Biometric authentication apparatus and biometric data registration apparatus

A biometric data registration apparatus for registering biometric data, comprising:

• an ID acceptor configured to accept input of a user ID;
• a registration sensor configured to capture an image of a body part of a user to the extent that an image of a shape of the body part is included, the body part providing biometric features, the registration sensor having a detection area larger than a detection area of a verification sensor used in verifying biometric feature data input for authentication;
• an image separator configured to separate a captured image of the body part into an image of biometric features and an image of a biometric shape;
• a personal template generator configured to generate a personal template containing the user ID, biometric feature data obtained from the image of the biometric features, and biometric shape data obtained from the image of the biometric shape;
• and
• a verification area finder configured to generate data indicating a position, in the image of the shape of the body part, of a verification area,
• the verification area being within the body part providing biometric features,
• the verification area corresponding to the detection area of the verification sensor used in verification,
• the verification area providing highest density of the biometric features among calculated areas in the detection area of the registration sensor;
• wherein the biometric feature data indicates density of the biometric features, and
• the personal template further contains the data indicating the position of the verification area.

A biometric authentication method executed by a biometric authentication apparatus for authenticating users, the biometric authentication method comprising:

• accepting input of a user ID;
• fetching a personal template corresponding to the user ID, the personal template containing registered biometric feature data and registered biometric shape data, the biometric feature data indicating density of biometric features;
• presenting guide information to guide, in accordance with the registered biometric shape data and data indicating a position of a verification area, a user to place a body part of the user over a verification sensor so as to obtain the input biometric feature data in an area corresponding to the verification area,
• the verification area being within the body part providing biometric features corresponding to the registered biometric feature data,
• the verification area corresponding to a detection area of the verification sensor,
• the verification area providing highest density of the biometric features among calculated areas in a detection area of a registration sensor;
• obtaining the input biometric feature data of the user via the verification sensor, the verification sensor having the detection area smaller than the detection area of the registration sensor used in registering the registered biometric feature data;
• and
• verifying the input biometric feature data in comparison with the registered biometric feature data in the verification area.