Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENHANCING BIOMETRIC MATCHING ACCURACY
BACKGROUND
Field
[0001] The
present disclosure is generally related to performing biometric
identification and authentication, optionally using imaging devices, and to
enhancing biometric
authentication.
Description of the Related Art
[0002]
Biometrics have become an increasingly critical technique for user
identification and authentication. However, typically the use of biometrics to
identify and
authenticate a person is performed in a relatively controlled environment.
[0003]
For example, certain camera-equipped phones that use facial matching to
unlock the phone are positioned in close proximity to a user face, typically
with no other faces
in the camera's view and with fairly even facial illumination. Such relatively
ideal conditions
are not present when attempting to identify and authenticate a person when
there are many
other people in close proximity and where the lighting conditions are uneven
and where there
may be significant shadows, such as at an entrance to an event venue.
[0004]
Further, different access control systems may utilize different types of
biometric readers. Therefore, conventionally it is challenging to centralize
access control for
different venues operated by different entities as it is difficult to
determine what type of
biometric data will be received from a given venue.
[0005]
Thus, what is needed are enhanced techniques for improving the accuracy
of identifying and authenticating a person via biometrics.
SUMMARY
[0006]
The following presents a simplified summary of one or more aspects in
order to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This summary is not an
extensive
overview of all contemplated aspects, and is intended to neither identify key
or critical
elements of all aspects nor delineate the scope of any or all aspects. Its
sole purpose is to
present some concepts of one or more aspects in a simplified form as a prelude
to the more
detailed description that is presented later.
[0007]
An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system of enhancing
biometric analysis matching utilizing biometric data from a sensor, such as a
digital camera
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used to capture an image of a face of a person. The system may perform image
enhancement, such as edge and contrast enhancement, prior to performing face
matching.
The enhancement may be localized to a given image region based on determined
region
illumination. The system may perform image processing and analysis comprising
face
detection, alignment, feature extraction, and recognition. For example, the
extracted features
may be utilized to find a matching record in a data store. A biometric
recognition confidence
indicator may be generated using the results of the image enhancement and
analysis. At
least partly in response to the biometric recognition confidence indicator
failing to satisfy a
threshold, recognition confidence is enhanced using an image of visual indicia
captured using
the image sensor. When a matching record is identified, a determination may be
made as to
whether the record is associated with access rights to an event at a venue.
[0008]
An aspect of the present disclosure relates to systems and methods
configured to electronically identify and authenticate a person using
biometrics. A biometric
reading of a first type of a first person is received from a first biometric
reader at a first location.
The biometric reading of the first type is compared with biometric identifiers
stored in a
datastore. In response to identifying a match of the biometric reading of the
first type with a
given biometric identifier, event access data associated with the given
biometric identifier of
the first type is retrieved. In response to determining that the event access
data associated
with the given biometric identifier of the first type grants the first person
access to the first
location at the first time, a command is transmitted to a first device causing
presentation of an
access granted indicator and/or a barrier is unlocked granting admission to a
venue.
[0009]
An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a computer-implemented
method of electronically authenticating a person using biometrics, the method
including:
receiving, at a first time, a biometric reading of a first type of a first
person from a first biometric
reader at a first location; comparing the biometric reading of the first type
of the first person
from the first biometric reader at the first location with biometric
identifiers stored in a datastore
comprising biometric identifiers; at least partly in response to identifying a
match of the
biometric reading of the first type of the first person from the first
biometric reader at the first
location with a given biometric identifier of the first type stored in the
datastore comprising
biometric identifiers, retrieve event access data associated with the given
biometric identifier
of the first type; determining whether the event access data associated with
the given
biometric identifier of the first type grants the first person access to the
first location at the first
time; at least partly in response to determining that the event access data
associated with the
given biometric identifier of the first type grants the first person access to
the first location at
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the first time, transmitting a command causing an access granted indicator to
be presented
by a first device; receiving, at a second time, a biometric reading of a
second type of the first
person from a second biometric reader at a second location, the second type
different than
the first type; comparing the biometric reading of the second type of the
first person from the
second biometric reader at the second location with biometric identifiers
stored in the
datastore comprising biometric identifiers; at least partly in response to
identifying a match of
the biometric reading of the second type of the first person from the second
biometric reader
at the second location with a given biometric identifier of the second type
stored in the
datastore comprising biometric identifiers, retrieve event access data
associated with the
given biometric identifier of the second type; determining whether the event
access data
associated with the given biometric identifier of the second type grants the
first person access
to the second location at the second time; at least partly in response to
determining that the
event access data associated with the given biometric identifier of the second
type grants the
first person access to the second location at the second time, transmitting a
command causing
an access granted indicator to be presented by a second device.
[0010] An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system,
the system
including: a computing device; non-transitory computer readable memory that
stores
instructions that when executed by the computing device cause the system to
perform
operations comprising: receive, at a first time, a biometric reading of a
first type of a first person
from a first biometric reader at a first location; use the biometric reading
of the first type of the
first person from the first biometric reader at the first location to locate a
matching given
biometric identifier of the first type stored in a datastore comprising
biometric identifiers, and
to retrieve event access data associated with the given biometric identifier
of the first type;
determine whether the event access data associated with the given biometric
identifier of the
first type grants the first person access to the first location at the first
time; at least partly in
response to determining that the event access data associated with the given
biometric
identifier of the first type grants the first person access to the first
location at the first time,
transmit a command causing an access granted indicator to be presented by a
first device;
receive, at a second time, a biometric reading of a second type of the first
person from a
second biometric reader at a second location, the second type different than
the first type; use
the biometric reading of the second type of the first person from the second
biometric reader
at the second location to identify a matching given biometric identifier of
the second type
stored in the datastore comprising biometric identifiers; retrieve event
access data associated
with the matching given biometric identifier of the second type; determine
whether the event
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access data associated with the given biometric identifier of the second type
grants the first
person access to the second location at the second time; at least partly in
response to
determining that the event access data associated with the given biometric
identifier of the
second type grants the first person access to the second location at the
second time, transmit
a command causing an access granted indicator to be presented by a second
device.
[0011]
An aspect of the present disclosure relates to non-transitory computer
readable memory that stores instructions that when executed by a computing
system cause
the computing system to perform operations including: receive, at a first
time, a biometric
reading of a first type of a first person from a first biometric reader at a
first location; use the
biometric reading of the first type of the first person from the first
biometric reader at the first
location to locate a corresponding given biometric identifier of the first
type stored in a
datastore comprising biometric identifiers, and to access event access data
associated with
the given biometric identifier of the first type; determine whether the event
access data
associated with the given biometric identifier of the first type grants the
first person access to
the first location at the first time; at least partly in response to
determining that the event
access data associated with the given biometric identifier of the first type
grants the first
person access to the first location at the first time, transmit a command
causing an access
granted indicator to be presented by a first device; receive, at a second
time, a biometric
reading of a second type of the first person from a second biometric reader at
a second
location, the second type different than the first type; use the biometric
reading of the second
type of the first person from the second biometric reader at the second
location to identify a
corresponding given biometric identifier of the second type stored in the
datastore comprising
biometric identifiers; access event access data associated with the
corresponding given
biometric identifier of the second type; determine whether the event access
data associated
with the given biometric identifier of the second type grants the first person
access to the
second location at the second time; at least partly in response to determining
that the event
access data associated with the given biometric identifier of the second type
grants the first
person access to the second location at the second time, transmit a command
causing an
access granted indicator to be presented by a second device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012]
Aspects will now be described with reference to the drawings summarized
below. These drawings and the associated description are provided to
illustrate example
aspects of the disclosure, and not to limit the scope of the invention.
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[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an example computer network
environment
which may be utilized with respect to certain techniques and processes
disclosed herein.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example computer node of
the network of
FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram.
[0016] FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are respectively example flow diagrams of
a venue entry
subsystem of the FIG. 3 embodiment and of a system of the FIG. 2 embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 6A illustrates an example networked environment
architecture.
[0018] FIG. 6B illustrates an example system architecture.
[0019] FIG. 7 illustrates an example venue admission area configuration.
[0020] FIGS. 8A, 8B illustrate example processes.
[0021] FIGS. 9A, 9B illustrate example database records/tables.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] An aspect of the present disclosure relates to systems and methods
configured to enhance the use of biometrics and of identifying and
authenticating people.
[0023] A biometric sensor may be in the form of a still camera, a
video camera, an
optical sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, and/or a capacitive sensor, by way of
example. Such
sensors may be utilized to perform biological biometric recognition (e.g.,
facial recognition,
fingerprint recognition, iris recognition, palm contour recognition, and/or
vein recognition by
way of example) and/or behavioral recognition (e.g., gate recognition,
signature recognition,
voice recognition, and/or keystroke recognition, by way of example).
[0024] Where an image is utilized for authentication, the system
may optionally
perform image enhancement, such as edge and/or contrast enhancement, prior to
performing
identification, authentication and/or verification. The enhancement may
optionally be
localized to a given image region based on determined region illumination.
[0025] An aspect of the present disclosure relates, in some
aspects, to creation of
a master biometric data repository. A technical challenge to using biometric
identification for
a given user is that a user may be associated with many "identities", such as
multiple email
addresses, messaging service addresses, phone numbers, user device
identifiers, credit card
numbers, debit card numbers, crypto currency wallet identifiers, and/or the
like. A given
identity may be associated with different devices, services and/or
applications (e.g., financial
accounts, ticketing applications, electronic wallets, etc.). Different user
identities may be
associated with different biometric identifiers (where the biometric
identifier may be used to
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access a respective device, service, application, event, structure, etc.). For
example, a first
user identity of the user may be associated with a left hand forefinger
fingerprint, while a
second user identity of the user may be associated with all of the right hand
fingers
fingerprints, while a third identity may be associated with a face print.
