Fingerprint scar recognition method and apparatus

• US 7,184,580 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2002
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Activcard Ireland, Limited
• Original Assignee: Activcard Ireland, Limited
• Inventors: Hamid, Laurence
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancuso; Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): DULANEY, KATHLEEN YUAN
• Application Number:
  US10/189,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20030021452A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,695 Days
• Field of Search: 382/116, 382/117, 382/118, 382/124, 382/209, 382/190, 283/68, 283/69, 340/5.53, 340/5.83, 396/15, 902/3, 348/77
• US Class Current: 382/124
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1347 Preprocessing; Feature extraction

Abstract

A method of recognizing an injury pattern on a fingerprint is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of providing biometric information to a contact imager; imaging and characterizing the biometric information; comparing an image of the biometric information against previously stored templates; upon a comparison result of the comparison, determining an injury pattern; wherein upon an injury pattern determination, performing a comparison against a stored template based on features extracted from the biometric data and the damage data.

Claims

1. A method of recognizing damage to a biometric information source comprising the steps of:

sensing biometric information from a biometric information source to provide sensed data;

extracting features from the sensed data, the features indicative of identifiable content of the sensed data;

analyzing the features to determine if some features, when grouped, are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source from which biometric information was sensed, wherein the damage is one of a cut, a scar resulting from a cut, a burn, and a scar resulting from a burn;

when some of the features are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source, grouping data relating to the some features and to the indicated damage to form damage data indicative of characteristic features of the cut, burn, or scar;

providing a template;

extracting feature data relating to at least other features than the some features;

registering the extracted feature data against data within the template to determine a likelihood of a match; and

when a match is likely, performing one of identifying and authorizing the biometric information source,

wherein the step of registering includes a step of registering the damage data against further data within the template to determine a likelihood of a damage match; and

,

wherein the step of performing one of identifying and authorizing the biometric information source is performed when a match and a damage match are both likely.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of registering is performed in dependence upon only feature data other than the damage data.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of registering accounts for features missing from the extracted feature data in dependence upon the damage data.

4. A method of recognizing damage to a biometric information source comprising the steps of:

sensing biometric information from a biometric information source to provide sensed data;

extracting features from the sensed data, the features indicative of identifiable content of the sensed data;

analyzing the features to determine if some features, when grouped, are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source from which biometric information was sensed, wherein the damage is one of a cut, a scar resulting from a cut, a burn, and a scar resulting from a burn;

when some of the features are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source, grouping data relating to the some features and to the indicated damage to form damage data indicative of characteristic features of the cut, burn, or scar;

providing a template;

registering the damage data against data within the template to determine a likelihood of a match;

when a match is likely, performing one of identifying and authorizing the biometric information source; and

when damage data is other than known, storing in association with the provided template data indicative of the damage data.

5. A method of recognizing damage to a biometric information source comprising the steps of:

sensing biometric information from a biometric information source to provide sensed data;

extracting features from the sensed data, the features indicative of identifiable content of the sensed data;

analyzing the features to determine if some features, when grouped, are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source from which biometric information was sensed, wherein the damage is one of a cut, a scar resulting from a cut, a burn, and a scar resulting from a burn;

when some of the features are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source, grouping data relating to the some features and to the indicated damage to form damage data indicative of characteristic features of the cut, burn, or scar;

providing a template;

registering the damage data against data within the template to determine a likelihood of a match;

when a match is likely, performing one of identifying and authorizing the biometric information source; and

wherein when damage data is other than known, storing in association with the provided template data indicative of a time the biometric information source from which the damage data was extracted was sensed.

