Transmitter for transmitting a secure access signal

Abstract

A transmitter for transmitting a secure access signal to a system for providing secure access to a controlled item is disclosed. The access is dependent on information contained in the secure access signal. The transmitter comprises a biometric sensor for receiving a biometric signal and a processor for matching the biometric signal against members of a database of biometric signatures. The transmitter comprises enabling means for enabling an inductive circuit, based on the matching of the biometric signal, to transmit the secure access signal conveying the information to the system upon the inductive circuit being placed within range of a radio frequency field emitted by the system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cellular telephone configured to transmit a secure signal to a system for performing a secure transaction, the cellular telephone comprising:
 a biometric sensor;   a display;   a selector through which a user input is received;   a switch;   at least one proximity circuit coupled to the switch;   a controller configured to:
 present data representative of a plurality of financial accounts on the display; 
 receive, via the selector, user input indicative of a selected financial account selected from the plurality of financial accounts presented; 
 present, via the display, feedback indicating the selected financial account; 
 prompt input of a biometric signal via the biometric sensor; 
 receive, via the biometric sensor, the biometric signal; 
 perform a matching process, thereby to seek matching of the received biometric signal with a biometric signature contained in memory of the cellular telephone; 
 in the case that the matching is successful, configure the proximity circuit to transmit a secure signal conveying information to the system when the proximity circuit is placed within range of a radio frequency field emitted by the system; 
 wherein the secure transaction is performed based on the information conveyed within the transmitted secure signal in order to adjust a financial account associated with the matched signature by an amount provided by the system; 
 wherein the database of biometric signatures is maintained using the cellular telephone by a user corresponding to the biometric signature contained in memory of the cellular telephone; and 
 wherein the biometric sensor of the cellular telephone was used to biometric signature contained in memory of the cellular telephone. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cellular telephone according to  claim 1 , wherein the biometric sensor is configured to receive a biometric signal in one of the following forms: retinal pattern, iris pattern, face pattern, and palm configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The cellular telephone of  claim 1 , wherein the proximity circuit is further configured to unlock an automobile. 
     
     
         4 . The cellular telephone of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one light emitting diode (LED). 
     
     
         5 . The cellular telephone of  claim 1 , further comprising a second proximity circuit including at least one coil. 
     
     
         6 . The cellular telephone of  claim 5 , wherein said second proximity circuit further comprises an inductor and a capacitor. 
     
     
         7 . The cellular telephone of  claim 1 , wherein said first proximity circuit is configured to activate an automobile engine. 
     
     
         8 . The cellular telephone of  claim 1 , wherein said biometric sensor is further configured to allow the user to gain access to an application. 
     
     
         9 . The cellular telephone of  claim 1 , further comprising a processor configured to generate passwords for use by the user. 
     
     
         10 . The cellular telephone of  claim 1 , wherein said encrypted information identifying the financial account associated with the user comprises the number of the financial account associated with the user. 
     
     
         11 . The cellular telephone of  claim 1 , wherein said encrypted information identifying the financial account associated with the user comprises a token generated by the cellular telephone. 
     
     
         12 . The cellular telephone of  claim 1 , wherein said second proximity circuit is configured to communicate with a magnetic stripe card reader. 
     
     
         13 . The cellular telephone of  claim 1 , further comprising at least infrared emitter. 
     
     
         14 . The cellular telephone of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one proximity circuit is configured to provide functionality of a plurality of distinct proximity circuits corresponding to respective financial accounts. 
     
     
         15 . A method for operating a cellular telephone to transmit a secure signal to a system for performing a secure transaction, the method including:
 presenting on a display unit of the cellular telephone data representative of a plurality of financial accounts;   receiving, via a selector of the cellular telephone through which used input is received, user input indicative of a selected financial account selected from the plurality of financial accounts presented;   presenting, via the display, feedback indicating the selected financial account;   prompt input of a biometric signal via a biometric sensor provided via hardware of the cellular telephone;   receiving, via the biometric sensor, the biometric signal;   performing a matching process, thereby to seek matching of the received biometric signal with a biometric signature contained in physical memory of the cellular telephone; and   in the case that the matching is successful, configuring a proximity circuit provided by the cellular telephone to transmit a secure signal conveying information to the system when the proximity circuit is placed within range of a radio frequency field emitted by the system;   wherein the secure transaction is performed based on the information conveyed within the transmitted secure signal in order to adjust a financial account associated with the matched signature by an amount provided by the system;   wherein the database of biometric signatures is maintained using the cellular telephone by a user corresponding to the biometric signature contained in memory of the cellular telephone; and   wherein the biometric sensor of the cellular telephone was used to biometric signature contained in memory of the cellular telephone.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the biometric sensor is configured to receive a biometric signal in one of the following forms: retinal pattern, iris pattern, face pattern, and palm configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the proximity circuit is further configured to unlock an automobile. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the proximity circuit is further configured to activate an automobile engine. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said biometric sensor is further configured to allow the user to gain access to an application. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said encrypted information identifying the financial account associated with the user comprises the number of the financial account associated with the user. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said encrypted information identifying the financial account associated with the user comprises a token generated by the cellular telephone. 
     
     
         22 . A cellular telephone comprising:
 a display configured to display information concerning at least one financial account associated with a user;   a transmitter subsystem comprising a biometric sensor configured to authenticate the user in a database based upon information received from the biometric sensor;   a proximity circuit including at least one coil, wherein said first proximity circuit is configured, upon authentication of the user by the biometric sensor, to generate a radio frequency field including encrypted information identifying the financial account associated with the user when the proximity circuit is placed within range of a point-of-sale device.   
     
     
         23 . The cellular telephone of  claim 22 , wherein said first proximity circuit is further configured to unlock an automobile. 
     
     
         24 . The cellular telephone of  claim 22 , further comprising at least one light emitting diode (LED). 
     
     
         25 . The cellular telephone of  claim 22 , further comprising a second proximity circuit including at least one coil. 
     
     
         26 . The cellular telephone of  claim 25 , wherein said second proximity circuit further comprises an inductor and a capacitor. 
     
     
         27 . The cellular telephone of  claim 22 , wherein said first proximity circuit is configured to activate an automobile engine. 
     
     
         28 . The cellular telephone of  claim 22 , wherein said transmitter subsystem is further configured to allow a user to gain access to an application stored on the cellular telephone based on information from the biometric sensor. 
     
     
         29 . The cellular telephone of  claim 22 , further comprising a processor configured to generate passwords for use by the user. 
     
     
         30 . The cellular telephone of  claim 22 , further comprising at least infrared emitter.