FINGERPRINT VENDOR TECHNOLOGY EVALUATION 2003 

APPENDIX B 

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION DOCUMENTS 
FPVTE 2003APPENDIX B — S YSTEM DESCRIPTION DOCUMENTS 

The Application to Participate in FpVTE 2003 stated: 

3.8 Participants will be required to submit a five-page (maximum) system description 

document, in electronic form, on the first day of testing. (Two pages extra will be permitted 

for each additional system.) These documents will be included in the final FpVTE 2003 

report that will be released to the public. Failure to provide this document, in its proper 

form, may result in not being evaluated in FpVTE 2003. This document must adequately 

address the following topics: 

x Overview of the evaluated system(s). 

x Component list for the evaluated system(s). 

x Detailed cost breakdown of the submitted system(s) (commercial vendors only). 

x Details of any modifications required to take FpVTE 2003. 

This Appendix includes those system description documents, in alphabetical order by company 

name. 
FPVTE 2003APPENDIX B — S YSTEM DESCRIPTION DOCUMENTS 

Contents 

123 ID..................................................................................................................................................... 3 

Antheus ................................................................................................................................................. 11 

Avalon ...................................................................................................................................................16 

Biolink.................................................................................................................................................. 23 

Bioscrypt .............................................................................................................................................. 28 

Cogent.................................................................................................................................................. 32 

Dermalog ............................................................................................................................................. 37 

Golden Finger .......................................................................................................................................41 

Griaule.................................................................................................................................................. 46 

Identix.................................................................................................................................................. 49 

Motorola............................................................................................................................................... 52 

NEC..................................................................................................................................................... 54 

Neurotechnologija ............................................................................................................................... 60 

NIST .................................................................................................................................................... 62 

Phoenix Group..................................................................................................................................... 65 

Raytheon .............................................................................................................................................. 70 

SAGEM ................................................................................................................................................ 73 

Technoimagia ...................................................................................................................................... 79 

UltraScan.............................................................................................................................................. 84 
FpVTE 2003 System Description 

LST Level 

Overview 

The underlying infrastructure and product conducting the biometric search for the 

LST level fpVTE2003 competition is the Biometric System Service (BSS) from 

123ID, Inc. 

The BSS is a biometric search cluster system designed to offer scalability and 

hardware independence. 

Software components 

a) The BSS cluster system 

The software component of BSS automatically manages, distributes and 

redirects, incoming search loads among its multiple search nodes (CPUs) 

independent of the application requesting the search service. 

The components building the BSS system are: 

• Communication Service -

Receives application (client) requests and communicates with Resolution 

service 

• Administration Service -

Configures Nodes and search balance. Defines I/O of BSS system 

• Resolution Service -

Carries out system configuration. 

• Node service -

Carries out the search task assigned to each node. 

b) The Code Vector (CVT) matching technology 

CVT defines and analyzes a pattern (initially from fingerprints but potentially expandable 

to Iris, face or palm) based on its vector behavior, morphology and minutia distribution. 

3 
 

 

 

– 2 – 

CVT rates the similarity of two fingerprints based on a score ranging from 0 to 

1,073,741,824, allowing CVT great discrimination capability sufficient for 1-many 

applications. 

Traditionally the cutoff score for a positive match is set based on the fingerprint 

data capture modality (partial versus full print), and the type of match (1-1 or 1-

n). For the LST fingerprint database, only full prints (no partial or latent) prints are 

expected and a 1-Many scenario is assumed. 

The acceptance score for a positive identification is set at 420,000 based on the 

LST sample database. Technically, the score cut off should be set at a range 

based on a full analysis. Since we were unable to analyze the full LST database, 

the current CVT configuration is only based on the LST Sample database. 

CVT is configured for a FAR equal to zero based on the LST sample database; 

Additionally, the separation between false accept and false reject similarity 

events can be appreciated by the range of score separation displayed by CVT. 

The appearance of FAR events on the complete database are possible since 

CVT for the FpVTE2003 competition was configured based on a small sample 

data; however, by shifting the positive matching score upwards, a desired FAR 

can be achieved. 

CVT is conversely configured for the smallest FRR possible. The following 

limitation are assumed and expected to produce False Rejections or FTE: 

1. Matching score < 420,000 (non-normalized) 

2. Matrix size of 150 x150 pixels or less 

3. Fingerprint images coming from different scanner sources with aspect 

ratio incorrectly applied producing an inconsistent special mapping. See 

document “Inconsistencies in aspect ratio normalization from different 

fingerprint capture sources.” 

4. Fingerprints excluded due to poor quality as indicated by the TQI index 

from the BX quality control are used to represent the FTE Threshold. 

The rotation permitted based on the ranges described by NIST is 60 degrees 

from the orientation of the target fingerprint. 

c) The Biometric Exchange (BX) quality assessment product 

The quality of a fingerprint image is assessed by multiple indexes, which are 

combined to ultimately derive the overall quality of the image as well as local 

quality assessment and reliability. 

The BX quality control generates a total quality index (TQI) used to accept/reject 

a fingerprint and even to reject a print for enrollment (FTE). The FTE cutoff for 

the NIST FpVTE2003 competition is set to 65%. 

4 
 

–3 – March 25, 2004 

The TQI is composed of six different and yet complementary indexes that can be 

further described upon request. An application creating the full set of indexes 

and their respective quality control image masks is also available upon request. 

The BX quality assessment and the BX product in general are independent of 

the CVT technology. 

c) The Virtual Print Signature Technology (VPSignature) 

Virtual Print Signature (VPSignatureTM) is a numeric indexing technology created 

by 123ID to search very large scale databases. VPSignatureTM numerically 

describes the morphology of a fingerprint pattern. It was designed to divide a 

large database based on the numeric representation of the fingerprint 

morphology. 

Only those subject Ids that created discrepancies in the Vpsignature match 

among different fingerprints of the same subject were grouped as potentail false 

accepts. However, all fingerprints of a subject that passed the quality standard 

enforced were processed with the VPSignature technology. 

The potential false accepts were processed by a second pass with the 

exhaustive CVT matching technology described above. 

Hardware components 

The BSS is composed of 36 Search nodes and an administrator. The search 

nodes are managed by an administration node via standard network 

communication. 

Detailed Cost Breakdown 

The BSS solution is packaged along with an Alias Elimination Service – AFE 

product from 123ID, Inc. 

The AFE software is priced as a service per user enrolled in the database for 

unique identity management. The price per user template is $12. Special 

discounts apply to government agencies. 

The cost of the hardware used for the FpVTE competition with the following 

components is $98,000: 

5 
 

– 4 – 

1. Administrator Node 

• CCSI Clusteron Athlon Head Node, MP 2600 CPU, 2 GB RAM, 130 

GBHD 

2. Search Nodes 

• CCSI Clusteron UltraCool Athlon Nodes MP 2600 CPU CPU, 1GB 

RAM, 30 GBHD 

3. UPS backup for Rack system 

4. Ethernet HUB for 40 points 

123ID does not sell hardware, the cost above is the cost to 123ID. 

Modifications required for the FpVTE event 

The basic BSS system has undergone the following minor changes for the 

FpVTE competition: 

1. Adjustment of the Input to accept WSQ (.an) files 

2. Adjustment of the Output to create the sim files 

3. Adjustment of the matching Code Vector Technology (CVT) to the 500 

pixels per inch resolution assumed by NIST. 

4. Creation of a FAR and FRR graphical evaluation module based on the 

nomenclature defined by NIST for the FPVTE. 

6 
FpVTE 2003 System Description 

MST Level – 2nd run 

(123IDIM2) 

Overview 

The underlying infrastructure and product conducting the biometric search for the 

MST level fpVTE2003 competition is the Biometric System Service (BSS) from 

123ID, Inc. 

The BSS is a biometric search cluster system designed to offer scalability and 

hardware independence. 

Software components 

a) The BSS cluster manager 

The software component of BSS automatically manages, distributes and 

redirects, incoming search loads among its multiple search nodes (CPUs) 

independent of the application requesting the search service. 

The components building the BSS system are: 

• Communication Service -

Receives application (client) requests and communicates with Resolution 

service 

• Administration Service -

Configures Nodes and search balance. Defines I/O of BSS system 

• Resolution Service -

Carries out system configuration. 

• Node service -

Carries out the search task assigned to each node. 

b) The Code Vector (CVT) matching technology 

CVT defines and analyzes a pattern (initially from fingerprints but potentially expandable 

to Iris, face or palm) based on its vector behavior, morphology and minutia distribution. 

7 
 

 

 

– 2 – 

CVT rates the similarity of two fingerprints based on a score ranging from 0 to 

1,073,741,824, allowing CVT great discrimination capability sufficient for 1-many 

applications. 

Traditionally the cutoff score for a positive match is set based on the fingerprint 

data capture modality (partial versus full print), and the type of match (1-1 or 1-

n). For the MST fingerprint database, only full prints (no partial or latent) prints 

are expected and a 1-Many scenario is assumed. 

