Methods, computer program products and devices for check of identity

• US 20070014444A1
• Filed: 02/12/2004
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Precise Biometrics AB (Precise Biometrics Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Precise Biometrics AB (Precise Biometrics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Nordin, Bjorn
• Granted Patent: US 7,729,522 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/125
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1353 Extracting features related to minutiae or pores

Abstract

A method for creating a representation of a fingerprint is disclosed. The method comprises creating unique pairs of minutiae points identified in the fingerprint, each pair of minutiae points being represented by a distance between the minutiae points and by angles associated with the respective minutiae points included in the pair. Moreover, methods are disclosed for use in checking a person'"'"'s identity and in creating reference data for checking a person'"'"'s identify. Moreover, computer program products and devices for carrying out the methods are disclosed.

Claims

1-24. -24. (canceled)

25. A method for creating a representation of a fingerprint, characterised by forming a set of unique pairs of minutiae points identified in the fingerprint, each pair of minutiae points being represented by a distance between said minutiae points and by angles associated with the respective minutiae points included in the pair, and wherein said set of unique pairs of minutiae points is represented as a data structure that is indexed based on said respective angles associated with said minutiae points included in the unique pair.

26. A method as claimed in claim 25, characterised in that said angles constitute coordinates in a coordinate system, wherein said distance is stored at the point indexed by said angles.

27. A method as claimed in claim 25 or 26, characterised in that said angles represent the orientation of the respective minutiae points.

28. A method as claimed in claim 25, characterised in that said unique pair of minutiae points is only represented by said distance and said angles.

29. A method as claimed in any one of claim 25, characterised in that said pair is also represented by data indicating the type of the respective minutiae points.

30. A method as claimed in claim 25, characterised in that said angles are represented relative to a straight line extending through both minutiae points included in the pair.

31. A method as claimed in claim 25, characterised in that said angles are represented relative to a predetermined coordinate system.

32. A method as claimed in claim 25, characterised by arranging in said data structure said distance indexed based on said angles associated with the respective minutiae points included in the pair.

33. A method as claimed in claim 32, characterised in that said data structure is two-dimensionally indexed,

a first dimension being indexed based on a first angle, which is associated with a first minutiae point included in said pair of minutiae points, and

a second dimension being indexed based on a second angle, which is associated with a second minutiae point included in said pair of minutiae points.

34. A method for use in checking a person'"'"'s identity, comprising

identifying in an electronic representation of a fingerprint first and second minutiae points,

determining said distance between said first and second minutiae points, and

determining first and second angles associated with said first and second minutiae points, characterised in that the method comprises steps as claimed in claim 25.

35. A method as claimed in claim 31, characterised in that said electronic representation of a fingerprint represents a current fingerprint, the method further comprising receiving an enrolment matrix, and comparing said enrolment matrix with said data structure.

36. A method as claimed in claim 35, characterised by comparing a predetermined value in said enrolment matrix with a predetermined value in said data structure.

37. A method as claimed in claim 36, characterised by creating a difference between said predetermined value in the enrolment matrix and said predetermined value in the data structure.

38. A method as claimed in any claim 25, characterised in that the method is performed on a smart card.

39. A computer program product comprising instructions for execution in a data processing unit, characterised in that the instructions in execution make said data processing unit perform the method as claimed in claim 25.

40. A computer program product as claimed in claim 39, characterised in that the instructions are executable on a smart card.

44. A method for creating reference data for checking a person'"'"'s identity, comprising

identifying in an electronic representation of a fingerprint first and second minutiae points,

determining a distance between said first and second minutiae points, and

determining first and second angles associated with said first and second minutiae points, characterised in that

the method comprises steps as claimed in claim 25.

45. A method as claimed in claim 44, characterised by storing said data structure on a portable data carrier.

46. A computer program product comprising instructions for execution in a data processing unit, characterised in that the instructions in execution make said data processing unit perform the method as claimed in claim 44 or 45.

41. A device for use in checking a person'"'"'s identity, comprising a data processing unit, characterised in that said data processing unit is arranged to create a set of unique pairs of minutiae points identified in the fingerprint, each unique pair of minutiae points being represented by a distance between said minutiae points and by angles associated with the respective minutiae points included in the pair, wherein said set of unique pairs of minutiae points is represented as a data structure that is indexed based on said respective angles associated with said minutiae points included in the unique pair.

42. A device for use in checking a person'"'"'s identity, comprising a data processing unit, characterised in that said data processing unit is arranged to

compare a representation of a current fingerprint with reference fingerprint data, said representation of a current fingerprint comprising a set of unique pairs of minutiae points identified in the current fingerprint, and said reference fingerprint data comprising a set of unique pairs of minutiae points identified in a reference fingerprint, each unique pair of minutiae points being represented by a distance between said minutiae points and by angles associated with the respective minutiae points included in the pair, and wherein said set of unique pairs of minutiae points is represented as a data structure that is indexed based on said respective angles associated with said minutiae points included in the unique pair.

43. A device as claimed in claim 42, characterised in that the device comprises a smart card.

47. A device for creating reference data for checking a person'"'"'s identity, comprising a data processing unit, characterised in that said data processing unit is arranged to create a set of minutiae points identified in the fingerprint, each unique pair of minuatiae pionts being represented by a distance between said minutiae points and by angles associated with the respective points included in the pair, wherein said set of unique pairs of minutaiae pionts is represented as a data structure that is indexed based on said respective angles associated with said minutiae points included in the unique pair.