Apparatus and method for creating a record using biometric information

• US 20040208343A1
• Filed: 05/07/2004
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Optibrand Ltd. LLC
• Original Assignee: Colorado State University Research Foundation (Colorado State University System)
• Inventors: Rollin, Bernard E., Comstock, Carlton R. Jr., Switzer, Ralph V. Jr., Golden, Bruce L.
• Application Number:
  US10/841,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20040208343A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/110
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/008 incorporating GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/145 by video means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/117 Identification of persons methods or arrangements for recognising patterns, e.g. fingerprints, G06F18/00, G06V40/00; identification of persons by analysing their voice or speech G10L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/14 Vascular patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/18 Eye characteristics, e.g. of the iris

Abstract

An identification record for an animal (human, livestock, game, companion/pets, etc.) is created by gathering/collecting biometric information (such as, extracting information from an image acquired of the retinal vasculature of the animal of interest) and pairing it with geographic data received. A biometric measurement results in information such as audio data, visual data, a description of the animal, birth date, death date, cause of death, genetic breeding data, production data, veterinary/medical records, data pertaining to a vaccination event, feed formulas, feedlot locations, border crossings, shipping data, data pertaining to current ownership and transfers in interest, livestock or range animal purchase information, a code or other designation assigned to the animal (whether digitally encrypted), a photo, image, or other graphic record of one or more features of the animal, microchip implant data implanted (for example, tagging, insertion, embedding, impressing, and injection), and so on. If the biometric measurement is an acquired image, the process can further include: digitizing the image; determining if useful/satisfactory; storing; and analyzing for unique anatomical landmarks. The image and data extracted therefrom to create an identification record may be stored in a database for retrieval and comparison against other identification records to identify the animal. The receiver is adapted to ‘stamp’ the image (or other information) with time, date, general time of day (a.m., p.m.) and/or location as part of the identification record.

Claims

1. A method of creating an identification record for an animal, the method comprising:

acquiring an image of at least a portion of an ocular fundus of the animal,

using a microprocessor, extracting a set of analysis data from the acquired image representing a particular identified anatomical structure of the ocular fundus,

generating information indicative of day and geographic location of the image acquisition, and

generating the identification record to comprise at least the analysis data, the geographic location information, and additional biometric data selected from the group consisting of;

audio data, visual data, a description of the animal, birth date of the animal, death date of the animal, cause of death, genetic breeding data, DNA test measurement data, production data, veterinary records of the animal, data pertaining to a vaccination event, medical records of the animal, feed formulas, feedlot locations, border crossings, shipping data, information pertaining to ownership, information pertaining to ownership transfer data, purchaser required information, coded data assigned to the animal, a graphic record of a second feature of the animal, and microchip implant data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of acquiring an image comprises capturing the image with a camera, digitizing the image for storage, transmitting the digitized image to a computer, and the anatomical structure so represented is retinal vasculature.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of extracting a set of analysis data comprises identifying and selecting the particular structure from the group of structures consisting of at least a portion of retinal vasculature and an optic disk, and characterizing sections of the acquired image that are located in a predetermined configuration relative to the identified anatomical structure;

and the step of generating information further comprises receiving data with a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver comprising the location and a time the image was so acquired.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of extracting a set of analysis data further comprises:

rotating the acquired image so that the structure lies in a predetermined orientation,

sampling a plurality of sections of the acquired image that lie in predetermined locations relative to the structure,

detecting a plurality of light-dark-light transitions within each of the sections, and

identifying a coordinate location of each of the light-dark-light transitions so detected.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the additional biometric data is the microchip implant data having been collected using a wireless receiver interfaced with a first computer on which the microprocessor for extracting the set of analysis data, resides.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the additional biometric data is the microchip implant data comprising data collected from a microchip having been implanted by means selected from the group consisting of:

tagging the animal, inserting into the animal, embedding within the animal, impressing into the animal, and injecting into the animal.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the animal is a non-human animal, the additional biometric data is the information pertaining to ownership, and the step of generating information further comprises receiving data with a cellular receiver comprising the location and a time the image was so acquired;

and further comprising the step of using the information pertaining to ownership, to confirm title to the animal at a later date.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the animal is a non-human animal, the additional biometric data is the information pertaining to ownership;

and further comprising the step of, in connection with an insurance transaction, using the information pertaining to ownership to confirm title to the animal, the insurance transaction having been selected from the group consisting of;

