# US 12,223,024 B2 · Approval system

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- Number: US 12,223,024 B2
- Document ID: US12223024B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/731,396
- Filed: 2022-04-28
- Published: 2022-08-11
- Granted: 2025-02-11
- Earliest claimed: 2019-11-26
- Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
- Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba; Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corporation
- Inventors: Kiyoshi Toshimitsu; Makoto Watanabe
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12223024B2

## CPC

- G06F 21/32: using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
- G06F 21/34: involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
- G06F 21/35: communicating wirelessly
- H04L 63/0861: {using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231)}
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

According to one embodiment, an approval system includes an information processing apparatus and a biometric authentication device. The information processing apparatus includes a first interface and a first processor. The first processor is configured to: receive a sensor signal; when a state satisfying a predetermined condition related to data indicated by the sensor signal occurs, transmit an approval request signal to the biometric authentication device; and perform the countermeasure processing when an approval response signal is received from the biometric authentication device. The biometric authentication device includes a second interface, a storage unit, a biometric sensor, a second processor. The second processor is configured to: cause the biometric sensor to acquire the biometric information when the approval request signal is received; and transmit the approval response signal when the biometric information acquired by the biometric sensor and the biometric information stored in the storage unit are identified with each other.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An approval system comprising an information processing apparatus and a plurality of biometric authentication devices, wherein
the information processing apparatus includes:
a first storage unit storing a countermeasure processing-and-authority associating table;
a first interface for connecting to a network and for communicating with a sensor device and the biometric authentication device via the network; and
a first processor configured to:
receive a sensor signal from the sensor device through the first interface;
when a state satisfying a predetermined condition related to data indicated by the sensor signal occurs, determine countermeasure processing corresponding to the state, determine an authority to perform the countermeasure processing with reference to the countermeasure processing-and-authority associating table, determine a biometric authentication device to perform approval processing from among the plurality of biometric authentication devices based on the determined authority, and transmit an approval request signal requesting approval of the countermeasure processing corresponding to the state to the determined biometric authentication device through the first interface; and
perform the countermeasure processing when an approval response signal indicating that the approval of the countermeasure processing is successful is received from the determined biometric authentication device through the first interface, and
each of the plurality of biometric authentication devices includes:
a second interface for connecting to the network and for communicating with the information processing apparatus via the network;
a second storage unit configured to store biometric information in advance;
a biometric sensor configured to acquire biometric information; and
a second processor configured to:
cause the biometric sensor to acquire the biometric information when the approval request signal is received; and
transmit the approval response signal to the information processing apparatus through the second interface when the biometric information acquired by the biometric sensor and the biometric information stored in the second storage unit are identified with each other.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The approval system according to claim 1, wherein the first processor determines, from among the plurality of biometric authentication devices, the biometric authentication device that includes the first storage unit in which biometric information of a user having the authority to perform the countermeasure processing is stored in advance, the determined biometric authentication device performing the approval processing.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The approval system according to claim 1, wherein
the first processor transmits through the first interface the approval request signal requesting approval by the authority to perform the countermeasure processing to the determined biometric authentication device, which has been determined from among the plurality of biometric authentication devices, and
the second processor transmits the approval response signal to the information processing apparatus through the second interface when the authority to perform the countermeasure processing matches an authority of a user of the biometric information identified with the biometric information acquired by the biometric sensor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The approval system according to claim 1, wherein the biometric information is a fingerprint.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The approval system according to claim 1, wherein the state is a state satisfying a condition for determining that an anomaly occurs based on the data indicated by the sensor signal.