The acceptance score for a positive identification is set at 420,000 based on the 

MST sample database. Technically, the score cut off should be set at a range 

based on a full analysis. Since we were unable to analyze the full MST database, 

the current CVT configuration is only based on the MST Sample database. 

CVT is configured for a FAR equal to zero based on the MST sample database; 

Additionally, the separation between false accept and false reject similarity 

events can be appreciated by the range of score separation displayed by CVT. 

The appearance of FAR events on the complete database are possible since 

CVT for the FpVTE2003 competition was configured based on a small sample 

data; however, by shifting the positive matching score upwards, a desired FAR 

can be achieved. 

CVT is conversely configured for the smallest FRR possible. The following 

limitation are assumed and expected to produce False Rejections or FTE: 

1. Matching score < 420,000 (non-normalized) 

2. Matrix size of 150 x150 pixels or less 

3. Fingerprint images coming from different scanner sources with aspect 

ratio incorrectly applied producing an inconsistent special mapping. See 

document “Inconsistencies in aspect ratio normalization from different 

fingerprint capture sources.” 

4. Fingerprints excluded due to poor quality as indicated by the TQI index 

from the BX quality control are used to represent the FTE Threshold. 

The rotation permitted based on the ranges described by NIST is 60 degrees 

from the orientation of the target fingerprint. 

c) The Biometric Exchange (BX) quality assessment product 

The quality of a fingerprint image is assessed by multiple indexes, which are 

combined to ultimately derive the overall quality of the image as well as local 

quality assessment and reliability. 

The BX quality control generates a total quality index (TQI) used to accept/reject 

a fingerprint and even to reject a print for enrollment (FTE). The FTE cutoff for 

the NIST FpVTE2003 competition is set to 45%. 

8 
 

–3 – March 25, 2004 

The TQI is composed of six different and yet complementary indexes that can be 

further described upon request. An application creating the full set of indexes 

and their respective quality control image masks is also available upon request. 

The BX quality assessment and the BX product in general are independent of 

the CVT technology. 

Hardware components 

The hardware component of BSS is composed of 16 Search nodes and an 

administrator. The search nodes are managed by an administration node via 

standard network communication. 

Detailed Cost Breakdown 

The BSS solution is packaged along with an Alias Elimination Service – AFE 

product from 123ID, Inc. 

AFE is priced per user enrolled in the database for unique identity management. 

The price per user template is $12. Special discounts applied to government 

agencies. 

The cost of the hardware used for the FpVTE competition with the following 

components is $55,000: 

1. Administrator Node 

• HP a330n 1.8 GHz CPU, 1GBRAM 

2. Search Nodes 

• CCSI Clusteron UltraCool Athlon Nodes MP 2600 CPU CPU, 1GB 

RAM, 30 GBHD 

3. UPS backup for Rack system 

4. Ethernet HUB for 40 points 

123ID does not sell hardware, the cost above is the cost to 123ID. 

Modifications required for the FpVTE event 

9 
– 4 – 

The basic BSS system has undergone the following minor changes for the 

FpVTE competition: 

1. Adjustment of the Input to accept WSQ (.an) files 

2. Adjustment of the Output to create the sim files 

3. Adjustment of the matching Code Vector Technology (CVT) to the 500 

pixels per inch resolution assumed by NIST. 

4. Creation of a FAR and FRR graphical evaluation module based on the 

nomenclature defined by NIST for the FPVTE. 

10 
 

 

 

 

 

System Description 

System Overview 

Antheus Technology Inc. is pleased to participate in the FpVTE 2003. The opportunity to test our accurate 

technology using real life fingerprints is a challenge that we undertake with pride and high expectations. 

Antheus is a premier developer of fingerprint identification software. Agora is a highly accurate fingerprint 

identification software that extracts minutiae points and accurately matches thousands of fingerprints at 

sub-second speed. Thanks to its precise matching algorithms Agora is a world class Automatic 

Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) for civil identification and criminal investigation. 

Overview of Fingerprints 

The fingerprints of different people and even from the same person differ according to two criteria. The 

first one is related to the group the finger belongs to, and the second criterion is related to the minutia 

points. The group criterion represents a macro vision of the fingerprints, defined by the patterns followed 

by the finger ridges. Based on those patterns a fingerprint is classified and placed in a group as an Arch, 

a Whorl, a Left Loop, a Right Loop or No Classification. Agora's fingerprint search engine optionally first 

attempts to find the person in the corresponding group, and within the group it conducts a second search 

based on minutiae points. A cold search based only on minutiae poits is also possible. 

The Groups 

Arch: The ridges form on one side and tend to go through to 

the other side of the finger. 

Whorl: The ridges tend to present a concentric pattern, 

spiraled, ovoid or sinusoid, all on the center of the finger 

image. 

Right Loops:The ridges flow from the right of the observer, 

curve at the center of the fingerprint and tend to go back to 

the same side. 

Left Loops: The ridges flow from the left of the observer, 

curve at the center of the fingerprint and tend to go back to 

the same side. 

Cores and Deltas 

The finger images of the group classifications Whorl and 

Loops (Right and Left) present two additional characteristics 

to sharpen the pattern classification even more, and help in 

the process of comparison. The Core of a fingerprint 

represents its “center of gravity”. It is located on the upper 

part of the most internal curved ridge in the whorl. In the 

Left and Right Loops is in the top of the most internal ridge 

that loops. In the figure above is indicated with a “+” sign. The 

homogeneity of the ridges in the Arches normally impedes the 

automatic positioning of the Core, but this does not affect the 

accuracy of Agora. 

The Deltas are the divergence points where the ridges tend to 

wrap around the center of the finger. The Whorls usually have 

two Deltas; the Right Loops have a Delta on the left of the 

observer, and the Left Loops to the right of the observer. 

Agora automatically determines the Groups, Cores, Deltas and 

Minutiae Points if they are all or partially available for each 

particular fingerprint, and with this information it generates a 

finger image template, or Code that is used for searching and 

matching. 

Page 1 of 5 

Antheus Technology, Inc.

22241 Larkspur Trail, Boca Raton, FL 33433, USA 

tel +1 561 417 3876, eFax +1 423 502 6637 

email: info@antheustechnology.com ; web: www.antheustechnology.com 11 
Page 2 of 5 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agora Analysis 

The generation of templates used in searching and the matching of a fingerprint against a database, is the 

result of a series of software routines to extract relevant features. Following are the sequential steps used 

by Agora: Image Crop, Directions, Binarization, Thinning, and Minutiae Extraction 

Template Generation 

The Minutiae Points extracted in the Analysis 

phase are the foundation for the search and 

match of fingerprints. A template represents a 

planar distribution of the minutiae. The 

template establishes a relationship taking into 

account the distribution of minutiae on a 

fingerprint. The template contains the data 

regarding the distribution, type, orientation and 

cross-relationships between the minutiae. The 

template associated with the fingerprint image 

is stored in the database. 

Template Code for different 

images of the same fingerprint. 

The Search / Match operation is a restricted 

isomorphism of the Search template and the 

Candidate template. Changes in pressure at 

capture, rotations, disturbances on the ridges 

due to cuts or scars, are impediments to a total 

isomorphism. Two fingerprints from the same 

person result in Template Codes that are 

visually different. The Matching problem is to 

determine “how much” of a Template Code is 

included in the other one. The templates 

above correspond to two images captured from 

the same finger, within a two month interval. 

The complete difference between the two is an 

illusion. The function of Agora’s matching 

algorithms is to find the resemblance. 

The Matching of Searched and 

Candidate Templates 

The matching of Searched and Candidate 

fingerprints is a comparison of two templates. 

The minutiae that correspond to both 

templates are highlighted. The total of 

correspondences is used to determine a degree 

of similarity between the templates, and this 

degree or ratio indicates whether the templates 

come from same finger. 

12 

Antheus Technology, Inc.

22241 Larkspur Trail, Boca Raton, FL 33433, USA 

tel +1 561 417 3876, eFax +1 423 502 6637 

email: info@antheustechnology.com ; web: www.antheustechnology.com 
Agora Architecture 

There are three distinct elements of 

Agora application architecture: 

1.The Client Station used for 

enrollment, verification and / or 

identification. This is the user 

interface. 

2.The Database Server that 

contains all identities' records, 

including images, demographic 

information and biometric 

templates. 

3.The MatchServer that performs 

the fingerprint comparisons. 

 

The Client Station, Database Server 

and MatchServer may be configured 

in different ways depending on the 

project requirements. Of these 

three elements Agora supplies the 

biometric software tools for the 

Client Station and the MatchServer 

application software. 

Match Server 

Image & Alphanumeric 

Server 

Finger Signature scanner PAD 

RW-1 RW-2 RW-8 

Supervisor 

Mobile Station-2 

Mobile Station-1 

Antheus Technology, Inc.