Thus, it may be difficult
to determine which biometric identifier is to be used to access a given
device, service,
application, event, structure, etc. Described herein is a unified biometric
data store that stores
some or all of the identities associated with a user, an indication as to
which biometric
identifier(s) are associated with a given identity, and optionally, the
biometric identifier (e.g., a
numerical model of the corresponding physical characteristic).
[0026] Such
biometric identifiers may be used to identify and authenticate a
person attempting to gain access to an event at a venue at a given time (e.g.,
a given date
and time of day). By way of illustration, biometric data of a person at an
event venue entry
point may be captured and transmitted to an authentication and access control
system. The
authentication and access control system may optionally be configured to
provide access
control functionality for multiple venues operated by multiple entities. The
system may be
configured to compare the biometric data to that stored in a database of
users.
[0027]
If a match is found, the corresponding user record may be accessed, and
a determination made as to whether the user has authorization to access the
event at the
venue at the given time. If the user record indicates that the user has
authorization to access
the event at the venue at the given time, a corresponding message or command
may be
transmitted to a device at the event venue entry point indicating the user has
authorization
(which may cause a corresponding visual and audible indicator to provide a
human perceptible
authorization indication, such as by having a green light illuminate or an
access granted text
and/or graphic message displayed on a device). If the user record indicates
that the user
does not have authorization to access the event at the venue at the given
time, a
corresponding message or command may be transmitted to a device at the event
venue entry
point indicating the user does not have authorization (which may cause a
corresponding visual
and audible indicator to provide a human perceptible authorization indication,
such as by
having a red light illuminate or an access denied text and/or graphic message
displayed on a
device and/or may unlock or open a barrier to provide access to the venue).
[0028]
By way of illustration, if the physical characteristic is a fingerprint, the
numerical model may include vectors defining the shapes and orientations
thereof. For
example, the shapes may be formed by raised friction ridges and furrows. The
shapes may
include radial loops, ulnar loops, arches, and whorls.
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[0029]
By way of example, a fingerprint reader may be in the form of an optical
reader, which may employ a digital camera that acquires a visual image of a
fingerprint. The
digital camera sensor converts the ridges and valleys of the fingerprint
digital values which
are used to generate a fingerprint scan.
[0030] By way of
further example, a fingerprint reader may be in the form of a
capacitive reader (which may utilize a CMOS reader) using capacitors to form
an
representation/image of a fingerprint. For example, the fingerprint reader may
include an
array of hundreds or thousands of small capacitors configured to detect
capacitance between
finger ridges and valleys with respect to the capacitor plates. If a ridge is
present, the ridge's
distance with the capacitor plate is small, resulting in relatively less
capacitance. If a valley is
present, the valley's distance with the capacitor plate is relatively greater
with an air gap in-
between, resulting in relatively greater capacitance (e.g., where the
capacitor charge may be
unchanged). The capacitance from a given array capacitor is converted to a
digital value
using an analog-to-digital converter. These digital values may be used to
generate a two
dimensional digital representation of the fingerprint.
[0031]
By way of yet further illustration, a fingerprint reader may be in the form of
an ultrasound reader configured to utilize high frequency sound waves to
penetrate the
epidermal layer of the skin and read the fingerprint on the dermal skin layer.
For example,
the fingerprint reader may include an array of ultrasonic transmitters and
receivers. The
ultrasonic transmitters emit ultrasonic pulses that are reflected in the
ridges, valleys, and pores
of the fingerprint. The array of ultrasonic receivers (e.g., that measure
mechanical stress due
to the intensity of reflected ultrasonic pulses at different points of the
fingerprint) detects the
reflected ultrasonic pulses. The detected reflected pulses are used to
generate a detailed,
three dimensional digital representation of the fingerprint.
[0032] A
database may store fingerprint records associated with user records. For
example, a database may store the fingerprints for each finger of a user or
only a subset of
finger fingerprints. For example, certain fingerprint databases (e.g.,
associated with certain
venues) may only include the fingerprints of the left hand and right hand
forefingers, while
other fingerprint databases (associated with certain other venues) may include
the fingerprints
of all of a given user's fingers (e.g., typically 10 fingers, but in some
cases fewer fingers).
[0033]
Optionally, facial recognition may be utilized. Advantageously, facial
recognition may be contactless, may be performed at long distances, and may be
highly
accurate. A system may capture an image of a face, and may perform image
processing and
analysis comprising face detection, alignment, feature extraction, and
recognition. A biometric
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recognition confidence indicator may be generated using the results of the
image
enhancement and analysis. At least partly in response to the biometric
recognition confidence
indicator falling below a threshold enhancing recognition confidence using an
image of visual
indicia captured using the image sensor.
[0034] By way of
further illustration, if the physical characteristic being used to
identify a person is a face, the model may correspond to the spatial geometry
of distinguishing
features of the face. The model may be a two dimensional or three dimensional
model (which
can model facial curves, such as curves of the eye socket, nose and/or chin).
A camera or
other imager may be utilized to capture an image of a user. If a user is in a
crowd or line (e.g.,
to gain admission to an event venue), the camera may be placed at a venue
entrance area.
The face recognition process may involve capturing an image including the face
to be
recognized face detection may be performed to identify a face or faces in the
image. For
example, an image may include multiple faces, body parts, building structures,
furnishings,
and other items, and so it may be challenging to isolate a face.
[0035] Face
detection may be performed, optionally in real time, using a machine
learning engine, such as a neural network comprising an input layer, one or
more hidden
layers, a pooling layer, and an output layer. A face detection algorithm may
start by searching
for a particular, relatively easy to identify feature, such as human eyes, and
then search for
and detect other features such as eyebrows, mouth, nose, nostrils iris, chin,
etc., until a certain
.. confidence level has been reached that a human facial region has been
identified.
[0036]
Once a facial region has been detected, the spatial geometry of the face
may be utilized to identify an individual based on the features of his face.
Optionally, a
template for the face is generated in real time, the template comprising a
reduced set of data
which uniquely identifies an individual based on the features of the
individual's face (which
has the additional optional advantage of reducing may utilization as compared
to storing a
high resolution image). The generated template may then be compared with a set
of known
templates in a database for identification or with one specific template for
authentication. A
confidence score may be generated which indicates how well two templates
match.
Optionally, the score may need to satisfy a threshold in order for the
generated template to
.. be considered a match for the template stored in the database.
[0037]
By way of further example, biometric iris recognition may be utilized.
Advantageously, iris recognition is contactless, may be performed at long
distances, may only
require a glance, may be performed quickly (e.g., in less than 2 seconds) and
may be highly
accurate. Iris scanner systems (e.g., video cameras) may be configured to
illuminate the iris
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of a person using light, such as infrared light (which may be invisible to the
human eye) to
detect unique patterns (e.g., that are not visible to the human eye). In
performing the iris
pattern detection, the iris scanner may be configured to detect and exclude
eyelashes, eyelids,
and specular reflections that may block parts of the iris. Thus, the iris
scanner may obtain a
set of pixels corresponding only to the iris (e.g., 200-300 hundred iris
attributes). For example,
a frame grabber may grab frames from a video feed, patterns in the iris that
are visible
between the pupil and sclera may be detected and converted to a digital
template in real time.
This template may be compared to templates stored in a database to locate a
matching user
record.
[0038] By way of
additional example, a palm scanner may be utilized that is
configured to emit infrared or near infrared light to capture a user's vein
pattern and/or is
configured to capture palm contour data.
[0039]
Different types of biometric scanners may be particularly suitable or
unsuitable for a given environment. For example, a camera configured to
capture a facial
image may not be as suitable for an outdoor environment exposed to the weather
(e.g., rain,
sleet, and snow) and that may not have adequate lighting at night as a
fingerprint scanner.
Thus, as discussed above, different venues may utilize different biometric
scanners to
accommodate different environmental conditions.
[0040]
In order to enhance accuracy and reduce false positives and false
negatives, multiple of the foregoing biometric techniques may be used at a
given entry point
to identify a person (e.g., fingerprint, face, and/or iris scanning and
recognition). If an odd
number of biometric identification techniques are utilized, optionally a
voting protocol may be
utilized, where a common determination made via a majority of the biometric
techniques will
control. For example, if three different biometric techniques are utilized,
and two of the
techniques agree that a given person matches the identity of a user in the
same user record,
and one of the techniques indicates that the given person does not match that
identity, the
majority determination will control, and the person will be determined to
match the user in the
user record.
[0041]
In addition and/or instead, an electronic device may be utilized to identify a
user. For example, a user mobile device (e.g., a mobile phone, a smart card, a
digital key)
may provide one or more unique identifiers (e.g., a unique user device
identifier (e.g., a Mobile
ID) and/or a unique user identifier). The identifiers may be assigned by an
authentication
system and/or may be assigned by a device manufacturer/provider (e.g., a phone
or SIM card
provider, such as an IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity)
identifier, an MEID (Mobile
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Equipment IDentifier) identifier, an ESN (Electronic Serial Number)
identifier, an IMSI
(International Mobile Subscriber Identity) identifier, etc.). Such identifiers
may be provided via
optical indicia (e.g., a one or two dimensional barcode, such as a QR code), a
wireless
electromagnetic transmission, or via an audio signal. Such identifiers may
optionally be
encrypted prior to transmission or presentation. The identifiers may be
encoded with a
timestamp, as similarly discussed elsewhere herein. Where the identifier(s)
and timestamp
are presented via an optical code, the optical code may be periodically re-
generated (e.g.,
every 5, 10, 15, 20, or 30 seconds, or somewhere in the range of 5 seconds to
120 seconds)
to include an updated timestamp. Examples of using electronic user devices in
identifying a
user are described elsewhere herein. Thus, for example, optionally a user may
need to be
authenticated using two (or more) techniques including at least via a user
device and via
biometric data.
