Methods and systems for improved biometric identification

1. A method of identifying a person located in a defined geographic area using an electronic device, the electronic device including at least one memory unit that includes stored biometric data for a set of people, the method comprising:

obtaining biometric information from the person in the defined geographic area and information related to one or more devices located within the defined geographic area;

obtaining, from a stored set of associations between people and devices, one or more identified people based on the information related to one or more devices located within the defined geographic area;

reducing the set of people to a subset of people based on the one or more identified people;

detecting a sufficient match between the biometric information and the stored biometric data associated with an individual from the set of people; and

outputting a signal identifying said individual as the person and indicating a confidence level in the identification, the signal indicating a high confidence level when the person is from the subset of people and a low confidence level when the person is from the set of people but not from the subset of people.

2. The method claimed in claim 1 , further comprising determining the devices that are located within the defined geographic area.

3. The method claimed in claim 2 , wherein the determining the devices that are located within the defined geographic area is based on data from one or more local access points in a wireless network.

4. The method claimed in claim 1 , wherein the stored set of associations includes a plurality of devices identifiers and, for each device identifier, one or more user identifiers.

5. The method claimed in claim 1 , wherein reducing the set of people includes finding the subset as an intersection between the set of people and the one or more identified people.

6. The method claimed in claim 1 , wherein the stored biometric data includes a biometric profile for each person in the set of people.

7. The method claimed in claim 1 , wherein the biometric information includes one of a fingerprint scan, a facial image, an iris scan, a retinal scan, a palm pattern image, a vein pattern image, or a voice recording.

8. The method claimed in claim 1 , further comprising granting reduced-access to the person in response to a request for access when the signal indicates the low confidence level.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising requesting second factor authentication from said individual.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising requesting second factor authentication from said individual when the signal indicates the low confidence level.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the signal indicates a security clearance level of the person.

12. A system for identifying a person located in a defined geographic area, the system comprising:

at least one memory unit that includes stored biometric data for a set of people; and

an electronic system having:

at least one biometric input device to obtain biometric information from the person in the defined geographic area,

a communications unit to obtain information related to one or more devices located within the defined geographic area and to obtain, from a stored set of associations between people and devices, one or more identified people based on the information related to one or more devices located within the defined geographic area, and

a processor to reduce the set of people to a subset of people based on the one or more identified people, detect a sufficient match between the biometric information and the stored biometric data associated with an individual from the set of people, and cause output of a signal identifying said individual as the person and indicating a confidence level in the identification, the signal indicating a high confidence level when the person is from the subset of people and a low confidence level when the person is from the set of people but not from the subset of people.

13. The system claimed in claim 12 , further comprising a localized device detector to determine the devices that are located within the defined geographic area.

14. The system claimed in claim 13 , wherein the localized device detector is to determine the devices that are located within the defined geographic area is based on data from one or more local access points in a wireless network.

15. The system claimed in claim 12 , wherein the stored set of associations includes a plurality of devices identifiers and, for each device identifier, one or more user identifiers.

16. The system claimed in claim 12 , wherein the processor is to reduce the set of people by finding the subset as an intersection between the set of people and the one or more identified people.

17. The system claimed in claim 12 , wherein the stored biometric data includes a biometric profile for each person in the set of people.

18. The system claimed in claim 12 , wherein the biometric information includes one of a fingerprint scan, a facial image, an iris scan, a retinal scan, a palm pattern image, a vein pattern image, or a voice recording.

19. The system claimed in claim 12 , wherein the processor is to request second factor authentication from said individual.

20. The system claimed in claim 12 , wherein the defined geographic area includes a union of two or more separate areas connected by a communications system, and wherein the processor is located in one of the two or more separate areas, and the person is located in another of the two or more separate areas.

21. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processor is to request second factor authentication from said individual when the signal indicates the low confidence level.

22. The system of claim 12 , wherein the signal indicates a security clearance level of the person.