Fingerprint Recognition
Standards Overview
Currently ongoing at both the national and international levels, fingerprints standards development is an essential element in fingerprint recognition because of the vast variety of algorithms and sensors available on the market. Interoperability is a crucial aspect of product implementation, meaning that images obtained by one device must be capable of being interpreted by a computer using another device. Major standards efforts focus on the standardization of the content, meaning, and representation of the fingerprint data interchange formats9 and include the ANSI/INCITS 381-2004 Finger Image-Based Data Interchange Format, ANSI/INCITS 377-2004 Finger Pattern Based Interchange Format, ANSI-INCITS 378-2004 Finger Minutiae Format for Data Interchange, ISO/IEC 19794-2 Finger Minutiae Format for Data Interchange, ISO/IEC FCD 19794-3 Finger Pattern Based Interchange Format, and the ISO/IEC 19794-4 Finger Image Based Interchange Format.10 (Additional information regarding these standards can be found in the Appendix.)
Another noteworthy standard is ANSI NIST ITL 1-2000 Data Format for the Interchange of Fingerprint, Facial, & Scar Mark & Tattoo (SMT) Information. This standard specifies a common format used for the exchange of fingerprint, facial, scar, mark and tattoo data effectively across jurisdictional lines or between dissimilar systems made by different manufacturers. Electronic Fingerprint Transmission Specification (v7.1) and Electronic Biometric Transmission Specification (v1.0) are specific implementations of ANSI NIST ITL 1-2000 used by the FBI and DoD. Other standards also associated with ANSI NIST ITL 1-2000 are the FBI’s Wavelet Scalar Quantization (WSQ) and Join Photographic Experts Group 2000 (JPEG2000) which are both used for the compression of fingerprint images.
Notable US Government Fingerprint Programs
Fast Capture of Rolled-Equivalent Fingerprints and Palm Prints
Fast capture, a multi-agency Government initiative, is expanding fingerprint and palm research, challenging industry to develop and demonstrate technology to capture 10 rolled-equivalent fingerprints in less than 15 seconds and/or both palm prints in less than one minute, significantly improve fingerprint image quality, reduce the failure-to-enroll rate, and be affordable, rugged,
