being connected to a remote terminal and information derived by scanning the card constituting one of said cross-reference codes. 
     
     
         7 . The secure identification system of  claim 5  further comprising a camera associated with a remote terminal for imaging an individual having an image file stored in the central computer database of image files, the camera being connected to a remote terminal and an image of the individual constituting one of said cross-reference codes.