Abstract: A self-service kiosk includes a biometrics data input for inputting biometrics of a user of the kiosk, a reader for recovering biometrics data stored on a portable storage device such as an optical card, the portable storage device also containing information necessary to carry out a transaction, and a controller capable of comparing the input biometrics data with the stored biometrics data and authorizing a transaction based on a result of the comparison. Alternatively, or in addition to the above, the self-service kiosk may include a device for capturing an image of a customer/registrant, a biometrics capture device, and a data input device for enabling registration information to be entered and stored on a portable storage device such as an optical memory card together with the image and/or biometrics data, the portable storage device being dispensed to the customer/registrant immediately upon registration.

Abstract: A modular point-of-sale image display terminal combines magnetic stripe and optical card technology to ensure compatibility with existing networking systems while permitting images stored on the optical card to be decoded and displayed in order to provide additional security for sales and other transactions or services which require authentication of the card and/or verification of the identity of the cardholder. The design of the terminal is modular, permitting flexibility for different applications and simple upgradeability. In addition, the terminal is provided with modem communications while also being capable of functioning as a stand-alone terminal.

Abstract: A system for the secure storage and transmission of data utilizes a visual algorithm to encode sensitive data in a secure manner onto a data card or other storage device. Whether a photograph or other image, data representing pixels are encoded by scrambling them one color at a time, with scrambling instructions being encoded in the pixels themselves. A character assigned to each color is used for additional verification of the authorization during decoding. In a preferred embodiment, the time of encoding is the basis for the characters assigned to respective colors.