US 8,009,876 B2 · Multi-scale variable domain decomposition method and system for iris identification

Abstract

An iris identification method and system, which divide an iris image, which is acquired for personal identification, into a plurality of equal/unequal and multiscale regions, generate a corresponding code corresponding to the respective regions, organizing codes into a database, generate a code at the time of authentication in the same manner, and identify a person by comparing this code with the codes stored in the database, thus improving identification speed and rate.

Drawings

Claims20

Dependent claims

An iris identification method comprising iris code registration and iris identification, the iris code registration comprising the steps of acquiring iris images by capturing images using a camera or retrieving stored image files, generating iris codes from the acquired iris images, and storing the generated iris codes in a database, while the iris identification comprising the steps of acquiring an iris image in a manner identical to that of the iris code registration, generating an iris code from the acquired iris image, and identifying the generated iris code by comparing the generated iris code with the iris codes stored in the database, wherein:

the iris code generation step is performed to determine inner and outer boundaries of an iris region by approximating the inner and outer boundaries with general curves based on actual shapes of the inner and outer boundaries, divide a part or all of a region between the inner and outer boundaries into one or more unit sectors, and generate an iris code corresponding to the respective sectors, wherein the iris code generation step comprises the steps of approximating the inner boundary of the iris with a zero set of f0(x, y), approximating the outer boundary of the iris with a zero set of f1(x, y), parameterizing the boundaries with C0(t) and C1(t), respectively, representing all points of the iris region with elements of a zero set of F(x, y, u)=(1−u)f0(x, y)+uf1(x, y) for between 0 and 1, parameterizing a zero set of F(x, y, u) with Cu(t) for u, and transforming the iris region into the plane rectangular region using the parameter, and
the iris code identification step is performed to measure distances of the generated code to the existing codes stored in the database and determine whether each of the distances falls within a threshold value.

An iris identification system comprising iris code registration means and iris identification means, the iris code registration means comprising means for acquiring iris images by capturing images using a camera or retrieving stored image files, means for generating iris codes from the acquired iris images, and means for storing the generated iris codes in a database, while the iris identification means comprising means of acquiring an iris image in a manner identical to that of the iris code registration, means for generating an iris code from the acquired iris image, and means for identifying the generated iris code by comparing the generated iris code with the iris codes stored in the database, wherein:

the iris code generation means is performed to determine inner and outer boundaries of an iris region by approximating the inner and outer boundaries with general curves based on actual shapes of the inner and outer boundaries, divide a part or all of a region between the inner and outer boundaries into one or more unit sectors, and generate an iris code corresponding to the respective sectors, wherein the iris code generation means comprises means for approximating the inner boundary of the iris with a zero set of f0(x, y), approximating the outer boundary of the iris with a zero set of f1(x, y), parameterizing the boundaries with C0(t) and C1(t), respectively, representing all points of the iris region with elements of a zero set of F(x, y,u)=(1−u)f0(x, y)+uf1(x, y) for between 0 and 1, parameterizing a zero set of F(x, y, u) with Cu(t) for u, and transforming the iris region into the plane rectangular region using the parameter, and
the iris code identification means is configured to measure distances of the generated code to the existing codes stored in the database and determine whether each of the distances falls within a threshold value.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description7,215 words

Summary2,928 words

#This application is a U.S. National Phase application, under 35 U.S.C. §371, of International Application PCT/KR2005/003027, with an international filing date of Sep. 13, 2005 and claims priority to Korean application no. 10-2004-0096000, filed Nov. 22, 2004; all of which are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates generally to an iris identification method and system for acquiring the image of an iris, comparing the image with previously registered information and identifying a person, and, more specifically, to an iris identification method and system, which decompose a person's iris image into a plurality of domains, extract iris code representing the characteristic feature(s) of the respective domains, and storing such iris code in a database, and then identify a person's identity by generating the iris code from the iris image of the person in question in the same way, and comparing this code with the codes stored in the database, thereby improving the speed and accuracy of iris identification.

Brief description of the drawings9 figures

#In order to more fully describe embodiments of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings. These drawings are not to be considered limitations in the scope of the invention, but are merely illustrative.

#FIG. 1 illustrates the examples the division of iris region;

#FIG. 2 shows image samples exemplifying the variety of the inner and boundaries of the pupil and iris;

Detailed description4,030 words

#10-iris registration system, 11-iris image acquisition unit, 12-iris code generation unit, 13-iris code storage unit, 14-iris code database, 20-iris identification system, 21-iris image acquisition unit, 22-iris code generation unit, 23-iris code comparison unit, 24-identification unit

#The description above and below and the drawings of the present document focus on one or more currently preferred embodiments of the present invention and also describe some exemplary optional features and/or alternative embodiments. The description and drawings are for the purpose of illustration and not limitation. Those of ordinary skill in the art would recognize variations, modifications, and alternatives. Such variations, modifications, and alternatives are also within the scope of the present invention. Section titles are terse and are for convenience only.

#The construction and operation of preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Facts

Application

11/719,947Filed 13 Sep 2005

Priority

KR 10-2004-009600022 Nov 2004

Published

US 2009/0169064 A12 Jul 2009

Granted

30 Aug 2011

Term ends

20 Oct 2028

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 1,133 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification2 codes

G06V 40/193
Eye characteristics, e.g. of the iris: preprocessing; Feature extraction
G06V
Image and video recognition

Timeline

22 Nov 2004Priority claimedKR 10-2004-0096000
13 Sep 2005Application filedUS 11/719,947
31 May 2007Assigned to Iritech Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
2 Jul 2009PublishedUS 2009/0169064 A1
30 Aug 2011GrantedUS 8,009,876 B2
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
20 Oct 2028Term endsEstimated, includes 1,133 days of adjustment

Multi-scale variable domain decomposition method and system for iris identification

Life of this patent

Multi-scale variable domain decomposition method and system for iris identification

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims20

Description7,215 words

Drawings

Classification2 codes

Life of this patent

Description7,215 words