JP2008197895A - Pos terminal, and biological authentication unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce time required for collation by enhancing the accuracy of personal identification in authentication. <P>SOLUTION: A POS terminal 2 includes a wireless reader 222, a biological information sensor 12 and an information processor 201. The wireless reader 222 communicates with a radio tag 4 storing a readable identification ID, and acquires the identification ID stored in the radio tag 4. The information processor 201 acquires biological information corresponding to the acquired identification ID from a storage storing the biological information, and temporarily stores it as second biological information. When first biological information of an examinee 3 to be identified is input from the biological information sensor 12, the information processor 201 decides biological information most similar to the first biological information from among the tentatively stored second biological information, and performs authentication using the identification ID corresponding to the biological information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a POS terminal that performs biometric authentication for sign-on processing and a biometric authentication device that performs biometric authentication.

  Conventionally, biometric authentication using information (biological information) of a part of a human body such as a fingerprint, a vein, and an iris is performed as means for specifying a user who uses the device. In biometric authentication, there are a 1: 1 authentication method (Verify type) and a 1: N authentication method (Identify type) as a method for collating input biometric information with biometric information that is comparatively symmetric. The 1: 1 authentication method is a method in which a person to be identified inputs an identification ID, and biometric information corresponding to the identification ID called from a database or the like is compared with the biological information input by the person to be identified to determine a match / mismatch. It is. On the other hand, the 1: N authentication method does not require the input of an identification ID, and the biometric information input by the person to be identified among all the biometric information registered in advance in association with the identification ID in a database or the like. The biometric information most similar to is identified as the same biometric information input by the person to be identified.

  For example, Patent Document 1 includes means for acquiring an identification ID transmitted from a wireless tag possessed by a user and means for acquiring the user's biological information, and the acquired biological information and the acquired identification. There is disclosed a user information acquisition device that compares biometric information registered in advance corresponding to an ID and identifies whether or not the user is a valid user. The biometric authentication performed by the user information acquisition device described in Patent Document 1 is a 1: 1 authentication method in which the biometric information corresponding to the identification ID and the biometric information input by the user are collated to determine a match / mismatch. is there.

JP-A-2005-148982

  Since biometric information such as fingerprints, vein patterns, and retina patterns used in biometric authentication is graphic information, the biometric information is digitized by a predetermined method and collated. If the threshold value for determining the coincidence / mismatch of the biometric information to be compared is set too high at the time of collation, it will be easy for the person who rejects the same biometric information to be judged as non-matching. On the other hand, the threshold value is set low. Then, it is easy to generate other people's acceptance that it is determined that even biological information that is originally different matches. That is, in biometric authentication, there is a problem that the accuracy of person identification varies depending on the threshold setting.

  The 1: 1 authentication method is compared with the 1: N authentication method. The 1: N authentication method is highly convenient for the person to be recognized because it does not require input of an identification ID. However, since the 1: N authentication method is a method for specifying biometric information that is most similar to biometric information input from a plurality of biometric information registered in advance, compared to the 1: 1 authentication method. Other people are likely to be accepted. In the 1: N authentication method, the time required for authentication increases as the number of biometric information registered in advance increases.

  An object of the present invention is to perform biometric authentication that increases the accuracy of identification and shortens the time required for verification.

  The invention of the POS terminal according to claim 1 and any one of claims 2, 4, and 5 dependent thereon, a wireless reader capable of acquiring the identification ID from a wireless tag storing an identification ID, and a person to be identified A biometric information sensor that acquires the biometric information as first biometric information, an information processing unit that executes information processing, and a storage unit that stores the identification ID and the biometric information in association with each other. Means for acquiring biometric information associated with all of the identification IDs currently recognized by the wireless reader as second biometric information, and the information processing unit includes the first biometric information and Means for comparing the second biological information and determining the second biological information most similar to the first biological information; and the information processing unit corresponds to the biological information determined to be the most similar Before being attached It authenticates the identification ID, and means for transition to sign on state.

