IP Library Granted Patent US 9,473,305
Granted Patent B2
US 9,473,305 · App. 14/922,769 · Granted Oct 18, 2016

Computer program and method for biometrically secured, transparent encryption and decryption

Inventor: Erix Pizano (Tampa, FL)
Assignee: Ceelox Patents, LLC
H04L9/3242G06F21/602G06F21/6218G06F21/6245H04L63/06H04L63/0861G06F2221/2107H04L63/0428
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,473,305
App. No.
14/922,769
Granted
Oct 18, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A computer program for enabling secured, transparent encryption and decryption provides a user interface that allows a user to drag and drop files into and out of a secure repository and automatically encrypts files transferred into the repository and automatically decrypts files transferred out of the repository. The user can transfer file folders into the repository, wherein the program encrypts all of the files within the folder and retains the original file/folder structure, such that individual files can be moved within the repository, moved out of the repository, and opened or executed directly from the repository. The program requires the user to submit biometric data and grants access to the secure repository only if the biometric data is authenticated. The program generates an encryption key based at least in part on biometric data received from the user. Additionally, the program destroys the key after termination of each encryption/decryption session.

Claims (53)

1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with an executable program stored thereon for enabling a secure storage system for storage of first and second data items, wherein the first and second data items are associated with information associated with a security template of a user for authentication of the user's identity, wherein the program instructs at least one processor to perform the following steps:

receive an instruction from the user to transfer a one of the first and second data items to or from the secure storage system;

receive information associated with an authentication template of the user to access the one of the first and second data items during a session;

compare the information associated with the authentication template with the information associated with the security template and information associated with one or more secondary templates;

upon the information associated with the authentication template correlating with the information associated with the security template, generate a key corresponding to said one of the first and second data items to be transferred,

wherein the first data item corresponds to a first key, the second data item corresponds to a second key, and the first key is different than the second key;

if the received instruction is to transfer the one of the first and second data items to the secure storage system, encrypt the one of the first and second data items using said generated key and store the one of the first and second data items in the secure storage system; and

if the received instruction is to transfer the one of the first and second data items from the secure storage system, decrypt the one of the first and second data items using said generated key and remove the one of the first and second data items from the secure storage system.

2. The medium of claim 1 , wherein the information associated with the authentication template of the user is biometric information.

3. The medium of claim 2 , wherein the information associated with the authentication template of the user is fingerprint information.

4. The medium of claim 2 , wherein the information associated with the authentication template of the user is facial characteristic information.

5. The medium of claim 1 , wherein the information associated with the authentication template of the user includes biometric information and password information.

6. The medium of claim 1 , wherein the generated key is an AES256 key.

7. A method of enabling secure storage of a plurality of user data items on device including a storage medium, comprising the steps of:

receiving a request, from a user, to access the device;

enabling the user to provide biometric information associated with the user in order to be granted access to the device;

receiving, from the user, the biometric information associated with the user;

generating, from the biometric information associated with the user, an authentication template for the user;

comparing information associated with the authentication template for the user with information associated with a security template stored on the device and information associated with one or more secondary templates stored on the device;

determining that the authentication template for the user corresponds to the security template stored on the device;

providing access, in response to the determination, to the storage medium;

receiving a request to access a user data item of the plurality of user data items on the storage medium; and

decrypting, using a data item key accessible if the authentication template for the user corresponds to the security template stored on the device, the user data item,

wherein each user data item of the plurality of user data items has a different data item key.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the biometric information associated with the user is fingerprint information.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the device includes an integrated fingerprint scanner for receiving fingerprint information.

10. The medium of claim 7 , wherein the biometric information associated with the user is facial characteristic information.

11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising the step of discarding the biometric information associated with the user after generating the authentication template for the user.

12. The method of claim 7 , further comprising the steps of:

in response to the request from the user to access the device, providing the user with the option of authenticating via biometric data or password data;

receiving, from the user, an indication that the user desires to authenticate via password;

receiving, from the user, a password submission;

determining that the password submission corresponds to a password template stored on the device;

providing access, in response to the determination, to the storage medium; and

decrypting, using a data item key accessible if the password submission corresponds to the password template stored on the device, the user data item.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the data item key accessible if the password submission corresponds to the password template stored on the device is the same as the data item key accessible if the authentication template for the user corresponds to the security template stored on the device.

14. A device storing encrypted user data, comprising:

a fingerprint scanner;

a processor; and

a storage medium storing a plurality of encrypted user data items and one or more computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to perform a method of controlling access to the encrypted user data comprising the steps of:

receiving a request, from a user, to access the device;

enabling the user to either provide fingerprint information or password information to access the device;

receiving, from the user, fingerprint information of the user;

generating, from the fingerprint information, an authentication template for the user;

comparing information associated with the authentication template for the user with information associated with a security template stored on the device and information associated with one or more secondary templates stored on the device;

determining that the authentication template for the user corresponds to the security template stored on the device;

providing access, in response to the determination, to the storage medium;

receiving a request to access an encrypted user data item of the plurality of encrypted user data items on the storage medium; and

decrypting, using a data item key accessible if the authentication template for the user corresponds to the security template stored on the device, the encrypted user data item,

wherein each encrypted user data item of the plurality of user data items has a different data item key.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the method further comprises the step of discarding the fingerprint information of the user after generating the authentication template for the user.

16. The device of claim 14 , wherein the data item key accessible if the authentication template for the user corresponds to the security template stored on the device is stored on the storage medium in encrypted form.

17. The device of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of encrypted user data items are stored on the storage medium in a file system comprising folders, sub-folders, and encrypted data files.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2017
From: CEELOX PATENTS, LLC
To: KNAPP INVESTMENT COMPANY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 041534/0023 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Apr 11, 2016
From: CIP, LLC
To: CEELOX PATENTS, LLC
Reel/Frame 038240/0577 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Apr 11, 2016
From: CEELOX INC.
To: CIP, LLC
Reel/Frame 038240/0594 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 11, 2016
From: PIZANO, ERIX
To: CEELOX INC.
Reel/Frame 038240/0613 →
Continuity (8)
Continuation 14451075 · Aug 4, 2014
Continuation 13867832 · Apr 22, 2013
Continuation 13285641 · Oct 31, 2011
Continuation 12906826 · Oct 18, 2010
Continuation 11549206 · Oct 13, 2006
Continuation In Part 13153906 · Jun 6, 2011
Continuation 11380810 · Apr 28, 2006
Related Publication 20160204943A1 · Jul 14, 2016