22241 Larkspur Trail, Boca Raton, FL 33433, USA 

tel +1 561 417 3876, eFax +1 423 502 6637 

email: info@antheustechnology.com ; web: www.antheustechnology.com 13 

 

The systems integrator adds: Registration 

The Mapping 

The result of the Matching is a new Template 

contained in both compared templates. In 

this new template named Mapping the 

minutiae point and the lines that are in both 

templates are highlighted. 

The minutiae that can’t be mapped are not 

counted to determine the similarity. The 

figure above shows minutiae that have not 

been mapped for both finger images. The 

presence or absence of minutiae in one or 

the other fingerprint is an indication of the 

difference in pressure, rotation or translation 

of the finger in the different captured 

images. 

1.The Database Server including hardware, base software and database management system software. 

2.The Client Station, including hardware, base software, application, networking software, and 

peripherals. 

3. Integration to the Search / Match application software.- Integration to the Agora biometric software 

tools for the Client Station. 

4.Project Implementation. 

Page 3 of 5 
Page 4 of 5 

Antheus Technology, Inc.

22241 Larkspur Trail, Boca Raton, FL 33433, USA 

tel +1 561 417 3876, eFax +1 423 502 6637 

email: info@antheustechnology.com ; web: www.antheustechnology.com 

 

 

How to Order 

1 Order the Agora Software Developers Kit with WSQ (ANASNW). If all you need is WSQ compression / 

decompression, then order the Agora WSQ Software Developers Kit (ANASW) 

2 Decide how many workstations will need Agora FingerClient (ANAR1), the extract and match Licenses, 

and how many will need Agora WsqClient (ANARW), the WSQ compression / decompression licenses. If 

you need to search against a database using fingerprints then go to step 3, otherwise stop right here. 

3 Determine the number of persons in the database. Then choose your Agora MatchServer License 

(ANAM1, 2, 3) 

Product Product Description 

ANASNW Agora Software Developers Kit 2.5 with WSQ, 1-1 verification and MatchServer for up to 1,000 

identities using 1 to 10 fingers each identity; includes components for flat or rolled* finger image 

capture using Cross Match USB scanners or Video for Windows; Analysis and Fingerprint Code 

Generation and 1-1 Matching (extract and match); Display of Minutiae Points and Graphics; 

WSQ** for fast compression and decompression of grayscale fingerprint images. Includes DLLs, 

ActiveX Control or COM-DLL; several sample applications with source code (Visual C++/Visual 

Basic); Documentation; Agora Demonstration Software Application; Agora WSQ Demonstration 

Software Application; Runtime License for Windows 98/Win Me/NT/2000. *Rolled Print capture 

available only for Cross Match V300 RS-170 and Integral FlashBus MV Series frame grabber. 

**WSQ certification number 45100 by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). 

ANAR1 Agora FingerClient, extract and match for 1-1 verification runtime license for the client for 

Windows 98/Win Me/NT/2000/XP; includes components for Analysis, Fingerprint Code 

Generation that extracts minutiae file usable by the Agora MatchServer, and 1-1 Matching 

(extract and match); Capture of flat or rolled* finger images using Cross Match USB scanners, 

Identix DFR200 or Video for Windows; Photo Capture with Video for Windows driver; Display of 

minutiae point and graphics. *Rolled Print capture available only for Cross Match V300 RS-170 

and Integral FlashBus MV Series frame grabber 

ANASW Agora WSQ Software Developers Kit 2.5 - WSQ for fast Compression and Decompression of 

grayscale fingerprint images. Includes DLLs, ActiveX Control or COM-DLL for WSQ Compression 

and Decompression; components to capture flat or rolled* fingerprints using Video for Window 

drive, Cross Match USB Sensor or Identix DFR200, Sample App in source code (Visual 

C++/Visual Basic); documentation; includes one Runtime License and Agora WSQ 

Demonstration Software Application; for Windows 9x/Me/2000. US Federal Bureau of 

Investigation (FBI) certification number 45100. *Rolled Print capture available only for Cross 

Match V300 RS-170 and Integral FlashBus MV Series frame grabber 

ANARW Agora WsqClient for WSQ compression and decompression of grayscale fingerprint images 

runtime license for Windows 98/Win Me/NT/2000/XP. Includes DLLs, ActiveX Control or COMDLL for WSQ compression and decompression; components to capture flat or rolled* fingerprints 

using Video for Windows driver, Crossmatch USB Sensor or Identix DFR200; for Windows 

9x/Me/2000. US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) certification number 45100. *Rolled Print 

capture available only for Cross Match V300 RS-170 and Integral FlashBus MV Series frame 

grabber 

ANAM1 Agora MatchServer ten fingerprints from 1 to 1,000 identities Search / Match Server Runtime 

License for Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP 

ANAM2 Agora MatchServer ten fingerprints from 1001 to 10,000 identities Search / Match Server 

Runtime License for Windows 98/NT/2000/XP 

ANAM3 Agora MatchServer ten fingerprints 10,001 to 50,000 identities Search / Match Server Runtime 

License for Windows NT/2000/XP/2003 Server 

ANAMC Agora MatchServer Configurable ten fingerprints from 50,000 to N identities Search / Match 

Server Runtime License for Windows NT/2000/XP/2003 Server. Ask how to complete survey and 

request quote 

14 
Page 5 of 5 

Antheus Technology, Inc.

22241 Larkspur Trail, Boca Raton, FL 33433, USA 

tel +1 561 417 3876, eFax +1 423 502 6637 

email: info@antheustechnology.com ; web: www.antheustechnology.com 15 

 

 

Component list forthe FpVTE 2003 

Description Cost 

Software 

Windows 2000 Server with SP4 $800 

Custom developed FpVTE.exe application statically linked to standard and custom $895 

libraries as listed in Configuration Management, including WSQ compression / 

decompression version 2.5 developed by Antheus and certified in August 1st 2001 by 

the FBI with software implementation value (sf), within the frame header of the 

compressed image recorded as 45100. 

Hardware 

Dell PowerEdge 2600, dual Pentium 4 at 2.8 Ghz, 1GB RAM, 1 x 36GB 10,000 rpm $2,800 

SCSI disks, keyboard and mouse 

NEC AccuSync LCD5V monitor $280 

Total $4,775 

Modifications for theFpVTE 2003 

We developed a custom made application to conduct the MST and LST automatically with minimum 

operator interface, that uses Antheus’ standard libraries and some custom made libraries specific for the 

test. This application uses one of our most accurate fingerprint matching algorithms that is implemented 

worldwide in accurate software based, standard compliant AFIS systems. It can complete the LST in three 

weeks with one $2,500 dual-processor Windows 2000 server. Other than that no other modifications were 

introduced to our technology. 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
11360 Interchange Circle North

 Miramar, Florida 33025 USA 

 Phone: +1 954 450-7061

 Toll Free: (800) 611-1555

 Fax: +1 954-450-7062

 www.biolinkusa.com 

System Description 

Document 

For The 

Fingerprint Vendor Technology Evaluation 

Large-Scale Test 

Submitted To 

National Institute of Standards and Technology 

By 

BioLink Technologies International 

Contact: 

John C. Schmitt, Ph.D 

VP – ID Systems 

11360 Interchange C., N 

Miramar, FL 33025 

(321) 452-9390 

23 
 

BioLink’s FpVTE Large-Scale Test Configuration Overview and Component List 

BioLink’s Authenteon-based FpVTE LST system submitted consists of two main subsystems: 

A) A Control Front End (CFE) which interfaces to the outside world (I/O to the System) as well to 

the Search Engine (Back End). It’s major functions are to accept input imagery, decompress and 

extract minutia from these, manage match operations per XML instructions, submit fingerprints to 

the Search Engine, accept results of match operations, and format match score results for output. 

All of the semantics of the application are contained in the CFE and are developed and 

implemented via a sophisticated BioLink SDK known as the Authenteon Toolkit (ATK). 

Components of the CFE are: 

Platform – BioLink-assembled PC with the following characteristics: Pentium-IV Processor, 2.6 

GHz, 512 MB RAM, 60 GB hard disk. There are two of these platforms, one for the CFE itself 

and one for the computer to host the SQL Server database. 

Software – OS is Windows Server 2003. The Authenteon Connection Toolkit (ATK)*

 version 

1.2.24.2 provides the control functionality. SQL Server 2000 (Service Pack 3) from Microsoft 

provides the RDBMS. A custom Windows application for FpVTE known as FpVTE Application* 

version 66 supports the unique requirements related to data input, reporting of output matrices, etc. 

Aware Corporation’s WSQ decompression software version 2.5 is used to decompress 

ANSI/NIST-compliant records and images. 

B) A Search Engine consisting of one or more single-board (“blade”) computers each of which 

maintains 1/Bth of the fingerprint minutia data base (where “B” is the number of blades). The 

Search Engine only responds to commands from the CFE and knows nothing of the semantics of 

the application whether it is an elections system, a driver license issuance system, or an FpVTE. 