  The invention of the POS terminal according to any one of claims 3 and 4 and 5 dependent thereon is a wireless capable of acquiring the identification ID and the biological information from a wireless tag storing the identification ID and the biological information. A reader, a biometric information sensor that acquires biometric information of the person to be identified as first biometric information, an information processing unit that executes information processing, and the information processing unit are all acquired by the wireless reader from the wireless tag. Means for acquiring the biometric information as the second biometric information, and the information processing unit compares the first biometric information with the second biometric information, and is most similar to the first biometric information. The means for determining the second biological information and the information processing unit authenticate with the identification ID stored in the wireless tag storing the biological information determined to be the most similar, and enter the sign-on state. Migration And means that, a.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a biometric information device including a radio reader capable of acquiring the identification ID from a radio tag storing an identification ID, a biometric information sensor acquiring biometric information of the identified person as first biometric information, and The information processing unit that executes information processing, and all the identifications that the information processing unit recognizes as being currently read by the wireless reader from the storage unit that stores the identification ID and biological information in association with each other The means for acquiring the biological information associated with the ID as the second biological information, and the information processing unit compares the first biological information with the second biological information, and the first biological information Means for determining the second biological information most similar to the information, and means for outputting the biological information determined to be the most similar by the information processing unit.

  According to the present invention, since the second biometric information to be compared with the first biometric information input from the biometric information sensor is limited, 1: N authentication is performed. The biometric authentication which shortened and shortened the time required for collation can be performed.

[System Overview]
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a scheme for realizing processing performed in the biometric authentication system.

  The biometric authentication system according to the present embodiment includes a wireless tag 4 and a POS terminal 2.

  The wireless tag 4 is carried by each clerk 3 who is an identified person. The wireless tag 4 stores, in advance, an identification ID uniquely assigned to the store clerk 3 and biometric information unique to the store clerk 3 in a ROM 303 (see FIG. 5) that forms part of the hardware configuration. Such a wireless tag 4 is, for example, an RFID chip embedded in a cash card-sized plastic flat plate-shaped employee ID card. This RFID chip has an identification ID for identifying the store clerk 3 assigned to each store clerk 3. A fingerprint template in which the employee number uniquely assigned is extracted as a biometric information unique to the clerk 3 and the characteristic points of the fingerprint of the clerk 3 are stored.

  The POS terminal 2 is installed in each of a plurality of accounting lanes provided in the store. Each POS terminal 2 includes a wireless reader 222, a biological information sensor 12, an input unit 8, and an information processing unit 201 (see FIG. 3). Among these, the wireless reader 222, the biometric information sensor 12, and the information processing unit 201 constitute the biometric authentication device 1. The biometric authentication device 1 is configured as a part of the POS terminal 2.

  The wireless reader 222 can perform short-range wireless communication with all the wireless tags 4 located within the communicable area, and can acquire information stored individually in all of the wireless tags 4.

  The biometric information sensor 12 is a device that reads and acquires biometric information unique to each store clerk 3 and is, for example, a fingerprint sensor that can read the fingerprint of the person to be identified. Hereinafter, the biological information read from the biological information sensor 12 is referred to as “first biological information”. Such a wireless reader 222 is, for example, an RFID reader that can communicate with an RFID chip embedded in an employee ID card and acquire information stored therein.

  The information processing unit 201 (see FIG. 3) executes various types of information processing of the POS terminal 2 and also executes various types of processing in biometric authentication. In a part of the RAM 204 (see FIG. 3) constituting the information processing unit 201, an area of the cache memory 204a capable of temporarily storing data is secured.

  The input unit 8 is, for example, a touch panel that accepts data input such as product registration information.

  In the system constructed as described above, the clerk 3 signs on the POS terminal 2 when performing the product registration process using the POS terminal 2 or ends the product registration process at the POS terminal 2. At this time, the POS terminal 2 is switched to the sign-off state. Further, when the clerk 3 who has signed on with the POS terminal 2 being signed on temporarily leaves the POS terminal 2, the POS terminal 2 shifts to an unusable state in which no data input is accepted. When the clerk 3 signing on again approaches the POS terminal 2 that is in an unusable state, the unusable state of the POS terminal 2 is released. From the point of view of the POS terminal 2, the POS terminal 2 determines the operation and behavior of the store clerk 3, and the sign-on process for identifying the cashier that operates the POS terminal 2 is identified. The sign-off process for shifting the POS terminal 2 in the sign-on state to the sign-off state, the lock process for shifting the POS terminal 2 in the sign-on state to the unusable state, and the lock for releasing the unusable state of the POS terminal 2 Each process of cancellation is performed, and the state of the POS terminal 2 is switched. The biometric authentication device 1 provided in the POS terminal includes the clerk 3 who is signed on when performing the personal authentication when the clerk 3 signs on the POS terminal 2, the transition to the unusable state of the POS terminal 2, and the cancellation thereof. Used for personal authentication when identifying

