Method and apparatus for supporting a biometric registration performed on a card

• US 20030223625A1
• Filed: 05/30/2002
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Activcard Ireland, Limited
• Original Assignee: Activcard Ireland, Limited
• Inventors: Hillhouse, Robert D., Hamid, Laurence
• Granted Patent: US 7,274,807 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/125
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/10 Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1347 Preprocessing; Feature extraction

Abstract

A method for matching biometric data on a smart card is disclosed. A smart card is provided having biometric template data stored thereon. A host processor in communication with the smart card is also provided. A sensed biometric image is provided to the host processor from an individual. From the smart card to the host processor, co-ordinate data relating to a plurality of non-contiguous features of the template data are provided. Other data is extracted from the biometric image, the other data for correlation with the provided co-ordinate data allowing for a subsequent alignment of the biometric image within a known frame of reference relative to the template data on the basis of the provided data and the other data. Once aligned, biometric data is extracted from the biometric image, the biometric data within the known frame of reference and then the extracted biometric data is transmitted to the smartcard.

Claims

1. A method for matching biometric data on a smart card including the steps of:

providing a smart card having biometric template data stored thereon;

providing a host processor in communication with the smart card;

providing a sensed biometric image to the host processor;

providing co-ordinate data relating to a plurality of non-contiguous features of the template data from the smart card to the host processor;

extracting other data from the biometric image, the other data for correlation with the provided co-ordinate data;

aligning the biometric image within a known frame of reference relative to the template data on the basis of the provided data and the other data;

extracting biometric data from the biometric image, the biometric data within a known frame of reference; and

providing the biometric data to the smartcard.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the non-contiguous features of the template include minutia, data for which is recorded within the template.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the non-contiguous features of the template include only minutia, data for which is recorded within the template.

4. A method according to claim 2 wherein the non-contiguous features of the template include false features for which data is other than stored within the template.

5. A method according to claim 4 comprising the step of identifying false feature locations.

6. A method according to claim 4 comprising the step of identifying false feature locations and wherein the biometric data includes data relating to feature locations identified as false feature locations.

7. A method according to claim 2 wherein the other data includes minutia locations of minutia located within the biometric image.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the biometric data includes data relating to the features for which co-ordinate data is provided from the smartcard.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein the biometric data is provided to the smartcard in a same order of features as the order of the provided coordinates data, the biometric data for each feature provided in a same order as the feature coordinates for that feature were received from the smartcard.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the biometric includes the minutia directions for each minutia a co-ordinate for which data was received from the smartcard.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein the biometric data includes the minutia directions for each minutia a co-ordinate for which data was received from the smartcard.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of non-contiguous features includes at least 10 features.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein the plurality of non-contiguous features includes all features of at least one feature type.

14. A method according to claim 12 wherein the plurality of non-contiguous features are selected to support even distribution to identification of regions of higher feature density.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein the plurality of non-contiguous features are selected to maximize distances therebetween for use in alignment to reduce angular alignment errors.

16. A method according to claim 12 wherein the plurality of non-contiguous features are selected to maximize distances therebetween for use in alignment to reduce angular alignment errors.

17. A method according to claim 1 comprising the step of providing an identifier to the smart card, the identifier for use in determining the template.

18. A method according to claim 17 comprising the step of:

determining a template associated with the provided identifier as the template and retrieving the co-ordinate data from the template.

19. A method according to claim 1 comprising the step of:

with the host processor, preprocessing the biometric image.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein the pre-processing of the biometric image is performed to eliminate potential false features from the biometric image.

21. A method according to claim 1 comprising a step of correlating the received biometric data and data stored within the template;

performing at least one step of identifying an individual and other than identifying the individual in dependence upon a result of the step of correlating.

22. A method according to claim 1 comprising a step of correlating the received biometric data and data stored within the template;

when a correlation is indicative of an authorized individual, retrieving data from the smartcard for provision to the host processor.

23. A method according to claim 1 comprising a step of correlating the received biometric data and data stored within the template;

when a correlation is indicative of an authorized individual, performing a security related process on the smartcard, the security related process for accessing secure data, the secure data accessible only upon a successful step of correlation indicative of an authorized individual.

24. A method according to claim 1 wherein the biometric image is a fingerprint image.

25. A method according to claim 1 wherein the biometric image is aligned within each of a plurality of known frames of reference and wherein biometric data is provided to the smart card within each of the plurality of frames of reference.

26. A method according to claim 25 wherein the plurality of known frames of reference includes two known frames of reference.