Platform – 24-each RLX Corporation model 1200i processing blades, with main processor 

Pentium-III, 1.3 GHz, 512 MB RAM. These are housed 12 to a chassis in (2) RLX model 300ex 

chassis. 

Software – OS is Red Hat Linux 7.2 with RLX version 2.4.9-3 kernal and other RLX-specific 

drivers. Main fingerprint matching software is BioLink Authenteon Cluster Array version 

1.2.0.54. 

Cost Breakdown for BioLink Components for FpVTE LST System 

• Authenteon Search Engine Blade (hardware from RLX) including Authenteon Cluster Array 

software, $11,250. 

• RLX chassis supporting up to 12 Search Engine Blades, $2,800. 

• Authenteon Connection Toolkit (ATK) SDK $995. 

• SQL Server, Windows Server 2003, see Microsoft Corporation 

• ANSI/NIST decompression software, see Aware Corporation 

*

 Authenteon Connection Toolkit and FpVTE Application will be made available to any authorized 

Government organization which wishes to replicate our FpVTE configuration. 

24 
Modifications Required to take FpVTE 

Only as described above to apply core commercial technology offered by BioLink in the custom 

application configuration specified by NIST for the FpVTE. The specifics of the LST subtest scripting, as 

well as many of the data input and output requirements, are unique to FpVTE. This custom configuration 

is implemented via our FpVTE Application version 66 which we offer to make available to authorized 

Government organizations which wish to replicate our FpVTE configuration. 

25 
11360 Interchange Circle North

 Miramar, Florida 33025 USA 

 Phone: +1 954 450-7061

 Toll Free: (800) 611-1555

 Fax: +1 954-450-7062

 www.biolinkusa.com 

System Description 

Document 

For The 

Fingerprint Vendor Technology Evaluation 

Medium-Scale Test 

Submitted To 

National Institute of Standards and Technology 

By 

BioLink Technologies International 

Contact: 

John C. Schmitt, Ph.D 

VP – ID Systems 

11360 Interchange C., N 

Miramar, FL 33025 

(321) 452-9390 

26 
BioLink’s FpVTE Medium-Scale Test System Overview and Component List 

BioLink’s Authenteon-based FpVTE MST system submitted is extremely simple from a components 

standpoint and consists of BioLink’s custom FpVTE Application version 66 running in an industrystandard PC with COTS operating system. 

Platform – BioLink-assembled PC with the following characteristics: Pentium-IV Processor, 2.6 GHz, 512 

MB RAM, 60 GB hard disk, CD read/write drive. 

Operating System – Microsoft Windows Server 2003. 

FpVTE Application – this application (BioLink’s version number 66) supports the unique requirements 

generated for the FpVTE. It’s core image processing and minutia extraction and matching technologies 

are exactly the same as for all other BioLink Authenteon products, but it constitutes a unique configuration 

not offered commercially by BioLink. Rather, BioLink’s one-to-many products are more commonly 

offered in the blade configuration Search Engine submitted for the LST. There are very likely to be found 

no commercial requirements for MST’s basic functionality, which is to take in 10,000 prints and crossmatch them and output a 100 million-cell matrix of similarity scores for later research and analysis 

purposes. 

Nonetheless, FPVTE consists of the following functionality. It accepts the fingerprint database in 

accordance with NIST’s specifications. It opens the ANSI/NIST-compliant records and decompresses the 

images using Aware Corporation’s WSQ decompression software version 2.5. It extracts the 10,000 

minutia templates from the images. It then calls a DLL which systematically (“for i = 1 to 10,000; for j = 1 

to 10,000”) runs a match score algorithm computing a similarity score for each of these 100 million pairs of 

templates. It then formats the similarity matrix for output in accordance with NIST’s specification and 

writes all required data to a CD. 

Cost Breakdown for BioLink Components for FpVTE MST System 

For reasons as stated above, BioLink’s FpVTE MST configuration is not currently offered as a commercial 

product. 

Modifications Required to take FpVTE 

Only as described above to apply core commercial technology offered by BioLink in the custom 

application configuration specified by NIST for the FpVTE. The specifics of the MST crossmatch task, as 

well as many of the data input and output requirements, are unique to FpVTE. This custom configuration 

is implemented via our FpVTE Application version 66 which we offer to make available to authorized 

Government organizations which wish to replicate our FpVTE configuration. 

27 
FpVTE System Description Document 

October 2003 

Overview 

Bioscrypt's verification library, Bioscrypt Core, is a sophisticated, state-of-the-art algorithm 

for comparing fingerprint images. It can be found at the heart of all Bioscrypt product 

offerings and is also available for license. 

Bioscrypt Core is proven technology. It is the engine behind the over 55,000 Bioscrypt 

physical access products that have been deployed to organizations such as NASA, New 

York City Police Department, American Express, E*Trade, and Continental Airlines. Over 

100,000 Network Access stations, including Targus fingerprint capture devices rely on 

Bioscrypt Core. Additionally, it has been selected by various fingerprint sensor 

manufacturers such as Atmel, Authentec and Fidelica, and application developers such 

as Indivos and Sense Technologies. 

Features 

Flexibility 

Bioscrypt Core can be customized for particular applications, taking into account platform 

requirements, security concerns, template size restrictions, search speed, and database 

size requirements. 

Platform Interoperability 

Bioscrypt Core has been specifically designed to be portable and has been successfully 

deployed on numerous operating systems and processing architectures. The library is 

available for Windows, Windows CE, and Linux, as well as for many popular Digital Signal 

Processors. The Bioscrypt team has extensive experience with both PC and embedded 

software development. Over the past seven years, Bioscrypt has developed products 

using Texas Instruments, Analog Devices, and Motorola DSPs. 

Sensor Interoperability 

Bioscrypt pioneered sensor interoperability to ensure flexibility across sensor offerings. 

Today, Bioscrypt can support interoperability between all leading sensor types, including 

offerings from: Atmel, AuthenTec, Cross Match, Delsy, DigitalPersona, Ethentica, 

Fidelica, Fujitsu, Infineon, Secugen, ST, and Veridicom. Sensor Interoperability means 

that templates created using any of the above sensors can be verified using any other 

sensor on the list, allowing the most flexibility now and in the future. 

28 
 

 

Industry Standard Interfaces 

Bioscrypt Core can be provided with support for the BioAPI (ANSI/INCITS 358-2002) or 

CBEFF (Common Biometric Exchange File Format - NISTIR 6529-2001) industry 

standards. This allows straightforward integration of Core into an application that currently 

supports these standards. 

User Record Security 

Bioscrypt's patented process for protecting user credentials can be included in Core. This 

functionality is combined with an encryption mechanism to provide a secure and 

confidential user record that can be freely transported across a network or carried on a 

card. 

Encryption/Digital Signatures 

Bioscrypt offers functions such as data encryption or the generation of digital signatures. 

The inclusion of these functions within Core permits a strong connection between 

biometric verification and encryption techniques. For example, data can be encrypted or 

decrypted, or digital signatures can be created, within our solution and controlled by the 

biometric verification process, providing a secure implementation with powerful nonrepudiation capabilities. 

Functionality 

Bioscrypt Core has three primary functions: Enroll, Verify, and Identify. 

Enrollment is the process of registering a user. The Enroll function accepts a raw image 

as captured from a sensor. The image is processed, enhanced, and then converted to a 

mathematical model. This model is compressed to create a fingerprint template. The 

template is returned, along with image statistics reflecting the quality of the enrollment. 

Subsequent verifications and identifications compare raw images to previously enrolled 

templates. 

Verification is performed in order to validate a user's identity. It consists of comparing a 

raw candidate image to a previously enrolled template. A score is returned indicating the 

similarity of the candidate and template. This score can be compared to a threshold to 

make a yes/no decision. 

Identification consists of comparing a raw candidate image to a list of previously enrolled 

templates. Through a series of screening processes, the algorithm narrows the list of 

templates to a manageable size. Those templates surviving screening are compared to 

the candidate and verification scores are provided. A score exceeding a pre-set threshold 

indicates a positive identification. 

29 
Technology 

The Bioscrypt Core algorithm was originally developed at Areté Associates, a defense 

research company with over 25 years of experience in image processing, noise reduction, 

and pattern recognition associated with advanced sensor systems in use by the U.S. 

Department of Defense. The fundamental approach applied to developing this technology 

was to make the most accurate and complete comparison possible. 

Methodology 

Bioscrypt Core employs a pattern-based approach to fingerprint comparison. This 

comparison technique is performed in two fundamental blocks: Image Enhancement and 

Distortion Removal. In each instance that a finger is applied to a fingerprint capture 

device, the ridge pattern exhibits a different degree of distortion. The key to accurate 

comparison of the ridge pattern is the ability to ascertain and then remove the relative 

distortion between the fingerprint template and the candidate fingerprint image. 

