# US 2019/0379541 A1 · Encryption using biometric image-based key

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- Number: US 2019/0379541 A1
- Document ID: US20190379541A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/214,559
- Filed: 2018-12-10
- Published: 2019-12-12
- Earliest claimed: 2013-10-29
- Assignees: Rapidgps, LLC
- Applicants: RapidGPS, LLC
- Inventors: Jory Schwach; Brian Bosak
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190379541A1

## CPC

- H04L 9/3231: {Biological data, e.g. fingerprint, voice or retina (network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using biometrical features in a packet data network H04L63/0861)}
- G09C 5/00: Ciphering apparatus or methods not provided for in the preceding groups, e.g. involving the concealment or deformation of graphic data such as designs, written or printed messages
- H04L 9/0866: {involving user or device identifiers, e.g. serial number, physical or biometrical information, DNA, hand-signature or measurable physical characteristics}
- H04L 9/3226: {using a predetermined code, e.g. password, passphrase or PIN (network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using passwords in a packet data network H04L63/083)}
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- G09C: CIPHERING OR DECIPHERING APPARATUS FOR CRYPTOGRAPHIC OR OTHER PURPOSES INVOLVING THE NEED FOR SECRECY

## Abstract

Methods and systems according to the present disclosure improve upon known biometric security systems by not permanently storing (e.g., for later comparison as in known systems) the actual image of the biometric characteristic. Instead, an image of a biometric identifier (e.g., retina, fingerprint, etc.) may be used to form a key which may be used to secure and provide access to data. The key may be formed, in embodiments, using a neural network and/or a random input (e.g., a vector of random characters), for example. The image of the biometric identifier may be discarded, and thus may not be vulnerable to theft. In an embodiment, the key may be used in a key-based encryption system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising:
a processor; and
a non-transitory computer-readable memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
receive an image of a biometric identifier of a user;
convert the image into a key;
use the key to encrypt data to create encrypted data; and
discard the image of the biometric identifier.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:
discard the key.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:
convert the image into the key by inputting the image into a trained neural network.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:
receive a set of generic biometric images that does not include the image of the biometric identifier of the user; and
train a neural network on the set of generic biometric images to yield the trained neural network.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the image of the biometric identifier is a first image and the key is a first key, further wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:
receive a second image of a biometric identifier;
convert the second image into a second key;
use the second key to attempt to decrypt the encrypted data; and
discard the second image.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:
convert the second image into the second key by inputting the second image into a trained neural network.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:
convert the image into the key by:
inputting the image into an image processing algorithm to yield an image data matrix; and
combining the image data matrix with a randomized initialization matrix to create the key; and
discard the image data matrix.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:
convert the image into the key by:
inputting the image into an image processing algorithm to yield an image data matrix;
applying a one-way function to the image data matrix to yield a secure image data matrix; and
combining the secure image data matrix with a randomized initialization matrix to create the key; and
discard the image data matrix and the secure image data matrix.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the one-way function comprises a cryptographic hash function.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the image data matrix is a vector.

### Claim 11

A method comprising:
receiving an image of a biometric identifier of a user;
converting the image into a key;
using the key to encrypt data to create encrypted data; and
discarding the image of the biometric identifier.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising:
discarding the key.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein converting the image into the key comprises inputting the image into a trained neural network.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising:
receiving a set of generic biometric images that does not include the image of the biometric identifier of the user; and
training a neural network on the set of generic biometric images to yield the trained neural network.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the image of the biometric identifier is a first image and the key is a first key, the method further comprising:
receiving a second image of a biometric identifier;
converting the second image into a second key;
using the second key to attempt to decrypt the encrypted data; and
discarding the second image.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, further comprising:
converting the second image into the second key by inputting the second image into a trained neural network.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising:
converting the image into the key by:
inputting the image into an image processing algorithm to yield an image data matrix; and
combining the image data matrix with a randomized initialization matrix to create the key; and
discarding the image data matrix.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising:
converting the image into the key by:
inputting the image into an image processing algorithm to yield an image data matrix;
applying a one-way function to the image data matrix to yield a secure image data matrix; and
combining the secure image data matrix with a randomized initialization matrix to create the key; and
discarding the image data matrix and the secure image data matrix.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the one-way function comprises a cryptographic hash function.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the image data matrix is a vector.