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IBPC 2012 / Satellite Workshop on NIFQ 2.0 

NIST Gaithersburg, March 5, 2012 

Christoph Busch 

Overview of Quality Features 

for NFIQ 2.0 

Christoph Busch 

Hochschule Darmstadt - CASED 
Developing Quality Features for NFIQ2.0 

• Requirements for selection as a feature candidate 

• Based on publically documented algorithms 

• Available as Open Source 

• Standardized Interfaces to Plug-and-Play feature algorithms 

• Outcome 

• Quality feature for NFIQ2.0 

• Project timeline and scope 

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IBPC 2012 / Satellite Workshop on NIFQ 2.0 

NIST Gaithersburg, March 5, 2012 

Christoph Busch 
General Approach 

• Review of the discussion and findings from the 

IBPC 2010 sample quality workshop 

• Process inNFIQ2.0 

1. Literature investigation 

2. Prototype implementation in Matlab 

3. Refinement of algorithm and parameters 

4. Performance assessment 

5. Implementation in C/C++ 

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IBPC 2012 / Satellite Workshop on NIFQ 2.0 

NIST Gaithersburg, March 5, 2012 

Christoph Busch 
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IBPC 2012 / Satellite Workshop on NIFQ 2.0 

NIST Gaithersburg, March 5, 2012 

Christoph Busch 

Context - I 

• Based on ISO/IEC IS 29794-1:2009 

"Information technology - Biometrics sample quality Part 1: Framework" 

• Definitions 

• quality: "the degree to which a biometric sample fulfils specified requirements for a 

targeted application" 

• quality score: "a quantitative expression of quality" 

• utility: "the observed performance of a 

biometric sample or set of samples 

in one or more biometric systems" 

• Biometric data quality blocks 

• Quality score 

• 0: lowest quality 

• 100: highest quality 

• 255: failed attempt to 

assign a quality score
Context - II 

• Linked to ISO/IEC TR 29794-4:2010 

"Information technology - Biometrics sample quality 

Part 4: Finger image data" 

• Quality feature classes 

• Global features 

• Local features (blockwise) 

• Expected return of research investment 

• Intended revision of ISO/IEC IS 29794-4:201x 

• Upgrade to an IS (International Standard) 

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IBPC 2012 / Satellite Workshop on NIFQ 2.0 

NIST Gaithersburg, March 5, 2012 

Christoph Busch 
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IBPC 2012 / Satellite Workshop on NIFQ 2.0 

NIST Gaithersburg, March 5, 2012 

Christoph Busch 

Abstract Feature Overview 

• Input is always the fingerprint image 

• A segmentation mask is optional 

• Analyze image in a global or local manner 

to produce raw quality scores 

• For a local metric a suitable aggregation function is chosen 

to produce a single quality score 
Current Quality Feature Groups 

- Status of available Features 

• Group 1: NFIQ1.0 

• Quality Zone 3+4, Foreground 

• Group 2: Implemented from ISO/IEC TR 29794-4 

• Frequency Domain Analysis 

• Local Clarity Score 

• Orientation Certainty Level 

• Orientation Flow 

• Radial Power Spectrum 

• Ridge Valley Uniformity 

• Group 3: New Features 

• Gabor (Olsen, 2012), Gabor (Shen et al., 2001) 

• Minutiae count, mean pixel intensity (input image, block wise), sigma of intensity 

• Group 4: Open Source Contribution 

• Digital Persona JetFX Minutia Extractor ”Derivate” (e.g. total # of minutiae) 

• Your contribution ? 

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IBPC 2012 / Satellite Workshop on NIFQ 2.0 

NIST Gaithersburg, March 5, 2012 

Christoph Busch 
Contact 

Hochschule Darmstadt - CASED 

Christoph Busch 

christoph.busch@h-da.de 

Fraunhofer IGD 

Christoph Busch 

christoph.busch@igd.fraunhofer.de 

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IBPC 2012 / Satellite Workshop on NIFQ 2.0 

NIST Gaithersburg, March 5, 2012 

Christoph Busch