Methods and systems of authentication

1. A method of authentication comprising:

conducting a plurality of verification matching transactions between an authentication biometric template and enrollment biometric templates, and between the authentication biometric template and imposter biometric templates with a biometric authentication system, the imposter biometric templates being associated with known imposters;

updating a genuine matching score distribution with at least one genuine matching score generated during said conducting step;

updating an imposter matching score distribution with at least one imposter matching score generated during said conducting step;

calculating a maximum genuine matching score and a minimum imposter matching score;

determining whether the minimum imposter matching score is greater than the maximum genuine matching score; and

confirming an identity of an individual when the minimum imposter matching score is greater than the maximum genuine matching score.

2. A method of authentication in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising conducting a transaction after said confirming step.

3. A method of authentication in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising calculating an equal error rate when the maximum genuine matching score is at least equal to the minimum imposter matching score.

4. A method of authentication in accordance with claim 3 , further comprising:

comparing the equal error rate against an acceptable error rate; and

confirming the identity of the individual when the equal error rate is less than or equal to the acceptable error rate.

5. A method of authentication in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising communicating a message from the biometric authentication system to a portable device notifying a device operator that the identity of the individual was not confirmed.

6. A method of authentication in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising:

photographing the palm of a hand with a device, the hand being positioned freely in space with respect to the device; and

generating the authentication biometric template from the photograph.

7. A method of authentication in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising displaying an outline image on a portable device and an image of desired biometric data on the portable device such that the outline image and biometric data image approximately align.

8. A system for conducting authentication matching transactions comprising:

an authentication system including an authentication database, said authentication system being configured to communicate with devices and to store within said database authentication data for a plurality of individuals, matching scores, and matching score distributions; and

a device configured to communicate with at least said authentication system and to capture biometric data positioned freely with respect to said device, said authentication system being further configured to

generate an authentication biometric template from captured biometric data,

conduct matching transactions between the authentication biometric template and enrollment biometric templates stored therein, and between the authentication biometric template and imposter biometric templates stored therein,

generate a genuine matching score distribution and an imposter matching score distribution, and calculate a maximum genuine matching score and a minimum imposter matching score, and

confirm an identity of an individual associated with the captured biometric data when the minimum imposter matching score is greater than the maximum genuine matching score.

9. A system for conducting matching transactions in accordance with claim 8 , said authentication system being further configured to:

update the genuine matching score distribution with at least one genuine matching score generated during a matching transaction; and

update the imposter matching score distribution with at least one imposter matching score generated during the matching transaction.

10. A system for conducting matching transactions in accordance with claim 9 , said authentication system being further configured to calculate an equal error rate when the maximum genuine matching score is at least equal to the minimum imposter matching score.

11. A system for conducting matching transactions in accordance with claim 10 , said authentication system being further configured to:

compare the equal error rate against an acceptable error rate; and

confirm the identity of the individual when the equal error rate is less than or equal to the acceptable error rate.

12. A system for conducting matching transactions in accordance with claim 8 , said device being one of the following:

a smart phone;

a tablet computer;

a television;

a personal computer;

a personal digital assistant;

a camera; and

a laptop computer.

13. A system for conducting matching transactions in accordance with claim 8 , said authentication system being further configured to:

communicate a message to said device notifying a device operator that the identity of the individual has been confirmed; and

conduct a transaction after confirming the identity of the individual.

14. A system for conducting matching transactions in accordance with claim 8 , said device being further configured to:

display an outline image and a desired biometric data image; and

capture the desired biometric data when the outline image and the desired biometric data image align.

15. A method of authentication comprising:

conducting matching transactions between an authentication biometric template and enrollment biometric templates and between the authentication biometric template and imposter biometric templates with a biometric authentication system;

updating a matching score distribution and a imposter score distribution with results generated during said conducting step;

determining whether a minimum imposter matching score is greater than a maximum genuine matching score; and

confirming an identity of an individual when the minimum imposter score is greater than the maximum genuine matching score.

16. A method of authentication in accordance with claim 15 , further comprising calculating an equal error rate when the maximum genuine matching score is at least equal to the minimum imposter matching score.

17. A method of authentication in accordance with claim 16 , further comprising:

comparing the equal error rate against an acceptable error rate; and

confirming the identity of the individual when the equal error rate is less than or equal to the acceptable error rate.