System and a method for person's identity authentication

• US 20040151346A1
• Filed: 04/01/2004
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Golan Weiss
• Original Assignee: Golan Weiss
• Inventors: Weiss, Golan
• Granted Patent: US 7,327,858 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/115
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/254 of classification results, e.g. of results related to same input data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/12 Fingerprints or palmprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/40 Spoof detection, e.g. liveness detection
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for biometric authentication of an individual based on the unique characteristics of his hand, using a scanning unit of any size. The invention also relates to a system for use of said method.

Claims

1. A method for biometric authentication of an individual based on the unique characteristics of his hand, using a scanning unit of any size, comprising the steps of:

(a) sending instructions from a server software to the user, instructing the user how to position his hand on the scanning unit;

(b) placing the user'"'"'s hand on the scanning unit according to the said instructions;

(c) scanning the user'"'"'s hand by the scanning unit, and collecting the data by a client software;

(d) sending the user'"'"'s currently collected hand data from said client software to said server software;

(e) checking whether the user in fact followed said instructions from the server for how to position his hand on said scanning unit;

wherein said checking step includes checking at least one of the following parameters;

the angle at which his hand should be positioned;

which fingers should be together and which apart, and optionally the distances between the fingers;

to which fingers, if any, he should apply pressure or specific movement of the fingers for the CCD optic device case;

the general area of the scanner on which he should place his hand;

if said check is negative, terminating the method without authenticating the individual;

(f) if the check in step (e) was positive, comparing the user'"'"'s currently collected hand data to hand data previously collected from the individual the user claims to be, and determining whether a match exists between the two data sets;

(g) optionally repeating steps (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), and (f) at least one additional time;

(h) confirming or rejecting that the user is this individual, according to the results of said comparison in step (f).

2. A method according to claim 1, in which the instructions sent to the user in step (a) contain at least one of the following parameters:

the angle at which his hand should be positioned;

which fingers should be together and which apart, and optionally the distances between the fingers;

to which fingers, if any, he should apply pressure or specific movement of the fingers for the CCD optic device case;

the general area of the scanner on which he should place his hand.

3. A method according to claim 1, in which the individual can position his hand on the scanning unit in step (b) without the aid of a positioning and actuating mechanism.

4. A method according to claim 1, in which the server software controls the scanning unit, and instructs it which part of the total scannable area it should scan, and at what resolution.

5. A method according to claim 1, in which the hand data collected by the client software in step (c) and used in the authentication process consists of the scanned image of the palm and underside of the fingers of the user, or data gleaned from this image.

6. A method according to claim 1, in which the client software sends to the server software in step (d) a mathematical representation of the relevant portions of said currently hand data collected by the client software in step (c), rather than sending the actual data itself.

7. A method according to claims 1 and 8, in which the data sent from said client software to said server software in step (d) consists of a random portion of the total data collected.

8. A method according to claims 1 and 5, in which said comparing in step (e) of the user'"'"'s currently collected hand data to said hand data previously collected from the individual the user claims to be, in order to determine whether a match exists between the two data sets, includes comparing the contour of the hand.

9. A method according to claims 1 and 5, in which said comparing in step (e) of the user'"'"'s currently collected hand data to said hand data previously collected from the individual the user claims to be, in order to determine whether a match exists between the two data sets, includes comparing the prominent lines of the palm.

10. A method according to claims 1 and 5, in which said comparing in step (e) of the user'"'"'s currently collected hand data to said hand data previously collected from the individual the user claims to be, in order to determine whether a match exists between the two data sets, includes comparing the prominent lines of the fingers.

11. A method according to claims 1 and 5, in which said comparing in step (e) of the user'"'"'s currently collected hand data to hand data previously collected from the individual the user claims to be, and determining whether a match exists between the two data sets, comprises the steps of:

(a) segmenting the total hand data collected from the user'"'"'s hand into the 5 fingers and the palm;

(b) comparing between the two data sets the contour of each finger, and calculating a score for the comparison;

(c) comparing between the two data sets the distances between the prominent lines on the fingers, and calculating a score for the comparison;

(d) comparing between the two data sets a portion or all of the data related to the prominent lines of the palm, and calculating a score for the comparison;

(e) calculating a composite score according to the scores calculated in steps (b), (c), and (d), and determining whether this score is above a given threshold signifying a match between the two data sets.

13. A system for using the method as defined in any of the preceding claims, comprising:

a scanning unit;

an end terminal computer, connected to the scanning unit and running a client software which has control over the scanning unit;

a server software which is responsible for administration of the authentication process;

a database for storing collected hand data.

14. A system according to claim 13, in which said scanning unit, said end terminal computer running said client software, said server software, and said database for storing collected hand data are located either locally or remotely with respect to one another.

15. A system according to claim 13, wherein the scanning unit comprises a conventional flatbed scanner.

16. A system according to claim 13, wherein the scanning unit comprises a scanner-like device having the same general shape as a flatbed scanner and including a transparent planar platen and CCD optic device.

17. A system according to claim 13, wherein the scanning unit comprises a scanner having a conventional flatbed scanning mechanism and a CCD optic device.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein the scanning unit is switchable between two modes, the first of said modes using the flatbed scanning mechanism for scanning and the second mode using the CCD optic device for scanning.

12. A method for biometric authentication of an individual based on the unique characteristics of his hand, in which the biometric parameters analyzed are:

the contour of each of the fingers of the hand;

the prominent lines of the fingers;

the prominent lines of the palm.