Card device security using biometrics

A method of securing a process at a verification station, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing card information from a card device to a card reader in the verification station;
• (b) inputting a biometric signature of a user of the card device to a biometric reader in the verification station;
• (c) determining if the provided card information has been previously provided to the verification station;
• (d) if the provided card information has not been previously provided to the verification station;
• (da) storing the inputted biometric signature in a memory at a memory location defined by the provided card information;
• and
• (db) performing the process dependent upon the received card information;
• (e) if the provided card information has been previously provided to the verification station;
• (ea) comparing the inputted biometric signature to the biometric signature stored in the memory at the memory location defined by the provided card information;
• (eb) if the inputted biometric signature matches the stored biometric signature, performing the process dependent upon the received card information;
• and
• (ec) if the inputted biometric signature does not match the stored biometric signature, not performing the process dependent upon the received card information.

A biometric card pointer enrolment system comprising:

• a card device reader for receiving card information;
• a biometric reader for receiving the biometric signature;
• means for defining, dependent upon the received card information, a memory location in a local memory external to the card;
• means for determining if the defined memory location is unoccupied;
• and
• means for storing, if the memory location is unoccupied, the biometric signature at the defined memory location.

A verification station for securing a process, the verification station comprising:

• a card device reader for receiving card information from a card device coupled to the verification station;
• a biometric signature reader for receiving a biometric signature provided to the verification station;
• means for determining if the provided card information has been previously provided to the verification station;
• means, if the provided card information has not been previously provided to the verification station, for:
• storing the inputted biometric signature in a memory at a memory location defined by the provided card information;
• and
• performing the process dependent upon the received card information;
• means, if the provided card information has been previously provided to the verification station, for:
• comparing the inputted biometric signature to the biometric signature stored in the memory at the memory location defined by the provided card information;
• if the inputted biometric signature matches the stored biometric signature, performing the process dependent upon the received card information;
• and
• if the inputted biometric signature does not match the stored biometric signature, not performing the process dependent upon the received card information.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having recorded thereon a computer program for directing a processor to execute a method for securing a process at a verification station, said program comprising:

• code for determining if card information, provided to a card device reader incorporated into the verification station, has been previously provided to the verification station;
• code, if the provided card information has not been previously provided to the verification station, for:
• storing a biometric signature, inputted to a biometric signature reader incorporated into the verification station, in a memory incorporated into the verification station, at a memory location defined by the provided card information;
• and
• performing the process dependent upon the received card information;
• code, if the provided card information has been previously provided to the verification station, for:
• comparing the inputted biometric signature to the biometric signature stored in the memory at the memory location defined by the provided card information;
• if the inputted biometric signature matches the stored biometric signature, performing the process dependent upon the received card information;
• and
• if the inputted biometric signature does not match the stored biometric signature, not performing the process dependent upon the received card information.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having recorded thereon a computer program for directing a processor to execute a method of enrolling in a biometric card pointer system, the program comprising:

• code for receiving card information;
• code for receiving the biometric signature;
• code for defining, dependent upon the received card information, a memory location in a local memory external to the card;
• code for determining if the defined memory location is unoccupied;
• and
• code for storing, if the memory location is unoccupied, the biometric signature at the defined memory location.