6. A method of recognizing damage to a biometric information source comprising the steps of:

sensing biometric information from a biometric information source to provide sensed data;

extracting features from the sensed data, the features indicative of identifiable content of the sensed data;

analyzing the features to determine if some features, when grouped, are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source from which biometric information was sensed, wherein the damage is one of a cut, a scar resulting from a cut, a burn, and a scar resulting from a burn;

when some of the features are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source, grouping data relating to the some features and to the indicated damage to form damage data indicative of characteristic features of the cut, burn, or scar;

providing a template;

determining from the template whether damage data is known for the biometric information source;

when damage data is other than known, performing the steps of;

extracting feature data relating to at least other features than the some features,

registering the extracted feature data against data within the template to determine a likelihood of a match, and

when a match is likely, performing one of identifying and authorizing the biometric information source; and

when damage data is known, performing the steps of;

extracting feature data relating to at least other features than the some features,

registering the extracted feature data against data within the template to determine a likelihood of a match,

registering the damage data against further data within the template to determine a likelihood of a damage match, and

when a match and a damage match are both likely, performing one of identifying and authorizing the biometric information source.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the step of when damage data is other than known includes storing in association with the provided template data indicative of the damage data.

8. A method according to claim 6 wherein the step of when damage data is other than known includes storing in association with the provided template data indicative of a time the biometric information source from which the damage data was extracted was sensed.

9. A method of recognizing damage to a biometric information source comprising the steps of:

sensing biometric information from a biometric information source to provide sensed data;

extracting features from the sensed data, the features indicative of identifiable content of the sensed data;

analyzing the features to determine if some features, when grouped, are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source from which biometric information was sensed, wherein the damage is one of a cut, a scar resulting from a cut, a burn, and a scar resulting from a burn; and

when some of the features are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source, grouping data relating to the some features and to the indicated damage to form damage data indicative of characteristic features of the cut, burn, or scar,

wherein the biometric information is a fingertip and wherein the biometric data includes image data relating to a fingerprint, and

wherein the damage data includes data relating to type, size and location of the damage.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the damage data includes data relating to minutia within the fingerprint, the minutia arranged in a pattern indicative of damage.

11. A method according to claim 9 wherein the damage is one of a cut and a scar resulting from a cut and wherein the damage data includes data relating to a length of the cut, a location of the cut, and an orientation of the cut.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the damage is identifiable from data comprising a plurality of features along two approximately equally spaced lines within the image.

13. A method according to claim 9 wherein the damage is one of a burn and a scar resulting from a burn and wherein the damage data includes data relating to a shape of the burn and a location of the burn.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the damage is identifiable from data comprising a plurality of features forming a boundary about a region having no features or expected and identifiable patterns therein.

15. A method of recognizing damage to a biometric information source comprising the steps of:

sensing biometric information from a biometric information source to provide sensed data;

extracting features from the sensed data, the features indicative of identifiable content of the sensed data;

analyzing the features to determine if some features, when grouped, are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source from which biometric information was sensed, wherein the damage is one of a cut, a scar resulting from a cut, a burn, and a scar resulting from a burn; and

when some of the features are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source, grouping data relating to the some features and to the indicated damage to form damage data indicative of characteristic features of the cut, burn, or scar;

providing a template;

determining from the template whether damage data is known for the biometric information source; and

when damage data is other than known, storing in association with the provided template data indicative of the damage data and

storing in association with the provided template data indicative of a time the biometric information source from which the damage data was extracted was sensed.

16. A method of recognizing damage to a biometric information source comprising the steps of:

sensing biometric information from a biometric information source to provide sensed data;

extracting features from the sensed data, the features indicative of identifiable content of the sensed data;

analyzing the features to determine if some features, when grouped, are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source from which biometric information was sensed, wherein the damage is one of a cut, a scar resulting from a cut, a burn, and a scar resulting from a burn; and

when some of the features are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source, grouping data relating to the some features and to the indicated damage to form damage data indicative of characteristic features of the cut, burn, or scar;

providing a template;

determining from the template whether damage data is known for the biometric information source; and

when damage data is other than known, storing in association with the provided template data indicative of the damage data,

wherein the sensed data is an image of a biometric surface.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein the damage is one of a cut and a scar resulting from a cut and wherein the damage data includes data relating to a length of the cut, a location of the cut, and an orientation of the cut.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the damage is identifiable from data comprising a plurality of features along two approximately equally spaced lines within the image.

