US 7,013,030 B2 · Personal choice biometric signature

Abstract

A biometric method and system for personal authentication using sequences of partial fingerprint signatures provides a high security capability to various processes requiring positive identification of individuals. This approach is further enhanced by employing a frequency domain technique for calculating a Similarity Index of the partial fingerprint signatures. In a baseline usage, the sequential partial fingerprint sequence techniques augments sentinel systems for gaining access to restricted areas, and when used in combination with financial cards, offer a unique and greatly simplified means for authenticating or identifying individuals. A highly automated technique initially obtains four (illustratively) linear partial fingerprint signatures which serve as reference data against which later proffered candidate data in the form of at least two linear partial fingerprint signatures are compared for authentication. The particular two candidate signatures used and the sequence in which they are submitted are selected with the user's consent and serve as a PIN-like unique personal code. In an advanced embodiment, the same two candidate signatures in the chosen sequence are processed in a unique FFT/DFT process to produce a highly reliable Similarity Index to authenticate or verify the identity of individuals. The use of only partial fingerprint data greatly allays the concerns of widespread fingerprint dissemination by many individuals.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A biometric method of authenticating the identity of an individual employing a preselected sequence of linear partial fingerprint signatures processed in the frequency domain, comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining a reference set of linear partial fingerprint signatures from an individual and electronically performing a Fourier transform on said reference set to obtain a frequency domain reference set;
(b) storing a first electronic representation of said reference set in a comparison means, said first electronic representation selected from a group including said reference set and said frequency domain reference set;
(c) generating a candidate set of linear partial fingerprint signatures from an individual and electronically performing a Fourier transform on said candidate set to obtain a frequency domain candidate set;
(d) entering a second electronic representation of said candidate set into said comparison means, said second electronic representation selected from a group including said candidate set and said frequency domain candidate set;
(e) providing a comparison means for comparing said first and second electronic representations and
(f) calculating in said comparison means a dot product of said frequency domain reference set with the complex conjugate of said frequency domain candidate set, or alternately, a dot product of said frequency domain candidate set with the complex conjugate of said frequency domain reference set;
and
(g) formulating a similarity index from said dot product calculation, said similarity index resulting in the production of a real number between 0 and 1 resulting from said formulating, whereby the identity of an individual providing said reference and candidate sets may be authenticated if said similarity index is greater than a predetermined level between 0 and 1.

5 more elements

A biometric system for authenticating the identity of an individual employing a preselected sequence of linear partial fingerprint signatures processed in the frequency domain, comprising:

(a) means for obtaining a reference set of linear partial fingerprint signatures from an individual, said reference set derived from at least one scan taken across said individual's finger and electronically performing a Fourier transform on said reference set to obtain a frequency domain reference set;
(b) means for storing a first electronic representation of said reference set in a comparison means, said first electronic representation selected from a group including said reference set and said frequency domain reference set;
(c) means for generating a candidate set of linear partial fingerprint signatures from an individual, said candidate set derived from at least two scans taken across predetermined bidirectional portions of said individual's finger and electronically performing a Fourier transform on said candidate set to obtain a frequency domain candidate set,
(d) means for entering a second electronic representation of said candidate set into said comparison means, said second electronic representation selected from a group including said candidate set and said frequency domain candidate set;
(e) comparison means for comparing said first and second electronic representations;
(f) means for calculating in said comparison means a dot product of said frequency domain reference set with the complex conjugate of said frequency domain candidate set, or alternately, a dot product of said frequency domain candidate set with the complex conjugate of said frequency domain reference set;
and
(g) means for formulating a similarity index from said dot product calculation, said similarity index resulting in the production of a real number between 0 and 1 resulting from said formulating, whereby the identity of an individual providing said reference and candidate sets may be authenticated if said similarity index is greater than a predetermined level between 0 and 1.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Personal choice biometric signature

Life of this patent

Personal choice biometric signature

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19