Importance

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Abstract

The present invention is an identification method for use in access control systems using words for both the initial enrollment, and later identification of personnel. Its purpose is to ensure that a person seeking access to restricted areas, financial accounts, benefits and services, is the same person for whom access was originally intended. During enrollment, a prospective user is presented with a wide variety of words called 'prompters' which are designed to elicit a consistent 'response' word from the user, thus forming a 'word-pair.' A reinforcement exercise during enrollment results in several 'word-pairs' which are most likely to remain in the memory of the user, and are therefore suitable for storage in the memory of an access type device or system maintained by a host organization. The process may be initiated with a card, key or various other instruments, but user identification is accomplished with an automatic and random selection within the host device of one of the user's prefiled 'word-pairs.' A user is presented with only a 'prompter.' His 'response' is then compared to that 'response' already on file. An exact comparison positively identifies the user. This method is enhanced by using only 'word-pair' information which is unique to the user and which is not generally on record elsewhere. By utilizing 'word-pair' information which is firmly etched in the memory of a user, and maintained elsewhere only in the memory of a host device, this identification method is less subject to being compromised. Additionally, the user may not even be aware as to which of his own 'word-pairs' are stored in the memory of a host device, thereby making it more difficult for a user to willfully compromise this method. The flexibility inherent in this method is further maximized through use of an identification type card with information so arranged between the card and the access sytem as to facilitate several different security levels for identifying personnel as a function of the number of people to be processed and the processing time available versus the degree of security desired.

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First Claim