Information storage device for storing personal identification information

A security system for controlling unauthorized access to a resource, the security system comprising:

• a plurality of portable information storage devices, each one of the plurality of information storage devices including:
• i) memory storing personal identification information identifying an individual authorized to use the one of the plurality of information storage devices;
• and
• ii) an output device outputting tones comprising the stored personal identification information;
• and
• an access control device controlling access to a resource, the access control device including:
• i) an input device receiving a signal indicating that an individual is seeking access to the resource, the personal identification information stored in the one of the plurality of information storage devices, and a sample of personal characteristics from the individual seeking access to the resource;
• ii) a comparitor electrically coupled to the input device, the comparitor comparing the sample of personal characteristics from the individual seeking access to the resource with the stored personal identification information;
• and
• iii) a microprocessor electrically coupled to the comparitor, the microprocessor granting the individual access to the resource if the comparitor indicates that the sample of personal characteristics from the individual seeking access to the resource matches the stored personal identification information and denying access to the resource if the comparitor indicates that the sample of personal characteristics from the individual seeking access to the resource fails to match the stored personal identification information.

A method of controlling access to a resource using portable information storage devices and an access control device at a point of access to the resource, the method comprising the steps of:

• for each user authorized to access a resource, using a portable information storage device;
• taking from an authorized user a sample of personal identification information;
• storing the sample of personal identification information corresponding to the authorized user in a portable information storage device assigned to the authorized user;
• restricting the ability to alter the stored sample of personal identification information;
• providing the portable information storage device programmed with the personal identification information to the assigned authorized user;
• for each attempt by an individual to gain access to the resource through an access control device at a point of access to the resource, the individual using a portable information storage device to transmit tones comprising the personal identification information stored therein to the access control device, the access control device performing the steps of:
• receiving from the portable information storage device tones comprising the personal identification information identifying the authorized user of the portable information storage device;
• receiving from the individual attempting to gain access to the resource a sample of personal identification information;
• comparing the sample of personal identification information received from the individual attempting to gain access to the resource to the personal identification information received from the portable information storage device to determine if there is a match;
• granting access to the resource if the sample of personal identification information received from the individual attempting to gain access to the resource matches the personal identification information received from the portable information storage device;
• and
• denying access to the resource if the sample of personal identification information received from the individual attempting to gain access to the resource fails to match the personal identification information received from the portable information storage device.

A portable information storage device for storing and outputting biometric identification information, the storage device comprising:

• memory storing biometric identification information and memory access control information, the memory access control information including characteristics of a first control signal;
• and
• a controller controlling access to, and the output of, the stored biometric identification information, the controller including:
• i) an input device;
• ii) an output device outputting tones comprising the stored biometric identification information;
• and
• iii) a microprocessor electrically coupled to the input device, the output device and the memory, the microprocessor controlling the storing aid output of the biometric identification information stored in the memory,
• wherein the microprocessor causes the output device to output tones comprising the stored biometric identification information in response to the input device receiving a first signal having characteristics substantially matching the characteristics of the first control signal stored in the memory.