Abstract: The present invention provides a confidential information management system which allows users to securely obtain confidential information files containing various confidential information, which files are securely stored in the present system, anywhere and anytime, using a minimum of confidential information. A confidential information file and encoding/decoding software are downloaded to an information terminal from a confidential information managing server and an encoding/decoding software managing server, respectively, so that the confidential information file is decoded on the information terminal by using the encoding/decoding software. The present system is applicable to various (computer) systems which store and manage confidential information (ID numbers, passwords, encryption keys, digital certificates, etc.) for use in user verification.

Abstract: In a system (e.g., debit card) where a PIN is entered as verification, the PIN and biometric information, which is free of being stolen or faked, are combined to realize secure user verification. The leakage and the theft of a PIN is reliably prevented, thereby realizing a high security ability. To-be-verified biometric feature data is transmitted from first transceiving interface (205) of data processing device (200) to portable electronic device (300). Biometric feature data verifying section (306) of portable electronic device (300) compares the to-be-verified biometric feature data, which has been received by second transceiving interface (301), with valid biometric feature data.

Abstract: A system can certify that electronic data has been notified and published on a network. The system comprise an information providing server having a published information storing function and a published information bulletin function, and a viewing-access-log recording server having a data trapping function and a data storing function. The system is widely used as a service certifying that various information from a company has been notified and published as electronic data on the communication network, or that various technical information has been published as electronic data on the communication network to be public knowledge.

Abstract: When a customer purchase a commodity via an e-commerce system, the customer's terminal sends a seller's terminal an order for a commodity and designates a non-residential place other than a residential place of the customer as a delivery destination, the seller's terminal notifies the customer's terminal transaction identification (ID) information peculiar to the order and requests the payment agent's terminal for payment for the commodity, for which the customer's terminal made the order, using the transaction ID information, the seller's terminal makes arrangements to deliver the commodity to the non-residential place, and the commodity is transferred to an receiver for the commodity at the non-residential place. With this e-commerce method for an e-commerce system, it is possible to protect personal information (e.g. address, name, telephone number) of a consumer. It is further possible to protect privacy information, such as preference, thought, and belief of individual person.

Abstract: A mobile electronic apparatus in which various functions can be easily added without impairing the mobility and without making any change in the hardware. The mobile electronic apparatus is carried by its authorized user to perform various types of electrical information processing, and has an attachment part detachably attached to a main body of the apparatus for performing a predetermined function, which attachment part has an input/output section for inputting/outputting information. The apparatus also has an interface section for transferring input/output signals relating to the information between the attachment part and the main body. The invention is applicable in mobile electronic apparatus having an attachment part detachably attached thereto, internet appliances such as cell phones, mobile electronic information terminals, and PDAs.

Abstract: A system performing secondary verification using only existing apparatuses to accomplish a measure for relief in personal authentication without causing complexity or without increasing cost. The system has a registering apparatus for obtaining data for verification from information inputted using an inputting unit and registering the data. The registering apparatus has a first extracting unit for extracting biometrics characteristic data from the biometrics information obtained by the inputting unit, and registering the biometrics characteristic data as registry biometrics characteristic data for primary verification, and a second extracting unit for extracting data, which is different from the registry biometrics characteristic data, from information inputted using the inputting unit and registering the data as registry data for secondary verification.

Abstract: A mobile electronic apparatus in which biometrics information, free from being stolen or faked by a unauthorized person, is used for user verification, virtually perfectly protecting an authorized user's personal data stored in a storing section of the apparatus. A verifying section compares a user's biometrics feature information with the authorized user's reference biometrics feature information to discriminate whether the fingerprint feature information for verification matches the reference fingerprint feature information. If it matches, a display control section reads out the personal data stored in the storing section and controls a display section to display the read-out personal data.

Abstract: A feature point information calculating unit calculates the connection of a feature point extracted by a feature point extracting unit through a ridge. An identifying unit identifies the connection state of the feature point calculated by the feature point information calculating unit.

Abstract: There is provided an uneven-surface data input apparatus capable of obtaining a fingerprint image which is seldom distorted, in which it is unnecessary to conduct image processing when the fingerprint image is inputted.

Abstract: An optical device for forming an image of an uneven surface, including a plane-parallel plate with a pair of parallel plane surfaces which is made of a transparent material having a refractive index larger than that of water and transparent to illuminating light. An uneven object (object having an uneven surface) is placed in close contact with one plane surface of the plane-parallel plate. A light source illuminates the uneven object through the plane-parallel plate. Among light rays scattered back into the plane-parallel plate by the uneven object and totally reflected at the other plane surface of the plane-parallel plate, only light that is totally reflected at an angle larger than the critical angle at the boundary between the plane-parallel plate and water is taken in by an image-forming device.

Abstract: An apparatus used in fingerprint identification for extracting minutia data from fingerprint image data. An optical sensor unit optically produces a sequence of fingerprint image data during a single operation of pressing a fingerpad onto an inspection plate in a direction substantially transverse to the plate and with increasing pressure over a time interval. A data storing unit stores the produced fingerprint image data in the form of a sequence of fingerprint image data obtained during the single operation of pressing the fingerpad onto the inspection plate. The stored fingerprint image data is utilizable for identification of the fingerprint.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting and identifying a biological object. A transparent plate has a first surface onto which a light beam is projected and a second surface onto which a biological object to be detected and identified is placed. The light beam projected toward the first plate surface is transmitted through the plate and toward the object on the second surface, from which the light beam is reflected and retransmitted through the plate toward and through the first surface thereof and received and detected by an optical detector. The detection of a biological object is confirmed by comparing the change of the wavelength characteristics of the reflected and detected light beam in a predetermined time sequence according to the object being first placed upon and then pressed upon the second surface of the transparent plate with respective, known such characteristics thereof.

Abstract: A biological detecting system comprising a light source; a condensing optical system for condensing a light beam from the light source and irradiating the surface of a sample to be detected with a spot of light, an imaging optical system for condensing light reflected or scattered by an irradiated portion of the sample and forming an image of the irradiated portion at a predetermined location, and a photodetector arranged at the predetermined location to detect the size of the image of the irradiated portion and output a detection signal indicating the detected size of the image.

Abstract: An uneven surface data detection apparatus for detecting an uneven surface, such as a human finger, having projected portions and recessed portions. A transparent base having upper and lower surfaces and an upper surface defining an uneven surface contact portion is provided, and a light is incident on the uneven surface so that the light derived from the recess portions enters to the transparent base and comes out thereof. However, a part of the light derived from the projected portions is totally reflected at least one time by the lower opposite surface and focussing lens is integrally formed on the transparent base so that the totally reflected light is drawn out of transparent base and enters to an image sensor.