  In the biometric authentication system, as shown in FIG. 1, the biometric authentication device 1 performs three types of processing, biometric information acquisition processing, biometric authentication processing, and lock switching processing, to perform personal authentication.

  The biometric authentication device 1 executes biometric information acquisition processing at predetermined time intervals while the POS terminal 2 is in the sign-off state. In the biometric information acquisition process, the information processing unit 201 acquires an identification ID and biometric information from the wireless tag 4 that stores the identification ID and biometric information, and associates the identification ID with the biometric information. This is a process of temporarily storing in the cache memory 204a. Hereinafter, the biological information acquired from the wireless tag 4 is referred to as “second biological information”.

  That is, when the store clerk 3 approaches the POS terminal 2, the wireless reader 222 executes short-range wireless communication with the wireless tag 4 carried by the store clerk 3, and the identification ID and biometric information are obtained from all the wireless tags 4 that can be read. And get. The acquired identification ID and second biological information are temporarily stored and held in the cache memory 204a only while the wireless reader 222 is in near field wireless communication with the wireless tag 4. Details of the data structure of data managed in the cache memory 204a will be described later with reference to FIG.

  When biometric information is input from the biometric information sensor 12 while the POS terminal 2 is in the sign-off state, the biometric authentication device 1 executes biometric authentication processing. In the biometric authentication process, the information processing unit 201 compares the first biometric information with the second biometric information, determines the second biometric information that is most similar to the first biometric information, and is the most similar. This is a process for signing on the POS terminal 2 with the identification ID associated with the determined biological information.

  When the store clerk 3 approaches the POS terminal 2 to input biometric information from the biometric information sensor 12, the cache memory 204a includes the wireless tag 4 carried by the store clerk 3 who wants to input biometric information, The identification ID of the wireless tag 4 carried around by another store clerk 3 around the POS terminal 2 and performing short-range wireless communication with the wireless reader 222 and the second biological information corresponding thereto are temporarily stored. . When the biometric information unique to the clerk 3 is input from the biometric information sensor 12, the information processing unit 201 converts all the second biometric information temporarily stored in the cache memory 204a to the first biometric information. The second biometric information that is most similar to the first biometric information is determined. Then, the information processing unit 201 performs a process of signing on the POS terminal 2 for the identification ID corresponding to the second biometric information determined to be most similar to the first biometric information, and sets the POS terminal 2 in the sign-off state. To sign on.

  The biometric authentication device 1 executes the lock switching process at a predetermined time interval while the POS terminal 2 is in the sign-on state. In the lock switching process, for the POS terminal 2 in the sign-on state, the information processing unit 201 describes the identification ID used by the wireless reader 222 for sign-on (hereinafter, this identification ID is referred to as “sign-on ID”). ) Is determined not to be read for a predetermined time, the POS terminal 2 is shifted to an unusable state, and when it is recognized that the wireless reader 222 is reading the sign-on ID again, the unusable state of the POS terminal 2 is released. It is processing to do.

Details of the POS terminal 2 and the wireless tag 4 constituting the biometric authentication system as described above will be further described below.
[POS terminal]
FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the POS terminal 2.

  The POS terminal 2 is configured to be integrated with the drawer 6 in a state where the POS terminal main body 5 is placed on the drawer 6. The upper surface of the housing 7 constituting the external appearance of the POS terminal main body 5 is slightly inclined so that the front side is lowered. An input portion 8 for inputting data is provided on the right side of the upper surface of the housing 7. On the back side of the input unit 8, a cashier display unit 9 is erected from the upper surface of the housing 7 with the information display surface facing the front side. On the further back side of the cashier display unit 9, a customer display unit 10 is erected from the upper surface of the housing 7 with the information display surface facing the back side. An external device interface 212 (see FIG. 3) is provided on the rear surface of the housing 7. The external device interface 212 is connected to a barcode scanner 11 that reads a barcode and a biological information sensor 12 that reads biological information.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the POS terminal 2.

