Methods, computer program products and devices for check of identity

• US 7,729,522 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2004
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Precise Biometrics AB (Precise Biometrics Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Precise Biometrics AB (Precise Biometrics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Nordin, Bjorn
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta; Bhavesh M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vanchy, Jr.; Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/546,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20070014444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,301 Days
• Field of Search: 382/125, 382/124
• US Class Current: 382/125
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1353 Extracting features related to minutiae or pores

Abstract

A method for creating a representation of a fingerprint is disclosed. The method comprises creating unique pairs of minutiae points identified in the fingerprint, each pair of minutiae points being represented by a distance between the minutiae points and by angles associated with the respective minutiae points included in the pair. Moreover, methods are disclosed for use in checking a person'"'"'s identity and in creating reference data for checking a person'"'"'s identify. Moreover, computer program products and devices for carrying out the methods are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of using a device having a data processing unit for checking a person'"'"'s identity for creating a representation of a fingerprint, comprising the steps of:

forming, by means of the data processing unit, a set of unique pairs of minutiae points identified in the fingerprint, each unique pair of minutiae points being represented by a distance between said minutiae points and by angles associated with the respective minutiae points included in the pair, and representing said set of unique pairs of minutiae points as a data structure comprising a two-dimensional matrix of cells containing distance values is indexed based on said respective angles associated with said minutiae points included in the unique pair, whereby each of the cells is uniquely pointed out by letting the angles associated with the minutiae points constitute the index.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said angles constitute coordinates in a coordinate system, and

wherein said distance is stored at the point indexed by said angles.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said angles represent the orientation of the respective minutiae points.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said unique pair of minutiae points is only represented by said distance and said angles.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pair is also represented by data indicating the type of the respective minutiae points.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said angles are represented relative to a straight line extending through both minutiae points included in the pair.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said angles are represented relative to a predetermined coordinate system.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said data structure is two-dimensionally indexed,

a first dimension being indexed based on a first angle, which is associated with a first minutiae point included in said pair of minutiae points, and

a second dimension being indexed based on a second angle, which is associated with a second minutiae point included in said pair of minutiae points.

9. A method for use in checking a person'"'"'s identity, comprising identifying in an electronic representation of a fingerprint first and second minutiae points,

determining said distance between said first and second minutiae points, and

determining first and second angles associated with said first and second minutiae points, wherein the method comprises steps as claimed in claim 1.

10. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said electronic representation of a fingerprint represents a current fingerprint, the method further comprising receiving an enrolment matrix, and comparing said enrolment matrix with said data structure.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising the step of comparing a predetermined value in said enrolment matrix with a predetermined value in said data structure.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising the step of creating a difference between said predetermined value in the enrolment matrix and said predetermined value in the data structure.

13. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method is performed on a smart card.

14. A computer program readable product stored on a computer readable medium comprising instructions for execution in a data processing unit, wherein the instructions are adapted to operate said data processing unit to perform the method as claimed in claim 1.

15. A computer program readable product as claimed in claim 14, comprising a smart card.

19. A method for creating reference data for checking a person'"'"'s identity, comprising

identifying in an electronic representation of a fingerprint first and second minutiae points,

determining a distance between said first and second minutiae points, and

determining first and second angles associated with said first and second minutiae points, wherein the method comprises the steps recited in claim 1.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, further comprising the step of storing said data structure on a portable data carrier.

21. A computer program readable product comprising instructions for execution in a data processing unit, wherein the instructions are adapted to operate said data processing unit perform the method recited in claim 19 or 20.

16. A device for use in checking a person'"'"'s identity, comprising a data processing unit, wherein said data processing unit is arranged to create a set of unique pairs of minutiae points identified in the fingerprint of the person, each unique pair of minutiae points being represented by a distance between said minutiae points and by angles associated with the respective minutiae points included in the pair, wherein said set of unique pairs of minutiae points is represented as a data structure comprising a two dimensional matrix of cells containing distance values that is indexed based on said respective angles associated with said minutiae points included in the unique pair, whereby each of the cells is uniquely pointed out by letting the angles associated with the minutiae points constitute the index.

17. A device for use in checking a person'"'"'s identity, comprising a data processing unit, wherein said data processing unit is arranged to compare a representation of a current fingerprint of the person with reference fingerprint data, said representation of a current fingerprint comprising a set of unique pairs of minutiae points identified in the current fingerprint, and said reference fingerprint data comprising a set of unique pairs of minutiae points identified in a reference fingerprint, each unique pair of minutiae points being represented by a distance between said minutiae points and by angles associated with the respective minutiae points included in the pair, and wherein said set of unique pairs of minutiae points is represented as a data structure comprising a two dimensional matrix of cells containing distance values that is indexed based on said respective angles associated with said minutiae points included in the unique pair, whereby each of the cells is uniquely pointed out by letting the angles associated with the minutiae points constitute the index.

18. A device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the device comprises a smart card.

22. A device for creating reference data for checking a person'"'"'s identity, comprising a data processing unit, wherein said data processing unit is arranged to create a set of unique pairs of minutiae points identified in the person'"'"'s fingerprint, each unique pair of minutiae points being represented by a distance between said minutiae points and by angles associated with the respective minutiae points included in the pair, wherein said set of unique pairs of minutiae points is represented as a data structure comprising a two dimensional matrix of cells containing distance values that is indexed based on said respective angles associated with said minutiae points included in the unique pair, whereby each of the cells is uniquely pointed out by letting the angles associated with the minutiae points constitute the index.