Method and apparatus for biometric verification with data packet transmission prioritization

• US 7,492,928 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2003
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Activcard Ireland, Limited
• Original Assignee: Activcard Ireland, Limited
• Inventors: Hillhouse, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Strege; John B
• Application Number:
  US10/372,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20040165755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,184 Days
• Field of Search: 382/115, 382/124, 382/209, 382/224, 382/294, 340/5.53, 340/5.83, 713/186
• US Class Current: 382/124
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/00 Pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/211 Selection of the most significant subset of features
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/771 Feature selection, e.g. selecting representative features from a multi-dimensional feature space
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/10 Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands

Abstract

An authentication mechanism for use with biometric systems which optimizes data extraction on areas or regions having a high probability of matching a reference biometric template, allows a reduction in both the size and number of data packet transmissions to be made to a biometric matching engine and includes data packet transmission prioritization.

Claims

1. A method of creating a template for biometric authentication, the method comprising:

extracting biometric feature data from a biometric sample, wherein the extracted biometric feature data is reproducibly extractable from the biometric sample;

applying a predetermined selection criterion to the extracted biometric feature data, wherein the predetermined selection criterion is based on a probability of registering portions of the extracted biometric feature data with corresponding portions of reference biometric feature data stored in a biometric feature reference template; and

storing the extracted biometric feature data in a biometric feature sample template in a prioritized order based on the determined probability of registration with the biometric feature reference template.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the prioritized order is from a highest probability of registration to a lowest probability of registration.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the prioritized order is associated with a plurality of ranges of probabilities of registration.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the prioritized order is organized with a range including the highest probability of registration ordered before a range including the lowest probability of registration.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the probability of registration is based at least in part on sample quality of the extracted biometric feature data.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the biometric feature sample template includes data relating to the prioritized order separate from the extracted biometric feature data.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein data relating to the prioritized order are grouped into packets including features relating to the extracted biometric feature data, and wherein the packets are organized in an order based on the features relating to the extracted biometric feature data.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein applying a predetermined selection criterion to the extracted biometric feature data is based at least in part on statistical data that is updated at intervals.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein the statistical data includes at least a statistical analysis of sensed biometric data.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the biometric sample is a fingerprint.

11. A method of creating a template for biometric authentication, the method comprising:

extracting biometric feature data from a biometric sample, wherein the extracted biometric feature data are reproducibly extractable from the biometric sample; and

selecting portions of the biometric feature data that have a predetermined likelihood of registering with corresponding portions of reference biometric feature data stored in a biometric feature reference template; and

storing the extracted biometric feature data in a biometric feature sample template in a prioritized order based on a determined likelihood of registration with the biometric feature reference template.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the prioritized order is from a highest likelihood of registration to a lowest likelihood of registration.

13. A method according to claim 11 wherein the prioritized order is associated with a plurality of ranges of likelihood of registration.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the prioritized order is organized with a range including the highest likelihood or registration ordered before a range including the lowest likelihood of registration.

15. A method according to claim 11 wherein the likelihood of registration is based at least in part on sample quality of the extracted biometric feature data.

16. A method according to claim 11, wherein the biometric feature sample template includes data relating to the prioritized order separate from the extracted biometric feature data.

17. A method according to claim 11, wherein data relating to the prioritized order are grouped into packets including features relating to the extracted biometric feature data, and wherein the packets are organized in an order based on the features relating to the extracted biometric feature data.

18. A method according to claim 11 wherein selecting portions of the biometric feature data is performed based at least in part on statistical data that is updated at intervals.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein the statistical data includes at least a statistical analysis of sensed biometric data.

20. A method according to claim 11 wherein the biometric sample is a fingerprint.

21. A computer readable medium having instructions stored therein for creating a template for biometric authentication, wherein the executed instructions cause a processor to:

extract biometric feature data from a biometric sample, wherein the extracted biometric feature data are reproducibly extractable from the biometric sample;

apply a predetermined selection criterion to the extracted biometric feature data wherein the predetermined selection criterion is based on a likelihood of registering portions of the extracted biometric feature data with corresponding portions biometric feature reference data stored in a biometric feature reference template; and

store the extracted biometric sample feature data in a biometric feature sample template in a prioritized order based on the likelihood of registration with the biometric feature reference template.

22. A computer readable medium according to claim 21 wherein the prioritized order is from a highest likelihood of registration to a lowest likelihood of registration.

23. A computer readable medium according to claim 21 wherein the prioritized order is from a determined highest sample quality of the extracted biometric feature data to a determined lowest sample quality of the extracted biometric feature data.

24. A computer readable medium according to claim 21 wherein the computer readable medium is included within a security token housing.

25. A computer readable medium according to claim 24 wherein the security token housing is a smartcard housing.

26. A system for creating a template for biometric authentication, the system comprising:

a sensor for sensing a biometric sample;

a processor for (a) extracting biometric feature data from the biometric sample, the extracted biometric feature data relating to features reproducibly extractable from said biometric information sample and, (b) determining from the biometric sample data the biometric feature data having a likelihood of registration with reference biometric feature data stored in a biometric feature reference template; and

a memory for storing said extracted biometric feature data in a biometric feature sample template in a prioritized order based on the determination of likelihood of registration with the biometric feature reference template.

27. A system according to claim 26 wherein the memory is a portion of a security token and the processor is separate from the security token.

28. A system according to claim 26 wherein the sensor is a fingerprint sensor.

29. A system for creating a template for biometric authentication, the system comprising:

a sensor for sensing a biometric sample;

a processor for extracting biometric feature data from the biometric sample and applying a selection criterion to the extracted biometric feature data, wherein the selection criterion is at least partially based on a likelihood of registering portions of the extracted biometric feature data with corresponding portions of reference biometric feature data stored in a biometric feature reference template; and

a memory for storing the extracted biometric feature data in a biometric feature sample template in a prioritized order based on the determined likelihood of registration with the biometric feature reference template.

30. A system according to claim 29 wherein the memory is a portion of a security token and the processor is separate from the security token.

31. A system according to claim 29 wherein the sensor is fingerprint sensor.

32. A computer readable medium comprising:

first instructions for extracting biometric feature data from a biometric sample, the extracted biometric feature data relating to features reproducibly extractable from said first biometric information sample;

second instructions for determining portions of the extracted biometric feature data having a likelihood of registration with reference biometric feature data stored in a biometric feature reference template; and

third instructions for storing the extracted biometric feature data in a biometric feature sample template in a prioritized order based on the determined likelihood of registration with the biometric feature reference template.

33. A computer readable medium according to claim 32 wherein the prioritized order is from a determined highest sample quality of the extracted biometric feature data to a determined lowest sample quality of the extracted biometric feature data.

34. A computer readable medium according to claim 32 wherein the computer readable medium is included within a security token housing.

35. A computer readable medium according to claim 34 wherein the security token housing is a smartcard housing.

36. A system for creating a template for biometric authentication, the system comprising:

means for sensing a biometric sample;

means for extracting biometric feature data from the biometric sample, the extracted biometric feature data relating to features reproducibly extractable from the biometric sample;

means for selecting portions of the extracted biometric feature data having a likelihood of registration with corresponding portions of reference biometric feature data stored in a biometric feature reference template; and

means for storing the extracted biometric feature data in a biometric feature sample template in a prioritized order based on the determined likelihood of registration with the biometric feature reference template.

37. A system according to claim 36 wherein the storing means includes a portion of a security token and the extracting means is separate from the security token.

38. A system according to claim 36 wherein the sensor means includes a fingerprint sensor.