Device and method for fingerprint identification, and computer product

• US 20050185828A1
• Filed: 04/20/2005
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Shinzaki, Takashi, Abiko, Yukihiro, Fujii, Yusaku, Semba, Satoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,359,534 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/124
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/12 Fingerprints or palmprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1365 Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition

Abstract

In a method for fingerprint identification, fingerprint images of parts of one finger of a person to be registered are registered as registered fingerprint images, and a relative position is calculated. A fingerprint image of a person to be identified is acquired as a read fingerprint image. Based on the relative position, a registered fingerprint image from among the registered fingerprint images is specified, and a matching degree between the registered fingerprint image specified and the read fingerprint image is calculated. The specifying and the calculating are executed until the matching degree is greater than a predetermined value.

Claims

1. A fingerprint identification device comprising:

a relative position calculating unit that calculates a relative position for each of registered fingerprint images, each of which is registered for each of a plurality of parts of one finger of a person;

a image acquiring unit that acquires an image of a part of a finger of a person to be identified, as a read fingerprint image;

a specifying unit that specifies a registered fingerprint image from among the registered fingerprint images, based on the relative position;

a matching degree calculating unit that calculates a matching degree between the read fingerprint image and the registered fingerprint image specified; and

an authenticating unit that authenticates a fingerprint if the matching degree is greater than a predetermined value.

2. The fingerprint identification device according to claim 1, wherein to calculate the relative position for all the registered fingerprint images,

the relative position calculating unit extracts two registered fingerprint images from the registered fingerprint images, and then calculates a mutually relative position for all the registered fingerprint images.

3. The fingerprint identification device according to claim 1, wherein

the matching degree calculating unit sequentially calculates a matching degree between the read fingerprint image and the registered fingerprint image specified, while virtually moving the read fingerprint image by a predetermined distance in an area including all the registered fingerprint images, and

the authenticating unit authenticates the fingerprint based on a highest matching degree.

4. The fingerprint identification device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a registering unit that registers a plurality of registered fingerprint images for plurality of parts of one finger of a person.

5. The fingerprint identification device according to claim 4, wherein

the registering unit does not register a fingerprint image, if an overlapping area between the fingerprint image and a registered fingerprint image that is already registered, is less than a predetermined amount.

6. The fingerprint identification device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a re-registering unit that re-registers a new registered fingerprint image, and from among the registered fingerprint images, deletes a registered fingerprint image of which, an overlapping area with another registered fingerprint image is not less than a predetermined amount.

7. The fingerprint identification device according to claim 6, wherein

the re-registering unit re-registers a new registered fingerprint image, and from among the registered fingerprint images, deletes a registered fingerprint image that has been least used for identifying the read fingerprint image within a past predetermined period.

8. The fingerprint identification device according to claim 6, wherein

the re-registering unit re-registers a plurality of new registered fingerprint images, and deletes all the registered fingerprint images if at least a predetermined period has passed after a date and time on which the registered fingerprint images are registered.

9. The fingerprint identification device according to claim 6, wherein

the re-registering unit performs the re-registration only if matches are found upon executing the fingerprint identification a plurality of times.

10. The fingerprint identification device according to claim 1, wherein

the specifying unit specifies one registered fingerprint image from the registered fingerprint images, based on the relative position.

11. A method of fingerprint identification comprising:

registering a fingerprint image, as registered fingerprint images, for each of a plurality of parts of one finger of a person;

calculating a relative position for each of the registered fingerprint images;

acquiring an image of a part of a finger of a person to be identified, as a read fingerprint image;

specifying a registered fingerprint image from among the registered fingerprint images, based on the relative position;

calculating a matching degree between the registered fingerprint image specified and the read fingerprint image;

executing the specifying and the calculating until the matching degree is greater than a predetermined value.

12. A computer-readable recording medium that records thereon a computer program including instructions which, when executed, cause a computer to execute:

registering fingerprint images, as registered fingerprint images, with respect to a plurality of parts of one finger of a person to be registered;

calculating a relative position for the registered fingerprint images registered;

reading a part of a finger of a person to be identified, as a read fingerprint image;

specifying a registered fingerprint image from among the registered fingerprint images, based on the relative position; and

performing fingerprint identification based on a matching degree between the registered fingerprint image specified and the read fingerprint image.

13. The recording medium according to claim 12, further comprising:

registering a plurality of registered fingerprint images for a plurality of parts of one finger of a person to be registered.

14. The recording medium according to claim 12, wherein

the specifying includes specifying one registered fingerprint image from the registered fingerprint images, based on the relative position.