Biometric token for authorizing access to a host system

An apparatus for use in verifying the identity of a user of a host system as that of the authorized user, comprising:

• (a) input means for receiving biometric input from the user and for generating an input signal in response thereof;
• (b) memory means for storing biometric information of the authorized user and for storing acceptance level data;
• (c) data processing means communicating with said input means and said memory means for:
• (i) receiving said input signal from said input means;
• (ii) receiving said biometric information of the authorized user from said memory means;
• (iii) comparing said input signal and said biometric information of the authorized user, and
• (iv) generating a similarity signal.
• (d) signal generating means for comparing said threshold acceptance level data with said similarity signal to generate a transmittable code including an authentication code;
• and
• (e) transmission means for receiving said transmittable code from said signal generating means and for transmitting said transmittable code, including said authentication code to the host system for a determination by the host system whether to grant to the user access to the host system.

A method for authenticating a user's identity as being that of an authorized user and securing access to a host system, comprising the steps of:

• (a) receiving a user's biometric input;
• (b) comparing the biometric input with a stored template to generate a correlation factor;
• (c) comparing said correlation factor with predetermined acceptance threshold level data to generate a transmittable code;
• (d) transmitting said transmittable code to the host system;
• and
• (e) determining at the host system from the received transmittable code whether to grant access to the host system.