|Newsletter NCIC 2000 - Linking It All Together

      February-March
        1997 
        Volume 1, Number 6

      Fingerprint Matching Subsystem
      (FMS)

      Introduction
        This issue focuses on recent
        project developments and the status of the FMS. We will look
        at FMS development, its intended use as a law enforcement tool,
        and our plan to take early delivery of the FMS in late 1997 to
        support testing.
        Project Developments
        Central Segment Hardware
        and Software Acquisition
        Harris Corporation (Harris) subcontracted
        with IBM for hardware and software for the NCIC 2000 Central
        Segment. Harris awarded the subcontract to IBM following a competitive
        procurement. IBM will provide its System 390 computer that uses
        Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) technology, associated
        peripheral equipment, and the system software required to operate
        NCIC 2000 in a parallel processing environment. The FBI purchased
        storage devices for the Central Segment from an existing FBI-wide
        contract.
        The Central Segment equipment
        and software meet NCIC 2000 requirements for system availability,
        reliability, scalability, and maintainability. IBM delivered
        an initial system configuration in December 1996. In January
        1998, IBM will deliver the remaining equipment and software needed
        to support NCIC 2000 at initial operating capability (IOC) in
        July 1999. This phased implementation allows the FBI to adjust
        the system configuration based on the results of system testing.
        The system is scalable and will be able to handle workloads beyond
        current projections.
        Criminal Justice Information
        Services (CJIS) Advisory Policy Board (APB) Meeting in San Diego,
        California
        In December, the FBI briefed
        the CJIS APB on the status of the NCIC 2000 project. The briefing
        included updates on the system's software development, new NCIC
        2000 files, project costs and funding, work on the FMS, workstation,
        and mobile imaging unit (MIU), and other significant accomplishments.
        Status of the FMS Development
        Overview
        NCIC 2000 fingerprint matching
        will provide law enforcement officers with improved capability
        to determine if they have encountered a wanted person. This capability
        will improve identification of wanted persons and reduce the
        time officers will be exposed to potentially dangerous situations.
        The FMS is intended to provide an officer with information to
        support detaining a person NCIC 2000 identifies as wanted, pending
        a full ten print identification or other positive identification.
        Fingerprint matching employs
        both the FMS and user equipment. The FMS is a subsystem of the
        NCIC 2000 Central Segment. The FMS provides a centralized matcher
        capability, supporting a file of up to 250,000 unique right index
        fingerprints. User equipment is located in the local office and
        patrol car, and includes NCIC 2000 workstations, Mobile Imaging
        Units (MIU), and communications equipment. This equipment is
        used to acquire fingerprints, submit fingerprint searches, and
        receive responses. Fingerprint images can be obtained using live
        scan devices or from inked prints with document scanners. User
        equipment converts the images to minutiae and topological data.
        This data is used for storage and matching.
        Law enforcement officials can
        use the FMS to help verify the identity of a wanted person or
        to perform searches against the FMS database. There are two types
        of searches -- verification and cold search. A verification confirms
        the identification of a subject by matching the subject's fingerprint
        data against one specific fingerprint in the database. A cold
        search checks the subject's fingerprint data against all prints
        in the database. If a verification returns a match, the response
        will provide a hit confirmation message. If a match is found
        from a cold search, NCIC 2000 will provide a hit response, including
        a mugshot if one is available.
        An FMS inquiry will return only
        a "hit" or "no hit" response. It will not
        return a list of possible "candidates" for a match.
        Note that the absence of a fingerprint record does not necessarily
        mean that a wanted person record does not exist. Some wanted
        person records may not have an associated fingerprint record.
        Fingerprint queries sent to the
        FMS are compared only against the NCIC 2000 fingerprint database.
        They will not use or access the ten print fingerprint database
        associated with the FBI's Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification
        System (IAFIS).
        Federal, State, and local law
        enforcement will enter FMS information following the same procedures
        in which other information is entered into NCIC 2000. However,
        the NCIC 2000 software for image processing is required on users'
        computers to enter FMS data using the "enter image"
        transaction. This extracts minutiae and topological fingerprint
        data for entry into NCIC 2000. This software is included on all
        NCIC 2000 workstations and MIUs, and will be provided to all
        authorized NCIC 2000 users at no cost.
        Previously captured fingerprints
        can be used for FMS searches or to add a fingerprint to the FMS
