Operator interactive pattern processing system

An interactive method for performing a succession of processing functions in relation to an unknown pattern to extract data characterizing said pattern for subsequent comparison with data characterizing at least one of plural pattern types to determine a match therebetween, said processing functions being performed selectively in an automatic, continuous succession, and in an interrupted succession with operator interaction requested by the method, in accordance with method determination of satisfactory performance of successive said processing functions, comprising the steps of:

• storing data defining preestablished classification types of said patterns,
• automatically extracting classification defining data from a given pattern,
• comparing the extracted and the stored classification defining data to determine a degree of match therebetween,
• establishing a required degree of match to determine satisfactory performance of said matching function and responsive to the degree of match determined by said comparing steps to identify a preestablished classification type for which the degree of match is satisfied as the classification type of the said given pattern, and to request operator interaction when the said required degree of match is not satisfied,
• selectively displaying the given pattern in accordance with an operator interaction request, and
• providing means manually operable by an operator in response to an operator interaction request for extracting classification defining data from the displayed, said given pattern, and enabling said comparing step to perform the function of automatic classification of the pattern by comparing the manually extracted classification defining data for the said given pattern with the stored classification defining data to identify the classification type of the said given pattern.

An interactive method for performing a succession of processing functions in relation to an unknown pattern to extract data characterizing said pattern for subsequent comparison with data characterizing at least one of plural pattern types to determine a match therebetween, said processing functions being performed selectively in an automatic, continous succession, and in an interrupted succession with operator interaction requested by the method, in accordance with method determination of satisfactory performance of successive said processing functions, comprising the steps of:

• storing data defining preestablished classification types of said patterns,
• automatically extracting classification defining data from a given pattern,
• comparing the extracted and the stored classification defining data to determine a degree of match therebetween,
• establishing a required degree of match to determine satisfactory performance of said matching function and responsive to the degree of match determined by said comparing steps to identify a preestablished classification type for which the degree of match is satisfied as the classification type of the said given pattern, and to request operator interaction when the the said required degree of match is not satisfied,
• selectively displaying the given pattern in accordance with an operator interaction request, and
• providing means manually operable by an operator in response to an operator interaction request for extracting classification defining data from the displayed, said given pattern, and enabling said comparing step to perform the function of automatic classification of the pattern by comparing the manually extracted classification defining data for the said given pattern with the stored classification defining data to identify the classification type of the said given pattern,
• said selective method selectively displaying the manually extracted classification defining data and, simultaneously and in superposed relationship, the stored classification defining data for a given classification type, and
• said manually operable means selectively displaying said stored classification defining data corresponding to plural different preestablished classification types to enable manual comparison of the manually extracted classification defining data with the stored data defining the plural preestablished classification types.

An interactive method for performing a succession of processing functions in relation to an unknown pattern to extract data characterizing said pattern for subsequent comparison with data characterizing at least one of plural pattern types to determine a match therebetween, said processing functions being performed selectively in an automatic, continuous succession, and in an interrupted succession with operator interaction requested by the method, in accordance with method determination of satisfactory performance of successive said processing functions, comprising the steps of:

• storing data defining preestablished classification types of said patterns,
• automatically extracting classification defining data from a given pattern,
• comparing the extracted and the stored classification defining data to determine a degree of match therebetween,
• establishing a required degree of match to determine satisfactory performance of said matching function and responsive to the degree of match determined by said compring steps to identify a preestabished classification type for which the degree of match is satisfied as the classification type of the said given pattern, and to request operator interaction when the said required degree of match is not satisfied,
• selectively displaying the given pattern in accordance with an operator interaction request, and
• providing means manually operable by an operator in response to an operator interaction request for extracting classification defining data from the displayed, said given pattern, and enabling said comparing step to perform the function of automatic classification of the pattern by comparing the manually extracted classification defining data for the said given pattern with the stored classification defining data to identify the classification type of the said given pattern,
• said classification defining data including triradii points, core points, and contour line and wherein said preestablished classification types include predetermined numbers and combinations of respective ones of said triradii points and core points and wherein there is further provided the step of
• responding selectively to the number and combinations of respective ones of said triradii and core points extracted from a given pattern which do not correspond to those of preestablished classification types of patterns to determine an unsatisfactory performance of the classification function and thereby to request operator interaction

An interactive method for identifying an unknown pattern by comparison with stored patterns, each such pattern being characterized uniquely by a minutiae pattern and a configuration of contour lines, wherein an automatic portion of said method comprises the steps of:

• scanning an unknown pattern;
• automatically extracting minutiae data describing said minutiae pattern from said scanned pattern;
• storing said extracted minutiae data;
• storing the minutiae data of each of a plurality of previously identified patterns in addressable locations;
• selectively addressing and retrieving said stored minutiae date;
• automatically comparing said extracted minutiae data with retrieved minutiae data corresponding to selected ones of said plurality of patterns in succession and producing a match signal when said compared data matches within predetermined limits;
• indicating the identity of said corresponding pattern for each match signal;
• generating a first output signal when no match signals are produced;
• and
• generating a second output signal when more than a predetermined number of match signals are produced;
• said interactive system further comprises the steps of;
• providing interactive communication between said automatic portion of said method and a human operator, wherein said step of interactive communication includes the step of requesting operator verification of said automatically extracted minutiae data when said first or second output signals are generated;
• selectively displaying said automatically extracted minutiae data, said unknown pattern, said retrieved minutiae data corresponding to said selected ones of said plurality of patterns for which a match signal is produced;
• and
• entering correct minutiae data and deleting incorrect extracted minutiae data in storage;
• and
• instructing said automatic portion of said method to automatically compare said corrected extracted minutiae data with said retrieved minutiae data corresponding to said selected ones of said plurality of patterns.

