Biometric registration and/or verification system and method

• US 9,830,674 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2016
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amerasia International Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Amerasia International Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Chung, Kevin Kwong-Tai
• Primary Examiner(s): BEKELE, MEKONEN T
• Application Number:
  US15/188,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20160358296A1
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 382118, 382124, 382116, 726 7
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2230/00 Voting or election arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/265 Personal security, identity or safety
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/19 Sensors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/33 based only on signature image, e.g. static signature recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof

Abstract

A biometric registration and/or verification system and method may comprise: a biometric sensor for capturing biometric data; a data entry device, a computer processor for receiving captured biometric data and entered data; and a database storing records thereof. The identifying biometric data may be related to the entered data in the database record. The biometric data is tested for satisfying a predetermined quality standard before being utilized, e.g., stored in the database record and/or compared.

Claims

1. A biometric registration system comprising:

a biometric sensor for capturing identifying biometric data of a person to be registered;

a data entry device for receiving entered data;

a computer processor configured for receiving captured identifying biometric data and entered data;

said computer processor testing whether the received captured identifying biometric data satisfies predetermined quality thresholds and for a predetermined number of minutiae;

wherein the testing for predetermined quality thresholds for fingerprint biometric data includes testing for an area of a captured fingerprint image, for a number of distinguishable fingerprint characteristics, for a number of finger segments for a finger, or for a combination thereof, and

wherein the testing for predetermined quality thresholds for facial image biometric data include testing for head tilt, for facial completeness, for an eye being open, for an eye being closed, for face size, or for a combination thereof; and

a registration database coupled to the computer processor for storing registration records representing the tested satisfactory identifying biometric data and the entered data for the person to be registered, wherein the tested satisfactory identifying biometric data of the person to be registered is related to the entered data in the database registration record thereof;

whereby the person to be registered is registered according to the stored registration record when the tested identifying biometric data satisfies the predetermined quality thresholds and the predetermined number of minutiae.

2. The biometric registration system of claim 1 wherein the biometric sensor includes:

a fingerprint scanner, a 4-4-2 fingerprint scanner, an image camera, an eye scanner, an iris scanner, a digital signature touch pad, or a combination thereof.

3. The biometric registration system of claim 1 wherein the biometric data includes:

a fingerprint, a set of fingerprints, a facial image, an eye scan, an iris scan, a digital signature, or a combination thereof.

4. The biometric registration system of claim 1 wherein the predetermined quality thresholds relate to measurable characteristics of fingerprint biometric data, facial image biometric data, iris image biometric data, and digital signature biometric data, or a combination thereof.

5. The biometric registration system of claim 1 wherein:

the predetermined number of minutiae includes a number of distinguishable fingerprint minutiae or a number of distinguishable fingerprint minutiae for each individual finger.

6. The biometric registration system of claim 5 wherein at least one predetermined quality threshold for fingerprint biometric data is different for different fingers and/or for a thumb.

7. The biometric registration system of claim 5 wherein at least one predetermined quality threshold for fingerprint biometric data is automatically changed by a predetermined amount if the quality threshold is not met after a predetermined number of repeated attempts.

8. The biometric registration system of claim 1 wherein the entered data includes:

name data, address data, physical data, age data, gender data, birth date data, occupation data, location data, passport data, identity card data, or a combination thereof.

9. The biometric registration system of claim 1 further comprising:

a printer providing a tangible record of a registration including all or part of the identifying biometric data, the entered data, or both.

10. The biometric registration system of claim 1 wherein said computer processor generates a unique randomized identifier for a registration record and wherein that unique randomized identifier is associated and stored with the registration record.

11. The biometric registration system of claim 1 wherein:

the captured biometric data is de-duplicated;

or

the captured biometric data is communicated to a regional and/or central database, and the regional and/or central database is de-duplicated;

or

the captured biometric data is de-duplicated and is communicated to a regional and/or central database and the regional and/or central database is de-duplicated.

12. The biometric registration system of claim 1 wherein the captured biometric data includes fingerprint biometric data and wherein the fingerprint biometric data:

is tested for a minimum fingerprint area, for minimum minutiae points, for a number of finger segments, for finger spacing, for finger order, or for any combination thereof;

or

is tested for a minimum fingerprint area, for minimum minutiae points, for a number of finger segments, for finger spacing, for finger order, or for any combination thereof, and wherein the minimum fingerprint area, the minimum minutiae points, the number of finger segments, the finger spacing, the finger order, or any combination thereof are different for different fingers and/or for thumbs.

13. A biometric registration method comprising:

capturing identifying biometric data of a person to be registered;

receiving entered data;

receiving captured identifying biometric data;

testing whether the received captured identifying biometric data satisfies predetermined quality thresholds and for a predetermined number of minutiae;

wherein the testing for predetermined quality thresholds for fingerprint biometric data include testing for an area of a captured fingerprint image, for a number of distinguishable fingerprint characteristics, for a number of finger segments for a finger, or for a combination thereof, and

wherein the testing for predetermined quality thresholds for facial image biometric data include testing for head tilt, for facial completeness, for an eye being open, for an eye being closed, for face size, or for a combination thereof; and

storing registration records representing the tested satisfactory identifying biometric data and the entered data for the person to be registered in a database, and

relating the tested satisfactory identifying biometric data of the person to be registered to the entered data in the database registration record thereof;

whereby the person to be registered is registered according to the stored registration record when the tested identifying biometric data satisfies the predetermined quality thresholds and the predetermined number of minutiae.

14. The biometric registration method of claim 13 wherein the biometric data includes:

a fingerprint, a set of fingerprints, a facial image, an eye scan, an iris scan, a digital signature, or a combination thereof.