[0042]
The biometric data stored in a user record and used as a reference (e.g., a
reference template) in determining a user identity may be obtained during an
enrollment
process via a user device (e.g., a still camera, video camera, and/or
fingerprint scanner
equipped phone). For example, the biometric data may be obtained during an
enrollment
process when a user is setting up a user account (e.g., via an application
installed on the user
device). Optionally, different venue operators may have their own respective
enrollment
processes. In addition or instead, such biometric data may be obtained via
biometric readers
positioned at an event venue, travel hub (e.g., an airport, train station, bus
station, etc.) or
other location.
[0043]
By way of illustration, a biometric scanner at a venue may be configured to
operate in an enrollment mode or a verification mode. If an attendee at a
given venue does
not yet have a biometric record recorded corresponding to the type of
biometric scanner at
the venue, the scanner may be utilized to capture biometric data from the user
and associated
user identification data (which may be scanned from a user identifier, such as
a government
issued identifier or from optical indicia presented by a user device as
described elsewhere
herein). The biometric data may be stored in association with the user
identification data. If,
on the other hand, a biometric already exists for the attendee, the biometric
scanner may be
used to capture biometric data of the attendee and use the biometric data to
determine if the
attendee has access rights to the venue (e.g., for a current event) as
described elsewhere
herein.
[0044]
As discussed elsewhere herein, different venues may provide different sets
of biometric scanners and/or user device recognition systems. For example,
certain venues
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may utilize a fingerprint reader/recognition system, certain other venues may
utilize a face
imaging/recognition system, and certain other venues may utilize an iris
imaging/recognition
system. Further, even for those venues that utilize fingerprint scanner
systems, certain
venues may scan the left hand forefinger for identification/authentication and
verification of a
user, while other venues may utilize thumb prints of either the left or right
hands for the
identification/authentication and verification of a user. By way of yet
further example, certain
venues may utilize optical fingerprint readers generating two dimensional
fingerprint
representations, while other venues may use capacitive fingerprint readers
generating three
dimensional fingerprint representations.
[0045] Thus, a
unified, centralized authentication database that records different
types of biometric data used to authenticate a given user at different venues
or sets of venues,
would greatly speed up and enhance the accuracy of the process of
authenticating a user at
a venue and in determining if the user has access rights to the venue at a
given time period.
[0046]
It is understood that, although certain descriptions and examples may refer
to using biometrics to identify a person and determine if the person has
access rights to a
venue, the systems and methods described herein may also be utilized to
identify a person
and determine if the person has access rights to other resources, such as
online electronic
accounts and services (e.g., item provider accounts, email accounts, messaging
service
accounts, etc.), or electronic devices. In addition, although certain examples
may be
described with reference to biometric readers positioned at a venue, a person
may utilize their
own device (e.g., a mobile phone or other device) equipped with biometric
readers (e.g.,
cameras configured to capture face images, fingerprints, iris images, etc.,
capacitor arrays
configured to read fingerprints, etc.) to capture biometric data. For example,
a user may utilize
the user device to provide biometric data to a remote system to access online
services or
physical services.
[0047] Certain aspects will now be described with reference to the
figures.
[0048]
FIG. 6A illustrates an example networked environment that may be utilized
to practice certain example processes herein. A biometric authentication
system 602A may
communicate via a network 600A (e.g., the Internet, an intranet, a cellular
network, and/or
other network) with one or more venue systems 604A, 606, 608A which may be
located at (or
may have components located at) one or more respective venues.
[0049]
For example, a given venue system may have a corresponding
authentication reader (sometimes referred to as a scanner) located at a venue
entrance
(which may be an entrance to a venue building or may be an entrance within a
building to a
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restricted area). A given authentication scanner/reader may include, by way of
example, one
or more of: a camera configured to capture an image of a user and/or barcode
(e.g., a 1D or
2D barcode, such as a QR code, that may include a unique user identifier, a
unique device
identifier, and/or a timestamp) for authentication purposes, a barcode scanner
(e.g., a camera
or a laser barcode scanner configured to scan barcodes), a radio frequency
receiver
configured to receive a wireless transmission comprising authentication data
from user
devices, a microphone configured to receive an audible signal comprising
authentication data
from a user device (e.g., user devices 610A, 612A, 614A), a biometric reader
(e.g., a
fingerprint reader, an iris reader, face reader), and/or other device
configured to receive the
unique user device and/or user identifier, and/or timestamp. A given venue
system may
include a network interface configured to communicate with the biometric
authentication
system 602A and optionally other systems via the network 600.
[0050]
The biometric authentication system 602A may store user account
information including some or all of the following user-related data: a user
name, a user email
address, a user phone number/SMS/text messaging address, a user avatar,
geographical
information (e.g., physical address, zip code, city, etc.), a unique user
identifier (e.g., an
alphanumeric identifier, fingerprint data, face print data, iris print data,
and/or the like), a
unique user device identifier (such as device identifiers disclosed elsewhere
herein), event
identifiers corresponding to events the user has access rights to, user
preferences (e.g.,
favorite performers, favorite venues, favorite musical styles, etc.), and/or
other user-related
data disclosed herein. Optionally, a user may be enabled to acquire a
plurality of tickets to a
given event (e.g., such as when a group will be attending together), and a
corresponding
record may be stored in the user account. Optionally, the user may provide an
account
identifier for each person in the group that has an account with the system
602A or related
system, and a corresponding ticket (and associated venue and event access
rights may be
associated with the respective person's record (including any biometric
identifiers, user
identifiers, and/or user device identifiers therein).
[0051]
The biometric authentication system 602A may store one or more biometric
records (e.g., biometric templates), for a given user (see, e.g., FIG. 9B).
The biometric
templates may have been generated via an enrollment process executed by the
biometric
authentication system 602A or related system and/or may have been obtained
from respective
venue systems (which may have conducted their own enrollment process). The
biometric
templates may include models for one or more biometric types (e.g., face
models, two
dimensional fingerprint models, three dimensional fingerprint models, iris
models, etc.). By
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way of example, a given user record may include two dimensional models (e.g.,
generated
from optical images) and/or three dimensional models (e.g., generated from
capacitor array
readings) of fingerprints for each finger of the user or for a subset of
fingers. In addition, or
instead, the user record may include one or more face templates (e.g.,
generated from optical
images).
[0052]
In addition, or instead, the user record may include one or more iris
templates (e.g., generated from optical images captured using a camera), such
as of the left
eye and/or of the right eye. The biometric authentication system 602A may
optionally store
one or more user identifiers, passwords (e.g., textual, alphanumeric user
identifiers, such as
ones specified by the user, assigned by an electronic system, a user email
address, a user
phone number, etc.) and/or device identifiers for a given user. The user
identifiers,
passwords, and/or the device identifiers may be unique. Optionally, the user
identifiers,
passwords, and/or the device identifiers may not be unique, but a combination
or pairing of a
user identifier and device identifier may be unique.
[0053] The
biometric authentication system 602A may be configured to
authenticate a user using authentication data captured by a venue
authentication
scanner/reader as similarly discussed elsewhere herein. For example, the
biometric
authentication system 602A may receive biometric data captured from a person
seeking
admission to a venue for an event. The biometric data may be received in
association with
venue identification information. The venue identification information may be
mapped via a
table to an indication as to what types of biometric readers the venue has
and/or what types
of biometric data the venue collects (e.g., FIG. 9A). Advantageously, the
system may
optionally only compare the received biometric data to the biometric data
stored in user
records that correspond to the types of biometric readers utilized by the
venue. This reduces
the amount of time needed to perform the comparisons and the amount of
computer resources
(e.g., processing bandwidth and memory) needed to perform such comparisons.
[0054]
For example, the mapping table may indicate whether the venue system
utilizes an iris reader, a face reader, an optical fingerprint reader, a
capacitive fingerprint
reader, a thermal fingerprint reader, a gait reader, etc.). In addition, or
instead, the mapping
table may indicate the particular biometric data read by the venue system
(e.g., left iris, right
iris, face, left thumb captured via an optical reader, left forefinger
captured via an optical
reader, left middle finger captured via an optical reader, left ring finger
captured via an optical
reader, left pinkie finger captured via an optical reader, right thumb
captured via an optical
reader, right forefinger captured via an optical reader, right middle finger
captured via an
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optical reader, right ring finger captured via an optical reader, right pinkie
finger captured via
an optical reader, left thumb captured via an capacitive reader, left
forefinger captured via an
capacitive reader, left middle finger captured via an capacitive reader, left
ring finger captured
via an capacitive reader, left pinkie finger captured via an capacitive
reader, right thumb
captured via an capacitive reader, right forefinger captured via an capacitive
reader, right
middle finger captured via an capacitive reader, right ring finger captured
via an capacitive
reader, right pinkie finger captured via an capacitive reader, etc.).
Optionally, in addition or
instead, metadata may be transmitted to by the venue system in conjunction
with biometric
data identifying the particular biometric data type being transmitted to the
biometric
authentication system 602A.
[0055]
FIG. 6B is a block diagram illustrating example components of the biometric
authentication system 602A. The example biometric authentication system 602A
includes an
arrangement of computer hardware and software components that may be used to
implement
aspects of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art will appreciate
that the example
components may include more (or fewer) components than those depicted in FIG.
6B. The
biometric authentication system 602A may comprise a cloud-based computer
system.
[0056]
With respect to the cloud-based computer system, the cloud-based
computer system may comprise a hosted computing environment that includes a
collection of
physical computing resources that may be remotely accessible, located at
different facilities,
and may be rapidly provisioned as needed (sometimes referred to as a "cloud"
computing
environment). Certain data described herein may optionally be stored using a
data store that
may comprise a hosted storage environment that includes a collection of
physical data storage
devices that may be remotely accessible and may be rapidly provisioned as
needed
(sometimes referred to as "cloud" storage).
