US6125192A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fingerprint recognition system
Assignee: Cross Match Holdings Inc
•
Filing: 1997-04-21
•
Granted: 2000-09-26
•
Expires: 2017-04-21
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for fingerprint recognition is provided. A fingerprint is detected on a sensor. The fingerprint is digitized. A digitized background is subtracted from the fingerprint, resulting in a difference print. The difference print is matched with a database of fingerprint templates.
Inventors
- 👤 Vance C. Bjorn
- 👤 Serge J. Belongie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 18:11
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/10; G07F7/1008; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/30; G06F21/31; G06F21/32; G06F21/33; G06F21/34; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/341; G06Q20/38; G06Q20/40; G06Q20/401; G06Q20/4014; G06Q20/40145; G06V; G06V40/00; G06V40/10; G06V40/12; G06V40/13; G06V40/1347; G06V40/1365; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/30; G07C9/32; G07C9/37; G06F2211/00; G06F2211/007; G06F2211/008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
58 words
A method of recognizing a fingerprint comprising: detecting the fingerprint; digitizing the fingerprint; subtracting a digitized background from the fingerprint, resulting in a difference print; receiving a nonce from a digital system; generating a hash including the differential print and the nonce; sending the hash and the differential print to the digital system; and processing the difference print.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
58 words
A method of recognizing a fingerprint comprising: detecting the fingerprint; digitizing the fingerprint; subtracting a digitized background from the fingerprint, resulting in a difference print; receiving a nonce from a digital system; generating a hash including the differential print and the nonce; sending the hash and the differential print to the digital system; and processing the difference print.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: detecting a background; and digitizing the background, resulting in the digitized background.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: initializing a fingerprint recognition system when the fingerprint recognition system is initially turned on; detecting a first background when the fingerprint recognition system is being initialized; digitizing the first background; and detecting a new background after the fingerprint is detected; and digitizing the new background.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
A fingerprint detection system comprising: a computer system including a processor, the computer system generating a nonce for security; a universal serial bus coupled to the processor; a fingerprint sensor coupled to the universal serial bus, the fingerprint sensor for detecting a fingerprint, generating a hash including the fingerprint and the nonce, and securely transmitting the fingerprint and the nonce to the processor for analysis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
A fingerprint detection system comprising: a computer system including a processor, the computer system generating a nonce for security; a universal serial bus coupled to the processor; a fingerprint sensor coupled to the universal serial bus, the fingerprint sensor for detecting a fingerprint, generating a hash including the fingerprint and the nonce, and securely transmitting the fingerprint and the nonce to the processor for analysis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The fingerprint detection system of claim 4, further comprising: a token including fingerprint data and other data, wherein the token is enabled or disabled based on whether a match is established between the fingerprint detected by the fingerprint sensor and fingerprint data stored on the token.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
The fingerprint detection system of claim 4, wherein the fingerprint sensor further comprises: a sensing unit for obtaining a fingerprint image and a background image; a digitizer for digitizing the fingerprint image and the background image; and a subtractor for subtracting a background image from the fingerprint image thereby generating a differential image.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The fingerprint detection system of claim 6, wherein the fingerprint sensor further comprises a security unit for establishing secure communication with the computer system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The fingerprint detection system of claim 7, wherein the secure communication comprises one or more of the following: encrypted communication, communication including a digital signature, or coded communication.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The fingerprint detection system of claim 6, wherein the computer system further comprises: a database including fingerprint data; and a comparator for comparing the differential image received from the fingerprint sensor with the fingerprint data in the database.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The fingerprint detection system of claim 9, further comprising a learning unit for adding fingerprints to the database and for updating the fingerprint data in the database with information from the fingerprint image if a match is found.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The fingerprint detection system of claim 4, wherein the computer system compares the differential image to the fingerprint data, and the fingerprint sensor performs the match.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The fingerprint detection system of claim 4, wherein the computer system auto-launches an application in response to a validation of the fingerprint.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The fingerprint detection system of claim 4, wherein the sensor automatically captures the fingerprint image based on a quality of the fingerprint on the sensor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The fingerprint detection system of claim 13, wherein the fingerprint sensor captures a plurality of prints and compares the plurality of prints to determine a time to automatically capture the fingerprint image.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
76 words
