Abstract: A method and apparatus for expandable biometric searching are provided. The method preferably includes forming a plurality of biometric records. Each of the biometric records includes at least one biometric index and biometric data associated with the at least one biometric index. The method also includes assigning each of the plurality of biometric records to a plurality of biometric data groups so that each of the plurality of biometric data groups includes a full range of biometric indexes and about the same number of biometric records. Each of the plurality of biometric data groups is preferably uncorrelated to the biometric indexes. The method further preferably includes assigning each of the plurality of biometric data groups to a plurality of biometric searching engines so that each of the plurality of biometric data groups is assigned to only one of the plurality of biometric searching engines.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for expandable biometric searching are provided. The apparatus preferably includes a database having a plurality of biometric data groups. Each of the plurality of biometric data groups includes a plurality of biometric records stored therein, and each of the biometric records includes at least one biometric index and biometric data associated with the at least one biometric index. The apparatus also includes a plurality of biometric searching engines. Each of the plurality of biometric searching engines preferably include a data group manager connected to the plurality of biometric data groups for managing the plurality of data groups. The data group manager includes multi-dimensional search space constructing means for constructing a multi-dimensional search space and internal map constructing means for constructing internal maps for each data group being managed.