[0057] The
biometric authentication system 602A may include one or more
processing units 620B (e.g., a general purpose processor and/or a high speed
graphics
processor), one or more network interfaces 622B, a non-transitory computer-
readable
medium drive 624B, and an input/output device interface 626B, all of which may
communicate
with one another by way of one or more communication buses. The network
interface 624B
may provide services described herein with connectivity to one or more
networks or computing
systems (e.g., venue systems, user devices, event promoters, seating chart
visualization
systems, etc.).
The processing unit 620B may thus receive information (e.g.,
verification/authentication data (e.g., biometric data, user identifiers,
device identifiers, etc.),
verification/authentication requests, etc.) and instructions from other
computing devices,
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systems, or services via a network, and may provide responsive data and/or
execute
instructions. The processing unit 620B may also communicate to and from memory
62134 and
further provide output information via the input/output device interface 626B.
The input/output
device interface 626B may also accept input from one or more input devices,
such as a
keyboard, mouse, digital pen, touch screen, microphone, camera, etc.
[0058]
The memory 628B may contain computer program instructions that the
processing unit 620B may execute in order to implement one or more aspects of
the present
disclosure. The memory 620B generally includes RAM, ROM (and variants thereof,
such as
EEPROM) and/or other persistent or non-transitory computer-readable storage
media. The
memory 620B may store an operating system 632B that provides computer program
instructions for use by the processing unit 620B in the general administration
and operation
of a biometric authentication module 634B, including its components.
[0059]
The memory 628B may store user accounts, including a user name, a user
email address, a user phone number/SMS/text messaging address, geographical
information
(e.g., physical address, zip code, city, etc.) one or more unique or non-
unique user identifiers
(e.g., an alphanumeric identifier, fingerprint data, face print data, iris
print data, gait data,
and/or the like, such as described elsewhere herein), one or more unique or
non-unique user
device identifier, event identifiers corresponding to events the user has
access rights to, seat
identifiers corresponding to seats assigned to the user at the corresponding
events, access
identifiers corresponding to locations that the user has access rights to
within a venue for a
corresponding event, hashes of user device and/or user identifiers, user
preferences (e.g.,
favorite performers, favorite venues, favorite musical styles, other
preferences discussed
herein, and/or the like), payment instrument data, and/or other user data
described herein.
The memory 628B may store may also store event, access token, and venue
information,
such as discussed elsewhere herein.
[0060]
Some or all of the data and content discussed herein may optionally be
stored in a relational database, an SQL database, a NOSQL database, or other
database
type. Because the content elements may include BLOBs (binary large objects),
such as large
images (e.g., still photographs (e.g., of biometric features), videos (e.g.,
of biometric features),
multilayered graphics, etc.) which may be difficult for a conventional
database to handle, some
(e.g., BLOBs) or all of the content elements may be stored in files and
corresponding
references may be stored in the database. Optionally, the memory 628B may
include one or
more third party cloud-based storage systems.
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[0061]
The biometric authentication module 634B may include a GUI component
that generates graphical user interfaces and processes user inputs and a
search component
(which may include a search engine used to search for ticketed events). The
biometric
authentication module 634B may also include a multifactor authentication
component
5 configured to identify and authenticate users. As discussed herein, the
identification/authentication may be performed by comparing a hash of a unique
user identifier
and a unique device identifier with that generated by the system 602A. By way
of further
example, the authentication may be performed by decrypting data (e.g., using a
private key
or the key used to perform encryption) comprising a unique user identifier
and/or a unique
device identifier, and comparing the decrypted data with that stored by the
biometric
authentication system 602A. Optionally Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), a
symmetric
encryption algorithm that encrypts fixed blocks of data (of 628 bits) at a
time may be used. By
way of further example, optionally Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA)
encryption/decryption
techniques may be utilized. By way of yet further example, optionally triple
DES (Data
Encryption Standard) encryption/decryption techniques may be utilized. By way
of yet further
example, a hash function may be utilized. Optionally, in addition or instead,
authentication
may be performed using biometric readings of a user (e.g., iris data,
fingerprint data, face
data, etc.) as described elsewhere herein.
[0062]
An access right verification component may be configured to determine
whether an identified/authenticated user has an associated right to access an
event at a venue
(and/or a portion of an event venue). For example, the access right
verification component
may be configured to determine whether an identified user has a ticket to an
event at a venue
on a given date and/or time, for a given seat or seating area (e.g., by
accessing a record
corresponding to the identified user and determining if there is an access
right indication for
the identified user for the event at the current date/time).
[0063]
A ticketing module 636B may be configured to enable users to view
information regarding ticketed events, access event venue seating charts, view
available and
unavailable event venue seats, access images of a view from a given seat, view
access token
prices, create a user account (optionally including some or all of the user
account information
discussed herein), purchase or otherwise obtain one or more access rights
(e.g., access
tokens) to the event, store an indication of access rights obtained by the
user, and/or
recommend events to the user (e.g., using the user's preferences, access token
acquisition
history, geographical location, event sponsorship, and/or the like).
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[0064]
An image analysis and processing module 638B may be configured to
perform image analysis (e.g., on optical indicia encoding encrypted
authentication data, on
images of biometric features (e.g., iris, face, finger, etc.), etc.), perform
contrast enhancement,
deblurring, and/or image rotation to thereby enhance the decoding and
decryption of images
of optical indicia (e.g., barcodes captured using a camera device) and/or of
biometric features.
[0065]
FIG. 7 illustrates an example venue authentication configuration.
Attendees 702 may be queued or otherwise waiting at a venue entry point for
admission. A
camera 706 may be positioned to capture images of the faces and/or irises of
attendees 702
for identification purposes. Optionally, in addition or instead, the venue may
be configured
with a fingerprint reader. Lights 710 may be positioned to illuminate the
faces of attendees
while reducing shadows on faces to thereby enhance the quality of images
captured for face
recognition. A camera/scanner 704 may be positioned to capture images of
optical
authentication data (e.g., one or two dimensional barcodes encoding a user
identifier, a device
identifier, and/or a timestamp) from a user device. The camera/scanner 704 may
include an
LED barcode scanner or a camera. The venue entrance may optionally be
configured with a
barrier 708 (e.g., a turnstile or gate). The barrier 708 may be computer
controlled and may
be opened in response to identifying an attendee and verifying that the
attendee has access
rights to enter the venue at the current time.
[0066]
The images from the cameras 704, 706 (or data derived from images
captured by the cameras 704, 706) may be transmitted to a biometric
authentication system,
such as biometric authentication system 602A, for identification and/or to
determine whether
the attendee has access rights to the venue (e.g., at the current time). The
biometric
authentication system may transmit data to a device 712 at the venue
indicating whether the
attendee has access rights. The device 712 may display a visual and/or audible
indication
indicating whether or not the attendee has access rights to the event. The
device 712 may
be a portable handheld device (e.g., held by venue personnel that controls
access to the
venue), or a fixed display/light indicator. The device 712 may be combined
with a
camera/scanner, such as the camera 704. For example, the device 712 may
comprise one
or more indicator lights (e.g., red and/or green LED lights) and/or a flat
panel display.
[0067] Referring
now to FIG. 8A, an example process is illustrated, the process
configured to identify, using biometric data, a person at a venue and to
determine whether the
identified person has access rights to the venue at the current time (e.g.,
for a particular event).
The process may be performed in whole or in part by a venue system, or in
whole or in part
by a biometric authentication system or other system.
3001P-SME-CAD1
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[0068]
At block 800A, biometric data is received from a biometric reader at a venue
(e.g., a venue entry point). The biometric data may correspond to one or more
types, such
as a face image, optical two dimensional images of fingerprints of one or more
fingers of a
person, capacitive three dimensional images of fingerprints of one or more
fingers of a person,
and/or one or more irises of a person. At block 802A, a determination is made
as to what type
of biometric data has been received. For example, the determination may be
made using
venue identification data received in association with the biometric data. The
venue data may
be used to lookup, via a lookup table (e.g., FIG. 9A), what type of biometric
data is used by
the venue. In addition or instead, metadata may be transmitted in association
with the
biometric data identifying the biometric type.
[0069]
At block 804A, the received biometric data is compared against the
corresponding templates (for the determined biometric type) stored in a
database (e.g., as
illustrated in FIG. 9B) to determine if there are any matches. Advantageously,
the process
may optionally only compare the received biometric data to the biometric data
in user records
that correspond to the types of biometric readers utilized by the venue or
that correspond to
metadata identifying the biometric data type. This reduces the amount of time
needed to
perform the comparisons and the amount of computer resources (e.g., processing
bandwidth
and memory) needed to perform such comparisons. At block 806A, a determination
is made
as to whether a match was found.
[0070] If no
match was found, at block 808A, a failure message may be transmitted
to a device at the venue which may display a failure indication. The device
may comprise one
or more indicator lights (e.g., red and/or green LED lights) and/or a flat
panel display. An
attendant at the venue entrance may, in response to the failure indication,
refuse admission
to the venue and/or a barrier may be locked or closed (or left closed) thereby
preventing the
person from gaining admission to the venue.
[0071]
If a match is found, at block 810A, the corresponding user record is
accessed and a determination is made as to whether the user has an associated
access token
(e.g., a ticket) for the event at the venue (e.g., at the current date and
time). If the user does
not have an associated access token, at block 812A, a failure message may be
transmitted
to the indicator device at the venue which may display a failure indication.
An attendant at
the venue entrance may, in response to the failure indication, refuse
admission to the venue
and/or a barrier may be locked or closed (or left closed) thereby preventing
the person from
gaining admission to the venue.