  The POS terminal 2 is an information processing unit that executes information processing, which includes a CPU 202 that centrally controls each unit of the POS terminal 2, a ROM 203 that stores fixed data, and a RAM 204 that stores variable data in a rewritable manner. 201. The ROM 203 also stores a processing program for executing transmission processing of various data such as temporary sales data and sales confirmation data. In addition, an area of the cache memory 204a capable of temporarily storing data is secured in a part of the RAM 204.

  The information processing unit 201 is connected to the HDD 206, the LAN interface 207, the cashier display unit control unit 208, the customer display unit control unit 209, the drawer control unit 210, the input unit control unit 211, the external device interface 212, and the like via the system bus 205. A wireless reader control unit 213 is connected. The cashier display unit control unit 208 has the cashier display unit 9, the customer display unit control unit 209 has the customer display unit 10, the drawer control unit 210 has the drawer 6, and the input unit control unit 211 has the input. The barcode scanner 11 and the biological information sensor 12 are connected to the external device interface 212, and the wireless reader 222 is connected to the wireless reader control unit 213.

  The LAN interface 207 connects the POS terminal 2 to the host server that stores the PLU file via the LAN network 101 so that data communication is possible.

  The wireless reader 222 includes an antenna 223 that transmits and receives data to and from the wireless tag 4.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a data structure of temporary storage data managed by the information processing unit 201.

The cache memory 204a transmits the identification ID 401 stored in the wireless tag 4 acquired by the wireless reader 222 and the identification ID 401 to the storage unit in which the information processing unit 201 stores biometric information to be authenticated in advance. The second biometric information 402 obtained by inquiry is associated with and temporarily stored. The second biometric information 402 is temporarily stored in the cache memory 204a in the form of numerical data obtained by extracting feature points of the fingerprint or vein pattern as a template, not in the form of graphic data such as a fingerprint or vein pattern. The
[Wireless tag]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the wireless tag 4.

  The wireless tag 4 includes an information processing unit 301 that executes information processing, which includes a CPU 302 that centrally controls each unit of the wireless tag 4, a ROM 303, and a RAM 304. The ROM 303 has an identification ID for identifying the store clerk 3 and biometric information unique to the store clerk 3 templated in the same manner as the second biometric information 402 (see FIG. 4) stored in the cache memory 204a. Is remembered. A wireless transmission unit 305 including an antenna 306 is connected to the information processing unit 301.

  Note that the wireless tag 4 of this embodiment is a passive wireless tag that does not receive a power supply and does not receive power supply when performing short-range wireless communication with the wireless reader 222 without incorporating a battery, but as another embodiment, When the wireless tag 4 has a built-in power source such as a battery and performs short-range wireless communication with the wireless reader 222, the wireless tag 4 can be an active wireless tag that is activated by receiving external power from the battery.

Various processes executed by the information processing unit 201 in the biometric authentication system configured to include the POS terminal 2 and the wireless tag 4 configured as described above will be described.
[Biometric information acquisition processing]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of biometric information acquisition processing executed by the information processing unit 201. FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing a data transmission / reception process performed between the wireless tag 4 and the POS terminal 2 when the biometric information acquisition process is executed. Hereinafter, description will be given according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 and the timing chart shown in FIG.

  The information processing unit 201 starts biometric information acquisition processing at a predetermined time interval while the POS terminal 2 is in the sign-off state. The time interval (for example, every 5 seconds) at which the information processing unit 201 starts the biological information acquisition process can be changed as appropriate according to the setting.

  When the wireless reader 222 receives an identification ID acquired by short-range wireless communication with the wireless tag 4 within a predetermined detection time after the information processing unit 201 starts the biological information acquisition process (Y in ST11), information The processing unit 201 acquires second biological information corresponding to the received identification ID (ST12). As shown in FIG. 7, the detection time is shorter than the time interval at which the information processing unit 201 starts the biological information acquisition process.