In contrast to Bioscrypt's pattern-based approach, the vast majority of fingerprint 

matching techniques currently employed use a minutiae-based approach. With this 

approach, the fingerprint is reduced to a short list of detail points (ridge endings, 

bifurcations, bridges, etc). Generally, all other information from the fingerprint is 

eliminated. For verification, the minutiae list from the candidate is compared to the list 

from the template and a decision is made based on the amount of overlap. 

Image Enhancement 

Prior to enrollment or comparison, each fingerprint image is passed through a 

sophisticated image enhancement routine. During this process, the image is filtered, 

smoothed, and conditioned to produce a high quality representation of the ridge pattern. 

Features such as creases, cuts, abrasions, and pores that appear inconsistently or move 

from place to place within the image are removed. 

Distortion Removal 

Bioscrypt Core, using a unique and patented approach, aligns every ridge of the 

candidate image with every ridge of the template image, providing maximum use of the 

entire fingerprint image. Subsequent to the removal of the distortion, the ridge patterns 

are correlated, emphasizing areas in which the images are clean and highly complex and 

down-weighting area where the images are noisy or bland. This technique is termed 

likelihood detection and is frequently utilized in mission critical U.S. Defense applications. 

Patents 

Bioscrypt owns exclusive rights to the following two patent families that relate directly to 

our Core authentication algorithm: 

x US Patent 5,909,501, issued June 1 1999: Systems and Methods with Identify 

Verification by Comparison and interpretation of skin patterns such as fingerprints 

x U.S. Patent 6,356,649, issued March 2002: Systems and Methods with Identify 

Verification by Streamlined Comparison and interpretation of fingerprints and the like 

30 
Bioscrypt also owns the following patents relating to the protection of user credentials 

using a biometric: 

x U.S. Patent 5,680,460, issued October 1997: Biometric Controlled Key Generation 

x U.S. Patent 6,219,794, issued April 2001: Method for Secure Key Management using 

a Biometric 

x U.S. Patent 6,353,889, issued March 2002: Portable Device and Method for 

Accessing Data Key Actuated Devices 

FpVTE Component List 

x Bioscrypt Core for Windows 

x Dell Precision Workstation 450 

o Dual Xeon 3.06 GHz 

o 1 GB DDR RAM 

o Windows XP Professional 

x Various support applications and scripts that are required to fully automate the testing 

Cost Breakdown 

Bioscrypt Core is available through the execution of a mutually agreeable license 

agreement. Upon execution of a licensing agreement, Bioscrypt will commit in writing to a 

delivery schedule for an optimized version of Bioscrypt Core, including support for and 

interoperability between sensors/devices/platforms as specified in the license agreement. 

The licensing agreement usually sets a technology transfer fee, annual maintenance fee, 

and a per user/transaction royalty. The precise amount of these fees depends on the 

configuration desired. 

The workstation used for this test was purchased for approximately $2900. 

Modifications for FpVTE 

Bioscrypt Core is provided as a software library. This library was not modified for FpVTE. 

However, for this test, we wrote a simple application to call the library and we developed 

several support scripts that were necessary to fully automate the testing. 

For further Information 

Contact: 

Chris Crump, Director of Sales Engineering 

Bioscrypt, Inc. 

5805 Sepulveda Blvd. 

Suite 750 

Van Nuys, CA 91411 

818-304-7150 

www.bioscrypt.com 

31 
 

FpVTE 2003 System Description 

Document 

You have Cogent’s written permission to publish the system descriptions in the FpVTE report. 

Sonia Anca (12 December, 2003) 

This document contains commercial information and trade secrets which are confidential and 

proprietary in nature and are subject to protection under law. Access to the information contained 

herein, howsoever acquired and of whatsoever nature, will not entitle the accessor thereof to acquire 

any right thereto. The data subject to this restriction are contained in all sheets of this document. 

This document contains commercial or trade secrets of Cogent Systems, Inc. Disclosure of any such 

information or trade secrets shall not be made without the prior written permission of Cogent 

Systems, Inc. 

©2003 Cogent Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cogent Document #IG-EXT-DD-234-0.00(1) 

32 
 The information on this page is Page 2 33 

proprietary and subject to the 

restrictions listed on the title page. 

 

FpVTE 2003 System Description Document Cogent Document # IG-EXT-DD-234-0.00(1) 

Table of Contents 

1 Overview of the Systems ...................................................................................................3 

1.1 Galaxy V3.2T for SST .............................................................................................................3 

1.2 Galaxy V3.2 for MST...............................................................................................................3 

1.3 Galaxy V8.60 LST ...................................................................................................................4 

2 Component list and cost breakdown ...............................................................................4 

2.1 System for SST.......................................................................................................................4 

2.2 System for MST ......................................................................................................................5 

2.3 System for LST.......................................................................................................................5 

3 Modifications for the Purpose of FpVTE 2003.................................................................5 
 The information on this page is Page 3 34 

proprietary and subject to the 

restrictions listed on the title page 

 

 

 

 

Cogent Document # IG-EXT-DD-234-0.00(1) FpVTE 2003 System Description Document 

1 Overview of the Systems 

Cogent’s participation in the Fingerprint Vendor Technology Evaluation 2003 involved the use of 

the three different systems, SST, MST and LST. The differences between the various systems 

involved unique algorithms for both feature extraction and match as well as on how to describe and 

define the features set for finger print images. The software that Cogent Systems used consisted of a 

command line running under Windows 2000 that was written specially for the Vendor Test using 

Cogent’s Software Development Kits Galaxy V3.2T, V3.2 and V8.60. 

1.1 Galaxy V3.2T for SST 

This system has been designed for targeting one-to-one verification applications. Since it is assumed 

that each verification transaction has only one match, we have developed a system that has more 

complicated algorithms for a higher rate of accuracy. Although this system is more time-consuming, 

it is aimed at offering more advanced precision in verifying matches. 

This system is based on the concept of image matching. As compared to minutia based matching, 

image matching uses a set of points that are extracted from a print image. The intent of image 

matching is to use the whole image when matching 2 prints so that a greater amount of information 

from the fingerprints can be utilized. In this way the image matching process provides much more 

accurate than can usually be expected. For an enrolled print, the extraction component processes the 

print image and extracts a small amount of data (called a template) that characterizes the print image. 

This template would then be stored in the database for future use. When doing verification, the 

template is then matched against the whole fingerprint image and the matching algorithm tries to find 

the most accurate match between the input image and the image that is represented by the template 

data. 

The template created by the system would then contain information of the underling image. Template 

size may vary depending on the application requirements. For a system used in testing, processing a 

verified print image during matching is prohibited. All images must be processed separately with the 

template containing more detailed information so that it can serve as an “image” when used to verify 

a print during matching. 

1.2 Galaxy V3.2 for MST 

This system has been designed for targeting small to medium scaled AFIS applications or 

verification applications that need open search capability. Keeping the multi-purpose design in mind, 

this system has been designed with great flexibility regarding resource requirements (e.g. processor 

power, memory, etc.) and system speed (including extraction of template, matching templates). 

Therefore it can be easily configured to fit a wide range of requirements. For applications without 

many resources, such as those with low-end processors and/or limited memory, the system can be 

properly trimmed (with minimal cost to performance) to be applicable to the system of this kind. 
 The information on this page is Page 4 35 

proprietary and subject to the 

restrictions listed on the title page. 

 

 

 

FpVTE 2003 System Description Document Cogent Document # IG-EXT-DD-234-0.00(1) 

This system is based on the concept of template matching. For an enrolled print, the extraction 

component processes the print image and extracts a small amount of data (called a template) that 

characterizes the print. Only this template will be stored in the database. During verification, the 

input print is processed in this same way complete with its template extracted. The matching of a 

print to an enrolled print is done only with their respective templates; no image for either print is 

involved. This assures a high speed match with the capability of an open search if needed. 

The template created by the system is an enhancement of the traditional minutia feature in order to 

achieve the best performance possible. Template size may vary depending on system configuration 

and the application requirements, as mentioned above. It may be as small as 500 bytes. 

1.3 Galaxy V8.60 LST 

This system has been designed for targeting medium to large scaled AFIS applications combined 

with our hardware search engine. Keeping the multi-purpose design in mind, this system has been 

constructed with greater flexibility on resource requirement (e.g. processor power, memory, etc.) and 

system speed (including extraction of template, matching templates). Therefore it can be configured 

easily to fit a wide range of requirements. 

This system is based on the concept of minutiae matching. For an enrolled print, the extraction 

component processes the print image and extracts a small amount of data that characterizes the print. 

Only this minutia will be stored in the database. During verification, the input print is processed in 

this same way complete with its minutiae extracted. The matching of a print to an enrolled print is 

done only with their respective templates. This assures a high speed match with the capability of an 

open search if needed. 

2 Component list and cost breakdown 

The system submitted consisted of both Cogent software and common hardware. 