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[0072]
If the user does have an associated access token, at block 812A, an
admission message may be transmitted to the indicator device at the venue
which may display
an admission indication. An attendant at the venue entrance may, in response
to the access
indication, grant admission to the venue and/or a barrier may be unlocked
thereby providing
the person access to the venue. Optionally, in addition, seating information
may be
transmitted to a user device, wherein the seating information may be displayed
by the user
device so that the user can access such restricted areas. Optionally, in
addition, other access
right indicators corresponding to access rights to restricted locations within
the venue (e.g.,
VIP areas) may be transmitted to the user device for display. Optionally, in
addition, other
indicators corresponding to rights to services or items (e.g., food, clothing,
memorabilia, etc.)
may be transmitted to the user device for display so that the user can access
such service or
items.
[0073]
If multiple access tokens to the venue/event are associated with the user
(e.g., where the user acquired tickets for a group), optionally the admission
message
transmitted to the indicator device at the venue may indicate how many people
are to be
admitted, and the indicator may display the number of people that are entitled
to be granted
admission with the identified/authenticated user. An attendant at the venue
entrance may, in
response to the access indication, grant admission to the indicated number of
people to the
venue and/or a barrier may be unlocked thereby providing the group access to
the venue.
[0074] Referring
now to FIG. 8B, an example process is illustrated configured to
identify, using biometric data, a person at a venue and to determine whether
the identified
person has access rights to the venue at the current time, and to use an
auxiliary identification
method to enhance identification accuracy when an identification confidence
level is using the
initial biometric data is insufficient. Although the example process is
related to performing
face recognition, the process may be similarly performed for other biometric
features, such as
fingerprints or iris patterns. The process may be performed in whole or in
part by a venue
system, or in whole or in part by a biometric authentication system or other
system.
[0075]
At block 800B, a determination is made that facial feature biometrics are
being used to perform user identification and access control (e.g., using a
lookup table and/or
metadata as described elsewhere herein). At block 802B, an image of a user is
received. For
example, the image may include one or more faces and other portions of bodies
of attendees
waiting in a queue to access the venue. The image may be captured in a still
image or in a
video by a still camera or a video camera.
3001P-SME-CAD1
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[0076]
At block 804B, a primary face may be detected and extracted. For
example, the primary face may be detected as being the largest face in the
image or at a
closet position relative to the camera position. Face detection may be
performed using a Haar
Cascades Classifier, Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) followed by linear
Support
Vector Machine classifier, and/or Multi-task Cascaded Convolutional Networks
(MTCNN). A
neural network may include an input layer, one or more hidden layers, a
pooling layer, and/or
an output layer. The face detection technique may be configured to digitally
"draw" a shape
(e.g., a box) about a given face (e.g., classify a certain area of pixels as
containing a face).
The detected primary face may be extracted and stored into a respective
destination record
.. for further analysis.
[0077]
At block 806B, facial alignment may be performed to improve the accuracy
of face recognition. Face alignment normalizes the position of a given face,
wherein the face
is optionally centered to the image, rotated such that the line joining the
center of two eyes is
parallel to an axis (e.g., the horizontal axis). Facial alignment is
particularly challenging when
a face comes from an unconstrained environment, such as in a queue of people
at a venue
entrance and so similarity or affine transformations may be utilized in
performing alignment.
Optionally, faces may be aligned using facial landmarks (e.g., eyes, eye
centers, nose, nose
tip, mouth, mouth corners, ears, ear lobes, etc.). Optionally, the largest
face (e.g., the face
closest to the camera) may be selected for facial identification. Optionally,
all the faces in the
.. image may undergo facial identification.
[0078]
At block 808B, the faces (e.g., the faces in the image undergoing facial
identification) may optionally be resized to the same scale. At block 810, the
aligned, resized
face image of a given face may be used in performing face recognition. For
example, feature
extraction may be performed on the face. At block 812B, the face may be
compared to faces
(e.g., face templates) in a database that stores biometric user data, and a
record of user
access rights to venues/events. For example, the face landmarks (e.g., 20
facial features)
may be taken as an input and feature vectors may be generated. The process may
then
search the database to identify a matching user (if any). For example, the
Euclidean distance
between features in the image captured at the venue may be compared to the
Euclidean
distance between features of faces in the database. The database with the
closest matching
Euclidean distance may be considered a match.
[0079]
At block 814B, a confidence score may be generated. The confidence
score may indicate how confident the system is that the facial image matches
are correct.
The confidence score may be based on how close the Euclidean distances between
features
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are, the number of features detected and used in calculating Euclidean
distances, the image
sharpness, the image contrast, and/or other image features.
[0080]
At block 816B, a determination is made as to whether the confidence score
satisfies (e.g., is greater than) a confidence score threshold. If the
confidence score fails to
satisfy the confidence score threshold, at block 818B, an additional form of
identification/authentication data may be used to confirm the match. For
example the
additional form of identification/authentication data may have automatically
been captured or
the user or venue attendant may be prompted to capture the additional form of
identification/authentication data. By way of illustration, if the initial
biometric data is a face
image, the additional identification/authentication data may include iris
pattern data, fingerprint
data, user identifier data (e.g., captured from a barcode from a user device
by a barcode
reader), user device identifier data (e.g., captured from a barcode from the
user device by a
barcode reader), where the additional authentication data may be associated
with a timestamp
(e.g., encoded in a barcode and which may be captured by a barcode reader).
[0081] At block
820B, a determination is made as to whether a match was
successfully found.
[0082]
If a match was not found, at block 822B, a failure message may be
transmitted to a device at the venue which may display a failure indication.
The device may
comprise one or more indicator lights (e.g., red and/or green LED lights)
and/or a flat panel
display. An attendant at the venue entrance may, in response to the failure
indication, refuse
admission to the venue and/or a barrier may be locked or closed (or left
closed) thereby
preventing the person from gaining admission to the venue.
[0083]
If a match is found, at block 824B, the corresponding user record is
accessed and a determination is made as to whether the user has an associated
access token
(e.g., a ticket) for the event at the venue (e.g., at the current date and
time). If the user does
not have an associated access token, at block 826B, a failure message may be
transmitted
to the indicator device at the venue which may display a failure indication.
An attendant at
the venue entrance may, in response to the failure indication, refuse
admission to the venue
and/or a barrier may be locked or closed (or left closed) thereby preventing
the person from
gaining admission to the venue.
[0084]
If the user does have an associated access token, at block 826B, an
admission message may be transmitted to the indicator device at the venue
which may display
an admission indication. An attendant at the venue entrance may, in response
to the access
indication, grant admission to the venue and/or a barrier may be unlocked
thereby providing
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the person access to the venue. Optionally, in addition, seating information
may be transmitted
to a user device, wherein the seating information may be displayed by the user
device so that
the user can access such restricted areas. Optionally, in addition, other
access right indicators
corresponding to access rights to restricted locations within the venue (e.g.,
VIP areas) may
be transmitted to the user device for display. Optionally, in addition, other
indicators
corresponding to rights to services or items (e.g., food, clothing,
memorabilia, etc.) may be
transmitted to the user device for display so that the user can access such
service or items.
[0085]
An aspect of the present disclosure relates, in some aspects, to a
computer-implemented method of electronically authenticating a person at a
venue or event
entry subsystem, comprising (a) assigning a member identifier to a user of a
mobile device
and a mobile device identifier to the mobile device of the user; (b) storing,
in at least one
identifier database, authentication data comprising at least one of the member
identifier and
the mobile device identifier, the identifier database being operatively
coupled to the venue or
event entry subsystem; (c) receiving data at a server, said data being locally
generated on the
mobile device by an application executed on the mobile device, the locally
generated data
being independent of venue and event data and comprising a time of generation
and at least
one of a generated member identifier and a generated mobile device identifier;
(d) comparing,
by the server, the authentication data with the locally generated data; and
(e) sending a signal,
based on the comparison, to the venue or event entry subsystem.
[0086] In some embodiments:
[0087]
(1) the authentication data comprises the mobile device identifier, the
locally generated data comprises the generated mobile device identifier, and
an authenticating
signal is sent if the mobile device identifier of the authentication data
matches the generated
mobile device identifier of the locally generated data; optionally wherein the
authentication
data further comprises the member identifier, the locally generated data
further comprises the
generated member identifier, and the authenticating signal is sent only if the
member identifier
of the authentication data also matches the generated member identifier of the
locally
generated data;
[0088]
(2) the locally generated data by the application is in the form of (A) a two
dimensional visual representation, such as a matrix or QR Code, (B) a barcode,
or (C) a
displayed set of characters;
[0089]
(3) the application is downloaded to the mobile device, optionally from an
application link;
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[0090]
(4) the method further comprises (i) receiving, by the server, a purchase
request for a ticket or tickets from a buyer, the purchase request relating to
at least one ticket;
(ii) storing ticket information relating to the at least one ticket in at
least one ticket information
database, the ticket information database being operatively coupled to the
venue or event
entry subsystem; (iii) associating, by the server, the ticket information with
the member
identifier stored in the at least one identifier database; and (iv) allowing,
if the server sends an
authenticating signal, the user of the mobile device to obtain the at least
one ticket or tickets;
optionally wherein the ticket information includes a representation of (i) a
quantity of the at
least one ticket relating to the purchase request; (ii) a price of at least
one of the at least one
ticket relating to the purchase request; (iii) a time for an event associated
with at least one of
the at least one ticket relating to the purchase request; (iv) a venue for the
event associated
with at least one of the at least one ticket relating to the purchase request;
and (v) ticket
amount, ticket price, event time, and event venue or any combination of the
aforementioned
information;
[0091] (5) the
application executed on the mobile device periodically generates
data, the periodically generated data being the locally generated data
received by the server;
[0092]
(6) an authenticating signal is sent only if the time of generation of the
received locally generated data is within a set of predefined time periods; or
[0093]
(7) the method further comprises calculating a time difference between the
time of generation and a current time, and an authenticating signal is sent
only if the calculated
time difference is less than a set value.
