The present
system and method enables the automatic detection and identification of authorized users within proximity of a computing apparatus and, after verifying, using biometric detection and analysis, that the user is authorized to access the target, providing the user with such access. The
system comprises a
computer appliance target requiring
authentication of a user in order to access the target, including
software stored on and executing from the target, a biometric
input device, and a
transceiver enabling short-range
wireless communication with other
wireless capable devices; a
database accessible to the target; and a
beacon device associated with the user, including at least a
transceiver and a locally stored encrypted identity token associating the device with the identity of the user; wherein the
transceiver on the target periodically scans for the
beacon device within the short-range, and upon detection, establishes communication with the
beacon device and requests the identity token, the beacon device receives the request and sends the identity token back to the target which decrypts and validates the token by comparing token data with stored token data in the
database and upon successful decryption and validation of the identity token, the
software initializes a biometric
test input to positively identify the user in possession of the beacon, wherein the
software of the target attempts to match the biometric input with second biometric input of the user stored in the
database and upon a successful match, unlocks the target and allows the user to operate the target.