System and method for remote, wireless positive identity verification

A method of positively identifying individuals, said method comprising the steps of:

• registering a plurality of system users by assigning at least one unique access authority information unit to each of said system users;
• storing said assigned access authority information units in a valid system user database at a remote database site;
• storing a plurality of digital photographic images of persons to be identified in an identification database as said remote database site, each said stored digital photographic image corresponding to at least one identification information unit;
• logging a system user onto the system by inputting at least one access authority information unit assigned to said system user into a point of identification terminal;
• accepting an identification information unit presented by a person to be positively identified at said point of identification terminal and inputting said identification information unit into said point of identification terminal;
• establishing communications between said point of identification terminal and said remote database over a communications link comprising, at least in part, of a wireless communications link;
• verifying that the point of identification terminal is authorized to access said remote database site;
• transmitting said access authority information unit input into said point of identification terminal to said remote database site and comparing said access authority information unit with said access authority information units stored in said valid user database;
• granting access to said identification database at said remote database site if a match exists between said access authority information unit input into said identification terminal and a valid access authority information unit stored in the valid system user database and said point of identification terminal is verified to be an authorized device;
• transmitting said input identification information unit to said remote database site;
• retrieving at least one of said digital photographic images corresponding to said identification information unit transmitted to said remote database site;
• transmitting at least one of said digital photographic images over said communications link, including said wireless communications link, to said point of identification terminal;
• displaying at least one of said digital photographic images received from said remote database site on a display device at said positive identification terminal;
• comparing said displayed digital photographic image with the physical appearance of the person being identified at the point of identification terminal;
• indicating that the system user has compared the displayed digital photographic images with the physical appearance of the person being identified matches at least one of the displayed digital photographic images by inputting a key stroke sequence into the positive identification terminal;
• and
• storing, at the remote database site, a transaction record including identifying information for said person being identified and said system user for recall should a positive identification transaction be questioned at a later date.