2.1 System for SST 

Component Quantity Price 

IBM xSeries 335 Server 

Dual CPU 3.0GHz 

1024 Mb Memory 

1 $4500 

Cogent feature extraction 

software 

1 N/A 

Cogent one to one match 

software 

1 N/A 

Cogent WSQ decompress 

software 

1 N/A 
 The information on this page is Page 5 36 

proprietary and subject to the 

restrictions listed on the title page 

 

 

 

 

Cogent Document # IG-EXT-DD-234-0.00(1) FpVTE 2003 System Description Document 

2.2 System for MST 

Component Quantity Price 

IBM xSeries 335 Server 

Dual CPU 3.0GHz 

1024 Mb Memory 

1 $4500 

Cogent feature extraction 

software 

1 N/A 

Cogent one to one match 

software 

1 N/A 

Cogent WSQ decompress 

software 

1 N/A 

2.3 System for LST 

Component Quantity Price 

IBM xSeries 335 Server 

Dual CPU 3.0GHz 1024 

Mb Memory 

6 $27000 

Cisco Catalyst 2970 Gigabit 

Switches 

1 $2800 

Cogent feature extraction 

software 

6 N/A 

Cogent one to many match 

software 

6 N/A 

Cogent WSQ decompress 

software 

6 N/A 

3 Modifications for the Purpose of FpVTE 2003 

Test applications were written to perform small, medium and large tests. The following functions are 

specifically for the FpVTE 2003 test: 

• Reading and parsing the FpVTE 2003 target and query XML files. 

• Crash recovery from power outages or other system problems during the test. 

• Output similarity matrix in the binary files conforming to the FpVET 2003 test specifications. 

• Software used for larger tests. 
DERMALOG 

Page 1 of 4 

 

System Description Document 

FpVTE 2003 

1. Overview 

With over 20 years of international experience, Dermalog is a German based 

company and a world leader for biometric identification and provider of largescale AFIS solutions. As a pioneer in biometric identification, Dermalog is one 

of the providers with the broadest product range in this field available today, 

with many installations across the globe. 

Coding: In about 80 different steps, the fingerprint image is enhanced, 

binarized, and transformed to a fingerprint template. The resulting fingerprint 

template is a data structure, including coordinates and angles of the 

fingerprint’s minutiae, coordinates and angles of the fingerprint’s cores and 

deltas, as well as additional pre-filtering information, such as the fingerprint 

type according to the ANSI/NIST standard. The size of the fingerprint template 

can be scaled to different requirements; this is a performance vs. size trade-off. 

For AFIS applications, uncompressed fingerprint templates are used. Their 

average size is in the range from 1 to 2 kilobytes. 

Fingerprint quality: The fingerprint quality resulting from the coding process 

indicates the usability of the coded fingerprint. The quality is in the range from 

0 to 100, the higher the better. Very low-quality fingerprints (quality less than 

20) will be rejected and normally have to be enrolled again. 

Minutia matching between two fingerprints combines three features: global 

similarity checks, local similarity checks and heuristics to increase matching 

speed. The matching is symmetric. That means the scores received by matching 

Finger 1 with Finger 2 are identical with the scores received by matching Finger 

2 with Finger 1. 

FpVTE 2003 DermalogFingerCode3 

37 
DERMALOG 

Page 2 of 4 

Dermalog Afis is designed for hardware- and operating system independency. 

For this evaluation, we work with standard PC hardware and a Windows 

operating system. Though Dermalog Fingerprint technology is mainly used in 

large Afis-installations, it can be scaled from small systems on a single PC up to 

large installations with millions of persons stored. The main features include: 

o Very large range of supported capturing devices (high flexibility 

concerning image size, DPI, and image characteristics like brightness or 

contrast). 

o The kernel is independent of used operating system (Windows NT / 2000 

/ XP, Solaris, Linux, IBM AIX, etc.) as well as the computer-hardware: 

Every computer, which is supported by a C++ compiler, could be 

utilized. 

o Dermalog Afis is 100% software based. No proprietary hardware is used 

(for example no proprietary processor cards, matching accelerators, etc.). 

This makes it possible to use existing hardware or choose the one with 

best local support, price, or administration experience. 

o High interoperability with existing systems: All Dermalog fingerprint 

modules can accept fingerprint templates in either Dermalog proprietary 

or standard ANSI/NIST format. Fingerprint templates produced by the 

Dermalog encoding-module can also be exported to the standard 

ANSI/NIST format. 

o Fully automated processing without necessity of any manual quality 

control, but on the same time possibility to work together with manually 

generated input. For example a latent fingerprint found on a structured 

background like a banknote can be edited manually, and afterwards 

compared to the database as if the algorithm had characterized it. 

o State of the art fingerprint characterization technology. 

o Very fast, reliable, and flexible finger template matcher, that works 

together with templates from different sources (automatically coded, 

manually edited, or imported from other minutia based fingerprint 

identification systems). 

o Full 360° rotational invariance: Rotating and shifting of the finger in any 

direction does not influence the matching result. 

o Powerful prefiltering technology: Based on core, delta and pattern type 

information, a large part of the query set can be eliminated in this early 

processing step. Thus matching speed can be increased drastically. 

FpVTE 2003 DermalogFingerCode3 

38 
DERMALOG 

Page 3 of 4 

2. Component list for the system to be evaluated 

o Hardware: 6 standard single CPU PCs (Shuttle Barebones) connected 

with 100Mbit Ethernet-switch. 

o Operating System: Windows XP professional (Service Pack 1a). 

o Afis software: DermalogFingerCode3 kernel 

o Benchmark-Application (for XML-script-parsing, and workload 

balancing) 

o Aware WSQ. For this test, we chose the Aware implementation of WSQ, 

since it is certified. Alternative WSQ implementations would be usable, 

too. 

3. Cost breakdown of the submitted system 

Dermalog’s part: 

o Afis server license 

Here: for 65,000 person records: 70,000 € 

o Afis client license (distributed coding and/or matching) 

5 clients à 5,000 € = 25,000 € 

o Afis workstation license 

No workstations required for this benchmark. 

o Customisation 

Costs for customisation have not been recorded for this benchmark. They are 

indicated individually, after the customer states requirements. 

o System integration support and training 

Neither integration into an existing system nor training had to be performed. 

o Support 

No costs for support in this benchmark. 

Hardware costs: 

o Computers, switch, uninterruptible power supply, cables 

For this benchmark approx. 7,000 € 

o Additional hardware (Live scanners, flatbed scanners, etc.) 

No additional hardware used in this benchmark. 

FpVTE 2003 DermalogFingerCode3 

39 
DERMALOG 

Page 4 of 4 

3rd Party licenses: 

o License for the operating-system(s) 

MS Windows XP Professional. Others are possible. 

o License for WSQ 

Aware WSQ. Others are possible. 

o License for database-software 

Various options. No database software included for this benchmark. 

Sum of costs: 102,000 € plus (if desired) costs for 3rd party licenses, 

additional hardware, and additional work to be performed. 

4. Modifications required to take FpVTE 2003 

There were no modifications necessary to the Afis-engine. The Afis frontend has been replaced with the required XML-script interpreting 

benchmarking tool: 

o The functionality for evaluation of simple XML scripts had been built 

from scratch. 

o In contrast to a usual Afis application, this benchmarking tool does not 

utilize any database. 

o The benchmarking tool uses its own workload balancing algorithms 

(distributed computing). 

o The required components (md5 support, wsq, Ansi/Nist, coding 

(=characterization), prefiltering, matching) had been integrated. 

FpVTE 2003 DermalogFingerCode3 

40 
41 
42 
43 
44 
45 
 

FpVTE 2003 System Description 

Company 

Griaule is a leading AFIS software components supplier in Brazil, with Customers in 6 

states, some of them with more than 500.000 people enrolled. We are a company linked to 

State University of Campinas, UNICAMP, one of the largest universities in Latin America 

with more than 3.000 researchers covering almost all areas of knowledge 

Our core business is the development of new methods and new AFIS search engines 

for the optimization of AFIS applications and fingerprint image storage. 

Griaule possess a unique know-how on cluster computer architecture that reduces searching 

time using less computer power. 

Technology 

The purpose of our products is to combat fraud by identifying people on the basis of their 

unique fingerprint features. Among applications currently in use are unified database of 

civil and criminal files, prison management, issuing of ID cards and driver’s licenses. 

46 
 

 

Our products are extremely oriented toward performance, stability, and reliability. Our 

solutions comfortably handle small to gigantic databases containing hundreds of millions of 

fingerprints. 

Products 

Griaule AFIS: is a full suite of components for public safety and identification in the 

Internet and WEB environments compliant with FBI’s WSQ and ANSI/NIST standards, 

primary classification, ten-print search, one-print search and latent search. 

Griaule Capture Objects: Components for digital capturing of images from paper or live, 

such as photographs, fingerprints, signatures, digitizing of documents, latent prints, and 

ten-print cards. 

Griaule Printing Objects: Components for printing ID cards, ten-print cards, and civil and 

criminal records. 

Griaule SpeedCluster: High availability and scalability cluster manager for extremely 

quick searches of fingerprints allowing searches in databases containing millions of entries 

to be completed within seconds. The SpeedCluster is tolerant to computer faults, and 

automatically redistributes the workload to remaining computers without user intervention. 