  In the present embodiment, the wireless tag 4 stores biometric information in addition to the identification ID. The wireless reader 222 also acquires the second biological information from the wireless tag 4 together with the identification ID. Therefore, the information processing unit 201 receives and acquires the second biological information together with the identification ID at the time of performing the process of ST12.

  As a subsequent process, the information processing unit 201 temporarily stores the received identification ID and the corresponding second biological information (ST13). More specifically, the information processing unit 201 inquires whether all the received identification IDs are temporarily stored in the cache memory 204a. Then, the information processing unit 201 associates the identification ID that is temporarily stored in the cache memory 204a and acquired by the information processing unit 201 with the second biological information corresponding to the identification ID. The identification ID and the second biometric information corresponding thereto are deleted from the cache memory 204a for the identification ID that is added to 204a and temporarily stored in the cache memory 204a but not received by the information processing unit 201. In this way, the information processing unit 201 performs a process of updating the identification ID and the second biological information temporarily stored in the cache memory 204a, and ends the biological information acquisition process.

On the other hand, when the predetermined time has elapsed without receiving any identification ID since the information processing unit 201 started the biological information acquisition process (N in ST11, Y in ST14), the information processing unit 201 The identification ID and the second biological information temporarily stored in the memory 204a are deleted (ST15), and the biological information acquisition process is terminated.
[Biometric authentication processing]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of biometric authentication processing executed by the information processing unit 201. Hereinafter, description will be given according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When the first biometric information is input from the biometric information sensor 12 while the POS terminal 2 is in the sign-off state, the information processing unit 201 starts biometric authentication processing.

  First, when starting the biometric authentication process, the information processing unit 201 calculates the similarity between the second biometric information temporarily stored and the first biometric information input from the biometric information sensor 12 (ST21). ). The similarity is a quantitative expression of the degree of similarity by comparing the biometric information input at the time of authentication with biometric information registered in advance. For example, when the biometric information is a fingerprint and the minutia matching method is adopted as a method for collating fingerprints, the information processing unit 201 determines each feature point (branch point, end point, delta, etc.) from the input first biometric information. And the direction of the ridge are extracted as fingerprint features and digitized into a fingerprint template, which is also digitized as a fingerprint template and compared with second biological information temporarily stored. In such a minutiae matching method, the number of matching feature points when fingerprints are collated is calculated as the similarity. In the minutiae matching method, the higher the similarity, the higher the degree of similarity between the compared fingerprints.

  As processing subsequent to the information processing unit 201 calculating the similarity for each of the second biological information, the information processing unit 201 uses the second similarity that is most similar to the first biological information based on the calculated similarity. Information is determined (ST22), and it is determined whether the similarity is equal to or higher than a preset threshold (ST23).

  When the similarity of the second biological information determined to be the most similar is equal to or greater than the threshold (Y in ST23), the information processing unit 201 authenticates the POS terminal 2 for the identification ID corresponding to the second biological information. Perform (ST24).

On the other hand, when the similarity of the second biological information determined to be the most similar is less than the threshold (N in ST23), the information processing unit 201 stores the second biological information temporarily stored in the cache memory 204a. It is determined that there is no biometric information identical to the first biometric information, and an error message indicating that authentication has failed is displayed on the cashier display unit 9 (ST25).
[Lock switching process]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of lock switching processing executed by the information processing unit 201. Hereinafter, a description will be given according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  The information processing unit 201 starts the lock switching process at a predetermined time interval while in the sign-on state. The time interval (for example, 5 second interval) at which the information processing unit 201 starts the lock switching process can be changed as appropriate according to the setting, similarly to the time interval at which the biological information acquisition process is performed.

  If the sign-on ID is received from the wireless reader 222 within a predetermined detection time after the information processing unit 201 starts the lock switching process (Y in ST31), if the POS terminal 2 is in an unusable state, the information processing Unit 201 releases the unusable state and ends the lock switching process (Y in ST32, ST33). On the other hand, if the POS terminal 2 is not in an unusable state (N in ST32), the information processing unit 201 ends the lock switching process without performing anything. This detection time is also shorter than the time interval at which the information processing unit 201 starts the lock switching process, as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, when the predetermined time has passed without receiving the sign-on ID from the wireless reader 222 even though the lock switching process is started (N in ST31, Y in ST34), the information processing unit 201 performs information processing. Unit 201 performs a lock process for switching POS terminal 2 to the unusable state (ST35), and ends the lock switch process.
[Action]
In the biometric authentication device 1 that executes the above-described process, the second biometric information to be compared with the first biometric information input from the biometric information sensor 12 is temporarily stored in the cache memory 204a and limited. In addition, in the 1: N authentication, since it is compared with only the second biometric information temporarily stored in the cache memory 204a, biometric authentication that increases the accuracy of identification and shortens the time required for verification is performed. It can be carried out.

