Biometric verification of a blockchain database transaction contributor
A blockchain database employs cryptography and other methods to implement and protect a distributed, publicly-amendable ledger. Transactions in a blockchain ledger are intentionally anonymous; however, there are cases where it would be useful to be able to verify or disprove a claim of identity of a contributor of a blockchain transaction. Biometrics can be used to link a human being to digital information using their unique physical traits in a way that is analogous to a handwritten or digital signature. An exemplary embodiment disclosed herein describes methods to create and store data in a blockchain transaction such that it can be used in the future to biometrically verify the identity of the contributor of the transaction, and use encoded biometric data to determine whether the blockchain transaction was created or not created by a particular individual.
1. A method of enrolling a contributor to a blockchain transaction, the method comprising:
generating a public/private key pair, wherein the public/private key pair comprises a public key and a private key;
obtaining a first biometric sample;
generating a first set of biometric features from the first biometric sample;
generating a pseudonymous identifier and auxiliary data, comprising using a pseudonymous identifier encoder to embed the first set of biometric features with the public key;
amending a blockchain transaction request with one or more of the pseudonymous identifier and auxiliary data;
using the public key to sign the blockchain transaction request;
verifying the blockchain transaction request by:
obtaining a second biometric sample, generating a second set of biometric features from the second biometric sample;
generating a pseudonymous identifier prime from the second set of biometric features; and
comparing the pseudonymous identifier with the pseudonymous identifier prime.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining whether the pseudonymous identifier matches the pseudonymous identifier prime; and
based on the determination, verifying an identity of the contributor.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein determining whether the pseudonymous identifier matches the pseudonymous identifier prime comprises using a pseudonymous identifier recoder to embed the second set of biometric features with the public key and auxiliary data.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pseudonymous identifier encoder further embeds the first set of biometric features with the public key and a first supplemental data.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the pseudonymous identifier further comprises using a one-way function to cryptographically secure the pseudonymous identifier.
6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the pseudonymous identifier recoder further embeds the second set of biometric features with the public key, the auxiliary data and a second supplemental data.
7. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
determining whether the pseudonymous identifier prime matches the pseudonymous identifier; and
after determining the pseudonymous identifier prime matches the pseudonymous identifier, making a verification decision.