Mobile identification system and method

• US 8,655,032 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2012
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aware Incorporated (Crowley Holdings Preferred LLC)
• Original Assignee: AFIX Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Vitt, Joan L., McCowan, Tony L., Caudle, Derald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zarka, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Ha
• Application Number:
  US13/532,578
• Publication Number:
  US 20120328171A1
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 382/125
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/95 structured as a network, e.g. client-server architectures

Abstract

A mobile application stored within the mobile device allows for file collection, transfer, and display on a smart device with G3, G4, EDGE, or similar data communication capabilities. The software is used in conjunction with information collection devices synced to a smart device via blue tooth technology, such as a fingerprinting device. The device will transfer a file to the smart device running the mobile application. The application will then encrypt the file and encode the file that is then packaged into a proprietary format. The file is then sent to a web location using the data transmission capability of the mobile device. The device will then monitor a file location of a web address for a return response. It will then get the file from the web location in a standard NIST approved format, extract information and images from the file, displaying them in a GUI.

Claims

1. A mobile, automatic fingerprint identification system comprising:

a mobile image input device capable of transmitting a scanned fingerprint image;

a mobile computing device including a memory storage device, a graphical user interface (GUI), and a processor, said image input device adapted for delivering a fingerprint image to said computer, wherein said image is saved to said memory storage device;

said mobile computing device receiving identification data input into said mobile computing device with said user input interface and associating said identification data with said fingerprint image, said identification data including the identity of the person to whom the fingerprint belongs, the finger from which the print was taken, and the type of print taken;

said mobile computing device capable of generating a random globally unique identifier (GUID) number and associating that number with said fingerprint image;

image editing software stored on said memory storage device, said software capable of clarifying said fingerprint image, including increasing contrast and reducing image blur;

said image editing software including an image layout board stored within said computer memory storage device;

said image software capable of producing a plurality of customizable image boxes which can be moved, resized, locked, and unlocked within said image layout board;

wherein a fingerprint or handprint image is stored within each of said customizable image boxes;

said plurality of customizable image boxes being adapted to be placed into a desired layout and saved as a template for future use;

said plurality of customizable image boxes are automatically produced in a layout which conforms to meet the requirements of a predefined searchable forensic database containing identified fingerprints;

fingerprint images being automatically placed into said image boxes based upon said fingerprint image GUID number or other fingerprint identification characteristics;

said mobile computing device capable of locating identifying minutiae from said scanned fingerprint image and comparing said identifying minutiae against a database containing a plurality of identified fingerprints; and

said mobile computing device further capable of identifying the person to whom the fingerprint belongs.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

said mobile device further including a digital camera, wherein said camera is capable of taking a photograph of an individual whose fingerprints have been taken with said information collection device, and temporarily storing the photograph data within said mobile device storage memory;

associating said photograph with said fingerprint data file; and

said mobile device processor capable of encoding said fingerprint image data file with said photograph data, such that said photograph is stored within said fingerprint data file.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

said mobile device GUI capable of receiving text data; and

said mobile device processor capable of encoding said fingerprint image data file with said text data.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said fingerprint data file created by said information collection device is a .NIST data file format.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said mobile device is capable of encoding said fingerprint data file into an .XML data file format.

6. A method of identifying a fingerprint comprising the steps:

providing a mobile computing device including a memory storage device, a graphical user interface (GUI), and a processor, said image input device adapted for delivering a fingerprint image to said computer, wherein said image is saved to said memory storage device;

acquiring an image of a fingerprint on said mobile computing device;

inputting identification data into said mobile computing device with said user input interface and associating said identification data with said fingerprint image, said identification data including the identity of the person to whom the fingerprint belongs, the finger from which the print was taken, and the type of print taken;

generating a random globally unique identifier (GUID) number and associating that number with said fingerprint image;

clarifying the fingerprint image using image editing software on said mobile computing device;

said image editing software including an image layout board stored within said computer memory storage device;

said image software capable of producing a plurality of customizable image boxes which can be moved, resized, locked, and unlocked within said image layout board;

wherein a fingerprint or handprint image is stored within each of said customizable image boxes;

said plurality of customizable image boxes being adapted to be placed into a desired layout and saved as a template for future use;

said plurality of customizable image boxes are automatically produced in a layout which conforms to meet the requirements of a predefined searchable forensic database containing identified fingerprints;

fingerprint images being automatically placed into said image boxes based upon said fingerprint image GUID number or other fingerprint identification characteristics;

said mobile computing device capable of locating identifying minutiae from said scanned fingerprint image and comparing said identifying minutiae against a database containing a plurality of identified fingerprints;

said mobile computing device further capable of identifying the person to whom the fingerprint belongs;

locating with said mobile computing device identifying minutiae on said fingerprint image, including ridge bifurcations and end points; and

identifying with said mobile computing device the person to whom the fingerprint belongs based upon said fingerprint minutiae.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said mobile device further includes a digital camera, the method further comprising the steps:

capturing a photograph of said individual using said mobile device digital camera;

saving said photograph as a photograph data file;

associating said photograph data file with said fingerprint data file; and

wherein said encoded identification data file includes said photograph data file information and said fingerprint data file information.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the steps:

entering text data into said mobile device using said GUI;

saving said text data as a text data file;

associating said text data file with said fingerprint data file; and

wherein said encoded identification data file includes said text data file information and said fingerprint data file information.

9. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step:

searching said searchable database with the data of said encoded identification file;

locating data files associated with said individual, wherein said data files include identifying information;

transmitting said identifying information to said mobile device; and

displaying said identifying information on said mobile device GUI.

10. A method of identifying a fingerprint comprising the steps:

providing a mobile computing device including memory storage, GUI, and user input interface;

acquiring an image of a fingerprint;

storing said fingerprint image in said memory storage;

inputting identification data into said mobile computing device with said user input interface and associating said identification data with said fingerprint image, said identification data including the identity of the person to whom the fingerprint belongs, the finger from which the print was taken, and the type of print taken;

generating a random globally unique identifier (GUID) number and associating that number with said fingerprint image;

providing image editing software including an image layout board and storing said image editing software onto said mobile computing device memory storage;

clarifying the fingerprint image using said image editing software;

producing a plurality of customizable image boxes using said image software, wherein said image boxes may be moved, resized, locked, and unlocked within said image layout board, and arranging said customizable image boxes to conform with requirements of a predefined searchable forensic database containing identified fingerprints;

automatically placing fingerprint images into said image boxes based upon said fingerprint image GUID number or other fingerprint identification characteristics;

saving said image box layout into a single request file, and submitting said request file to said forensic database;

locating identifying minutiae on said fingerprint image, including ridge bifurcations and end points; and

identifying the person to whom the fingerprint belongs based upon said fingerprint minutiae.