  That is, when the information processing unit 201 executes the biometric information acquisition process, the identification IDs of all the wireless tags 4 that can be read by the wireless reader 222 existing around the POS terminal 2 in the cache memory 204a and the second IDs corresponding thereto. The biometric information is temporarily stored. When the first biometric information is input from the biometric information sensor 12, the information processing unit 201 performs a biometric authentication process and compares it with only the second biometric information temporarily stored in the cache memory 204a. The degree of similarity with the first biological information is calculated. That is, since the wireless reader 222 does not perform short-range wireless communication with the wireless tag 4 carried by the clerk 3 who is not around the POS terminal 2, all the biological information registered in advance is stored in the cache memory 204a. The biometric information corresponding to the identification ID of the wireless tag 4 that is not subject to communication is removed and temporarily stored. Since the biometric information that has not been temporarily stored in the cache memory 204a is excluded from the comparison target in the 1: N authentication executed in the biometric authentication process, the comparison is performed with all the biometric information to be authenticated 1 : Time required for authentication can be shortened compared to N authentication. Further, when the authentication target biometric information to be compared with the first biometric information is narrowed down, the biometrics similar to the second biometric information narrowed down so that it is erroneously recognized as the same as the first biometric information. Since the probability that information exists is low, it is possible to increase the accuracy of identification of the person who is authenticated.

  Further, when the POS terminal 2 is in the sign-on state, the information processing unit 201 records the data input from the input unit 8 in the log file as data input by the store clerk 3 corresponding to the sign-on ID. Various processes such as are performed.

  Here, while the POS terminal 2 is in the sign-on state, it is recognized that the wireless reader 222 has not read the sign-on ID for a predetermined time, for example, when the clerk 3 who has signed on moves to a position away from the POS terminal 2. Then, the information processing unit 201 switches the POS terminal 2 to an unusable state. This unusable state is, for example, a data input lock state in which data input from the input unit 8 is not accepted. While the POS terminal 2 is in an unusable state, the information processing unit 201 discards input data such as product registration information input from the input unit 8 without receiving it. When the wireless reader 222 reads the sign-on ID again because the clerk 3 approaches the POS terminal 2 while the POS terminal 2 is in the unusable state, the information processing unit 201 cancels the unusable state of the POS terminal 2. The data input from the input unit 8 is accepted again. On the other hand, even if the wireless reader 222 reads another identification ID different from the sign-on ID while the POS terminal 2 is in an unusable state, the information processing unit 201 does not cancel the unusable state of the POS terminal 2. In this way, in the lock switching process executed by the information processing unit 201, the clerk 3 simply moves away from the POS terminal 2 that has signed on without performing any special operation, and the POS terminal 2 shifts to an unusable state. For this reason, it is possible to prevent so-called “spoofing” in which an illegitimate operation is performed when another person impersonates the clerk 3 and the POS terminal 2 is operated while the clerk 3 is not operating the POS terminal 2. .

  Here, the communicable distance in which the wireless tag 4 and the wireless reader 222 can perform wireless communication will be described.

  The communication method performed between the wireless tag and the wireless reader is based on an induction electromagnetic field generated by magnetically coupling the antenna coil of the wireless tag and the antenna coil of the wireless reader and causing a current to flow through the coil of the wireless reader. There are an electromagnetic induction method for starting a tag and a microwave method for receiving and transmitting an electromagnetic wave radiated from an antenna of a wireless reader by an antenna of the wireless tag. The frequency band of 13.56 MHz or 135 kHz is used for the electromagnetic induction method, and the frequency band of 2.45 GHz or 900 MHz is used for the microwave method. In the microwave method, communication is possible even when the distance between the wireless tag and the wireless reader is longer than in the electromagnetic induction method.