obtaining title insurance to the animal and the animal is used as security for a loan, obtaining title insurance to the animal upon purchase thereof, obtaining transportation insurance for the animal while in-transit, and obtaining mortality insurance for the animal.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the animal is a non-human animal, the additional biometric data is the data pertaining to a vaccination event comprising a second location and time the vaccination was administered to the animal;

and the step of generating information further comprises receiving data with a cellular receiver comprising the location and a time the image was so acquired.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of acquiring an image comprises performing a retinal scan, the anatomical structure so represented is retinal vasculature, the additional biometric data is the veterinary records of the animal comprising a blood type of the animal;

and the step of generating information further comprises receiving data with a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver comprising the location and a time the image was so acquired.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of:

storing the identification record in a database comprising a plurality of prior-generated identification records; and

generating a subsequent identification record for the animal comprising the step of gathering a subsequent set of biometric information comprising location, date, and time data received by the GPS receiver.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the animal is dead.

13. A method of identifying an animal, the method comprising:

using a camera and a non-scanning illumination source, acquiring an image of at least a portion of an ocular fundus of the animal,

extracting a set of analysis data from the acquired image,

generating an initial identification record comprising at least a portion of the set of analysis data, information indicative of day and geographic location of the image acquisition, and an identity of the animal,

storing the initial identification record in a database, the database comprising a plurality of previously stored identification records,

gathering a subsequent set of analysis data from a second acquired image of at least a portion of an ocular fundus of the animal,

generating a subsequent identification record comprising the subsequent set of analysis data, and

determining the identity of the animal by;

comparing the set of analysis data in the subsequent identification record to that in each of the previously stored identification records in the database, and

if a matching identification record is found in the database, extracting the identity of the animal therefrom.

14. A method of creating an identification record for a non-human animal, the method comprising:

employing a wireless receiver to receive geographic data comprising information indicative of day and geographic location a biometric measurement for the animal is collected,

the biometric measurement comprising a measurement selected from the group consisting of a measurement pertaining to genetic breeding, a DNA test measurement, a reading from a microchip implanted in the animal, a health screening test, a reading taken of data pertaining to a vaccination event, a reading taken of data pertaining to ownership of the animal, a reading taken of data pertaining to transfers in ownership of the animal, a reading taken of data pertaining to production of the animal, a reading taken of data pertaining to distribution of the animal, and a reading taken of data pertaining to transport of the animal, and

storing at least the geographic data and the biometric measurement as the identification record.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the reading from a microchip implanted in the animal comprises receiving data stored on the microchip, the microchip having been implanted by means selected from the group consisting of;

tagging the animal, inserting into the animal, embedding within the animal, impressing into the animal, and injecting into the animal; and

the data stored on the microchip is selected from the group consisting of genetic breeding data, DNA test measurement data, production data, a blood type of the animal, feed formulas, feedlot locations, border crossings, shipping data, information pertaining to ownership of the animal, ownership transfer data, purchaser required information, and coded data assigned to the animal.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the biometric measurement results in information comprising data respectively associated with the measurement selected, and as further respectively selected from the group consisting of:

genetic breeding data, DNA test measurement data, production data, a blood type of the animal, feed formulas, feedlot locations, border crossings, shipping data, information pertaining to ownership of the animal, ownership transfer data, purchaser required information, coded data assigned to the animal, and microchip implant data.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the microchip implant data comprises data collected from the microchip having been implanted by means selected from the group consisting of:

tagging the animal, inserting into the animal, embedding within the animal, impressing into the animal, and injecting into the animal.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the biometric measurement is the reading taken of data pertaining to a vaccination event;

and the step of employing a wireless receiver further comprises receiving said geographic data, comprising the geographic location and a time the vaccination was administered to the animal, with a cellular receiver.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the biometric measurement is the health screening test resulting in a blood typing of the animal;

and the step of employing a wireless receiver further comprises receiving said geographic data, comprising the geographic location and a time the blood typing was made, with a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the biometric measurement is the reading taken of data pertaining to ownership of the animal comprising title information for the animal;

and the step of employing a wireless receiver further comprises receiving said geographic data, comprising the geographic location and a time the title information was collected, with a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.