[0094]
Aspects of such authentication techniques, systems, and methods (e.g.,
employing a user device to authenticate a user) are described in U.S. Patent
No. 9147191,
issued September, 29, 2015, titled Mobile Application Barcode Identification
Method And
System.
[0095]
An aspect of the present disclosure relates, in other aspects, to an
electronic authentication apparatus electronically authenticating a person at
avenue or event
entry subsystem, comprising one or more servers, having a memory storing
executable
instructions that when executed by the one or more servers cause the one or
more servers,
to perform the operations of: (a) obtaining authentication data from at least
one identifier
database, the authentication data comprising at least one of a member
identifier assigned to
a user of a mobile device and a mobile device identifier assigned to the
mobile device of the
user, the identifier database being operatively coupled to the venue or event
entry subsystem;
(b) receiving data, said data being locally generated on the mobile device by
an application
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executed on the mobile device, the locally generated data being independent of
venue and
event data and comprising a time of generation and at least one of a generated
member
identifier and a generated mobile device identifier; (c) comparing the
authentication data with
the locally generated data; and (d) sending a signal, based on the comparison,
to the venue
or event entry subsystem.
[0096] In some embodiments:
[0097]
(1) the authentication data comprises the mobile device identifier and the
locally generated data comprises the generated mobile device identifier, and
the instructions
when executed cause the one or more servers to send an authenticating signal
if the mobile
device identifier of the authentication data matches the generated mobile
device identifier of
the locally generated data, optionally wherein the authentication data further
comprises the
member identifier and the locally generated data further comprises the
generated member
identifier, and wherein the instructions when executed cause the one or more
servers to send
the authenticating signal only if the member identifier of the authentication
data also matches
the generated member identifier of the locally generated data;
[0098]
(2) the data generated locally by the application is in the form of (i) a two
dimensional visual representation, such as matrix or QR Code; (ii) a barcode;
or (iii) a
displayed set of characters;
[0099]
(3) the application is downloaded to the mobile device, optionally from an
application link;
[0100]
(4) the instructions when executed further cause the one or more servers
to perform the operations of (i) receiving a purchase request from a buyer,
the purchase
request relating to at least one ticket; (ii) storing ticket information
relating to the at least one
ticket in at least one ticket information database, the ticket information
database being
operatively coupled to the venue or event entry subsystem; (iii) associating
the ticket
information with the member identifier; and (iv) allowing, if the one or more
servers send an
authenticating signal, the user of the mobile device to obtain the at least
one ticket; optionally
wherein the ticket information includes a representation of (A) a quantity of
the at least one
ticket relating to the purchase request; (B) a price of at least one of the at
least one ticket
relating to the purchase request; (C) a time for an event associated with at
least one of the at
least one ticket relating to the purchase request; (D) a venue for the event
associated with at
least one of the at least one ticket relating to the purchase request; and (E)
any combination
of the aforementioned;
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[0101]
(5) the application executed on the mobile device periodically generates
data, wherein the operation of receiving data locally generated by the
application comprises
receiving the periodically generated data; optionally wherein the operation of
allowing the user
of the mobile device to obtain the at least one ticket is performed only if
the time of generation
of the received locally generated data is within a set of predefined time
periods; or
[0102]
(6) the instructions when executed further cause the one or more servers
to perform the operation of calculating a time difference between the time of
generation and
a current time, wherein the one or more servers sends an authenticating signal
only if the
calculated time difference is less than a set value.
[0103] The
mobile device may locally create, i.e., generate anew, a barcode
display uniquely identifying a person (the holder/bearer of the mobile
device).
[0104]
The mobile device may be any of a personal digital assistant (PDA), mobile
phone, or other hand held digital processing and/or communications device. In
a preferred
embodiment, the mobile device is a so called smartphone by way of example and
not
limitation.
[0105]
Applicant's smartphone application provides ticket-holding patrons an
alternative, digital means of verifying personal identification at entry to a
venue or event. The
smartphone application periodically generates a unique QR code (barcode) that
contains a
unique identifier (i.e., mobile device ID) which prompts the venue/event entry
system to
recognize the patron. No barcode (serving as a ticket, or otherwise) is
downloaded from the
system server to the smartphone/mobile device client in contrast to prior art
systems.
[0106]
In a preferred embodiment, a computer-based method electronically
authenticates a person (e.g., patron) at a venue or event entry, or otherwise.
The person may
be a patron, especially an account holding patron. To that end the method
electronically
verifies a person as an account holding patron/customer and electronically
accesses patron
account. The preferred method includes electronically storing in a database an
indication of
a mobile device user and an indication of a certain mobile device for that
user.
[0107]
The database is operatively coupled to the venue or event entry
subsystem. The subsystem may include turnstiles and/or gates, especially those
that are
electronically controlled and operated.
[0108]
Next in the preferred embodiment, the method executes a code generating
program on the certain mobile device. In turn, the mobile device locally
creates and displays
a barcode unique to the mobile device user. The barcode is not based on data
solely driven
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by the venue or event such as, location name, address, event title,
performance name, event
session/showing, etc. In this way, the barcode is independent of venue data
and event data.
[0109]
At the venue or event entry subsystem, the mobile device user displays the
locally created barcode on the certain mobile device. In response, the method:
(a)
electronically reads the barcode from the certain mobile device, (b)
electronically decodes the
barcode into a first indicator portion indicating mobile device user and a
second indicator
portion indicating mobile device, and (c) electronically accesses the database
and compares
the decoded first indicator portion to the database stored indication of the
mobile device user
and compares the decoded second indicator portion to the database stored
indication of the
certain mobile device. Where the comparing results in a match of the first
indicator portion to
the database stored indication of the mobile device user and a match of the
second indicator
portion to the database stored indication of the certain mobile device, the
method
automatically positively authenticates the mobile device user at the venue or
event entry. This
may include opening, unlocking or otherwise allowing the mobile device user to
pass through
the gate or turnstile of the venue or event entry subsystem.
[0110]
In some embodiments, the database also stores user account information.
For each user account, the database stores an indication of one mobile device
of (associated
with) the person (user) holding the account. Restated, per user account, an
indication of the
mobile device user (person holding the account) is associated with an
indication of his certain
mobile device in the database. Also in embodiments, the database per user
account, stores
ticket information of one or more tickets owned by the mobile device user (the
person who
holds the account). However, the venue or event entry subsystem authenticates
identity of
the mobile device user as an individual at the venue or event entry separate
from and
independent of authenticating him as a specific ticket holder (having tickets
to a specific
event).
[0111]
The locally created barcode uniquely identifies the mobile device user that
is the account holding person/patron/customer. The barcode is not based on
data solely
driven by the venue or event such as location name, location address, event
title, performer
name, event session or showing and the like. Instead the barcode is
independent of event
data and venue data.
[0112]
After positively authenticating the mobile device user at the venue or event
entry, the venue or event entry subsystem further (a) retrieves ticket
information from the
database, and (b) allows or otherwise enables the authenticated mobile device
user to redeem
one or more tickets and gain entry to the venue/event.
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[0113] Certain aspects will now be discussed with reference to the
figures.
[0114]
FIG. 1 illustrates an example computer network or similar digital processing
environment in which the techniques disclosed herein may be implemented.
[0115]
Client computer(s)/mobile devices 50 and server computer(s) 60provide
processing, storage, and input/output devices executing application programs
and the like.
Client computer(s)/devices 50 can also be linked through communications
network 70 to other
computing devices, including other client devices/processors 50 and server
computer(s) 60.
Similarly, other supplemental processing or reading devices 21 may be
operatively linked to
server computers 60 through communications network 70. Communications network
70 can
be part of a remote access network, a global network (e.g., the Internet), a
worldwide
collection of computers, Local area or Wide area networks, and gateways that
currently use
respective protocols (TCP/IP, Bluetooth, etc.) to communicate with one
another. Other
electronic device/computer network architectures are suitable.
[0116]
FIG. 2 is a diagram of the internal structure of a computer (e.g., client
processor/device 50 or server computers 60 including supplemental devices 21)
in the
computer system 600 of FIG. 6. Each computer 50, 60, 21 contains system bus
79, where a
bus is a set of hardware lines used for data transfer among the components of
a computer or
processing system. Bus 79 is essentially a shared conduit that connects
different elements of
a computer system (e.g., processor, disk storage, memory, input/output ports,
network ports,
etc.) that enables the transfer of information between the elements. Attached
to system bus
79 is I/O device interface 82 for connecting various input and output devices
(e.g., keyboard,
mouse, displays, printers, speakers, etc.) to the computer 50, 60, 21. Network
interface 86
allows the computer to connect to various other devices attached to a network
(e.g., network
70 of FIG. 6). Memory 90 provides volatile storage for computer software
instructions 92 and
data 94 used to implement aspects of the techniques disclosed herein (e.g.,
mobile device
application 65 including QR code generation, client/server hashing, database
management
31 and supporting code detailed below). Disk storage 95 provides non-volatile
storage for
computer software instructions 92 and data 94 used in implementing aspects of
the
techniques disclosed herein. Central processor unit 84 is also attached to
system bus 79 and
provides for the execution of computer instructions.
[0117]
In one embodiment, the processor routines 92 and data 94 are a computer
program product (generally referenced 92), including a computer readable
medium (e.g., a
removable storage medium such as one or more DVD-ROM's, CD-ROM's, diskettes,
tapes,
non-transient storage, etc.) that provides at least a portion of the software
instructions for the
3001P-SME-CAD1
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disclosed system. Computer program product 92 can be installed by any suitable
software
installation procedure, as is well known in the art. In another embodiment, at
least a portion
of the software instructions may also be downloaded over a cable,
communication and/or
wireless connection. In other embodiments, the programs are a computer program
propagated signal product 607 embodied on a propagated signal on a propagation
medium
(e.g., a radio wave, an infrared wave, a laser wave, a sound wave, or an
electrical wave
propagated over a global network such as the Internet, or other network(s)).
