Recognition procedure and an apparatus for carrying out the recognition procedure

Claim 1

A recognition procedure including the steps of teaching a reference pattern to a machine-based recognition system by writing a first binary digit to each of a plurality of addressable data stores, each of which has a plurality of addressable data storage locations, at locations selected by applying respective sets of values as addresses to the addressable data stores, where the sets of values represent characteristics of parts of the reference pattern, writing a second binary digit to all locations not selected in the addressable data stores, and of measuring another pattern against the reference pattern by applying, as addresses, to the addressable data stores, sets of values representing characteristics of parts of the other pattern, where the parts correspond to the said parts of the reference pattern, reading the contents of those locations selected, applying the binary digits read from the selected locations to a network that provides an output signal representing one binary digit as its output only when the first binary digit is obtained from each selected location, and which provides an output signal representing the other binary digit if one second binary digit is obtained from the selected locations, forming at least one sum of the total number of occurrences of the first binary digit at selected positions within the network, and providing a result signal indicating the result of the measurement, where the result signal is determined by the output signal from the network and the sum of the total number of occurrences of the first binary digit at selected positions within the network.

Claim 11

An apparatus for carrying out a recognition procedure in which a reference pattern is memorized and a pattern to be examined is compared with the reference pattern, including: a plurality of addressable data stores each having a plurality of addressable data storage locations, address ports, data input and output ports, and a read/write control port, input means for receiving input values representing characteristics of a pattern to be memorized or examined and for presenting the input values as a plurality of sets of values to the address ports of respective ones of the addressable data stores, a network of logic elements connected to the data output ports of the addressable data stores, the network being such as to provide one binary digit as its output only when a first binary digit is obtained from each data output port of the addressable data stores, and to provide the other binary digit if one second binary digit is obtained from the data output ports, and, summation means connected to selected groups of logic elements in the network of logic elements for forming at least one total of the number of times the first binary digit appears at selected positions of the logic network, the apparatus being operable, when a pattern is being memorized, to load one location of each addressable data store with a first binary digit and to load all other locations with a second binary digit, where the locations that receive the first binary digit are selected by respective sets of the input values representing the characteristics of parts of the pattern being memorized, and when a pattern is being examined, to read the contents of one location of each addressable data store, where the locations that are read are selected by respective sets of the input values representing the characteristics of parts of the pattern being examined, where the parts correspond to the said parts of the memorized pattern, to apply the data read from the addressable data stores to the network of logic elements, and, to provide a result signal determined by the output signal from the network of logic elements and the output of the summation means.

Claim 12

An apparatus for carrying out a recognition procedure in which a reference pattern is memorized and a pattern to be examined is compared with the reference pattern, including: a plurality of addressable data stores each having a plurality of addressable data storage locations, address ports, data input and output ports, and a read/write control port, input means for receiving input values representing characteristics of a pattern to be memorized or examined and for presenting the input values as a plurality of sets of values to the address ports of respective ones of the addressable data stores, a network of logic elements connected to the data output ports of the addressable data stores, the network being such as to provide one binary digit as its output only when a first binary digit is obtained from each data output port of the addressable data stores, and to provide the other binary digit if one second binary digit is obtained from the data output ports, and, summation means connected to selected groups of logic elements in the network of logic elements for forming at least one total of the number of times the first binary digit appears at selected positions of the logic network, the apparatus being operable, when a pattern is being memorized, to load one location of each addressable data store with a first binary digit and to load all other locations with a second binary digit, where the locations that receive the first binary digit are selected by respective sets of the input values representing the characteristics of parts of the pattern being memorized, and when a pattern is being examined, to read the contents of one location of each addressable data store, where the locations that are read are selected by respective sets of the input values representing the characteristics of parts of the pattern being examined, where the parts correspond to the said parts of the memorized pattern, to apply the data read from the addressable data stores to the network of logic elements, and, to provide a result signal determined by the output signal from the network of logic elements and the output of the summation means.

Claim 17

An apparatus as claimed in claims 10, wherein the input means is capable of encoding the input values for application to the addresses of the addressable data stores, and is capable of changing its encoding algorithm.

Claim 18

An apparatus as claimed in claims 10, which is capable of accepting a machine-readable data carrier in which is memorised a reference pattern relating to human biometric characteristics, of generating, as input values, values representing biometric characteristics of a subject presented for examination, and of performing the recognition procedure on the reference and generated biometric characteristics.

Claim 19

An apparatus as claimed in claims 10, including means for making a biometric determination, means for encoding the biometric determination, and means for applying the encoded data to a machine-readable data carrier.