Patent US 5,202,929

A system and method are provided for enabling and recording operations relating to computers and computer peripheral equipment wherein sensitive or secret data is to be entered and stored or processed and data of a similar nature is accessible from memory or calculating circuits. In particular, the invention involves electronic means for sensing or scanning one or more physical characteristics of a person or persons to enter and/or receive data from a computer and generating signals indicative of such physical characteristic(s) which signals are automatically analyzed and compared with signals for enabling the operation of the computer. In addition, a code signal or signals are generated which is used to identify the person entering and receiving data from the computer, which code signal is recorded for record purposes along with information indicative of the information entered and/or received from the computer. Such information may be provided on-line at a monitor station remote from a data entry and retrieval station or readily available from memory for routine analysis during auditing or investigation of error or fraud. In a particular form of the invention, both the presence of a person at a computer terminal and an identifying characteristic of such person are sensed and used to enable the entry and retrieval of data.