Distributed identity system with local identification

Abstract

A distributed identity system with local identification includes an identity system device and at least one local electronic device. The local electronic device locally stores at least a portion of identity information and the biometric identification information stored by the identity system device. The local electronic device determines identities by comparing received digital representations of biometrics with locally stored biometric identification information, performs actions using locally stored identity information included in the local copy, and uploads data related to the actions to the identity system device upon occurrence of an upload condition.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a local electronic device; and   an identity system device that:
 stores identity information and biometric identification information; and 
 generates a portion of the identity information and the biometric identification information according to parameters received from the local electronic device, the portion of the identity information and the biometric identification information being a subset of the identity information and the biometric identification information; wherein the local electronic device: 
 stores a local copy of the portion of the identity information and the biometric identification information; and 
 determines identities by comparing received digital representations of biometrics with the biometric identification information included in the local copy. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the local electronic device performs actions using the identity information included in the local copy that corresponds to the identities. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the local electronic device uploads data related to the actions to the identity system device. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the local electronic device uploads the data related to the actions to the identity system device upon occurrence of an upload condition. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the identity system device:
 determines an update to the portion of the identity information and the biometric identification information; and   transmits the update to the local electronic device.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least part of the identity information is encrypted; and   encryption information is stored by the identity system device and the local electronic device.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the local electronic device deletes the encryption information in response to an instruction received from the identity system device. 
     
     
         8 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a non-transitory storage medium that stores instructions; and   a processor that executes the instructions to:
 receive a local store, from an identity system device, that includes a portion of identity information and biometric identification information stored by the identity system device, the portion of the identity information and the biometric identification information generated by the identity system device according to parameters received from the electronic device, the portion of the identity information and the biometric identification information being a subset of the identity information and the biometric identification information; 
 determine identities by comparing digital representations of biometrics with the biometric identification information included in the local store; and 
 perform actions using the identity information included in the local store that corresponds to the identities. 
   
     
     
         9 . The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the processor uploads data related to the actions to the identity system device upon occurrence of an upload condition. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the processor receives the digital representations of the biometrics from a biometric reader device. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein the biometric reader device is incorporated into the electronic device. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein the biometric reader device comprises at least one of a fingerprint scanner, an optical fingerprint scanner, a phosphorescent fingerprint scanner, a camera, an image sensor, or a microphone. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the electronic device further comprises an access control mechanism and the actions comprise the processor controlling access by operating the access control mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the digital representations of the biometrics correspond to at least a portion of a hand. 
     
     
         15 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a non-transitory storage medium that stores:
 instructions; 
 identity information; and 
 biometric identification information; and 
   a processor that executes the instructions to:
 determine a portion of the identity information and the biometric identification information to store at a local electronic device according to parameters received from the local electronic device, the portion of the identity information and the biometric identification information being a subset of the identity information and the biometric identification information; and 
 transmit the portion of the identity information and the biometric identification information to the local electronic device. 
   
     
     
         16 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein the processor after occurrence of an upload condition, receives data from the local electronic device, the data related to actions performed by the local electronic device using identity information included in the portion of the identity information and the biometric identification information that corresponds to identities determined by the local electronic device as a result of comparing received digital representations of biometrics to the biometric identification information included in the portion of the identity information and the biometric identification information; and
 processes the data to update the identity information.   
     
     
         17 . The electronic device of  claim 16 , wherein the processor processes the data to update the identity information. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the local electronic device comprises a component of a vehicle; and   the processor determines the portion of the identity information and the biometric identification information to store at the local electronic device by selecting the identity information and the biometric identification information that correspond to permitted operators of the vehicle.   
     
     
         19 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the local electronic device comprises a component of an area; and   the processor determines the portion of the identity information and the biometric identification information to store at the local electronic device by selecting the identity information and the biometric identification information that correspond to permitted entrants to the area.   
     
     
         20 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the local electronic device is a first local electronic device;   the portion of the identity information and the biometric identification information is a first portion of the portion of the identity information and the biometric identification information; and   the processor is operative to:
 determine at least a second portion of the identity information and the biometric identification information to store at a second local electronic device; and 
 transmit the at least the second portion of the identity information and the biometric identification information to the second local electronic device.