Sustained authentication of a customer in a physical environment

A method of allowing a user to conduct multiple transaction sessions at multiple transaction terminals and a visual-camera-based user tracking system (tracking system) in a business facility without requiring user entry of authenticating information on more than one of the transaction terminals associated with the transaction sessions, wherein the tracking system includes a device and video cameras situated within the business facility, wherein each of the transaction terminals and the device includes a processor that executes instructions stored in a persistent storage medium, the instructions executed to perform the method, the method comprising:

• detecting, at an initial transaction terminal, a card inserted by the user along with a Personal Identification Number (PIN) that is entered by the user after insertion of the card at the initial transaction terminal;
• authenticating, by the initial transaction terminal, the user as an authenticated user based on the card and the PIN for a first transaction within a business facility;
• sending, by the initial transaction terminal, an authentication record for the authenticated user to the tracking system;
• performing, by the initial transaction terminal, the first transaction based on selections and input provided by the authenticated user;
• tracking, by the tracking system, real-time visual data of the authenticated user while the authenticated user remains in the business facility;
• determining, by the tracking system, from the real-time visual data that the authenticated user is at a second transaction terminal within the business facility;
• sending, by the tracking system, a first message that includes an authentication packet to the second transaction terminal based on the authentication record maintained for the authenticated user;
• receiving, by the second transaction terminal within the business facility, the first message containing the authentication packet from the tracking system
• recognizing, by the second transaction terminal, based on receipt of the first message that the authenticated user is located at the second transaction terminal for a second transaction within the business facility;
• obtaining, by the second transaction terminal, an authentication code from the authentication packet;
• beginning, by the second transaction terminal, a transaction session for the second transaction within the business facility using information in the authentication packet and the authentication code without requiring the authenticated user to provide any user identifying information to the second transaction terminal;
• identifying, by the tracking system, movement of the authenticated user away from the second transaction terminal;
• sending, by the tracking system, a second message to the second transaction terminal;
• receiving, by second the transaction terminal, the second message from the tracking system as an indication that the authenticated user is no longer located at the second transaction terminal;
• ending, by the second transaction terminal, the transaction session for the second transaction based on receipt of the second message;
• and
• sustaining, by the tracking system, authentication of the user for transacting at other transaction terminals through further first and second messages sent to the other transaction terminals while locations of the user are detected as being within the business facility.