Biometric watermarks
AssigneeGTE Service Corporation
InventorClyde Musgrave
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A biometric watermark system and method generate a biometrically encoded bitstream from biometric data of a user and from electronic data to be transmitted to the user. The encoded bitstream has the biometric data acting as a biometric watermark. The encoded bitstream is then sent to a decoder of the user, with the biometric watermark providing security in the transmission in order to prevent unauthorized users from extracting the electronic data. The decoder utilizes the biometric data of the user to decode the biometrically encoded bitstream, so as to extract the biometric watermark, and to securely retrieve the electronic data.
Claims21
A method, performed by a data provider, for electronically watermarking data being provided to a user, comprising:
- receiving encrypted first biometric data originating from a user, the first biometric data corresponding to a physical characteristic of the user and being encrypted using second biometric data corresponding to a different physical characteristic of the user;
- retrieving electronic data to be provided to the user;
- decrypting the encrypted first biometric data;
- and
- encoding the electronic data using at least a portion of the first biometric data.
A method, performed by a user, for purchasing electronic data from a data provider, comprising:
- transmitting a user request for electronic data to a data provider;
- encrypting first biometric data corresponding to a physical characteristic of the user using second biometric data corresponding to a different physical characteristic of the user;
- transmitting, to the data provider, the encrypted first biometric data;
- and
- receiving the electronic data encoded with at least a portion of the first biometric data.
An apparatus for electronically watermarking data being provided to a user, comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- a memory storing a program for controlling the processor, the processor operative with the program to:
- receive encrypted first biometric data originating from a user, the first biometric data corresponding to a physical characteristic of the user and being encrypted using at least one second biometric data corresponding to a different physical characteristic of the user:
- retrieve electronic data to be provided to the user;
- decrypt the encrypted first biometric data;
- and
- encode the electronic data using at least a portion of the first biometric data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.