Such carrier
medium or signals provide at least a portion of the software instructions for
the present
routines/program 92.
[0118] In
alternate embodiments, the propagated signal is an analog carrier wave
or digital signal carried on the propagated medium. For example, the
propagated signal may
be a digitized signal propagated over a global network (e.g., the Internet), a
telecommunications network, or other network. In one embodiment, the
propagated signal is
a signal that is transmitted over the propagation medium over a period of
time, such as the
instructions for a software application sent in packets over a network over a
period of
milliseconds, seconds, minutes, or longer. In another embodiment, the computer
readable
medium of computer program product 92 is a propagation medium that the
computer system
50 may receive and read, such as by receiving the propagation medium and
identifying a
propagated signal embodied in the propagation medium, as described above for
computer
program propagated signal product.
[0119]
Generally speaking, the term "carrier medium" encompasses the foregoing
transient signals, propagated signals, propagated medium, storage medium, non-
transient
medium and the like.
[0120]
Turning to FIG. 3, a preferred smartphone 50 embodiment is illustrated. It
is understood that other mobile devices 50 with similar applications program
65 are suitable.
[0121]
Applicant's smartphone application 65 provides ticket-holding patrons an
alternative, digital means of verifying personal identification at entry to
events. The
smartphone application 65 periodically generates (locally creates) a unique QR
code 63 (in
barcode format) that contains a unique identifier (i.e., Mobile ID) which
prompts the system
600 to recognize the customer.
QR Code Content
[0122]
The QR code 63 locally created and generated by the mobile application
65 contains a unique identifier (or iPhoneMD5 for example) consisting of the
customer's
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system Member ID, Mobile ID and Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) date/time.
Application
65 presents (outputs) the QR code 63 in barcode format.
[0123]
At a venue entryway or other electronically controlled (automated) gate
subsystem 23, a scanner/reading device 21 hashes the system Member ID, Mobile
ID and
UTC date/time information from the QR code (barcode) 63 in the following
manner:
MemberID+MobileID+UTCdate/time
+Md5Hash[MemberID+Mobilel D+UTCdate/ti me]
where:
MemberlD is a 64 bit integer using the first six digits from a customer's
unique system
Member ID (e.g., 999999),
MobilelD is a 64 bit integer generated by the system server 60 and
communicated to
mobile application 65 or otherwise input/defined in application 65. The Mobile
ID is tied
directly to the customer's mobile device 50 such that the customer can only
have one system
account tied to one mobile device (e.g., 9999990000000119). Server 60 stores
in database
31, per customer, his system Member ID, his corresponding Mobile ID and ticket
data of his
purchased tickets.
[0124]
UTC date/time is Universal Time and Date (year, month, day followed by
hour, minutes, seconds e.g., 2010-08-05 64:56:33 encoded as 20100805145633).
In one
embodiment, the mobile application 65 locally generates a unique date/time
code every 60
seconds. Other frequencies of date/time code generation are suitable.
[0125]
Md5Hash is a one-way encryption of MemberID+MobileID+UTCdate/time.
System 600 Setup
[0126]
Continuing with FIGS. 6 and 3, database 31 may be a relational or other
configured datastore. It is understood that various system and network
architectures of mobile
devices 50 running application 65, server 60 having database 31 and
cooperating venue entry
subsystems 23, 21 are suitable. For example, a web server 60 with database 31
supports
various and numerous venues, ticketing agents/distributors, brokers and so on
across plural
team sports, entertainment performers and the like, including for example but
not limited to
ticketing for games, concerts, presentations and live performances. Web server
60 with
database 31 may be remote from venue servers 60 which are local to respective
venues. The
web server 60 and venue servers 60 (together with venue subsystem 23 and
reader/scanners
21) may be operatively coupled for communication and processing as a WAN (wide
area
network), LAN (local area network), or other working computer network over a
cable network,
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the Internet, an extranet or the like. Thus, web server 60 and venue servers
60 are generically
referred to as server 60 herein.
[0127] In embodiments, server 60 maintains database 31.
As new
customers/patrons of participating venues become system 600 members, server 60
assigns
respective unique system Member ID and records the same in database 31 (FIG.
5, block 51).
As mentioned above, each customer may 'register' (i.e., indicate to system
600/server 60)
one mobile device 50 to correspond to or be associated with the customer's
system account
(FIG. 5, block 52). Server 60 assigns and records in database 31 a unique
Mobile ID for the
customer (his account). The mobile application 65 is then configured or
parameterized with
the system Member ID (at least the first six digits in one embodiment) and the
Mobile ID, and
ultimately installed on the customer's subject mobile device (50 FIG. 5, block
53). To
accomplish this, server 60 may download 51 mobile application 65 so configured
and
parameterized to subject mobile device 50 through communications network 70 or
otherwise
(FIG. 5, block 54).
[0128] As a
customer purchases tickets 61 to events (FIG. 5, block 55) at the
various participating venues through server 60, system 600/server 60 records
the ticket data
accordingly in database 31 (i.e., tallied under the customer's system account)
(FIG. 5, block
56). A "ticket" is a contractual right to attend avenue at a certain date and
time or for a certain
event. The contractual right may be to a certain seat or area in the venue or
event. To the
extent that an indication of the "ticket" is stored or held electronically, it
is an "eticket" or
"electronic ticket". Common or known technology is employed, and various
techniques for
displaying such tickets are suitable.
Venue Entry
[0129]
A mobile device 50 user runs/executes the application program 65 on the
subject smartphone/mobile device 50. In turn, the executing application
program 65
generates, or more precisely, locally creates the unique QR code (barcode) 63
and displays
the same on the display screen/unit of the subject mobile device 50. Step 39
of FIG. 4 is
illustrative. Note, server 60 of the system 600 is not responsible for
initially creating this unique
barcode 63; mobile device 50 running application 65 is.
[0130] At the
venue gates or entry subsystem 23, a scanner/reading device 21
scans the QR code (barcode) 63 from the mobile device 50 display screen (Step
40, FIG. 4).
Scanner/reading device 21 utilizes common or known barcode reading technology
and is
configured to perform the MD5Hash (or similar hash) as made clear below.
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[0131]
Once the QR code (barcode) 63 is scanned from the display screen of
mobile device 50, the scanner/reading device 21 in electronic communication
with server 60
and database 31 employs a series of checks in order to authenticate the user
attempting to
gain system account access and hence ticket and venue access. The progression
of system
600 checks is as follows and diagrammed in FIG. 4.
[0132]
1. Scanner/reader device 21 first decodes the contents of read barcode 63
(Step 41). This results in a Member ID candidate value, Mobile ID candidate
value and UTC
date/time candidate value.
[0133]
2. Scanner/reader device 21 checks the UTC date/time candidate value to
see if the read barcode 63 has expired or otherwise meets threshold date/time
ranges as
indicated by server 60 (Step 42). If the date/time has expired, scanner device
21 issues an
error message as pertinent.
[0134]
3. Scanner/reader device 21 in communication with server 60 uses the
decoded results for Mobile ID candidate value to find System 600 stored
corresponding
Member ID in database 31. Known database look up and/or download techniques
are used
(Step 43). Server 60 and/or scanner device 21 issues any error message as
pertinent if the
Mobile ID candidate value does not properly index into database 31 or a
corresponding
Member ID is otherwise unable to be found in database 31.
[0135]
4. If no errors have been produced up to this stage, then Step 44 verifies
a hash of read barcode 63 by comparing (a) an MD5 (encrypted) hash of the
Member ID
candidate value + Mobile ID candidate value + UTC date/time candidate value to
(b) MD5Hash
encryption of the system Member ID stored in database 31 + corresponding
Mobile ID stored
in database 31 + UTC date/time candidate value. This effectively authenticates
and verifies
the subject mobile device 50 user.
[0136] It is
understood that Step 44 processing may be performed by and at any
combination of the server 60 and scanner/reader device 21. That is for server
60 processing
Step 44, the server 60 (i) uploads from or otherwise communicates with the
scanner/reader
device 21 the read and decoded Member ID candidate value, the Mobile ID
candidate value
and the UTC date/time candidate value, (ii) utilizes the recently looked-up
stored system
Member ID and corresponding stored Mobile ID from database 31, (iii) executes
the hash
routine on each set of data values and compares the two hash results, and (iv)
communicates
(downloads) the results of the comparison to scanner/reader device 21. Where
the
comparison results in a match, then the user is authenticated (i.e., system
verified).
3001P-SME-CAD1
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[0137]
Alternatively processing may be by or at the scanner/reader device 21(i)
requesting database 31 lookup of the stored Mobile ID corresponding to the
system Member
ID of Step 43 and obtaining (downloading) the results, and (ii) locally
executing the hash
routine on the two sets of data values (stored and candidate) and making the
comparison of
hash results. Where the comparison results in a match, the user is
authenticated (i.e., system
verified).
[0138]
Other configurations of server 60 and/or scanner/reader 21 processing of
Step 44 are suitable.
[0139]
Where the comparison of hash results do not result in a match, then an
error signal or message is provided by the scanner/reader 21.
[0140]
5. Once Member ID, i.e., mobile device user authentication, is confirmed,
scanner/reader device 21 and/or server 60 (step 45) check for tickets in the
user's account as
indicated in database 31. Common database look up using Member ID as an index
is
employed. The corresponding ticket data for this customer/mobile device user
(via Member
ID) may be downloaded from server 60 to venue gate subsystem 23 or
scanner/reader
devices 21.
[0141]
6. Scanner/reader device 21 and/or venue gate subsystem 23 redeems
tickets according to the downloaded ticket data (step 46).