An interactive system for performing a succession of processing functions in relation to an unknown pattern to extract minutiae data therefrom uniquely identifying the pattern for subsequent comparison with minutiae data corresponding extracted from at least one known such pattern to determine a match therebetween, said processing functions being performed selectively in an automatic, continuous succession, and in an interrupted succession with operator interaction requested by the system, as a function of system determination of satisfactory performance of each said processing function, comprising:

• means for storing said minutiae data of said at least one known such pattern,
• means for comparing the extracted and the stored minutiae data to determine a degree of match therebetween,
• means establishing a required degree of match to determine satisfactory performance of said matching function and responsive to the degree of match determined by said comparing means to request operator interaction when said required degree of match is not satisfied, and to identify the given pattern as the known pattern for which the required degree of match is satisfied,
• means for selectively displaying the given pattern in response to an operator interaction request and for selectively displaying the automatically extracted minutiae data in superposed relationship thereon, and
• manually operable means for selectively correcting and supplementing the automatically extracted minutiae data to enable said comparing means to automatically compare the selectively corrected and supplemented minutiae data extracted from said given pattern with said stored minutiae data.

An interactive system for performing a succession of processing functions in relation to an unknown pattern to extract data characterizing said pattern for subsequent comparison with data characterizing at least one of plural pattern types to determine a match therebetween, said processing functions being performed selectively in an automatic, continuous succession, and in an interrupted succession with operator interaction requested by the system, in accordance with system determination of satisfactory performance of successive said processing functions, comprising:

• means for storing data defining preestablished classification types of said patterns,
• means for automatically extracting classification defining data from a given pattern,
• means for comparing the extracted and the stored classification defining data to determine a degree of match therebetween,
• means establishing a required degree of match to determine satisfactory performance of said matching function and responsive to the degree of match determined by said comparing means to identify a preestabilished classification type for which the degree of match is satisfied as the classification type of the said given pattern, and to request operator interaction when the said required degree of match is not satisfied,
• means for selectively displaying the given pattern in accordance with an operator interaction request, and
• means manually operable by an operator in response to an operator interaction request for extracting classification defining data from the displayed, said given pattern, said enabling said comparing means to perform the function of automatic classification of the pattern by comparing the manually extracted classification defining data for the said given pattern with the stored classification defining data to identify the classification type of the said given pattern.

An interactive system for performing a succession of processing functions in relation to an unknown pattern to determine the classification type thereof as one of plural, known classification types, and to identify the unknown pattern as a known, stored pattern of the same, determined classification type, said processing functions being performed selectively in an automatic, continuous succession and in an interrupted succession with operator interaction requested by the system, in accordance with system determination of satisfactory performance or unsatisfactory performance, respectively, of each said processing function, comprising:

• means for storing data defining preestablished classification types of said patterns,
• means for automatically extracting classification defining data from a given pattern,
• means for comparing the extracted and the stored classification defining data to determine a degree of match therebetween,
• means establishing a required degree of match to determine satisfactory performance of said matching function and responsive to the degree of match determined by said comparing means to identify a preestablished classification type for which the degree of match is satisfied as the classification type of the said given pattern, and to request operator interaction when the said required degree of match is not satisfied,
• means for selectively displaying the given pattern in accordance with an operator interaction request,
• means manually operable by an operator in response to an operator interaction request for extracting classification defining data from the displayed, said given pattern, and enabling said comparing means to perform the function of automatic classification of the pattern by comparing the manually extracted classification defining data for the said given pattern with the stored classification defining data to identify the classification type of the said given pattern,
• means for storing minutiae data of known said patterns of different classification types,
• means responsive to the identified classification type of the unknown pattern for selecting the stored minutiae data of known said patterns of the said identified classification type from said storing means,
• means for comparing the extracted minutiae data and the stored minutiae data for each said pattern of the said selected, identified classification type to determine the corresponding degrees of match therebetween,
• means establishing a required degree of match to determine satisfactory performance of said matching function and responsive to the degree of match determined by said comparing means to request operator interaction when said required degree of match is not satisfied, and to identify the given pattern as the known pattern for which the required degree of match is satisfied,
• means for selectively displaying the given pattern in response to an operator interaction request and for selectively displaying the automatically extracted minutiae data in superposed relationship thereon, and
• manually operable means for selectively correcting and supplementing the automatically extracted minutiae data to enable said comparing means to automatically compare the selectively corrected and supplemented minutiae data extracted from said given pattern with said stored minutiae data.

