Method of matching, biometric matching apparatus, and computer program

A biometric matching apparatus comprising

• a receiver for receiving a first set of minutia points of a fingerprint reading;
• a memory access circuit arranged to access a memory holding at least a second set of minutia points of a fingerprint template;
• and
• a processing device connected to the receiver and the memory access circuit, and arranged to determine whether the first set of minutia points match the second set of minutia points by
• for a first minutia point in respective set, being assigned as a planet minutia point
• a) determine pairs including the planet minutia point and a satellite minutia point, respectively, such that a cluster is formed around the first minutia point in the respective set with the satellite minutia points;
• b) compare the clusters of the respective sets which have matching features of the pairs between the sets and excluding non-matching satellites;
• c) count links in the cluster formed by remaining pairs of the planet minutia point and the satellite minutia points;
• and
• d) for remaining satellite minutia points, perform a) to c) with respective satellite minutia point assigned as planet minutia point to form a supercluster by iteration of steps a) to d) and superaddition of the clusters of each iteration wherein link count is stored such that an aggregate link count is available after the iteration such that the aggregate link count is achieved as the supercluster is built;
• calculate a score of the supercluster based on the aggregate counted links;
• and
• compare the score with a threshold, wherein the respective fingerprint reading and template are considered to emanate from fingers which are idem if the score reaches the threshold, such that an output indicating whether the fingerprint reading and template match is provided.