Biometric security encryption system

• US 6,498,861 B1
• Filed: 07/18/2000
• Issued: 12/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Activcard Ireland, Limited
• Original Assignee: Activcard Ireland, Limited
• Inventors: Freedman, Gordon S., Hamid, Laurence
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancuso, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bali, Vikkram
• Application Number:
  US09/618,285
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 382/115-127, 235/380, 235/382, 235/382.5, 902/3-6, 713/182, 713/186, 340/5.21, 340/5.52, 340/5.53, 340/5.8, 340/5.81, 340/5.82, 340/5.83
• US Class Current: 382/124
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/2415 based on parametric or probabilistic models, e.g. based on likelihood ratio or false acceptance rate versus a false rejection rate
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/10 Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands
• 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

A method of registering biometric data is disclosed wherein a registration profile is formed of those templates that have a likelihood of registering with the biometric data that is within predetermined limits. The profile is then compared against one or more other profiles to determine an individual most likely to have said profile. That individual is then identified. Optionally, the profile comparison is used in conjunction with a individual registration values formed by comparison between the biometric data and stored templates.

Claims

1. A method of identifying an individual comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a biometric information sample from a biometric information source of the individual;

b) characterising the biometric information sample;

c) comparing the characterised biometric information sample against some of a plurality of stored templates to determine a registration profile comprising indicators of a plurality of templates that match the characterised biometric information sample within predetermined limits;

d) comparing the registration profile against at least a stored registration profile to determine an identification associated with a registration profile similar to the determined registration profile; and

,

e) identifying the individual when the associated registration profile is similar with the determined registration profile within a first predetermined limit.

2. A method of identifying an individual as defined in claim 1 comprising the steps of:

comparing the characterised biometric information sample against some of a plurality of stored templates to determine a stored template that most closely matches the characterised biometric information sample; and

, wherein the at least a stored registration profile is a registration profile associated with the determined stored template.

3. A method of identifying an individual as defined in claim 2 wherein the step of:

a) comparing the characterised biometric information sample against some of a plurality of stored templates to determine a stored template that most closely matches the characterised biometric information sample determines a plurality of stored templates that match the characterised biometric information sample within predetermined limits; and

,

b) based on a stored registration profile associated with each determined stored template determining a registration profile that most closely matches the determined registration profile.

4. A method of identifying an individual as defined in claim 3 wherein the step of:

identifying the individual when the associated registration profile is similar with the determined registration profile within a first predetermined limit is performed in dependence upon a quality of each match between the characterised biometric information sample and a stored template associated with the registration profile.

5. A method of identifying an individual presenting a biometric information sample to a system as defined in claim 2 wherein the biometric information source is a fingertip.

6. A method of identifying an individual as defined in claim 1 wherein the registration profile comprises a predetermined number of indicators of a plurality of templates that most closely match the characterised biometric information sample.

7. A method of identifying an individual as defined in claim 6 wherein the step of comparing the characterised biometric information sample against some of a plurality of stored templates includes the following steps:

a) comparing the characterised biometric information sample against each of a the stored templates to determine an associated registration result;

b) selecting a predetermined number of the templates having most preferable registration results; and

c) determining a registration profile based on the selected predetermined number of templates, the registration profile indicative of the selected predetermined number of templates.

8. A method of identifying an individual as defined in claim 7 wherein the registration profile includes ordering information relating to an ordering of the associated registration results.

9. A method of identifying an individual as defined in claim 8 wherein the step of comparing the registration profile against at least a stored registration profile includes the step of:

comparing the indicators within the registration profile against indicators within the at least a stored registration profile and comparing the ordering information within the registration profile against indicators within the at least a stored registration profile.

10. A method of identifying an individual as defined in claim 9 wherein the step of identifying the individual includes the step of determining an individual identity relating to a template associated with the determined registration profile.

11. A method of identifying an individual as defined in claim 10 wherein the step of identifying the individual includes the step of registering the biometric information against the associated template to verify the identification.

12. A method of identifying an individual as defined in claim 6 comprising the steps of:

comparing the characterised biometric information sample against some of a plurality of stored templates to determine registration results relating to a closeness of a match between the characterised biometric information and each stored template; and

wherein the step of identifying the individual is performed in dependence upon closely matching registration profiles and registration results indicative of a close match.