A sensor comprising: a sensing unit for obtaining a background image and a fingerprint image; a digitizer for digitizing the images; a subtractor for subtracting the background image from the fingerprint image, thereby generating a differential image; a security unit for receiving a nonce from the digital system and generating a hash including the differential print and the nonce; and a connection to a digital system for sending the hash and the differential print a device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
76 words
A sensor comprising: a sensing unit for obtaining a background image and a fingerprint image; a digitizer for digitizing the images; a subtractor for subtracting the background image from the fingerprint image, thereby generating a differential image; a security unit for receiving a nonce from the digital system and generating a hash including the differential print and the nonce; and a connection to a digital system for sending the hash and the differential print a device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The sensor of claim 15, wherein the security unit is further for establishing secure communication between a sensor and a device to which the sensor is coupled.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The sensor of claim 16, wherein the security unit includes an auto-launcher to auto-launch an application in response to validating the fingerprint image.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The sensor of claim 15, further comprising a decision making unit for matching the fingerprint image and determining whether the fingerprint image matches another print.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The sensor of claim 15, wherein the connection is a universal serial bus connection for connecting the sensor to the device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The fingerprint detection system of claim 15, wherein the sensor automatically captures the fingerprint image based on a quality of the fingerprint on the sensor.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
The fingerprint detection system of claim 20, wherein the fingerprint sensor captures a plurality of prints and compares the plurality of prints to determine a time to automatically capture the fingerprint image.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
65 words
A method comprising the steps of, in a sensor: capturing and digitizing a background print; capturing and digitizing a current fingerprint; subtracting the background print from the current fingerprint, thereby generating a differential print; receiving a nonce from the digital system; generating a hash including the differential print and the nonce; and sending the hash and the differential print to a digital system for matching.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
65 words
A method comprising the steps of, in a sensor: capturing and digitizing a background print; capturing and digitizing a current fingerprint; subtracting the background print from the current fingerprint, thereby generating a differential print; receiving a nonce from the digital system; generating a hash including the differential print and the nonce; and sending the hash and the differential print to a digital system for matching.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 22, wherein the step of capturing the current fingerprint image comprises the steps of: detecting time to capture the fingerprint based on a quality of the fingerprint on the sensor; and capturing the fingerprint when the fingerprint quality is optimal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method of claim 22, wherein the step of capturing the current fingerprint image comprises the steps of: detecting a first fingerprint image; detecting a second fingerprint image a short time after detecting the first fingerprint image; comparing an area of the first fingerprint image with an area of the second fingerprint image; and if the area of the second fingerprint image is smaller than the area of the first fingerprint image, capturing the first fingerprint image as the current fingerprint image.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of executing a security handshake with the digital system for establishing a security protocol.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 25, wherein the step of executing the security handshake comprises the steps of: receiving a digital certificate from the sensor indicating the sensor's identity; validating the digital certificate using a public key of the sensor; encrypting a random number with the public key of the sensor and sending the random number to the sensor as a session key.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 22, wherein the hash includes the nonce, the differential print, and a sensor signature.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 22, further comprising the steps of, in the digital system: decoding the secure representation of the differential print; establishing a preliminary match between the differential print and a fingerprint in a database; sending the preliminary match to the sensor; and receiving a final decision from the sensor.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 28, further comprising the steps of: updating the template of the fingerprint in the database if the final decision was a match.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 28, further comprising the steps of, in the digital system: storing the fingerprint in the database as identity information if the final decision was a match; and associating access to a file or program with the identity information, such that the file or program may be auto-launched using the fingerprint.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 30, wherein the step of associating access comprises altering a boot sector of the file or program to require the fingerprint in order to load.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 30, wherein the step of associating access comprises requesting a password for the file or program; associating the password with the fingerprint; and when the file or program is launched, releasing the password on fingerprint validation.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 22, wherein the sensor is coupled to a digital system using a Universal Serial Bus.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-09-26 | 2004-03-27 | 2004-09-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-09-26 | 2008-03-27 | 2008-09-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-09-26 | 2012-03-27 | 2012-09-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |