Transaction choice selection apparatus and system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9928510-B2
Application number	US-71464910-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 1, 2010
Priority date	Nov 9, 2006
Publication date	Mar 27, 2018
Grant date	Mar 27, 2018

Abstract

An apparatus and system for casting votes electronically comprises both a host server and a plurality of voting machines at various remote locations. First “user identifying information” for a plurality of potential users who are registered to use the system is pre-stored in memory, either at the host server or at a voting machine, or both. Second “user identifying information” is entered by a user of the voting machine at the time the user wishes to vote. A display on the voting machine presents to the user voting information concerning at least one voting matter for which the user is to make a voting selection. A processor in either the host server or the voting machine, or both, compares the second user identifying information entered by the user of the voting machine with the first user identifying information, if any, previously stored in memory. The user of the voting machine is authorized to make a voting selection on the voting matter if the first and second user identifying information relating to this user are substantially similar. When a voting selection is made by an authorized user of the voting machine, the processor in the host server counts it as a vote. In this way, only users authorized to cast a vote are allowed to vote and the voting selections from all such authorized users who cast a vote are counted.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for exchanging information between a terminal of a potential user and a server for securely executing a transaction comprising:
(1) a potential user (PU) terminal comprising:
(A) a PU terminal processor,
(B) a digital camera, and
(C) a PU terminal memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the PU processor causes the PU processor to perform the steps of:
transmitting a request for transaction information to a server, the transaction information comprising a plurality of options;
receiving and displaying the transaction information;
detecting a selection by a potential user, of at least one of the plurality of options;
based on the detecting of the selection, causing the digital camera to capture a biological image of the potential user and the selection of the at least one of the plurality of options by the potential user wherein the biological image comprises at least one of: finger, face, or iris print;
creating a digital file comprising the captured biological image and the selection of the at least one of the plurality of options by the potential user; and
transmitting alphanumeric information of the potential user and the digital file to the server; and

(2) the server comprising:
(A) a server processor, and
(B) a server memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the server processor causes the server processor to perform the steps of:
receiving identification information of a registered user, from a terminal of the registered user, wherein said identification information comprises biological information including at least one of a finger, face, or iris print and alphanumeric information pertaining to a person allowed to execute the transaction;
receiving the transaction information from a transaction content computer;
receiving the request for the transaction information from the PU terminal;
transmitting the transaction information to the PU terminal;
retrieving the identification information using the alphanumeric information of the potential user; comparing the biological image of the digital file with the corresponding biological information from the retrieved identification information; and determining a match between the biological image and the corresponding biological information from the identification information; and
based on the match, retrieving, by the server, the selection of the at least one of the plurality of options from the digital file and executing a transaction represented by the selection.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 , wherein said server processor is configured to provide communication access to the Internet and wherein said server memory further comprises instructions that, when executed by the server processor, cause the processor to perform the step of providing and receiving information to and from the Internet.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 2 , wherein the server memory further comprises instructions that, when executed by the server processor cause the processor to perform the step of providing an interactive web site to the Internet.

4. The system defined in claim 1 , wherein said PU terminal is selected from the group comprising:
(a) a desktop computer,
(b) a laptop computer,
(c) a handheld computer,
(d) a hard-wired telephone,
(e) a portable telephone,
(f) a hand-held telephone, and
(g) a cellular telephone.

5. The system defined in claim 1 , wherein said biological image of the potential user and the biologic information further comprise image information selected from the group consisting of:
(a) a palm print,
(b) a retinal pattern,
(c) a face and a torso,
(d) a face, a torso and a hand, and
(e) a signature.

6. The system defined in claim 5 , wherein said digital camera is configured to provide to said PU terminal processor a plurality of composite images of the potential user and the selection, each image showing contiguous regions of each of:
(a) the face,
(b) the torso, and
(c) the hand of said potential user as it inputs at least one of (i) said signature, and (ii) said selection;
wherein the server memory further comprises instructions that, when executed by the server processor cause the processor to perform the step of comparing said images showing said contiguous regions to images with the corresponding biological information retrieved from the identification information;
whereby said match determination comprises determining that said face, torso and hand each belong to a particular potential user; and
thereby determining that the selection has been made by said registered user.

7. The system defined in claim 6 , wherein the image of said face further comprises an image of at least one of (i) an iris, and (ii) a retinal image of said potential user.

8. The system defined in claim 5 , wherein said digital camera is configured to provide to said PU terminal processor a plurality of composite images of the potential user and the selection, each image showing contiguous regions of each of:
(a) at least one of a fingerprint and a palm print, and
(b) a hand of said potential user as it inputs said selection;
wherein the server memory further comprises instructions that, when executed by the server processor cause the processor to perform the step of comparing said images showing said contiguous regions to images with the corresponding biological information retrieved from the identification information;
whereby said match determination comprises determining that said hand and at least one of said fingerprint and said palm print each belong to a particular potential user; and
thereby determining that the selection has been made by said registered user.

9. The system defined in claim 5 , wherein said digital camera is configured to provide to said PU terminal processor a plurality of composite images of the potential user and the selection, each image showing contiguous regions of each of:
(a) at least one of a fingerprint and a palm print, on a first hand of said user,
(b) the torso and arms of said user, and
(c) another hand of said user as it inputs at least one of (i) said signature, and (ii) said selection;
wherein the server memory further comprises instructions that, when executed by the server processor cause the processor to perform the step of comparing said images showing said contiguous regions to images with the corresponding biological information retrieved from the identification information;
whereby said match determination comprises determining that said other hand and at least one of said fingerprint and said palm each belong to the same user; and
thereby determining that the transaction selection has been made by said user.

10. The system defined in claim 1 , wherein said server further comprises:
(a) a server input device, couple to said server processor, entering alphanumeric information pertaining to a registered user of the system; and
(b) a server digital camera, couple to said server processor, entering biologic information pertaining to said registered user of the system; and
Wherein said server memory further comprises instructions that, when executed by the server processor cause the processor to perform the step of storing said alphanumeric information and said respective biologic information, in said server memory.

11. The system defined in claim 1 , wherein:
(A) said terminal of a potential user comprises a voting machine of a potential voting person;
(B) said transaction information comprises a plurality of possible voting options;
(C) said selection is a selected voting option by the potential voting person from among a plurality of possible voting options;

Assignees

• Matos Jeffrey A

Inventors

• Matos Jeffrey A

Classifications

• G06Q20/4014 Primary

  Identity check for transactions · CPC title

• G07C13/00 Primary

  Voting apparatus · CPC title