Abstract: A method comprising using at least one hardware processor to: control a camera to begin at a prescribed starting position and move incrementally to capture a series of images of at least one fingerprint; once the images are captured, evaluating the captured images for best focus using an algorithm designed expressly for fingerprint ridge structure, wherein the focus in each frame can be determined by taking the average per pixel convolution value of a Laplace filter over a small region of the full resolution image and wherein the Laplace filter comprises: capturing an image at an initial focus distance, convolving the captured image with Laplacian of Gaussian kernel, assigning a score to the filtered image reflecting the amount to fine edge resolution, and dynamically updating the focus until an optimal distance is found.

Abstract: Embodiments of an automated method of processing fingerprint images, identity information is extracted from prints typically classified as having “no identification value” because of sparse or missing minutiae by capturing ridge contour information. Bezier approximations of ridge curvature are used as Ridge Specific Markers. Control points arising from Bezier curves generate unique polygons that represent the actual curve in the fingerprint. The Bezier-based descriptors are then grouped together and compared to corresponding reference print Ridge Specific Marker data. The method makes it possible to fuse a plurality of individual latent print portions into a single descriptor of identity and use the resulting data for comparison and identification. Processing of poor quality reference prints according to the methods disclosed renders these prints useable for reference purposes.

Abstract: In an automated method of processing fingerprint images, identity information is extracted from prints typically classified as having “no identification value” because of sparse or missing minutiae by capturing ridge information. Bezier approximations of ridge curvature are used as Ridge Specific Markers. Control points arising from Bezier curves generate unique polygons that represent the actual curve in the fingerprint. These polygons are generated for latent prints and reference prints and compared to determine whether a match exists.

Abstract: Embodiments of an automated method of processing fingerprint images, identity information is extracted from prints typically classified as having “no identification value” because of sparse or missing minutiae by capturing ridge contour information. Bezier approximations of ridge curvature are used as Ridge Specific Markers. Control points arising from Bezier curves generate unique polygons that represent the actual curve in the fingerprint. The Bezier-based descriptors are then grouped together and compared to corresponding reference print Ridge Specific Marker data. The method makes it possible to fuse a plurality of individual latent print portions into a single descriptor of identity and use the resulting data for comparison and identification. Processing of poor quality reference prints according to the methods disclosed renders these prints useable for reference purposes.

Abstract: In an automated method of processing fingerprint images, identity information is extracted from prints typically classified as having “no identification value” because of sparse or missing minutiae by capturing ridge information. Bezier approximations of ridge curvature are used as Ridge Specific Markers. Control points arising from Bezier curves generate unique polygons that represent the actual curve in the fingerprint. These polygons are generated for latent prints and reference prints and compared to determine whether a match exists.