________________________________________________________________________________ United States Patent 5,878,155 Heeter Mar. 2, 1999 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Method for verifying human identity during electronic sale transactions Abstract A method is presented for facilitating sales transactions by electronic media. A bar code or a design is tattooed on an individual. Before the sales transaction can be consummated, the tattoo is scanned with a scanner. Characteristics about the scanned tattoo are compared to characteristics about other tattoos stored on a computer database in order to verify the identity of the buyer. Once verified, the seller may be authorized to debit the buyer's electronic bank account in order to consummate the transaction. The seller's electronic bank account may be similarly updated. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Inventors: Heeter; Thomas W. (55 Lyerly, Houston, TX 77022). Appl. No.: 709,471 Filed: Sept. 5, 1996 Intl. Cl. : G06K 9/00 Current U.S. Cl.: 382/115 Field of Search: 382/115, 116, 124-127, 100, 128, 133; 348/77, 15, 161; 209/3.3, 555; 356/71; 340/825.34; 235/379, 380, 382 ________________________________________________________________________________ no copyright 2000 rolux.org - no commercial use without permission. is a moderated mailing list for the advancement of minor criticism. more information: mail to: majordomo@rolux.org, subject line: , message body: info. further questions: mail to: rolux-owner@rolux.org. archive: http://www.rolux.org