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Title: Wavelet/scalar quantization compression standard for fingerprint images

Conference ·
OSTI ID:231283

US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has recently formulated a national standard for digitization and compression of gray-scale fingerprint images. Fingerprints are scanned at a spatial resolution of 500 dots per inch, with 8 bits of gray-scale resolution. The compression algorithm for the resulting digital images is based on adaptive uniform scalar quantization of a discrete wavelet transform subband decomposition (wavelet/scalar quantization method). The FBI standard produces archival-quality images at compression ratios of around 15 to 1 and will allow the current database of paper fingerprint cards to be replaced by digital imagery. The compression standard specifies a class of potential encoders and a universal decoder with sufficient generality to reconstruct compressed images produced by any compliant encoder, allowing flexibility for future improvements in encoder technology. A compliance testing program is also being implemented to ensure high standards of image quality and interchangeability of data between different implementations.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States); Department of Justice, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-36
OSTI ID:
231283
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-96-0352; CONF-9606164-1; ON: DE96008138
Resource Relation:
Conference: Conference on signal image processing and applications, Annecy (France), 12-14 Jun 1996; Other Information: PBD: 12 Jun 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English