  Furthermore, from the viewpoint of power supply for starting the wireless tag, the wireless tag is classified into a passive type that does not include a battery and an active type that includes a power source such as a battery. A passive wireless tag does not operate unless the antenna provided in the wireless tag receives an induction electromagnetic field or electromagnetic wave from the wireless reader, and the transmitted radio wave is weak in radio wave intensity, so that it can communicate with the wireless reader. The communicable distance is short. On the other hand, an active wireless tag has a built-in battery and is activated by electric power of the battery or the like to emit radio waves, so that the communicable distance is increased.

  In other words, the communicable distance at which the wireless tag and the wireless reader can communicate is determined by the performance and combination of the wireless tag and the wireless reader, and the wireless reader detects a wireless tag that is located closer than the communicable distance. can do. For example, in the case of a passive type wireless tag that communicates by an electromagnetic induction method, the communicable distance between the wireless reader and the wireless tag is about 1 m at maximum, and in the case of a passive type wireless tag that communicates by a microwave method The communicable distance is 3 to 5 m. If the wireless tag is an active type that communicates using the microwave method, the communicable distance can be further expanded. In recent years, regulations have been relaxed by the Radio Law, and frequencies of around 950 MHz (UHF band) can be used. Therefore, electromagnetic waves that can be transmitted by a wireless reader can also use electromagnetic waves of various frequencies. It has become like this.

In the biometric authentication system of the present embodiment, by appropriately selecting the method of the wireless tag 4 and the wireless reader 222, the communicable distance is adjusted, and a plurality of wireless tags 4 existing around the wireless reader 222 are detected. can do. If the wireless tag 4 and the wireless reader 222 are selected so as to increase the communicable distance, the wireless reader 222 can detect the wireless tag 4 over a wide range.
[Another embodiment]
Next, another embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In this case, the same portions as those in the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is also omitted.

  In the biometric authentication system of the embodiment described above, the identification ID and biometric information of the clerk 3 are stored in the wireless tag 4, whereas in the biometric authentication system of another embodiment of the present invention, the POS terminal 2 is stored. Separately, a server is provided as an independent unit, and the identification ID of the clerk 3 and the biological information are stored in association with this server. That is, in this embodiment, the server serves as a storage unit that stores the identification ID and the biological information in association with each other in advance.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a scheme for realizing a biometric information acquisition process that is a part of the process executed in the biometric authentication system of the present embodiment.

  The biometric authentication system of this embodiment is configured by adding a server 14 to the biometric authentication system of the above-described embodiment. The server 14 has a computer configuration, is installed in the store, and is connected to the POS terminal 2 via the LAN network 101 so as to be capable of data communication. In a storage area provided in the server 14, an identification ID and biological information are stored in association with each other. When the server 14 receives the identification ID transmitted from the POS terminal 2, the server 14 performs a process of transmitting authentication target biometric information corresponding to the identification ID to the POS terminal 2.

  In the wireless tag 4 of the present embodiment, only the identification ID corresponding to each clerk 3 is recorded. Therefore, the wireless reader 222 according to the present embodiment is assigned to each clerk 3 that the wireless tag 4 individually stores from all the wireless tags 4 that can be read by short-range wireless communication with the wireless tag 4. Only the identification ID is acquired.

  The information processing unit 201 of the POS terminal 2 according to the present embodiment acquires the biological information transmitted from the server 14 as the second biological information, and temporarily stores it in the cache memory 204a in association with the identification ID.

  FIG. 11 is a timing chart showing data transmission / reception processing performed between the wireless tag 4, the POS terminal 2, and the server 14 in the present embodiment.