15. The biometric registration method of claim 13 wherein:

the predetermined number of minutiae includes a number of distinguishable fingerprint minutiae or a number of distinguishable fingerprint minutiae for each individual finger.

16. The biometric registration method of claim 13 further comprising:

automatically changing at least one predetermined quality threshold for fingerprint biometric data by a predetermined amount if the quality threshold is not met after a predetermined number of repeated attempts.

17. The biometric registration method of claim 13 wherein the entered data includes:

name data, address data, physical data, age data, gender data, birth date data, occupation data, location data, passport data, identity card data, or a combination thereof.

18. The biometric registration method of claim 13 further comprising:

printing a tangible record of a registration including all or part of the identifying biometric data, the entered data, or both.

19. The biometric registration method of claim 13 further comprising generating a unique randomized identifier for a registration record, and storing the unique randomized identifier in association with that registration record.

20. The biometric registration method of claim 13 further comprising:

de-duplicating the captured biometric data;

or

communicating the captured biometric data to a regional and/or central database, and de-duplicating the regional and/or central database;

or

de-duplicating the captured biometric data, communicating the captured biometric data to a regional and/or central database and de-duplicating the regional and/or central database.

21. The biometric registration method of claim 13 wherein the captured biometric data includes fingerprint biometric data, further comprising testing the fingerprint biometric data for a minimum fingerprint area, for minimum minutiae points, for a number of finger segments, for finger spacing, for finger order, or for any combination thereof.

22. A biometric verification system comprising:

a registration database storing registration records representing identifying biometric data and entered data for a registered person;

a biometric sensor for capturing verification biometric data of a person to be verified;

a data entry device for receiving entered verification data relating to the person to be verified;

a computer processor configured to receive captured verification biometric data and entered verification data, and for testing whether the received captured verification biometric data satisfies predetermined quality thresholds and for a predetermined number of minutiae;

wherein the testing for predetermined quality thresholds for fingerprint biometric data include testing for an area of a captured fingerprint image, for a number of distinguishable fingerprint characteristics, for a number of finger segments for a finger, or for a combination thereof, and

wherein the testing for predetermined quality thresholds for facial image biometric data include testing for head tilt, for facial completeness, for an eye being open, for an eye being closed, for face size, or for a combination thereof; and

wherein the tested satisfactory verification biometric data and the received verification data of the person to be verified are compared with the identifying biometric data and entered data from the registration database; and

when the tested satisfactory verification biometric data and the received verification data of the person to be verified corresponds to identifying biometric data and entered data from the registration database, then providing an indication of verification of the person to be verified;

whereby the person to be verified is verified against the registration database record of the person registered when the received captured verification biometric data satisfies predetermined quality thresholds and the predetermined number of minutiae.

23. The biometric verification system of claim 22 wherein the biometric sensor includes:

a fingerprint scanner, a 4-4-2 fingerprint scanner, an image camera, an eye scanner, an iris scanner, a digital signature touch pad, or a combination thereof.

24. The biometric verification system of claim 22 wherein the predetermined quality thresholds relate to measurable characteristics of fingerprint biometric data, facial image biometric data, iris image biometric data, and digital signature biometric data, or a combination thereof.

25. The biometric verification system of claim 22 wherein at least one predetermined quality threshold for fingerprint biometric data is automatically changed by a predetermined amount if the quality threshold is not met after a predetermined number of repeated attempts.

26. The biometric verification system of claim 22 wherein the entered data includes:

name data, address data, physical data, age data, gender data, birth date data, occupation data, location data, passport data, identity card data, or a combination thereof.

27. A biometric verification method comprising:

accessing a database of registration records representing identifying biometric data and entered data for a person to be verified, wherein the identifying biometric data of the person registered is related to the entered data in the database registration record thereof;

capturing verification biometric data of a person to be verified;

receiving entered verification data;

testing whether the captured verification biometric data satisfies predetermined quality thresholds and for a predetermined number of minutiae;

wherein the testing for predetermined quality thresholds for fingerprint biometric data include testing for an area of a captured fingerprint image, for a number of distinguishable fingerprint characteristics, for a number of finger segments for a finger, or for a combination thereof, and

wherein the testing for predetermined quality thresholds for facial image biometric data include testing for head tilt, for facial completeness, for an eye being open, for an eye being closed, for face size, or for a combination thereof;

comparing the tested satisfactory verification biometric data and the received verification data of the person to be verified with the identifying biometric data and entered data from the registration database; and

when the tested satisfactory verification biometric data and the received verification data of the person to be verified corresponds to identifying biometric data and entered data from the registration database, then providing an indication of verification of the person to be verified;

whereby the person to be verified is verified against the registration database record of the person registered when the captured verification biometric data satisfies predetermined quality thresholds and the predetermined number of minutiae.

28. The biometric verification method of claim 27 wherein the biometric data includes:

a fingerprint, a set of fingerprints, a facial image, an eye scan, an iris scan, a digital signature, or a combination thereof.

29. The biometric verification method of claim 27 wherein the predetermined quality thresholds relate to measurable characteristics of fingerprint biometric data, facial image biometric data, iris image biometric data, and digital signature biometric data, or a combination thereof.

30. The biometric verification method of claim 27 wherein the entered verification data includes:

name data, address data, physical data, age data, gender data, birth date data, occupation data, location data, passport data, identity card data, or a combination thereof.

31. The biometric verification method of claim 27 wherein the captured verification biometric data comprises:

fingerprint images, 4-4-2 fingerprint images, enhanced fingerprint images, fingerprint minutiae points, or a combination thereof, and wherein the computer processor compares captured biometric data for each fingerprint with the biometric data captured for all previous fingerprints for identifying duplicate registrations.