Two-dimensional printed code for storing biometric information and integrated off-line apparatus for reading same

• US 6,560,741 B1
• Filed: 02/24/1999
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Datastrip Systems Limited (Datastrip (Oim) Limited)
• Original Assignee: Datastrip (Oim) Limited
• Inventors: Strempski, Richard A., Gerety, Eugene P., Sardi, Stephen G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moise, Emmanuel L.
• Application Number:
  US09/256,754
• Time in Patent Office: 1,532 Days
• Field of Search: 714/752, 714/755, 714/784, 714/786, 235/437, 235/462.08, 235/462.12, 235/380, 235/382, 235/487, 235/492, 235/462.07, 235/456, 340/583
• US Class Current: 714/752
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06018 one-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06075 the marking containing means for error correction
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1473 error correction

Abstract

A two-dimensional, high-density, damage-tolerant printed code suitable for encoding multiple biometrics and text for positive off-line identity verification comprises a horizontal header section; a vertical header section; a start pattern; a left row address pattern; an encoded data portion; a right two address pattern; and stop pattern. The horizontal header section encodes the number of bit areas in a transverse row of the encoded data portion; and the vertical header section encodes the vertical height of each bit area. The start and stop patterns of the code demarcate the lateral extent of the code (i.e., the beginning and end) from the adjacent quiet zone. Information is encoded into the ended information portion in bit areas that may be printed or blank. The information is encoded sequentially in the information portion from the top of the encoded information portion along each transverse row of bit areas to the next row of bit areas until the end of the encoded information portion. Error correction is applied to subunits of information from the encoded information portion by dividing the user messages and applying error correction to subunits of the user message. The two-dimensional, high-density, damage-tolerant printed code is suitable for printed on a conventionally sized ISO cord or other papers used in verifying identity. An ISO-sized cord or other identity paper bearing a two-dimensional, high-density, damage-tolerant printed code encoding multiple biometrics, e.g., encoded image likeness and multiple finger print templates, maybe used with an off-line integrated positive identity verification apparatus that is capable of decoding the image and fingerprint samples taken from an individual whose identity is sought to be verified.

Claims

1. A two-dimensional, high-density, damage-tolerant printed code printed on a substrate, the two-dimensional printed code encoding information for scanning and decoding by an optical scanner and comprising:

a decode information portion encoding information to be used by the optical scanner to assist in reading and decoding the printed code;

a demarcation portion to demarcate a lateral extent of the printed code from an adjoining portion of the substrate;

row address portions encoding row address information to be used by the optical scanner to assist in reading and decoding the printed code;

a two-dimensional encoded information portion wherein user information and error-correction information is encoded in bit areas disposed in a row-column arrangement, where said bit areas may be printed or blank to encode such information;

said error correction information comprising a plurality of error correction bit groups, each error correction bit group being separately calculated from a corresponding one of a plurality of error correction packets of subunits of user information encoded in said encoded information portion, each subunit of user information in each error correction packet being constituted of bits encoded in bit areas in the encoded information portion which are displaced row-wise and column-wise from bit areas in which are encoded the bits constituting the other subunits in the error correction packet.

2. The two-dimensional, high-density, damage-tolerant printed code of claim 1 wherein:

said error correction information appended to said information portion is calculated using a block-oriented error correction algorithm.

3. The two-dimensional, high-density, damage-tolerant printed code of claim 2 wherein:

said error correction algorithm is the Reed-Solomon method.

4. The two-dimensional, high-density, damage-tolerant printed code of claim 1 wherein:

said error correction information appended to said information portion is calculated using a convolutional code.

5. A substrate bearing a two-dimensional, high-density, damage-tolerant printed code encoding information for scanning and decoding by an optical scanner, the code comprising:

a decode information portion encoding information to be used by the optical scanner to assist in reading and decoding the printed code;

a demarcation portion to demarcate a lateral extent of the printed code from an adjoining portion of the substrate;

row address portions encoding row address information to be used by the optical scanner to assist in reading and decoding the printed code;

a two-dimensional encoded information portion wherein user information is encoded in bit areas which may be printed or blank, and wherein error correction information is appended to said user information, said bit areas forming a row-column arrangement having a plurality of transverse data rows, said user information being encoded in said information portion sequentially from a beginning of said encoded information portion, sequentially along each data row, then sequentially to the next data row until a last data row is reached, said user information being followed by said error correction information;

said error correction being calculated by selecting subunits of user information to be encoded in said information portion to form error correction packets of said subunits, each of the subunits of information in each error correction packet being constituted of bits encoded in bit areas in the encoded information portion which are displaced row-wise and column-wise from bit areas in which are encoded the bits constituting the other subunits in the error correction packet, and applying an error correction algorithm on each of said error correction packets separately to calculate error correction bits to include in said error correction information to correct said user information in the case of error.

6. The two-dimensional, high-density, damage-tolerant printed code of claim 5, wherein:

said subunits of information to be error corrected are selected by dividing the sequentially-encoded user information into a number of packets;

selecting a portion of each packet;

combining the information from each packet; and

applying the error correction algorithm to the information selected from each of said packets; and

appending the error correction information to said data message;

continuing the error correction process by selecting new information from each of said packets;

applying the error correction algorithm to this information;

appending the error-correction information to the encoded information portion; and

continuing the process until all of the information in each of said packets has been selected, combined and error corrected.

7. The two-dimensional, high-density, damage-tolerant printed code of claim 6, wherein:

said error correction algorithm is the Reed-Solomon method.

8. The two-dimensional, high-density, damage-tolerant printed code of claim 6, wherein:

said error-correction information appended to said information portion is calculated using a convolutional code.

9. A system for providing positive off-line identity verification comprising the following elements:

an identity document;

said identity document bearing a two-dimensional, high-density, damage tolerant printed code encoding multiple biometric information and text, said code comprising;

a decode information portion encoding information to be used by the optical scanner to assist in reading and decoding the printed code;

a demarcation portion to demarcate a lateral extent of the printed code from an adjoining portion of the substrate;

row address portions encoding row address information to be used by the optical scanner to assist in reading and decoding the printed code; and

a two-dimensional encoded information portion wherein biometric/text information and error-correction information is encoded in bit areas in a row-column arrangement, where bit areas may be printed or blank to encode such information,

said error correction information comprising a plurality of error correction bit groups, each error correction bit group being calculated from a corresponding one of a plurality of error correction packets of subunits of biometric/text information encoded in said encoded information portion, each subunit of information in each error correction packet being constituted of bits in the encoded information portion which are displaced row-wise and column-wise from bit areas in which are encoded the bits constituting the other subunits in the error correction packet; and

an off-line, integrated positive identity verification apparatus, said apparatus comprising;

a scanner for reading the two-dimensional, high-density, damage-tolerant printed code contained in the identity document;

memory means for storing the multiple biometric information and text recovered from the printed code;

real-time biometric capture means for capturing biometric information from a person whose identity is to be verified;

processor means for comparing biometrics recovered from the two-dimensional, high-density, damage-tolerant printed code with real-time biometric information captured by said real-time biometric capture means to determine whether the real-time biometric information matches the biometric information recovered from the two-dimensional, high-density, damage-tolerant printed code; and

identity verification outcome notification means for indicating whether the real-time biometric information captured from the person whose identity is to be verified matches the biometric information recovered from the two-dimensional, high-density, damage-tolerant printed code.