Itautec InfoCluster: High availability and scalability cluster. Composed by 10 dual XEON 

Itautec Infoservers, Gigabit Switch, KVM, Monitor and 3 KVA UPS. 

Integrators 

Griaule provides its systems through integrators, which are companies capable of providing 

full solutions including network infrastructure, telecommunications, servers, workstations, 

training, specific development, personnel allocation, technical assistance and support. 

Overview of submitted systems 

Griaule submitted for FpVTE 2003 the “Griaule AFIS” and “SpeedCluster” software, and 

Itautec Infocluster hardware, participating in the Large Scale Test (LST) only. 

The WSQ algorithm is a component of Griaule AFIS and is certified by FBI, certification 

number is #1279. 

It was also developed a specific application, the FpVTE Manager to meet the FpVTE 2003 

specifications. 

47 
 

 

Component list and cost breakdown 

Itautec InfoCluster 

Quantity Specification Unity 

Price (US$)** 

Total Price 

(US$)** 

10 Itautec* Infoserver 

Dual Xeon 2.6 GHz processor 

02 GB RAM 

01 HD SCSI 72 GB 

3,000.00 30,000.00 

01 15" Monitor 200.00 200.00 

01 KVM Switch 600.00 600.00 

01 Ethernet Gigabit Switch 1000.00 1000.00 

01 3KVA UPS 1000.00 1000.00 

01 Software license for Griaule AFIS 

limited to 298,000 fingerprints 

enrolled (the target set for LST is 

298,000 fingerprints) 

29,800.00 29,800.00 

Total (US$) 62,600.00 

* Itautec is the largest IT Brazilian Company 

** All prices are average prices without tax 

Contact 

Raquel Lisboa 

Sales 

+55 (19) 3788-4998 

raquel@griaule.com 

48 
Identix Corporate Research Center 

One Exchange Place, Suite 800 

Jersey City, New Jersey 07302 

Phone: 201-332-9213 

Fax: 201-332-9313 

http://www.identix.com 

E-mail: info@identix.com 

1.0 Overview of Submitted Systems 

The technology used in the Fingerprint Vendor Technology Evaluation (FpVTE) 2003 is 

derived from the algorithms in the BioEngine® Software Developer’s Kit (SDK), which 

contains the very latest in Identix’ fingerprint recognition technology. 

The BioEngine® SDK contains fingerprint matching capabilities that allow developers to 

create custom one-to-one verification and one-to-many identification applications, such 

as time and attendance, transaction verification, physical access, information security and 

ID programs. The BioEngine SDK is BioAPI compliant. 

The BioEngine® SDK has a number of capabilities: 

Image Acquisition: Allows acquisition and enhancement of fingerprint images 

from the Identix’ DFR® series of optical readers. 

Quality Control: Assesses captured images for existence of a fingerprint, core 

quality, ridge line quality and overall usefulness of the image for template 

extraction. 

Processing: Converts a fingerprint image into a minutia based template that is 

typically no more that 500 bytes. 

Search: Implements high speed template matching (verification) and template 

searching (identification). 

Page 1 of 1 49 
 

The BioEngine Match Algorithm 

Fingerprints are comprised of various types of ridge patterns: left loop, right loop, arch, 

whorl and tented arch. The discontinuities that interrupt these smooth ridge patterns are 

called minutia, which form the basis for fingerprint identification. 

The BioEngine match algorithm estimates the quality of the ridgelines and then extracts 

the points in which the ridges split, intersect or end (minutia). These minutia points are 

converted into a mathematical code called a template. Matching two minutia-based 

templates does not require that all extracted minutia match. In fact very strong matches 

can be made when as few a one third of the total minutia match. 

Because minutia points do not change over time and due to the fact that not all minutia 

must be present in order to verify identity, minutia based systems are the preferred 

method underlying most fingerprint biometric systems. For example, cuts and scars may 

not affect all minutia points and even partial prints left behind at crime scenes may yield 

sufficient amount of minutia points to run a comparison against a database. One of the 

largest criminal databases in the world, the FBI’s IAFIS system with over 40 million 

records, uses minutia based fingerprint templates. 

The Identix BioEngine algorithm is the underlying authentication mechanism for a broad 

range of verification and identification solutions worldwide, including: 

 Brazil – Brasilia Camara de Diputados– time and attendance 

 Brazil – Corte Suprema de Justicia – Brasil – verification 

 Columbia – Policia Nacional – smart ID 

 Dominican Republic – voter registration 

 El Salvador – San Salvador drivers’ licenses 

 India – New Delhi drivers’ licenses 

 Spain – social security payment disbursement 

 South Africa – pension payment disbursement 

 U.S. Department of Defense – personnel enrollment and verification 

 U.S. Immigration & Naturalization Services - Mexican Border Crossing Card 

 U.S. Departments of Motor Vehicles in California, Colorado, Georgia and 

Texas 

Over 100 million BioEngine templates have been issued to date. 

Page 2 of 3 50 
 

2.0 Component List and Cost Breakdown of System 

The same system was used for the Medium-Scale Test (MST) and the Large-Scale Test 

(LST). This system consisted of: 

Component Quantity Cost (U.S. Dollars) 

Identix BioEngine® SDK v4.0 step 1 1 10,000 

IBM X Series 8 Blade System 1 50,267 

Windows 2000 Advanced Server 1 922 

APC SMART-UPS 3000 1 1,092 

APC power distribution unit 1 150 

Netgear Fast Ethernet Switch FS116 1 73 

IOmega USB 250 Drive 1 110 

Dell Monitor, Keyboard, and Mouse 1 310 

Ethernet cables 2 16 

Total Cost 62,940 

3.0 Modifications Specifically for FpVTE 2003 

No modifications were made to the BioEngine® SDK v4.0 step 1 fingerprint algorithms. 

In order to take FpVTE 2003 a test application was written that was used for both the 

MST and LST. The fingerprint algorithms used in this test application were from 

BioEngine® SDK v4.0 step 1. 

The test application included the following functionality: 

• Reading and parsing the FpVTE 2003 target and query XML files 

• Crash recovery to recover from power outages or other problems during the test 

• Support for processing the tests over eight machines in parallel 

• Writing binary results files conforming to the FpVTE 2003 specifications 

• Writing status information on the Microsoft Windows console and to log files 

Page 3 of 3 51 
FpVTE System Description Document for Motorola 

The system supplied for the FpVTE test is a slightly modified version of a standard 

Motorola Omnitrak system available for purchase. Some software was written to run the 

workflow of the test, read the NIST test definitions and write the score files. The 

hardware is representative of hardware being shipped to Motorola AFIS customers. 

Hardware 

The system consists of 15 HP DL360G3’s and 1 HP DL380G3. The DL360 nodes have 

dual Xeon 3.06 GHz processors and are equipped with 3 GB of main memory and a 36 

GB disk used for operating system files and temporary workspace. 

The DL380 node has dual Xeon 3.06GHz processors and is equipped with a 4 GB of 

main memory and a 36 GB disk used for operating system files. The DL380 also 

contains a 600 GB RAID 5 array used for working data storage. 

The DL380 and DL360 are connected using gigabit Ethernet as the main network. A 

secondary 100 megabit Ethernet network is used for out of band lights out management 

and monitoring functions. 

The DL380 is connected to a rack mountable keyboard and LCD monitor combination. 

The DL360 nodes lack a console connection as all functions can be accomplished via the 

management network. 

The entire array of 16 machines, monitor and keyboard, and network switches are 

powered by a group of four HP uninterruptible power supplies. The load is distributed 

among the power supplies, and the DL380 is powered by two different UPS’s through its 

dual redundant power supplies. Each UPS is powered by a single 110V AC circuit. 

Software 

All of the computers in the system run Windows 2000 Server, though the system can be 

configured to run Linux also. The hardware used for the FpVTE test was originally 

purchased as a Linux cluster for research purposes, but was temporarily reallocated to the 

FpVTE test. It does not differ substantially from the hardware Motorola normally ships 

to customers. 

Each of the DL360 nodes runs a set of matching and image processing services. The 

DL380 node serves as the master controller for the system and runs a simple workflow 

manager, data exchange service (to read NIST files), and the standard Omnitrak match 

controller software. Each of the matching and processing nodes runs largely 

52 
 

independently. The system can tolerate node failure and redistribute processing 

accordingly with graceful degradation. 

The workflow manager reads the FpVTE test definition and database definition XML 

files and submits them to the workflow manager for processing. The workflow manager, 

in turn, sends the individual cases for image processing and subsequent searching. A 

standard data exchange service (DES), translates the data files from NIST format into the 

Omnitrak data format. The workflow manager receives search results from the match 

controller and subsequently writes them to the results directory in the score file format. 

The major modification made to the standard Omnitrak matching subsystem was the 

addition of the ability to return a set of scores from the entire matching process. 

