Abstract: Techniques for generating a gradient characterization for a first fingerprint image are provided. One or more fingerprint feature points are selected from the first fingerprint image. A region is obtained for each of the one or more selected fingerprint feature points. The region is a representation of an area proximate a given fingerprint feature point. Each of the obtained regions is divided into a plurality of sub-regions. A histogram is generated for each of the plurality of sub-regions. For each of the one or more selected fingerprint feature points, the one or more generated histograms are combined into a concatenated histogram. The concatenated histogram is used for identification purposes.

Abstract: Techniques for generating a distorted fingerprint representation for a given fingerprint image are provided. First, at least one fingerprint feature point from a given fingerprint image is selected. At least one representation of a region proximate to the selected fingerprint feature point is then generated. Next, the representation of the region proximate to the selected fingerprint feature point is distorted. The distortion comprises applying a random projection to the representation to generate a randomly projected representation of the region proximate to the selected fingerprint feature point. A distorted template is then formed, wherein the distorted template comprises the randomly projected representation of the region proximate to the selected fingerprint feature point.

Abstract: Techniques for generating a distorted template for a given facial image are provided. First, at least one facial feature point from a given facial image is selected. The selected facial feature has location information associated therewith. A representation of a region proximate to the selected facial feature point is then generated. Next, the location information associated with the selected facial feature point and/or the representation of the region proximate to the selected facial feature point are distorted. A distorted template is then formed, wherein the distorted template comprises the distorted location information associated with the selected facial feature point and/or the distorted representation of the region proximate to the selected facial feature point.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is a method and apparatus for repeatable facial distortion. One embodiment of a method for generating a secure facial image from an original facial image includes receiving the original facial image and a key, the key being associated with a subject depicted in the original facial image, and distorting the original facial image, in accordance with the key, to produce the secure facial image, where the distorting includes transforming at least one of: the albedo of the original facial image or the shape of the original facial image.

Abstract: A system and method for processing fingerprints includes representing each minutiae in a fingerprint by determining quantized Gabor coefficients to represent texture content of the minutiae. A distance is computed between represented minutiae and stored minutiae. The minutiae matches are ranked based on the distance to identify the fingerprint.

Abstract: Techniques for generating a gradient characterization for a first fingerprint image are provided. One or more fingerprint feature points are selected from the first fingerprint image. A region is obtained for each of the one or more selected fingerprint feature points. The region is a representation of an area proximate a given fingerprint feature point. Each of the obtained regions is divided into a plurality of sub-regions. A histogram is generated for each of the plurality of sub-regions. For each of the one or more selected fingerprint feature points, the one or more generated histograms are combined into a concatenated histogram. The concatenated histogram is used for identification purposes.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is a method and apparatus for repeatable facial distortion. One embodiment of a method for generating a secure facial image from an original facial image includes receiving the original facial image and a key, the key being associated with a subject depicted in the original facial image, and distorting the original facial image, in accordance with the key, to produce the secure facial image, where the distorting includes transforming at least one of: the albedo of the original facial image or the shape of the original facial image.

Abstract: Techniques for generating a distorted fingerprint representation for a given fingerprint image are provided. First, at least one fingerprint feature point from a given fingerprint image is selected. At least one representation of a region proximate to the selected fingerprint feature point is then generated. Next, the representation of the region proximate to the selected fingerprint feature point is distorted. The distortion comprises applying a random projection to the representation to generate a randomly projected representation of the region proximate to the selected fingerprint feature point. A distorted template is then formed, wherein the distorted template comprises the randomly projected representation of the region proximate to the selected fingerprint feature point.

Abstract: Techniques for generating a distorted template for a given facial image are provided. First, at least one facial feature point from a given facial image is selected. The selected facial feature has location information associated therewith. A representation of a region proximate to the selected facial feature point is then generated. Next, the location information associated with the selected facial feature point and/or the representation of the region proximate to the selected facial feature point are distorted. A distorted template is then formed, wherein the distorted template comprises the distorted location information associated with the selected facial feature point and/or the distorted representation of the region proximate to the selected facial feature point.

Abstract: A system and method for processing fingerprints includes representing each minutiae in a fingerprint by determining quantized Gabor coefficients to represent texture content of the minutiae. A distance is computed between represented minutiae and stored minutiae. The minutiae matches are ranked based on the distance to identify the fingerprint.

Abstract: A system and method for processing fingerprints includes representing each minutiae in a fingerprint by determining quantized Gabor coefficients to represent texture content of the minutiae. A distance is computed between represented minutiae and stored minutiae. The minutiae matches are ranked based on the distance to identify the fingerprint.

Abstract: Smart cards systems that are utilized in biometric authentication are slow in processing and have the cards themselves have the added disadvantage of being misplaced or lost. Moreover, storing biometric data (on a database) over a network poses security issues that in extreme instances can be compromised. Significant security can be achieved if the biometric templates are stored locally in a portable device. A user can use the portable device to either transmit wirelessly the stored biometric for authentication purposes, or a user can locally measure a biometric using the portable device and match it against a biometric which is also stored locally (in the portable device).

Abstract: The invention is a system and method for constructing a rolled surface image from a set of partial surface images. A sequence of individual partial surface images is acquired as an object is progressively rolled across the surface of an imaging device. The imaging device is configured so that only that part of the object's surface which is in close proximity is imaged. To produce a complete rolled surface image, i.e. a composite image, the value of each pixel of the composite image is derived by performing a suitable pixel operation on the set of corresponding pixels in the input partial surface images. This is possible because each partial image is represented as a fixed size and each pixel in each of the partial images has a unique position in the partial image. The system can also directly produce a list of salient surface features. Localized features are extracted from each individual partial image whereas other specific attributes of each image are ignored.

Abstract: A method to hide small messages in a wavelet compressed fingerprint image is presented. The method is characterized by random placement of the message bits in the compressed and quantized indices. The compressed image can be decompressed by any certified decompressor without any visible difference. However, the decoder aware of the decompression can only retrieve the hidden message in the image and additionally decompress the image without any error in pixel values.

Abstract: A computer system and method determines the force and/or torque applied during the image acquisition stage of a biometric characteristic. Images with very high or very low pressure or high shear torque are rejected and user/operator is notified to re-acquire the image. Alternatively, the application of force and torque by the subject is restricted mechanically so that the images are acquired while the force and/or torque are within acceptable ranges.