21. An apparatus for creating an identification record for an animal, the apparatus comprising:

an image acquisition device for capturing an image of at least a portion of an ocular fundus of the animal;

a computerized image analysis device for extracting a set of analysis data from the acquired image, the analysis data to represent a particular identified anatomical structure of the ocular fundus;

a device for receiving data indicative of day and geographic location of the animal when the image was so acquired; and

a device for generating the identification record to comprise at least the analysis data, the geographic location information, and additional biometric data selected from the group consisting of;

audio data, visual data, a description of the animal, birth date of the animal, death date of the animal, cause of death, genetic breeding data, DNA test measurement data, production data, veterinary records of the animal, data pertaining to a vaccination event, medical records of the animal, feed formulas, feedlot locations, border crossings, shipping data, information pertaining to ownership, ownership transfer data, purchaser required information, coded data assigned to the animal, a graphic record of a second feature of the animal, and microchip implant data.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the animal is dead, the anatomical structure so represented is at least a portion of retinal vasculature, the image acquisition device comprises a device for projecting light onto the ocular fundus of the animal and a camera, and the device for receiving data comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.

23. A system comprising the apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a processor for comparing a first identification record generated with a plurality of stored identification records, each comprising an identity of an animal, to find a matching identification record;

and wherein the processor for comparing resides on a computer at a location distant from the computerized image analysis device, and the first identification record of the animal is transmitted to the processor for comparing over a communication means selected from the group consisting of infrared signal transmission, network cable, phone transmission, a cellular network, internet, satellite transmission, and facsimile transmission.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising a storage device in communication with the computer for storing the identification records;

and wherein the device for receiving comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver and the storage device comprises media selected from the group consisting of compact disk (CD), magnetic disc, optical disc, magnetic tape, and smart card.

25. The system of claim 23, further comprising a storage device for storing the identification records, the storage device being interfaced with a first computer on which the image analysis device resides;

and wherein the computer on which the processor for comparing resides is a second computer, the first identification record is transmitted over the distance to the processor for the comparing so that an identity of the animal is extracted from the matching identification record, and the animal is dead.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the first identification record is transmitted to the second computer by means selected from the group consisting of an infrared port, PC card, magnetic media, cable, cellular transmission, and radio-frequency (RF) transmission;

and the storage device comprises media selected from the group consisting of compact disk (CD), magnetic disc, optic disc, magnetic tape, or smart card.

27. An apparatus for creating an identification record for a non-human animal, the apparatus comprising:

a wireless receiver for receive geographic data comprising information indicative of day and geographic location a biometric measurement for the animal is collected;

the biometric measurement comprising a measurement selected from the group consisting of a measurement pertaining to genetic breeding, a DNA test measurement, a reading from a microchip implanted in the animal, a health screening test, a reading taken of data pertaining to a vaccination event, a reading taken of data pertaining to ownership of the animal, a reading taken of data pertaining to transfers in ownership of the animal, a reading taken of data pertaining to production of the animal, a reading taken of data pertaining to distribution of the animal, and a reading taken of data pertaining to transport of the animal, and

the identification record comprising least the geographic data and the biometric measurement.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein:

the biometric measurement is the reading from a microchip implanted in the animal comprising data stored on the microchip;

the microchip having been implanted by means selected from the group consisting of;

tagging the animal, inserting into the animal, embedding within the animal, impressing into the animal, and injecting into the animal; and

the data stored on the microchip is selected from the group consisting of genetic breeding data, DNA test measurement data, production data, a blood type of the animal, feed formulas, feedlot locations, border crossings, shipping data, information pertaining to ownership of the animal, ownership transfer data, purchaser required information, and coded data assigned to the animal.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the biometric measurement results in information comprising data respectively associated with the measurement selected, and as further respectively selected from the group consisting of:

genetic breeding data, DNA test measurement data, production data, a blood type of the animal, feed formulas, feedlot locations, border crossings, shipping data, information pertaining to ownership of the animal, ownership transfer data, purchaser required information, coded data assigned to the animal, and microchip implant data.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the biometric measurement is the reading taken of data pertaining to a vaccination event;

the wireless receiver is a cellular receiver; and

the geographic data comprises the geographic location and a time the vaccination was administered to the animal.

31. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the biometric measurement is the reading taken of data pertaining to ownership of the animal comprising title information for the animal;

the wireless receiver is a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver; and

the geographic data comprises the geographic location and a time the title information was collected.