Method and apparatus for biometric verification with data packet transmission prioritization

• US 20040165755A1
• Filed: 02/25/2003
• Published: 08/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Activcard Ireland, Limited
• Original Assignee: Activcard Ireland, Limited
• Inventors: Hillhouse, Robert D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,492,928 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/124
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/00 Pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/211 Selection of the most significant subset of features
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/771 Feature selection, e.g. selecting representative features from a multi-dimensional feature space
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/10 Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands

Abstract

An authentication mechanism for use with biometric systems which optimizes data extraction on areas or regions having a high probability of matching a reference biometric template, allows a reduction in both the size and number of data packet transmissions to be made to a biometric matching engine and includes data packet transmission prioritization.

Claims

1. A method of biometric authentication comprising the steps of:

providing a first biometric information sample;

extracting biometric data from the first biometric information sample, the extracted biometric data relating to features reproducibly extractable from said biometric sample;

determining from the biometric data, feature data having a high likelihood of accurate registration with a template; and

,

storing a template including one of data relating to an order of the feature data and feature data stored with an order, the order based on the determination.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the order is from a highest likelihood to a lowest likelihood.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the order is associated with a plurality of ranges of likelihoods.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein data relating to those features within a range including the highest likelihood are ordered before those features within a range including the lowest likelihood.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the likelihood is related to feature quality.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the data relating to features are stored in the determined order.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein template includes data relating to the determined order and the data relating to the determined order is stored within the template separate from the features.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the data relating to features are grouped into packets, and the packets are ordered, the ordering of the packets resulting in an ordering of the data relating to features.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the data relating to features are grouped into packets, and the packets are stored in association with order data, the order data for use in ordering of the packets.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining is performed in dependence upon statistical data, the statistical data updated at intervals.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the statistical data is determined in dependence upon statistical analysis of sensed biometric information.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the biometric information sample is a fingertip.

13. A method of biometric authentication comprising the steps of:

providing a first biometric information sample;

extracting biometric data from the first biometric information sample, the extracted biometric data relating to features reproducibly extractable from said biometric sample; and

,

storing a template including one of data relating to an order of the feature data and feature data stored with an order, the order based on predetermined feature ordering of features based on a likelihood of accurate registration with template data.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the order is from a highest likelihood to a lowest likelihood.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein the order is associated with a plurality of ranges of likelihoods.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein data relating to those features within a range including the highest likelihood are ordered before those features within a range including the lowest likelihood.

17. A method according to claim 13, wherein the likelihood is related to feature quality.

18. A method according to claim 13, wherein the data relating to features are stored in the determined order.

19. A method according to claim 13, wherein template includes data relating to the determined order and the data relating to the determined order is stored within the template separate from the features.

20. A method according to claim 13, wherein the data relating to features are grouped into packets, and the packets are ordered, the ordering of the packets resulting in an ordering of the data relating to features.

21. A method according to claim 13, wherein the data relating to features are grouped into packets, and the packets are stored in association with order data, the order data for use in ordering of the packets.

22. A method according to claim 13, wherein the step of storing is performed in dependence upon statistical data, the statistical data updated at intervals.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the statistical data is determined in dependence upon statistical analysis of sensed biometric information.

24. A method according to claim 13, wherein the biometric information sample is a fingertip.

25. A storage medium having stored thereon data relating to a template, the data including biometric feature data based on biometric information of an individual having an order associated therewith the order based upon a known ordering of feature data relating to a statistical likelihood of feature quality.

26. A storage medium according to claim 25, wherein the order is predetermined.

27. A storage medium according to claim 26, wherein the order is from a predetermined region of the biometric data to a predetermined other region of the biometric data.

28. A storage medium according to claim 25, wherein the order is determined based on the data relating to a template.

29. A storage medium according to claim 28, wherein the order is from a determined highest quality feature to a determined lowest quality feature.

30. A storage medium according to claim 25, wherein the data relating to a template is stored in association with packets, some data associated with a first packet and other data associated with a second other packet.

31. A storage medium according to claim 25, wherein the first packet has data relating to features supporting a high likelihood of authenticating the individual absent data from the second packet.

32. A storage medium according to claim 25, wherein the storage medium is included within a token housing.

33. A storage medium according to claim 32, wherein the token housing is a smartcard housing.

34. A system for biometric authentication comprising:

a sensor for sensing a first biometric information sample;

a processor for extracting biometric data from the first biometric information sample, the extracted biometric data relating to features reproducibly extractable from said biometric sample and for determining from the biometric data, feature data having a high likelihood of accurate registration with a template; and

,

a memory for storing a template including one of data relating to an order of the feature data and feature data stored with an order, the order based on the determination.

35. A system according to claim 34, wherein the memory is a portion of a token and processor is other than a portion of the token.

36. A system according to claim 34, wherein the sensor is fingerprint sensor.

37. A system for biometric authentication comprising:

a sensor for sensing a first biometric information sample;

a processor for extracting biometric data from the first biometric information sample, the extracted biometric data relating to features reproducibly extractable from said biometric sample; and

,

a memory for storing a template including one of data relating to an order of the feature data and feature data stored with an order, the order based on predetermined feature ordering of features based on a likelihood of accurate registration with template data.

38. A system according to claim 37, wherein the memory is a portion of a token and processor is other than a portion of the token.

39. A system according to claim 37, wherein the sensor is fingerprint sensor.

40. A storage medium having stored thereon instruction data, the instruction data comprising;

instruction data for receiving a first biometric information sample;

instruction data for extracting biometric data from the first biometric information sample, the extracted biometric data relating to features reproducibly extractable from said biometric sample;

instruction data for determining from the biometric data, feature data having a high likelihood of accurate registration with a template; and

,

instruction data for storing a template including one of data relating to an order of the feature data and feature data stored with an order, the order based on the determination.

41. A storage medium having stored thereon instruction data, the instruction data comprising;

instruction data for receiving a first biometric information sample;

instruction data for extracting biometric data from the first biometric information sample, the extracted biometric data relating to features reproducibly extractable from said biometric sample; and

,

instruction data for storing a template including one of data relating to an order of the feature data and feature data stored with an order, the order based on predetermined feature ordering of features based on a likelihood of accurate registration with template data.