System and method for upgrading biometric data

• US 7,542,590 B1
• Filed: 05/07/2004
• Issued: 06/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips North America LLC (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: YT Acquisition Corp.
• Inventors: Robinson, Timothy L., Goff, Tennille V., Schildt, Bradford R., Corwin, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bella, Matthew C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rosario, Dennis
• Application Number:
  US10/840,239
• Time in Patent Office: 1,852 Days
• Field of Search: 382115-127, 382/315
• US Class Current: 382/115
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/28 Determining representative reference patterns, e.g. by averaging or distorting; Generating dictionaries
• 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 40/12 Fingerprints or palmprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/50 Maintenance of biometric data or enrolment thereof

Abstract

A system and method of improving biometric information registered in a biometric authorization system is disclosed. System user biometric information entered into the system is upgraded at subsequent biometric authorizations at numerous biometric input devices.

Claims

1. A method in a biometric authorization system, the method comprising:

receiving, from a first biometric device, biometric data that is based on biometric information that is taken from a user and first biometric device data indicative of a capability of the first biometric device;

locating registered biometric data associated with a user record, wherein the registered biometric data was obtained via a second biometric device;

determining whether the received biometric data sufficiently matches the registered biometric data; and

in response to the received biometric data sufficiently matching the registered biometric data;

locating second biometric device data indicative of a capability of the second biometric device,

determining whether the first biometric device data indicates that the capability of the first biometric device is superior to the capability of the second biometric device, and

in response to the first biometric device data indicating that the capability of the first biometric device is superior to the capability of the second biometric device;

generating upgraded biometric data based on a combination of the registered biometric data and said received biometric data, and

storing the upgraded biometric data in said user record.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising prompting said user for one or more additional biometric samples to employ for said generating upgraded biometric data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said received biometric data comprises a biometric template generated from said biometric information taken from said user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a user identification code.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said generating upgraded biometric data is initiated by a third party system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said storing is determined by the system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said storing comprises storing a plurality of biometric data upgrade transactions.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing, at a local biometric device, said received biometric data with said biometric data associated with said user record.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing, at a central database, said received biometric data with said biometric data associated with said user record.

10. A method in a biometric authorization system, the method comprising:

receiving, at a database, biometric data that is based on biometric information taken from a user at a first biometric device and first biometric device data indicative of a capability of the first biometric device;

locating, at said database, registered biometric data associated with a user record, wherein the registered biometric data was obtained via a second biometric device;

authorizing said user at said database, said authorization being based on a comparison using said received biometric data and the registered biometric data associated with said user record;

upon a successful authorization, locating second biometric device data indicative of a capability of the second biometric device;

determining whether the first biometric device data indicates that the capability of the first biometric device is superior to the capability of the second biometric device; and

in response to the first biometric device data indicating that the capability of the first biometric device is superior to the capability of the second biometric device;

upgrading said registered biometric data associated with said user record using said received biometric data, and

storing the upgraded biometric data in association with said user record.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said locating is based on a receipt of a user identification code.