19. A method according to claim 16 wherein the damage is one of a burn and a scar resulting from a burn and wherein the damage data includes data relating to a shape of the burn and a location of the burn.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein the damage is identifiable from data comprising a plurality of features forming a boundary about a region having no features or expected and identifiable patterns therein.

21. A method of recognizing damage to a biometric information source comprising the steps of:

sensing biometric information from a biometric information source to provide sensed data;

extracting features from the sensed data, the features indicative of identifiable content of the sensed data;

analyzing the features to determine if some features, when grouped, are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source from which biometric information was sensed, wherein the damage is one of a cut, a scar resulting from a cut, a burn, and a scar resulting from a burn;

when some of the features are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source, grouping data relating to the some features and to the indicated damage to form damage data indicative of characteristic features of the cut, burn, or scar;

providing a template;

determining from the template whether template damage data is known for the biometric information source; and

when template damage data is known, performing the steps of;

determining if the template damage data is relating to permanent damage to the biometric information source; and

if the template damage data relates to permanent damage then verifying that the damage data and the known damage data are consistent damage data.

22. A method according to claim 21 wherein the template includes data relating to a period during which the damage data has been detected and wherein the step of determining is performed in dependence upon the data relating to the period.

23. A method according to claim 22 wherein the step of determining is performed in dependence upon a known present time.

24. A method according to claim 21 wherein the sensed data is an image of a biometric surface.

25. A method according to claim 24 wherein the damage is one of a cut and a scar resulting from a cut and wherein the damage data includes data relating to a length of the cut, a location of the cut, and an orientation of the cut.

26. A method according to claim 25 wherein the damage is identifiable from data comprising a plurality of features along two approximately equally spaced lines within the image.

27. A method according to claim 24 wherein the damage is one of a burn and a scar resulting from a bum and wherein the damage data includes data relating to a shape of the burn and a location of the burn.

28. A method according to claim 27 wherein the damage is identifiable from data comprising a plurality of features forming a boundary about a region having no features or expected and identifiable patterns therein.

29. A method of recognizing damage to a biometric information source comprising the steps of:

sensing biometric information from a biometric information source to provide sensed data;

extracting features from the sensed data, the features indicative of identifiable content of the sensed data;

analyzing the features to determine if some features, when grouped, are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source from which biometric information was sensed, wherein the damage is one of a cut, a scar resulting from a cut, a burn, and a scar resulting from a burn;

when some of the features are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source, grouping data relating to the some features and to the indicated damage to form damage data indicative of characteristic features of the cut, burn, or scar;

providing a template;

determining from the template whether template damage data is known for the biometric information source; and

when template damage data is known, performing the steps of;

determining if the template damage data is relating to permanent damage to the biometric information source, and

if the template damage data relates to other than permanent damage then comparing the damage data to the template damage data to determine a change therebetween.

30. A method according to claim 29 comprising the steps of:

when no change is found between the damage data and the template damage data, determining a period during which no change has occurred; and

if the period is greater than a threshold period, storing an indication that the damage data relates to permanent damage to the biometric information source.

31. A method according to claim 29 comprising the steps of:

when no change is found between the damage data and the template damage data, determining a period during which no change has occurred; and

if the period is greater than a threshold period, providing an indication to the biometric information source to re-enroll their biometric information.

32. A method according to claim 29 comprising the steps of:

when no change is found between the damage data and the template damage data, determining a period during which no change has occurred; and

if the period is less than a threshold period, storing an indication of the period during which no change has occurred.

33. A method according to claim 29 comprising the steps of:

when change is found between the damage data and the template damage data, determining an amount of change; and

in dependence upon the amount of change determining a likelihood of consistency for the damage data.

34. A method of recognizing damage to a biometric information source comprising the steps of:

sensing biometric information from a biometric information source to provide sensed data;

extracting features from the sensed data, the features indicative of identifiable content of the sensed data;

analyzing the features to determine if some features, when grouped, are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source from which biometric information was sensed, wherein the damage is one of a cut, a scar resulting from a cut, a burn, and a scar resulting from a burn;

when some of the features are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source, grouping data relating to the some features and to the indicated damage to form damage data indicative of characteristic features of the cut, burn, or scar; and

storing, within a template, damage data, data indicative of features other than the some features, and

data relating to a type of damage.