27. A biometric identification system comprising:

a first memory;

a first transceiver;

a biometric sensor for sensing an image of a biometric information source, and for providing sensed biometric image data to the first processor;

a first processor in operative communication with the first transceiver, the first processor for executing the steps of;

receiving sensed biometric image data from the biometric sensor,

receiving alignment data including co-ordinates from the first transceiver, the alignment data for use by the processor in aligning the sensed biometric image data within a known frame of reference,

aligning the sensed biometric image data within the known frame of reference,

determining from the aligned biometric image data extracted biometric data, and

providing the extracted biometric data based on the aligned biometric image data and within the known frame of reference to the first transceiver;

a second memory for storing biometric template data;

a second transceiver in communication with the first transceiver for transmitting data thereto and for receiving data therefrom; and

,

a second processor in operative communication with the second transceiver, the second processor for performing the steps of;

providing alignment data including co-ordinates to the second transceiver for transmission to the first transceiver, the alignment data for use by the first processor in aligning sensed biometric data within a known frame of reference,

receiving the extracted biometric data aligned within the known frame of reference, and

correlating the received biometric data with template data stored within the second memory.

28. A biometric identification system according to claim 27 comprising an input terminal for use in providing a PIN, the PIN for use in retrieving the co-ordinates from a template associated with the PIN.

29. A smartcard for performing biometric identification thereon comprising:

a transceiver for transmitting data from the smartcard and for receiving data provided to the smartcard;

a processor; and

,

a memory for storing template data relating to a biometric image and for storing data relating to instructions for execution by the processor, the instructions comprising instructions for performing the steps of;

providing alignment data including co-ordinates to the transceiver for transmission from the smartcard, the alignment data for use by another processor in aligning sensed biometric data within a known frame of reference,

receiving biometric data aligned within the known frame of reference, the biometric data received from other than within the smartcard, and

correlating the received biometric data with template data stored within the memory, the correlating performed within the smartcard; and

performing one of identifying and authorizing an individual in dependence upon the step of correlating.

30. A method for registering biometric data with a template on a smart card including the steps of:

providing alignment data including co-ordinates for transmission from the smartcard, the alignment data for use by another processor in aligning sensed biometric data within a known frame of reference,

receiving biometric data aligned within the known frame of reference, the biometric data received from other than within the smartcard, and

correlating the received biometric data with template data stored within the smartcard, the correlating performed within the smartcard to produce a correlation result.

31. A method according to claim 30 wherein the co-ordinates are co-ordinates of noncontiguous features within the template.

32. A method according to claim 31 wherein the co-ordinates are co-ordinates of minutia.

33. A method according to claim 30 wherein the co-ordinates are co-ordinates determined based on features data for which is included within the template but are other than within the template.

34. A method according to claim 33 wherein the co-ordinates are co-ordinates offset from feature co-ordinates by a fixed offset.

35. A method according to claim 34 comprising the steps of:

receiving feature data; and

,

transforming the feature data in accordance with the offset and the direction.

36. A method according to claim 33 wherein the co-ordinates are co-ordinates offset from feature co-ordinates by an offset and in a direction, at least one of the offset and the direction dependent upon a characteristic of the feature.

37. A method according to claim 36 comprising the steps of:

receiving feature data; and

,

transforming the feature data in accordance with the offset and the direction.

38. A method according to claim 31 wherein the non-contiguous features include false features for which data is other than stored within the template.

39. A method according to claim 38 comprising the step of:

receiving data relating to identified false feature locations; and

verifying that the feature locations identified as false feature locations correspond to false feature locations.

40. A method according to claim 31 wherein the biometric data includes data relating to the features for which co-ordinate data is provided from the smartcard.

41. A method according to claim 40 wherein the biometric data is received by the smartcard in a same order of features as the order of the provided coordinates data, the biometric data for each feature received in an order determined based on the order the feature coordinates for that feature were provided from the smartcard.

42. A method according to claim 41 wherein the biometric data is received by the smartcard in a same order of features as the order of the provided coordinates data, the biometric data for each feature received in a same order as the feature coordinates for that feature were provided from the smartcard.

43. A method according to claim 42 wherein the biometric data includes minutia directions for each minutia a co-ordinate for which data was provided from the smartcard.

44. A method according to claim 30 wherein the biometric data includes the minutia directions for each minutia a co-ordinate for which data was provided by the smartcard.

45. A method according to claim 30 wherein the co-ordinates correspond to at least 10 feature locations.

46. A method according to claim 45 wherein co-ordinates correspond to locations for all features of at least one feature type and having data relating thereto stored within the template.

47. A method according to claim 45 wherein the co-ordinates are selected to support even distribution to prevent identification of regions of higher feature density.

48. A method according to claim 47 wherein the co-ordinates are selected to maximize distances therebetween for use in alignment to reduce angular alignment errors.