[0142]
Preferably, successful matching of the QR code 63 as read from the user's
mobile device 50 and hashed by the scanner/reader device 21 to that of the
stored data in
database 31, as described above, may result in venue entry and prompts the
scanner device
21 or venue entry subsystem 23t0 print the customer's (mobile device 50
user's) seat locators
and/or other ticket data. Unsuccessful matches prompt the scanner/reader
device 21 or gate
subsystem 23 to deny entry and refer the customer (mobile device user) to the
venue box
office.
[0143]
Thus, the locally generated/created barcode 63 at mobile device 50 is not
an "electronic ticket" to an event/venue (does not indicate venue and event)
but rather is a
digital means of verifying customer identity or authenticating a patron
individual (bearer of the
mobile device). After authentication of the mobile device user is completed,
then system 600
considers (retrieves) the pertinent ticket/event data indicated in the user's
system account
uniquely tied to/associated with the subject mobile device 50.
Exemplary
[0144]
In an example, non-limiting embodiment of system 600, web server 60
supports a website for making ticket transactions between patron/customers and
ticket
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agents/distributors/resellers/brokers/venue box offices and the like, across
multiple
spectator/team sports and live performance-type events. An end user (would be
patron/customer) logs on and registers with the website to become a member of
system 600.
During registration, the end user states his name, address, email address and
a mobile phone
number of his mobile device 50 for example. In turn, server 60 creates a user
account, assigns
a unique Member ID to the end user and assigns a unique Mobile ID for the user
indicated
mobile device 50. Also, Server 60 creates a record in database 31 and stores
or otherwise
holds therein the newly created user account information (including pertinent
user
information), unique Member ID and unique Mobile ID corresponding to the end
user.
[0145] Further
server 60 configures mobile application 65 for use by the end user
on his mobile device 50. In particular, server 60 sets the Mobile ID and
Member ID parameters
in application 65 and downloads 51 the configured/parameterized application 65
to end user
mobile device 50. The downloading 51 may be accomplished by emailing an
application link
to the mobile device 50 or other installation techniques known in the art
(FIG. 5, block 53).
The end user mobile device 50 equipped with the application 65 is able to
create as desired
(on user command) barcode 63 uniquely identifying the end user as the account
holding
member of system 600, i.e., the registered member corresponding to the
respective account.
[0146]
As a registered account holding member of system 600, the end user has
access to various ticket offerings and sales through website/webserver 60. In
one sample
instance, say the end user purchases one or more tickets 61 to an event
through the website
using a credit card to satisfy the financial aspect of the ticketing
transaction. Server 60 records
pertinent ticket data in the database 31 record and account of the end user
indicating for
example, event date/time, venue, title/name of the event, seat/location and
amount paid (FIG.
5, block 56). No paper form of the purchased ticket(s) needs to be mailed,
printed from a
computer screen display or otherwise provided to the end user.
[0147]
On the event day/hour, the end user operates (i.e., executes) the
application 65 on his mobile device 50 and creates barcode 63 on the display
unit/screen of
device 50. At the venue gate 23, a scanner/reader 21 scans and reads barcode
63 from end
user mobile device 50. Scanner/reader 21 and/or venue server 60 in
communication with web
server 60 and database 31 process the read barcode 63 as described in Steps 40-
44 of FIG.
4, and electronically authenticate the end user (i.e., verify his identity as
an account holding,
registered member of system100 and not, at this stage, verifying him as a
certain ticket holder
to the subject event).
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[0148]
Once the end user is authenticated or verified as a system member (not, at
this stage, as a subject event ticket holder) by system 600, server 60 and
scanner/reader 21
access the end user's system account and obtain his ticket/eticket to the
event. This may
redeem the ticket/eticket and operate gate 23 (turnstiles and the like) to
allow passage (entry)
of the end user. Scanner/reader 21, gate 23 or networked printer at the venue
may print a
ticket receipt, seat information and the like for the end user.
[0149]
Optionally, the optical codes discussed herein (e.g., 6 dimensional
barcodes or 2 dimensional barcodes (e.g., QR codes)) may be configured to
enable errors to
be detected and corrected. For example, such errors may be introduced by dirt,
smudges, or
user fingers obscuring the optical code (e.g., displayed on a user's mobile
device). The error
correction may optionally be implemented by adding a
Bose¨Chaudhuri¨Hocquenghem code,
such as a Reed-Solomon Code, to the original data being encoded into an
optical code. The
number of Reed-Solomon Code codewords added may correspond to the number of
codewords that may need to be corrected (e.g., the number of Reed-Solomon Code
codewords added may be twice the number of codewords that may need to be
corrected).
[0150]
The methods and processes described herein may have fewer or additional
steps or states and the steps or states may be performed in a different order.
Not all steps or
states need to be reached. The methods and processes described herein may be
embodied
in, and fully or partially automated via, software code modules executed by
one or more
general purpose computers. The code modules may be stored in any type of
computer-
readable medium or other computer storage device. Some or all of the methods
may
alternatively be embodied in whole or in part in specialized computer
hardware. The systems
described herein may optionally include displays, user input devices (e.g.,
touchscreen,
keyboard, mouse, voice recognition, etc.), network interfaces, etc.
[0151] The
results of the disclosed methods may be stored in any type of computer
data repository, such as relational databases and flat file systems that use
volatile and/or non-
volatile memory (e.g., magnetic disk storage, optical storage, EEPROM and/or
solid state
RAM).
[0152]
The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, routines, and algorithm
steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein can be
implemented as
electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. To clearly
illustrate this
interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components,
blocks,
modules, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their
functionality.
Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon
the
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particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system.
The described
functionality can be implemented in varying ways for each particular
application, but such
implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from
the scope of
the disclosure.
[0153] Moreover,
the various illustrative logical blocks and modules described in
connection with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented or
performed by a
machine, such as a general purpose processor device, a digital signal
processor (DSP), an
application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate
array (FPGA) or other
programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete
hardware components,
or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein.
A general
purpose processor device can be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the
processor
device can be a controller, microcontroller, or state machine, combinations of
the same, or
the like. A processor device can include electrical circuitry configured to
process computer-
executable instructions. In another embodiment, a processor device includes an
FPGA or
other programmable device that performs logic operations without processing
computer-
executable instructions. A processor device can also be implemented as a
combination of
computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a
plurality of
microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core,
or any other
such configuration. Although described herein primarily with respect to
digital technology, a
processor device may also include primarily analog components. A computing
environment
can include any type of computer system, including, but not limited to, a
computer system
based on a microprocessor, a mainframe computer, a digital signal processor, a
portable
computing device, a device controller, or a computational engine within an
appliance, to name
a few.
[0154] The
elements of a method, process, routine, or algorithm described in
connection with the embodiments disclosed herein can be embodied directly in
hardware, in
a software module executed by a processor device, or in a combination of the
two. A software
module can reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory,
EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other
form of a
non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. An exemplary storage medium
can be
coupled to the processor device such that the processor device can read
information from,
and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage
medium can be
integral to the processor device. The processor device and the storage medium
can reside
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in an ASIC. The ASIC can reside in a user terminal. In the alternative, the
processor device
and the storage medium can reside as discrete components in a user terminal.
[0155]
Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, "can," "may,"
"might," "may," "e.g.," and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or
otherwise
understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that
certain
embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features,
elements
and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to
imply that features,
elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or
that one or
more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without other
input or
prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are
to be performed
in any particular embodiment. The terms "comprising," "including," "having,"
and the like are
synonymous and are used inclusively, in an open-ended fashion, and do not
exclude
additional elements, features, acts, operations, and so forth. Also, the term
"or" is used in its
inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so that when used, for
example, to connect a
list of elements, the term "or" means one, some, or all of the elements in the
list.
[0156]
Disjunctive language such as the phrase "at least one of X, Y, Z," unless
specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the context as
used in general to
present that an item, term, etc., may be either X, Y, or Z, or any combination
thereof (e.g., X,
Y, and/or Z). Thus, such disjunctive language is not generally intended to,
and should not,
imply that certain embodiments require at least one of X, at least one of Y,
or at least one of
Z to each be present.
[0157]
While the phrase "click" may be used with respect to a user selecting a
control, menu selection, or the like, other user inputs may be used, such as
voice commands,
text entry, gestures, etc. User inputs may, by way of example, be provided via
an interface,
such as via text fields, wherein a user enters text, and/or via a menu
selection (e.g., a drop
down menu, a list or other arrangement via which the user can check via a
check box or
otherwise make a selection or selections, a group of individually selectable
icons, etc.). When
the user provides an input or activates a control, a corresponding computing
system may
perform the corresponding operation. Some or all of the data, inputs and
instructions provided
by a user may optionally be stored in a system data store (e.g., a database),
from which the
system may access and retrieve such data, inputs, and instructions. The
notifications/alerts
and user interfaces described herein may be provided via a Web page, a
dedicated or non-
dedicated phone application, computer application, a short messaging service
message (e.g.,
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SMS, MMS, etc.), instant messaging, email, push notification, audibly, a pop-
up interface,
and/or otherwise.
[0158]
The user terminals described herein may be in the form of a mobile
communication device (e.g., a cell phone), laptop, tablet computer,
interactive television,
game console, media streaming device, head-wearable display, networked watch,
other
wearable computing device. etc. The user terminals may optionally include
displays, user
input devices (e.g., touchscreen, keyboard, mouse, voice recognition, etc.),
network
interfaces, etc.
[0159]
While the above detailed description has shown, described, and pointed
out novel features as applied to various embodiments, it can be understood
that various
omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the devices
or algorithms
illustrated can be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure.
As can be
recognized, certain embodiments described herein can be embodied within a form
that does
not provide all of the features and benefits set forth herein, as some
features can be used or
practiced separately from others. The scope of certain embodiments disclosed
herein is
indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All
changes which
come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be
embraced within
their scope.
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