35. A method according to claim 34 wherein storing data indicative of the damage data includes storing data indicative of the grouped features.

36. A method of recognizing damage to a biometric information source comprising the steps of:

sensing biometric information from a biometric information source to provide sensed data including an image of a biometric surface;

extracting features from the sensed data, the features indicative of identifiable content of the sensed data;

analyzing the features to determine if some features, when grouped, are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source from which biometric information was sensed, wherein the damage is one of a cut, a scar resulting from a cut, a burn, and a scar resulting from a burn;

when some of the features are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source, grouping data relating to the some features and to the indicated damage to form damage data indicative of characteristic features of the cut, burn, or scar; and

storing, within a template, data indicative of the damage data and data indicative of features other than the some features,

wherein the damage is one of a cut and a scar resulting from a cut and wherein the damage data includes data relating to a length of the cut, a location of the cut, and an orientation of the cut.

37. A method according to claim 36 wherein the damage is identifiable from data comprising a plurality of features along two approximately equally spaced lines within the image.

38. A method of recognizing damage to a biometric information source comprising the steps of:

sensing biometric information from a biometric information source to provide sensed data including an image of a biometric surface;

extracting features from the sensed data, the features indicative of identifiable content of the sensed data;

analyzing the features to determine if some features, when grouped, are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source from which biometric information was sensed, wherein the damage is one of a cut, a scar resulting from a cut, a burn, and a scar resulting from a burn;

when some of the features are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source, grouping data relating to the some features and to the indicated damage to form damage data indicative of characteristic features of the cut, burn, or scar; and

storing, within a template, data indicative of the damage data and data indicative of features other than the some features,

wherein the damage is one of a burn and a scar resulting from a burn and wherein the damage data includes data relating to a shape of the burn and a location of the burn.

39. A method according to claim 38 wherein the damage is identifiable from data comprising a plurality of features forming a boundary about a region having no features or expected and identifiable patterns therein.

40. A computer readable medium comprising data stored therein relating to instructions for instructing a processor to perform the steps of:

sensing biometric information from a biometric information source to provide sensed data;

extracting features from the sensed data, the features indicative of identifiable content of the sensed data;

analyzing the features to determine if some features, when grouped, are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source from which biometric information was sensed, wherein the damage is one of a cut, a scar resulting from a cut, a burn, and a scar resulting from a burn;

when some of the features are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source, grouping data relating to the some features and to the indicated damage to form damage data indicative of characteristic features of the cut, burn, or scar;

providing a template;

extracting feature data relating to at least other features than the some features;

registering the extracted feature data against data within the template to determine a likelihood of a match; and

when a match is likely, performing one of identifying and authorizing the biometric information source,

wherein the stored data relating to performing the step of registering includes data relating to a step of registering the damage data against further data within the template to determine a likelihood of a damage match; and

,

wherein performing one of identifying and authorizing the biometric information source is performed when a match and a damage match are both likely.

41. A computer readable medium according to claim 40, wherein the stored data relating to the step of registering relates to performing the step in dependence upon only feature data other than the damage data.

42. A computer readable medium according to claim 40, wherein the stored data relating to the step of registering account for features missing from the extracted feature data in dependence upon the damage data.

43. A computer readable medium comprising data stored therein relating to instructions for instructing a processor to perform the steps of:

sensing biometric information from a biometric information source to provide sensed data;

extracting features from the sensed data, the features indicative of identifiable content of the sensed data;

analyzing the features to determine if some features, when grouped, are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source from which biometric information was sensed, wherein the damage is one of a cut, a scar resulting from a cut, a burn, and a scar resulting from a burn;

when some of the features are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source, grouping data relating to the some features and to the indicated damage to form damage data indicative of characteristic features of the cut, burn, or scar;

providing a template;

registering the damage data against data within the template to determine a likelihood of a match; and

when a match is likely, performing one of identifying and authorizing the biometric information source,

wherein the stored data for instructing the processor includes data relating to performing a step of storing in association with the provided template data indicative of the damage data.