49. A method according to claim 45 wherein the co-ordinates are selected to maximize distances therebetween for use in alignment to reduce angular alignment errors.

50. A method according to claim 30 comprising the step of receiving an identifier, the identifier for use in determining the template.

51. A method according to claim 50 comprising the step of:

determining a template associated with the received identifier as the template and retrieving the co-ordinate data from the template.

52. A method according to claim 30 comprising a step of

performing at least one step of identifying an individual and other than identifying the individual in dependence upon a result of the step of correlating.

53. A method according to claim 30 comprising a step of

when a correlation is indicative of an authorized individual, retrieving data from the smartcard for provision to the host processor.

54. A method according to claim 30 comprising a step of

when a correlation is indicative of an authorized individual, performing a security related process on the smartcard, the security related process for accessing secure data, the secure data accessible only upon a successful step of correlation indicative of an authorized individual.

55. A method according to claim 30 wherein the biometric image is a fingerprint image.

56. A method according to claim 30 wherein the biometric data includes data determined within each of a plurality of known frames of reference and wherein the step of correlating is performed for identifying the data within the known frame of reference and correlating that data with data from the template.

57. A biometric imaging station for use with a portable electronic device in performing biometric identification on the portable electronic device comprising:

a biometric sensor for sensing an image of a biometric information source to provide sensed biometric image data;

a transceiver for transmitting data to the portable electronic device and for receiving data provided from the portable electronic device;

a memory for storing data; and

,

a processor for performing the steps of;

receiving alignment data including co-ordinates from the transceiver from the portable electronic device, the alignment data for use by the processor in aligning the sensed biometric data within a known frame of reference,

aligning the sensed biometric image data within the known frame of reference,

determining from the aligned biometric image data extracted biometric data, and

providing the extracted biometric data based on the aligned biometric image data and within the known frame of reference the portable electronic device.

58. A storage medium having data stored therein and relating to instructions for performing the steps of:

receiving alignment data including co-ordinates from the transceiver from the portable electronic device, the alignment data for use by the processor in aligning the sensed biometric data within a known frame of reference,

aligning the sensed biometric image data within the known frame of reference,

determining from the aligned biometric image data extracted biometric data, and

providing the extracted biometric data based on the aligned biometric image data and within the known frame of reference of the portable electronic device.

59. A method for registering biometric data on a smart card including the steps of:

sensing a biometric source to provide biometric data;

receiving alignment data including co-ordinates from the smartcard, the alignment data for use in aligning sensed biometric data within a known frame of reference,

aligning the sensed biometric image data within the known frame of reference,

determining from the aligned biometric image data biometric data, and

providing the biometric data based on the aligned biometric image data and within the known frame of reference of the smartcard.

60. A method according to claim 59 wherein co-ordinates relate to non-contiguous features of the template.

61. A method according to claim 59 wherein the non-contiguous features include minutia, data for which is recorded within the template.

62. A method according to claim 61 wherein the non-contiguous features include only minutia, data for which is recorded within the template.

63. A method according to claim 61 wherein the non-contiguous features include false features for which data is other than stored within the template.

64. A method according to claim 63 comprising the step of identifying false feature locations.

65. A method according to claim 63 comprising the step of identifying false feature locations and wherein the biometric data includes data relating to feature locations identified as false feature locations.

66. A method according to claim 61 wherein the other data includes minutia locations of minutia located within the biometric image.

67. A method according to claim 66 wherein the biometric data includes data relating to the features for which co-ordinate data is provided from the smartcard.

68. A method according to claim 67 wherein the biometric data is provided to the smartcard in a same order of features as the order of the provided coordinates data, the biometric data for each feature provided in a same order as the feature coordinates for that feature were received from the smartcard.

69. A method according to claim 68 wherein the biometric data includes the minutia directions for each minutia a co-ordinate for which data was received from the smartcard.

70. A method according to claim 59 wherein the biometric data includes the minutia directions for each minutia a co-ordinate for which data was received from the smartcard.

71. A method according to claim 59 comprising the step of providing an identifier to the smart card, the identifier for use in determining the template.

72. A method according to claim 59 comprising the step of:

pre-processing the biometric image.

73. A method according to claim 72 wherein the pre-processing of the biometric image is performed to eliminate potential false features from the biometric image.

74. A method according to claim 59 wherein the biometric image is a fingerprint image.

75. A method according to claim 59 wherein the biometric image is aligned within each of a plurality of known frames of reference and wherein biometric data is provided to the smart card within each of the plurality of frames of reference.

76. A method according to claim 75 wherein the plurality of known frames of reference includes two known frames of reference.