        database. The right index finger is used. The data retained for
        a fingerprint in the FMS will include a black and white (not
        gray scale) image of the fingerprint and a data representation
        of the fingerprint's minutiae and topological features. While
        users can request a printout of the black and white fingerprint
        image for visual comparison, this must be used with caution.
        The black and white visual representation is not a high quality
        image, such as those associated with ten print fingerprint cards.
        Update on FMS Development
        and Early Delivery Plan
        System development and testing
        of the FMS are almost complete. Programming for the interface
        between the FMS and the Central Segment's main processor is nearly
        complete as well. Now, the FBI is working with Harris Corporation
        to take early delivery of the FMS (as well as the workstation
        and the MIU) in late 1997.
        Taking early delivery of the
        FMS will give the FBI operational and maintenance experience
        and the ability to conduct testing. Harris will provide the FBI
        with the FMS, user segment hardware and software, documentation,
        and computer based training (CBT) software.
        FMS Specifications
        The main hardware supporting
        the FMS is a VAX 810ft computer and 20 Printrak fingerprint matchers
        in a search match processor array. FMS software is programmed
        in C.
        The FMS processes cold search
        requests with a two-stage matching process. The first stage,
        using Printrak matchers, compares the person's fingerprint minutiae
        against the database and produces a list of candidates with similar
        minutiae. This list of candidates is passed to the secondary
        matcher, but is not returned to the user. The secondary matcher,
        developed by East Shore Technologies, Inc., examines the topological
        features of the candidates and decides if an exact match is present
        or not. This "hit or no hit" response is then transmitted
        to the main processor, where a response is prepared and sent
        to the user.
        Harris has provided the FBI with
        working models of the desktop and hand held live scan devices.
        The FBI has used these scanners to demonstrate how a user could
        scan a person's fingerprint and receive a response from the FMS.
        The demonstration system is on display in the CJIS Division's
        Human Interface Technology Evaluation Center (HITEC), located
        at FBI Headquarters. Law enforcement officials interested in
        a demonstration of NCIC 2000 and IAFIS capabilities should contact
        Alan Bozorth (202-324-1195 or 202-324-8750).
        FBI Plans for FMS Testing
        Step One:
        The first step of FBI testing
          of the FMS is to gain insight into how it will perform as part
          of the larger NCIC 2000 system. This testing will provide data
          on the FMS's performance in laboratory conditions designed to
          simulate a real life environment. The FBI will perform the tests,
          with Harris serving in a consulting role. The FMS will be loaded
          with a test database of actual file prints. This testing will
          provide benchmark levels of the system's accuracy, give FBI personnel
          experience in operating and maintaining the system, gauge the
          completeness and ease of use of system documentation, help the
          FBI to estimate operations and maintenance costs, and provide
          the platform to perform special studies.
          The results of this testing will
          help the FBI to become well versed in all aspects of the FMS.
          The experience gained from identifying and solving problems that
          occur during testing will be invaluable. The FBI will communicate
          the results of this testing to the user community. We will use
          the test data and lessons learned to plan for further testing
          with interested States.
        Step Two:
        This testing will take place
          once the FBI and participating States have developed an operational
          environment for the tests. The user organizations will send FMS
          transactions to the FBI in operational conditions. These test
          transactions will provide valuable user feedback and information
          about the FMS's concept of operations, user interface, and use
          in the field. Problems found during the testing can be isolated,
          analyzed, and corrected. This provides training, planning, and
          documentation for those who will use, operate, and maintain the
          FMS when NCIC 2000 comes on-line. The FBI will report the results
          of these tests to the NCIC 2000 user community and will use the
          testing information to prepare the FMS for IOC.
        This testing will include selected
        States. The FBI is looking for States interested in participating
        in the testing. If interested, please contact Roy Weise on 304-625-2730.

      State Your Opinion

      This space is provided for
        authorized criminal justice agencies to provide commentary, questions,
        or suggestions. We will provide an answer to all questions. If
        you would like to submit an article, send it to:
        Federal Bureau
        of Investigation
        Attn: Ms. Katina Mackall
        Room 9504
        NCIC 2000 Program Office
        935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
        Washington, DC 20535

      Line

      | Return
      |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|