44. A computer readable medium comprising data stored therein relating to instructions for instructing a processor to perform the steps of:

sensing biometric information from a biometric information source to provide sensed data;

extracting features from the sensed data, the features indicative of identifiable content of the sensed data;

analyzing the features to determine if some features, when grouped, are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source from which biometric information was sensed, wherein the damage is one of a cut, a scar resulting from a cut, a burn, and a scar resulting from a burn;

when some of the features are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source, grouping data relating to the some features and to the indicated damage to form damage data indicative of characteristic features of the cut, burn, or scar;

providing a template;

registering the damage data against data within the template to determine a likelihood of a match; and

when a match is likely, performing one of identifying and authorizing the biometric information source,

wherein the stored data for instructing the processor includes data relating to storing in association with the provided template data indicative of a time the biometric information source from which the damage data was extracted was sensed.

45. A computer readable medium comprising data stored therein relating to instructions for instructing a processor to perform the steps of:

sensing biometric information from a biometric information source to provide sensed data;

extracting features from the sensed data, the features indicative of identifiable content of the sensed data;

analyzing the features to determine if some features, when grouped, are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source from which biometric information was sensed, wherein the damage is one of a cut, a scar resulting from a cut, a burn, and a scar resulting from a burn;

when some of the features are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source, grouping data relating to the some features and to the indicated damage to form damage data indicative of characteristic features of the cut, burn, or scar;

providing a template;

determining from the template whether damage data is known for the biometric information source;

when damage data is other than known, performing the steps of;

extracting feature data relating to at least other features than the some features,

registering the extracted feature data against data within the template to determine a likelihood of a match, and

when a match is likely, performing one of identifying and authorizing the biometric information source; and

when damage data is known, performing the steps of;

extracting feature data relating to at least other features than the some features,

registering the extracted feature data against data within the template to determine a likelihood of a match,

registering the damage data against further data within the template to determine a likelihood of a damage match, and

when a match and a damage match are both likely, performing one of identifying and authorizing the biometric information source.

46. A computer readable medium according to claim 45 wherein the stored data for instructing the processor includes data relating to instructions for performing the step of when damage data is other than known storing in association with the provided template data indicative of the damage data.

47. A computer readable medium according to claim 46 wherein the stored data for instructing the processor includes data relating to instructions for performing the step of when damage data is other than known storing in association with the provided template data indicative of a time the biometric information source from which the damage data was extracted was sensed.

48. A computer readable medium according to claim 47 wherein the damage data includes data relating to minutia within the fingerprint, the minutia arranged in a pattern indicative of damage.

49. A computer readable medium according to claim 47 wherein the damage data includes data relating to type, size and location of the damage.

50. A computer readable medium according to claim 49 wherein the damage is one of a cut and a scar resulting from a cut and wherein the damage data includes data relating to a length of the cut, a location of the cut, and an orientation of the cut.

51. A computer readable medium according to claim 50 wherein the damage is identifiable from data comprising a plurality of features along two approximately equally spaced lines within the image.

52. A computer readable medium according to claim 49 wherein the damage data relates to one of a burn and a scar resulting from a burn and wherein the damage data includes data relating to a shape of the burn and a location of the burn.

53. A computer readable medium according to claim 52 wherein the damage data relates to damage identifiable from data comprising a plurality of features forming a boundary about a region having no features or expected and identifiable patterns therein.

54. A computer readable medium comprising data stored therein relating to instructions for instructing a processor to perform the steps of:

sensing biometric information from a biometric information source to provide sensed data;

extracting features from the sensed data, the features indicative of identifiable content of the sensed data;

analyzing the features to determine if some features, when grouped, are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source from which biometric information was sensed, wherein the damage is one of a cut, a scar resulting from a cut, a burn, and a scar resulting from a burn;

when some of the features are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source, grouping data relating to the some features and to the indicated damage to form damage data indicative of characteristic features of the cut, burn, or scar;

providing a template;

determining from the template whether damage data is known for the biometric information source; and

when damage data is other than known, performing the step of storing in association with the provided template data indicative of the damage data.

