Patent Application
20230036423
The present invention relates to obtaining and processing biometric data. More particularly, the invention is directed to an improved method of obtaining and processing biometric and other data useful for first responders in the field.
Identifying individuals using biometric data is a technique that has been used for a number of years. Biometric data is data related to certain unalterable physical characteristics of an individual such as fingerprints or retinal patterns. This data can be used by police officers, first responders, etc., to identify people in the field. However, there are certain issues that arise when equipping, e.g., a police officer, with biometric data processing hardware. For police departments for example, a fingerprint reader was purchased by a department but due to high costs of the hardware, a department of 50 officers may only have 1 or 2. This reduces availability to one or two officers allowed to use the reader and depending on their availability, if they are on shift today or on a call officers may or may not be able to access the device to show the identity of a subject without ID or possible false Id.
In another officer—subject scenario, an officer may request to identify a person by asking for some form of identification. A state issued driver's license or I.D. card, name and date of birth, social security number, or even a passport will be acceptable. If the officer has “reasonable” concerns or suspicions, they are completely within their rights to request name and identification. A traffic stop, a call for service, or suspicious activity are to name just a few of the reasons that would be considered “reasonable” for the requests. Sometimes the identification of a subject is in question. They may claim not to have any form of personal identification on their person and state that they do not know their social security number, or they may provide false information. To get verification of the person's true identity and discovery of warrant activity and criminal history, they must confirm the real identity of the person(s) they are interacting with. This now becomes an issue for Officer safety. If appropriate, the subject's identifying information may be entered into the NCIC (National Crime Information Center) database once obtained.
Fingerprinting has been around for over a century and as of recent, new technology has made access to AFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification System) more accessible. Using a mobile device or hardware developed to read or capture a latent fingerprint, data can be sent to AFIS for verification and identity.
With the rapid rise in the sophistication of methods and devices for obtaining, transmitting, and receiving digital data, the prior methods can be greatly improved upon. Technology exists for faster and better service response other than simply relying on CAD dispatch and being subjected to call prioritization, which can delay response queries and may limit data and accessibility. Thus, the present invention is directed to methods of efficiently using biometric data to identify individuals in a number of scenarios, particularly those involving police and other first responders.
In another aspect of the invention, the lack of information sharing that exists between departments and organizational hierarchy is still a problem for law enforcement. Accordingly, the invention addresses this issue by seamlessly integrating data from AFIS to NCIC, while also accessing state motor vehicle authority (MVA) information populating the software program, that will then send data regarding warrant activity, criminal history (brief), driver's license status and a photo/picture for further verification of identity all to one platform, which may be a smartphone or other device.
A method and apparatus for providing identifying information from a subject in the field using a mobile device is provided. The method of the invention allows for at least three different types of subject supplied information to be used to generate a complete informational profile of the user. The subject may give either name and date of birth, a driver's license, or a fingerprint scan. The relevant data is generated in response to the subject supplied information, the data generated by querying several databases. The identifying information is then returned to the users mobile device for display in a standardized format. Once the application on the users mobile device is closed, the data is deleted and the information is stored on a remote secure server.
It is a major object of the invention to provide an improved method of obtaining biometric data.
It is another object of the invention to provide an improved method of obtaining biometric data using mobile devices.
It is another object of the invention to provide an improved method of obtaining biometric data useful for first responders.
It is another object of the invention to provide an improved method of obtaining identifying information from a subject using one or more different identifying criteria.
It is another object of the invention to integrate identifying information obtained using biometric or other data obtained from a subject using a mobile processing device.
Finally, it is a general goal of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.
These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
The present invention meets or exceeds all the above objects and goals. Upon further study of the specification and appended claims, further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art.
Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
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In a first operating mode, subjects give identifying information verbally. In a second mode, biometric data is obtained from the subject. In a third mode, the subject's drivers license is used for identification. Regardless of the method used, the user employs a mobile processing device to obtain identifying and other information about the subject, with the data populated and displayed on the mobile device in standardized and easily comprehended format.
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The three servers of most interest with respect of the present invention are the databases 40 associated with state motor vehicle authorities, the national fingerprint database 42 AFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification System), and the NCIC (National Crime Information Center) database 44. A key aspect of the invention is that in response to the user request, information regarding a subject is gathered, merged, and presented in a standard format for display on the user device 10.
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From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims:
