Fingerprint verification system utilizing a facial image-based heuristic search method

• US 20020034319A1
• Filed: 09/12/2001
• Published: 03/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FaceKey Corporation
• Original Assignee: FaceKey Corporation
• Inventors: Xu, Tianning, Tumey, David M., Arndt, Craig
• Granted Patent: US 6,963,659 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/116
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/2504 Coarse or fine approaches, e.g. resolution of ambiguities or multiscale approaches
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1365 Matching; Classification

Abstract

A fingerprint verification system utilizing a facial image-based heuristic search method which includes a first computer-based device having stored thereon encoded first human fingerprint biometric data representative of an authorized human user, an integrated circuit-based or optically-based fingerprint sensor for gathering said first fingerprint data, a control device with display and keyboard for enrolling said authorized human user, a second computer-based device located remotely from said first computer-based device for providing verification of said authorized human user, a network for communicating data between said first computer-based device and said second computer-based device, a receptacle or the like associated with said second computer-based device having embedded therein an integrated circuit-based or optically-based fingerprint sensor for real-time gathering of second human fingerprint biometric data, a video camera and digitizer associated with said second computer-based device for real-time gathering of human facial image data, and software resident within said second computer-based device, which can include minutiae analysis, principal component analysis, neural networks or other equivalent algorithms, for comparing said first human biometric data with said second human biometric data and producing an output signal therefrom for use in the verification of said human user. The apparatus may optionally include an electronic interface for controlling a security system which can be enabled or disabled based on whether or not said human user'"'"'s biometric data is verified by said biometric verification algorithms.

Claims

1. A system for controlling access, comprising:

a video camera and video digitizer for acquiring a digital representation of a human facial image;

a biometric sensor for acquiring a digital representation of a human fingerprint;

a processor associated with said camera, digitizer and biometric sensor, said processor being adapted to process the respective digital representations acquired by said camera, digitizer and said sensor in a manner such that the identity of a person using said system is verified.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising software resident on said processor for comparing said digital representation of a human facial image with stored facial images in a database of facial images, generating a match confidence therefrom and rank-ordering said database from highest to lowest match confidence.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising software resident on said processor for comparing said digital representation of a human fingerprint with stored fingerprints associated with said rank-ordered database to verify the identity of said person.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising software resident on said processor for identifying said person and providing an output signal indicative of recognition for use in controlling access to said secure area.

5. The system of claim 4, which is further characterized to include an electronic locking mechanism for controlling access to said secure area and which can be enabled or disabled by said output signal.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said electronic locking mechanism is further characterized to be a magnetic lock.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said electronic locking mechanism is further characterized to be an electric strike plate.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein said secure area is further characterized to be a facility.

9. The system of claim 5 wherein said secure area is further characterized to be a home.

12. The method of claim 1, which is further characterized to include the step of allowing access only in the event of said first match confidence and said second match confidence falling above a predetermined threshold.

10. A system for controlling access, comprising:

a video camera and video digitizer for acquiring a digital representation of a human facial image;

a biometric sensor for acquiring a digital representation of a human fingerprint;

a processor associated with said camera, digitizer and biometric sensor, said processor being capable of processing signals from said camera, digitizer and biometric sensor;

software resident on said processor for comparing said digital representation of a human facial image with stored facial images in a database of facial images, generating a match confidence therefrom and rank-ordering said database from highest to lowest match confidence;

software resident on said processor for comparing said digital representation of a human fingerprint with stored fingerprints associated with said rank-ordered database to verify the identity of said person and provide an output signal indicative of recognition for use in controlling access to said secure area; and

an electronic locking mechanism which can be enabled or disabled by said output signal.

11. A heuristic search method for controlling access to secure areas including the steps of:

enrolling a first digitized facial image representation of an authorized human user and storing said first digitized facial image in a database memory;

enrolling a first digitized fingerprint of an authorized human user and storing said first digitized fingerprint in said database memory;

detecting when said human user attempts to gain access to said secure area and acquiring a second digitized facial image and a second digitized fingerprint;

comparing said first and second digitized facial images to determine a first match confidence;

ordering said database memory from highest first match confidence to lowest first match confidence;

comparing said first and second digitized fingerprints in the order created by said ordering step to determine a second match confidence;

allowing or preventing access to said secure area in the event the second match confidence falls above or below a predetermined threshold.

13. The method of claim 11, which is further characterized to include the step of activating an electronic lock mechanism in the event said second match confidence falls above a predetermined threshold.

14. The method of claim 11, which is further characterized to include the step of activating an alarm system in the event said second match confidence falls below a predetermined threshold.

15. The method of claim 14, which is further characterized to include the step of notifying a security monitoring service located at a central receiving station in the event said second match confidence falls below a predetermined threshold.

16. The method of claim 15, which is further characterized to include the step of transmitting said second digitized facial image to said central receiving station to enable a positive identification of said human user.