System and method of animal identification and animal transaction authorization using iris patterns

• US 6,424,727 B1
• Filed: 11/09/1999
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Iridian Technologies, Inc. (Advent International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Iridian Technologies, Inc. (Advent International Corporation)
• Inventors: Cambier, James L., Musgrave, Clyde
• Primary Examiner(s): MEHTA, BHAVESH M
• Application Number:
  US09/436,525
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 382/110, 382/117, 382/115, 382/116, 348/78, 351/206, 351/209, 351/218, 351/221
• US Class Current: 382/117
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/006 Automatic identification systems for animals, e.g. electronic devices, transponders for animals identification systems for access to feeding pens A01K1/0209; ear tags with electronic identification means A01K11/004
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/00 Pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/19 Sensors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means

Abstract

A system and method of identification of an animal based on features of the iris of an eye are disclosed. An image of the animal'"'"'s eye is captured using an iris acquisition device that combines a camera, an optical system, an illumination source, and a viewing screen, preferably in one small, hand-held device. A biometric template based on the features of the animal'"'"'s iris is extracted from the captured iris image. The identity of the animal is determined by comparing the obtained biometric template with a previously-obtained and stored biometric template, collected under conditions which permit independent verification of identity, and stored in a database along with identification information. A system and method of animal transaction authorization is also provided wherein the identification of an animal is authenticated, the identification of a person in the animal identity and tracking chain is authenticated, and an animal transaction is authorized of based on a match between the identity of the person in the animal identity and tracking chain and the identity of the animal. Preferably, the animal and person identification is accomplished using iris recognition techniques, and the animal and person identities are keyed to one another in a database to facilitate the matching between the animal and the person.

Claims

1. An iris imaging system for obtaining an image of an iris of an eye of an animal and for obtaining an image of an iris of an eye of a person for animal identification and animal transaction authorization, comprising:

one or more iris acquisition devices for obtaining an image of an iris of at least one animal eye and at least one human eye;

a processor for extracting at least one template from said obtained animal iris image and for extracting at least one template from said obtained human iris image;

a first memory for storing at least one template of at least one image of an iris of at least one animal eye and for storing at least one template of at least one image of an iris of at least one human eye;

a second memory having stored animal iris image templates and stored human iris image templates previously obtained by an iris acquisition device; and

a comparator for comparing said at least one obtained animal template to said stored animal templates to identify said animal, for comparing said at least one obtained human template to said stored human templates to identify said person, and for determining a match between said obtained animal iris template and said obtained human iris template.

2. The iris imaging system according to claim 1, said one or more iris acquisition devices comprising:

a lens having an image plane disposed in front of a front surface of said iris acquisition device;

a mirror disposed on a side of said lens opposite said iris acquisition device;

an illuminator disposed along a side of said mirror; and

an activator to begin iris image acquisition.

3. The iris imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said stored animal iris image is associated with said stored human iris image.

4. The iris imaging system according to claim 3, wherein said association comprising one or more pointers between said stored animal iris template and said stored human iris template.

5. The iris imaging system according to claim 1, wherein authorization to perform an animal transaction is based on said match between said animal iris template and said human iris template.

6. The iris imaging system according to claim 1 further comprising an authorization code fed back to said processor based on a signal from said comparator.

7. A method of animal identification and animal transaction authorization responsive to an iris of an animal and an iris of a person, comprising:

(a) storing image information of an iris of an eye of one or more animals;

(b) illuminating an eye of an unidentified animal having an iris;

(c) obtaining an image of said iris of said unidentified animal;

(d) determining if said image is an image of sufficient quality for a step (f) of extracting;

(e) repeating steps (b) through (d) until said image of sufficient quality is obtained;

(f) extracting an iris template, if said image is of sufficient quality;

(g) comparing said iris template of said obtained animal iris image with said stored animal image information to identify said unidentified animal;

(h) storing image information of an iris of an eye of one or more persons;

(i) illuminating an eye of an unidentified person having an iris;

(j) obtaining an image of said iris of said unidentified person;

(k) determining if said image is an image of sufficient quality for a step (m) of extracting;

(l) repeating steps (i) through (k) until said image of sufficient quality is obtained;

(m) extracting an iris template, if said image is of sufficient quality;

(n) comparing said iris template of said obtained image with said stored person image information to identify said unidentified person;

(o) matching said identified animal to said identified person to authenticate said identified person is in an animal identity and tracking chain for said identified animal; and

(p) authorizing a transaction involving said animal responsive to a result of said step of matching.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said matching said animal to said person further comprises keying at least one of said stored iris templates to point to at least one other stored iris template.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein said authorizing said transaction involving said animal further comprises generating an authorization code if said iris template of said animal substantially matches said stored image information and said animal iris template is matched to said person iris template.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein if said authorizing a transaction, further comprising billing against an identity of said person in said animal identity and tracking chain.

11. The method according to claim 7, further comprising developing an identification marker containing one or more of an iris template of said animal, an iris template of a person in said animal'"'"'s identity and tracking chain, and one or more of a biometric characteristic and identification information of said animal.

12. The method according to claim 7, further comprising generating registration/enrollment fees to be paid by one or more persons in said identity and tracking chain of said animal.

13. The method according to claim 7, further comprising charging an annual subscription fee to be paid by one or more persons in said identity and tracking chain for said animal.

14. The method according to claim 7, further comprising generating a transaction fee based on a requestor of identification information relating to said animal or said person in said animal identity and tracking chain.

15. The method according to claim 7, wherein said storing image information of an iris of an eye of one or more animals comprises storing said image information in one of a central database and a plurality of remote local servers.