In the biometric information acquisition process executed by the information processing unit 201 of the present embodiment, in the process performed in ST13 of FIG. 6, the information processing unit 201 transmits the identification ID acquired from the wireless tag 4 to the server 14, The biometric information corresponding to the transmitted identification ID is inquired and acquired. Upon receiving the identification ID transmitted from the POS terminal 2, the server 14 transmits biometric information corresponding to the identification ID to the POS terminal 2. The information processing unit 201 of the POS terminal 2 receives the biological information transmitted from the server 14, and temporarily stores it in the cache memory 204a in association with the identification ID.
[Action]
Also in the biometric authentication apparatus of the present embodiment, the biometric information corresponding to the identification ID of the wireless tag 4 that can be read by the wireless reader 222 is executed in the biometric authentication process as in the above-described embodiment 1: Since it is excluded from the comparison target in the N authentication, the time required for the authentication can be shortened compared to the 1: N authentication performed in comparison with all the authentication target biometric information. Furthermore, since the second biometric information that is most similar to the first biometric information is determined after narrowing down the biometric information stored in the storage unit to be compared with the first biometric information, the identification accuracy of the person in biometric authentication is determined. Can be increased. In the authentication device according to the present embodiment, since the wireless tag 4 does not store biometric information, even if the wireless tag 4 is stolen or lost, the biometric information of the clerk 3 leaks from the wireless tag 4. Can be prevented.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the scheme which implement | achieves the process performed with a biometrics authentication system. It is an external perspective view of a POS terminal. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of a POS terminal. It is a schematic diagram which shows the data structure of the temporary storage data which an information processing part manages. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of a wireless tag. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the biometric information acquisition process which an information processing part performs. It is a timing chart which shows the transmission / reception process of the data performed between a wireless tag and a POS terminal when a biometric information acquisition process is performed. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the biometrics authentication process which an information processing part performs. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the lock switching process which an information processing part performs. It is a schematic diagram which shows the scheme which implement | achieves the biometric information acquisition process which is a part of process performed with the biometrics authentication system of another embodiment. It is a timing chart which shows the transmission / reception process of the data performed between a wireless tag, a POS terminal, and a server.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Biometric authentication apparatus, 2 ... POS terminal, 3 ... Sales clerk (identified person), 4 ... Wireless tag, 12 ... Biometric information sensor, 14 ... Server (memory | storage part), 201 ... Information processing part, 222 ... Wireless reader, 204a ... Cache memory 401 ... Identification ID 402 ... Second biological information

Claims (6)

A wireless reader capable of acquiring the identification ID from a wireless tag storing the identification ID;
A biological information sensor that acquires biological information of the person to be identified as first biological information;
An information processing unit for executing information processing;
The information processing unit stores biometric information associated with all the identification IDs that are recognized as being currently read by the wireless reader from a storage unit that stores the identification ID and biometric information in association with each other. Means for obtaining the biometric information of 2;
Means for comparing the first biological information with the second biological information and determining the second biological information most similar to the first biological information;
Means for performing authentication by the identification ID associated with the biometric information determined to be the most similar to the information processing unit and shifting to a sign-on state;
POS terminal equipped with. The storage unit is a server as an independent unit that is connected to the information processing unit so as to be capable of data communication.
The POS terminal according to claim 1. A wireless reader capable of acquiring the identification ID and the biological information from a wireless tag storing an identification ID and biological information;
A biological information sensor that acquires biological information of the person to be identified as first biological information;
An information processing unit for executing information processing;
Means for acquiring, as the second biological information, all the biological information acquired by the wireless reader from the wireless tag by the information processing unit;
Means for comparing the first biological information with the second biological information and determining the second biological information most similar to the first biological information;
Means for performing authentication by the identification ID stored in the wireless tag storing the biometric information determined to be the most similar by the information processing unit and shifting to a sign-on state;
POS terminal equipped with.   The POS terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the wireless tag is an active wireless tag. When the information processing unit determines that the wireless reader has not acquired the identification ID used for the authentication for a predetermined time when the POS terminal is in a sign-on state, means for shifting to an unusable state;
When the information processing unit determines that the wireless reader is currently acquiring the identification ID used for the authentication when the POS terminal is in an unusable state, means for canceling the unusable state;
The POS terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: A wireless reader capable of acquiring the identification ID from a wireless tag storing the identification ID;
A biological information sensor that acquires biological information of the person to be identified as first biological information;
An information processing unit for executing information processing;
The information processing unit stores biometric information associated with all the identification IDs that are recognized as being currently read by the wireless reader from a storage unit that stores the identification ID and biometric information in association with each other. Means for obtaining the biometric information of 2;
Means for comparing the first biological information with the second biological information and determining the second biological information most similar to the first biological information;
Means for outputting the biological information determined by the information processing unit to be the most similar;
A biological information device.

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