55. A computer readable medium according to claim 54 wherein the stored data for instructing the processor includes data relating to instructions for performing the step of when damage data is other than known storing in association with the provided template data indicative of a time the biometric information source from which the damage data was extracted was sensed.

56. A computer readable medium according to claim 54 wherein the sensed data is an image of a biometric surface.

57. A computer readable medium according to claim 56 wherein the damage data includes data relating to one of a cut and a scar resulting from a cut and wherein the damage data includes data relating to a length of the cut, a location of the cut, and an orientation of the cut.

58. A computer readable medium according to claim 57 wherein the damage data includes data relating to damage identifiable from data comprising a plurality of features along two approximately equally spaced lines within the image.

59. A computer readable medium according to claim 56 wherein the damage data relates to one of a burn and a scar resulting from a burn and wherein the damage data includes data relating to a shape of the burn and a location of the burn.

60. A computer readable medium according to claim 59 wherein the damage data relates to damage identifiable from data comprising a plurality of features forming a boundary about a region having no features or expected and identifiable patterns therein.

61. A computer readable medium comprising data stored therein relating to instructions for instructing a processor to perform the steps of:

sensing biometric information from a biometric information source to provide sensed data;

extracting features from the sensed data, the features indicative of identifiable content of the sensed data;

analyzing the features to determine if some features, when grouped, are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source from which biometric information was sensed, wherein the damage is one of a cut, a scar resulting from a cut, a burn, and a scar resulting from a burn;

when some of the features are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source, grouping data relating to the some features and to the indicated damage to form damage data indicative of characteristic features of the cut, burn, or scar;

providing a template;

determining from the template whether template damage data is known for the biometric information source; and

when template damage data is known, performing the steps of;

determining if the template damage data is relating to permanent damage to the biometric information source; and

if the template damage data relates to permanent damage then verifying that the damage data and the known damage data are consistent damage data.

62. A computer readable medium according to claim 61 wherein the template includes data relating to a period during which the damage data has been detected and wherein the step of determining is performed in dependence upon the data relating to the period.

63. A computer readable medium according to claim 62 wherein the stored data for instructing the processor includes data relating to instructions for performing the step of determining in dependence upon a known present time.

64. A computer readable medium according to claim 61 wherein the sensed data is an image of a biometric surface.

65. A computer readable medium according to claim 64 wherein the damage data relates to one of a cut and a scar resulting from a cut and wherein the damage data includes data relating to a length of the cut, a location of the cut, and an orientation of the cut.

66. A computer readable medium according to claim 65 wherein the damage data relates to damage identifiable from data comprising a plurality of features along two approximately equally spaced lines within the image.

67. A computer readable medium according to claim 64 wherein the damage data relates to one of a burn and a scar resulting from a burn and wherein the damage data includes data relating to a shape of the burn and a location of the burn.

68. A computer readable medium according to claim 67 wherein the damage data relates to damage identifiable from data comprising a plurality of features forming a boundary about a region having no features or expected and identifiable patterns therein.

69. A computer readable medium comprising data stored therein relating to instructions for instructing a processor to perform the steps of:

sensing biometric information from a biometric information source to provide sensed data;

extracting features from the sensed data, the features indicative of identifiable content of the sensed data;

analyzing the features to determine if some features, when grouped, are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source from which biometric information was sensed, wherein the damage is one of a cut, a scar resulting from a cut, a burn, and a scar resulting from a burn;

when some of the features are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source, grouping data relating to the some features and to the indicated damage to form damage data indicative of characteristic features of the cut, burn, or scar;

providing a template;

determining from the template whether template damage data is known for the biometric information source; and

when template damage data is known, performing the steps of;

determining if the template damage data is relating to permanent damage to the biometric information source; and

if the template damage data relates to other than permanent damage then comparing the damage data to the template damage data to determine a change therebetween.

