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Title: Method and system for normalizing biometric variations to authenticate users from a public database and that ensures individual biometric data privacy

Abstract

A password system comprises a set of codewords spaced apart from one another by a Hamming distance (HD) that exceeds twice the variability that can be projected for a series of biometric measurements for a particular individual and that is less than the HD that can be encountered between two individuals. To enroll an individual, a biometric measurement is taken and exclusive-ORed with a random codeword to produce a "reference value." To verify the individual later, a biometric measurement is taken and exclusive-ORed with the reference value to reproduce the original random codeword or its approximation. If the reproduced value is not a codeword, the nearest codeword to it is found, and the bits that were corrected to produce the codeword to it is found, and the bits that were corrected to produce the codeword are also toggled in the biometric measurement taken and the codeword generated during enrollment. The correction scheme can be implemented by any conventional error correction code such as Reed-Muller code R(m,n). In the implementation using a hand geometry device an R(2,5) code has been used in this invention. Such codeword and biometric measurement can then be used to see if the individual is an authorizedmore » user. Conventional Diffie-Hellman public key encryption schemes and hashing procedures can then be used to secure the communications lines carrying the biometric information and to secure the database of authorized users.« less

Inventors:
 [1];  [2];  [2]
  1. Oakland, CA
  2. Livermore, CA
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
872919
Patent Number(s):
US 6038315
Assignee:
Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-48
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
method; normalizing; biometric; variations; authenticate; users; public; database; ensures; individual; data; privacy; password; comprises; set; codewords; spaced; apart; hamming; distance; hd; exceeds; twice; variability; projected; series; measurements; particular; encountered; individuals; enroll; measurement; exclusive-ored; random; codeword; produce; reference; value; verify; reproduce; original; approximation; reproduced; nearest; found; bits; corrected; toggled; generated; enrollment; correction; scheme; implemented; conventional; error; code; reed-muller; implementation; hand; geometry; device; authorized; user; diffie-hellman; key; encryption; schemes; hashing; procedures; secure; communications; lines; carrying; information; authorized user; spaced apart; /713/382/

Citation Formats

Strait, Robert S, Pearson, Peter K, and Sengupta, Sailes K. Method and system for normalizing biometric variations to authenticate users from a public database and that ensures individual biometric data privacy. United States: N. p., 2000. Web.
Strait, Robert S, Pearson, Peter K, & Sengupta, Sailes K. Method and system for normalizing biometric variations to authenticate users from a public database and that ensures individual biometric data privacy. United States.
Strait, Robert S, Pearson, Peter K, and Sengupta, Sailes K. 2000. "Method and system for normalizing biometric variations to authenticate users from a public database and that ensures individual biometric data privacy". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/872919.
@article{osti_872919,
title = {Method and system for normalizing biometric variations to authenticate users from a public database and that ensures individual biometric data privacy},
author = {Strait, Robert S and Pearson, Peter K and Sengupta, Sailes K},
abstractNote = {A password system comprises a set of codewords spaced apart from one another by a Hamming distance (HD) that exceeds twice the variability that can be projected for a series of biometric measurements for a particular individual and that is less than the HD that can be encountered between two individuals. To enroll an individual, a biometric measurement is taken and exclusive-ORed with a random codeword to produce a "reference value." To verify the individual later, a biometric measurement is taken and exclusive-ORed with the reference value to reproduce the original random codeword or its approximation. If the reproduced value is not a codeword, the nearest codeword to it is found, and the bits that were corrected to produce the codeword to it is found, and the bits that were corrected to produce the codeword are also toggled in the biometric measurement taken and the codeword generated during enrollment. The correction scheme can be implemented by any conventional error correction code such as Reed-Muller code R(m,n). In the implementation using a hand geometry device an R(2,5) code has been used in this invention. Such codeword and biometric measurement can then be used to see if the individual is an authorized user. Conventional Diffie-Hellman public key encryption schemes and hashing procedures can then be used to secure the communications lines carrying the biometric information and to secure the database of authorized users.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/872919}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2000},
month = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2000}
}