An interactive system for performing a succession of processing functions in relation to an unknown pattern to extract data characterizing said pattern for subsequent comparison with data characterizing at least one of plural pattern types to determine a match therebetween, said processing functions being performed selectively in an automatic continuous succession, and in an interrupted succession with operator interaction requested by the system, in accordance with system determination of satisfactory performance of successive said processing functions, comprising:

• means for storing data defining preestablished classification types of said patterns,
• means for automatically extracting classification defining data from a given pattern,
• means for comparing the extracted and the stored classification defining data to determine a degree of match therebetween,
• means establishing a required degree of match to determine satisfactory performance of said matching function and responsive to the degree of match determined by said comparing means to identify a preestablished classification type for which the degree of match is satisfied as the classification type of the said given pattern, and to request operator interaction when the said required degree of match is not satisfied,
• means for selectively displaying the given pattern in accordance with an operator interaction request, and
• means manually operable by an operator in response to an operator interaction request for extracting classification defining data from the displayed, said given pattern, and enabling said comparing means to perform the function of automatic classification of the pattern by comparing the manually extracted classification defining data for the said given pattern with the stored classification defining data to identify the classification type of the said given pattern,
• said selective displaying means selectively displaying the manually extracted classification defining data and, simultaneously and in superposed relationship, the stored classification defining data for a given classification type, and
• said manually operable means including means for selectively displaying said stored classification defining data corresponding to plural different preestablished classification types to enable manual comparison of the manually extracted classification defining data with the stored data defining the plural preestablished classification types.

An interactive system for performing a succession of processing functions in relation to an unknown pattern to extract data characterizing said pattern for subsequent comparison with data characterizing at least one of plural pattern types to determine a match therebetween, said processing functions being performed selectively in an automatic, continuous succession, and in an interrupted succession with operator interaction requested by the system, in accordance with system determination of satisfactory performance of successive said processing functions, comprising:

• means for storing data defining preestablished classification types of said patterns,
• means for automatically extracting classification defining data from a given pattern,
• means for comparing the extracted and the stored classification defining data to determine a degree of match therebetween,
• means establishing a required degree of match to determine satisfactory performance of said matching function and responsive to the degree of match determined by said comparing means to identify a preestablished classification type for which the degree of match is satisfied as the classification type of the said given pattern, and to request operator interaction when the said required degree of match is not satisfied,
• means for selectively displaying the given pattern in accordance with an operator interaction request, and
• means manually operable by an operator in response to an operator interaction request for extracting classification defining data from the displayed, said given pattern, and enabling said comparing means to perform the function of automatic classification of the pattern by comparing the manually extracted classification defining data for the said given pattern with the stored classification defining data to identify the classification type of the said given pattern,
• said classification defining data including triradii points, core points, and contour lines and wherein said preestablished classification types include predetermined numbers and combinations of respective ones of said triradii points and core points, and wherein there is further provided
• means responsive selectively to the number and combinations of respective ones of said triradii and core points extracted from a given pattern which do not correspond to those of preestablished classification types of patterns to determine an unsatisfactory performance of the classification function and thereby to request operator interaction.

An operator interactive system for identifying an unknown pattern by comparison with stored patterns, each such pattern being characterized uniquely by a minutiae pattern and a configuration of contour lines, wherein an automatic portion of said system comprises:

• means for scanning an unknown pattern;
• means for automatically extracting minutiae data describing said minutiae pattern from said scanned pattern;
• first means for storing said extracted minutiae data;
• second means for storing the minutiae data of each of a plurality of previously identified patterns in addressable locations;
• means for selectively addressing and retrieving said minutiae data stored in said second storing means;
• means for automatically comparing said extracted minutiae data stored in said first storing means with retrieved minutiae data corresponding to selected ones of said plurality of patterns in succession and producing a match signal when said compared data matches within predetermined limits;
• means responsive to said comparing means for indicating the identity of said corresponding pattern for each match signal;
• and
• means responsive to said comparing means and said addressing means for generating a first output signal when no match signals are produced and generating a second output signal when more than a predetermined number of match signals are produced;
• said system also includes means selectively connected to said scanning means, said first storing means, said second storing means and to said first and second output signal generating means, and interfacing said automatic portion and a human operator for providing interactive communication between said automatic portion and said operator;
• said interactive means being responsive to said first and second output signals for requesting operator verification of said automatically extracted minutiae data;
• said interactive means including means for displaying images and
• means manually operable by said operator to command said system to selectively display said automatically extracted minutiae data on said display means, to display said unknown pattern, to display said retrieved minutiae data corresponding to said selected ones of said plurality of patterns for which a match signal is produced by said comparing means, to enter correct minutiae data and delete incorrect minutiae data in said first storing means as determined by said operator, and to instruct said automatic comparison means to compare said corrected extracted minutiae data with said retrieved minutiae data corresponding to said selected ones of said plurality of patterns.