70. A computer readable medium according to claim 69 wherein the stored data for instructing the processor includes data relating to instructions for performing the steps of:

when no change is found between the damage data and the template damage data, determining a period during which no change has occurred; and

if the period is greater than a threshold period, storing an indication that the damage data relates to permanent damage to the biometric information source.

71. A computer readable medium according to claim 69 wherein the stored data for instructing the processor includes data relating to instructions for performing the steps of:

when no change is found between the damage data and the template damage data, determining a period during which no change has occurred; and

if the period is greater than a threshold period, providing an indication to the biometric information source to re-enroll their biometric information.

72. A computer readable medium according to claim 69 wherein the stored data for instructing the processor includes data relating to instructions for performing the steps of:

when no change is found between the damage data and the template damage data, determining a period during which no change has occurred; and

if the period is less than a threshold period, storing an indication of the period during which no change has occurred.

73. A computer readable medium according to claim 69 wherein the stored data for instructing the processor includes data relating to instructions for performing the steps of:

when change is found between the damage data and the template damage data, determining an amount of change; and

in dependence upon the amount of change determining a likelihood of consistency for the damage data.

74. A computer readable medium comprising data stored therein relating to instructions for instructing a processor to perform the steps of:

sensing biometric information from a biometric information source to provide sensed data;

extracting features from the sensed data, the features indicative of identifiable content of the sensed data;

analyzing the features to determine if some features, when grouped, are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source from which biometric information was sensed, wherein the damage is one of a cut, a scar resulting from a cut, a burn, and a scar resulting from a burn;

when some of the features are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source, grouping data relating to the some features and to the indicated damage to form damage data indicative of characteristic features of the cut, burn, or scar; and

storing, within a template, data relating to storing the damage data, data indicative of features other than the some features, and

data relating to storing data relating to a type of damage.

75. A computer readable medium according to claim 74 wherein the stored data for instructing the processor includes data relating to instructions for performing the step of storing data indicative of the damage data includes data relating to storing data indicative of the grouped features.

76. A computer readable medium comprising data stored therein relating to instructions for instructing a processor to perform the steps of:

sensing biometric information from a biometric information source to provide sensed data including an image of a biometric surface;

extracting features from the sensed data, the features indicative of identifiable content of the sensed data;

analyzing the features to determine if some features, when grouped, are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source from which biometric information was sensed, wherein the damage is one of a cut, a scar resulting from a cut, a burn, and a scar resulting from a burn;

when some of the features are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source, grouping data relating to the some features and to the indicated damage to form damage data indicative of characteristic features of the cut, burn, or scar; and

storing, within a template, data indicative of the damage data and data indicative of features other than the some features,

wherein the damage is one of a cut and a scar resulting from a cut and wherein the damage data includes data relating to a length of the cut, a location of the cut, and an orientation of the cut.

77. A computer readable medium according to claim 76 wherein the damage is identifiable from data comprising a plurality of features along two approximately equally spaced lines within the image.

78. A computer readable medium comprising data stored therein relating to instructions for instructing a processor to perform the steps of:

sensing biometric information from a biometric information source to provide sensed data including an image of a biometric surface;

extracting features from the sensed data, the features indicative of identifiable content of the sensed data;

analyzing the features to determine if some features, when grouped, are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source from which biometric information was sensed, wherein the damage is one of a cut, a scar resulting from a cut, a burn, and a scar resulting from a burn;

when some of the features are characteristic of damage to the biometric information source, grouping data relating to the some features and to the indicated damage to form damage data indicative of characteristic features of the cut, burn, or scar; and

storing, within a template, data indicative of the damage data and data indicative of features other than the some features,

wherein the damage is one of a burn and a scar resulting from a burn and wherein the damage data includes data relating to a shape of the burn and a location of the burn.

79. A computer readable medium according to claim 78 wherein the damage is identifiable from data comprising a plurality of features forming a boundary about a region having no features or expected and identifiable patterns therein.