Normally, the system only returns a small, configuration defined number of the top 

scores for each search, but the FpVTE test procedures required returning scores for all 

prints in each search. 

Bill of Materials 

The following is a bill of materials containing a line item description of the hardware 

used in the test. 

Item Qty Part 

Number 

Mfg Part 

Number 

Description List Price 

1 1 0496528 322939-002 LC 2016-G 3.06/533-512 US 16 NODE 

GIGABIT 

80,419.00 

2 1 3796663 300679-B21 1GB REG PC2100 2X512 ALL 550.00 

3 5 0484010 286716-B22 146GB 10K U320 UNI HDD ALL 1,039.00 

4 15 0484012 286776-B22 36GB 15K U320 UNI HDD ALL 519.00 

5 16 0488128 322472-B21 3.06/533 W/VRM DL360G3 1,099.00 

6 1 3721204 J4821A HP ProCurve Switch XL 100/1000-T Module 1,099.00 

7 4 0449472 204404-001 COMPAQ UPS R1500 XR 137 866.00 

8 4 0462821 218971-B21 EXTENDED RUNTIME MODULE (ERM) R1500 

XR 

631.00 

9 16 3796664 300680-B21 2GB REG PC2100 2X1GB ALL 1,300.00 

53 
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION DOCUMENT 

FPVTE 2003 

OCTOBER 16, 2003 

54 
 

NEC AFIS – SYSTEM DESCRIPTION DOCUMENT – FPVTE 2003 

1 TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW 

NEC is pleased to participate in the Medium Scale Test (MST) and the Large Scale Test (LST) of FpVTE2003. 

Since the installation of NEC’s first Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) in 1982, NEC has 

retained AFIS business leadership by providing the most advanced AFIS solutions in the world. 

Based on a still revolutionary Relation Matching Algorithm, NEC has reached the highest levels of matching 

accuracy in AFIS, proven in operational systems, as well as, benchmarks. The NEC AFIS continually 

maintains the same high level of accuracy, regardless of the size of the database being accessed. 

This drive to refine and perfect AFIS technology, combined with a wealth of experience in operations, has 

produced the most tested and proven AFIS available in the marketplace today. 

2 MATCHING ALGORITHM 

NEC has dedicated more than a quarter of a century to providing the most efficient and accurate fingerprint 

matching solutions. NEC is the first company to develop a still revolutionary Matching Algorithm, which uses 

ridge counts between minutiae, to compare and match fingerprints based on the ridge count data. The ridge 

count data, unlike minutia position and direction data, does not change even when fingerprint image data is 

distorted or twisted. This well proven algorithm is very robust on latent matching and/or low-quality prints. 

NEC‘s algorithm also has an exceptional feature for the utilization of Zone data. Zone (or zonal) data 

expresses whether or not an area (zone) is to be considered a fingerprint ridge area. The clear zone is the 

fingerprint area even though it might not include any minutiae. On the other hand, the unclear zone is not 

considered to be part of the fingerprint area. With zone data, NEC’s algorithm can match search and file “area” 

where minutia does not exist. This is a key feature that improves selectivity and accuracy especially for 

fingerprint data with fewer numbers of minutiae. 

NEC has developed several Matching Algorithms: 1) for matching flat and slap prints, 2) for matching live 

scanned prints, and 3) for matching palm prints. NEC has extensive experience in selecting and combining 

suitable algorithms to meet the particular need of a customer. 

NEC is also heavily involved in the research and development to improve AFIS technology. NEC continues to 

look toward the future and strives to improve upon its already proven highly accurate fingerprint systems. 

Described below are two of NEC’s research and development projects currently underway to improve 

matching accuracy. 

One of the projects, in conjunction with NEC’s traditional minutia matching algorithms, which NEC 

is working on, is the introduction of Ridge Flow Matching. This additional process will not only add 

1 55 
3 

NEC AFIS – SYSTEM DESCRIPTION DOCUMENT – FPVTE 2003 

confidence to the minutia matching mate confirmation but also help in improving selectivity. Ridge 

Flow Matching will use the ridge flow data (orientation field data) to confirm the mate print with the 

search print once minutia matching is conducted. 

In the second project, NEC will soon introduce a revolutionary matching improvement in Skeleton 

Matching. By introducing the Skeleton Matching as a support to our traditional matching 

methodology, there is definite probability of improving selectivity. 

OTHER CORE TECHNOLOGIES 

NEC has other valuable core technologies, such as Pre-selection, Adaptive Finger Selection, and Dynamic 

Threshold. These core functions are very useful for anyone seeking a cost effective solution for a large scale 

AFIS. 

Pre-selection 

NEC’s Pre-selection is a function to minimize total matching cost for transactions with two (2) or more fingers 

per card (subject). Pre-selection compares fingerprint macro-features such as ridge flow data and core/delta 

data of each fingerprint. The Pre-selection process is much faster than the minutia matching and it can 

eliminate the majority of file (data base) prints very quickly. 

Adaptive Finger Selection 

NEC’s Adaptive Finger Selection is another function to minimize total matching for transactions with two (2) or 

more fingers per card (subject). Adaptive Finger Selection determines which fingers to be matched and how 

many fingers to be matched after examining both search and file data quality. For cards with low quality data 

either on the search or file card, this function determines more fingers to be used in matching. For cards with 

high quality data for both search and file cards, this function determines fewer fingers to be used in matching. 

The Adaptive Finger Selection can optimize matching cost once required accuracy is given. 

Dynamic Threshold 

NEC’s Dynamic Threshold examines score sequence of 1:N matching results, and determines hit/no-hit 

probability using the statistical analysis. Dynamic Threshold weeds out all but the most likely candidates so 

that verification operators do not waste time verifying false hits. The proposed system achieves the highest 

selectivity of any vendor in accurately differentiating between hits and false hits. This ensures that potential 

hits are included in the minimum number of candidates, so as to reduce the verification workload. 

2 56 
4 

NEC AFIS – SYSTEM DESCRIPTION DOCUMENT – FPVTE 2003 

MATCHING SERVERS 

NEC has a wide range of matching server solutions depending on the size of a system and required accuracy 

and functionalities. 

SMS/FMP Solution 

NEC offers the Search/Match Servers (SMS) with Fingerprint Matching Processor (FMP), dedicated 

hardware, to customers that need cost-effective large-scale systems. 

The second advantage of the SMS/FMP solution is its fast response time, i.e. from several seconds to several 

minutes. Another advantage of the SMS/FMP solution is its very high reliability, which is key for critical 7-day 

by 24-hour AFIS production sites 

Cluster-PC Matching Server Solution 

NEC offers Cluster-PC matching servers to customers who need a more flexible matching solution. NEC 

analyzes the needs of our customers and creates the best solution by selecting the best matching algorithms, 

and then implementing the selected functionality on the Cluster-PC matching servers. 

The Cluster-PC matching server consists of a Host Server and Backend Servers. The Host Server is 

connected to the Backend Servers through a LAN. The Host Server manages the matching requests and 

distributes the matching requests to the Backend Servers and then accumulates matching results. The Host 

Server also manages image-processing requests, and distributes these requests to the Backend Servers. 

The Host Server also manages a temporary database. 

Host Sever 

Database 

Backend Server 

#2 

Backend Server 

#1 

Cluster-PC Matching Server 

3 57 
 

5 

NEC AFIS – SYSTEM DESCRIPTION DOCUMENT – FPVTE 2003 

COMPONENTS & COST 

NEC selected the Cluster-PC matching servers solution for the FpVTE2003 Test. This solution was selected 

because of the complicated tests such as matching among 10-finger cards, 8-finger cards, 4-finger cards, 

2-finger cards and 1-finger cards. 

Since FpVTE2003 intends to evaluate only accuracy not cost-effectiveness, matching cost or speed, NEC has 

decided to utilize an accuracy-oriented system for the test. NEC will not use Pre-selection or Adaptive Finger 

Selection on the FpVTE2003 testing. NEC has also decided to use the maximum combination of matching 

algorithms, including a more time-consuming algorithm to further improve accuracy. Listed below are the 

costs for FpVTE2003 test system. 

Cluster-PC Matching Server for MST 

NO. COMPONENT QUANTITY COST 

1 

Host Server 

Dell Precision Workstation 450 

- CPU: Dual Intel Xeon 3.06GHz 

- Memory 2GB 

- 40GB First Disk Drive 

- 80GB Second Disk Drive 

1 $5,500 (*1) 

2 

Backend Server 

Dell Precision Workstation 450 

- CPU: Dual Intel Xeon 3.06GHz 

- Memory 1GB 

- 40GB First Disk Drive 

- 80GB Second Disk Drive 

2 $11,000 (*1) 

3 Monitor 

NEC/Mitsubishi LCD 1850 1 $800 (*1) 

4 UPS 

APC SUA1500 2 $1740 (*1) 

5 HUB 

Dell Powerconnect 5212 1 $2,000 (*1) 

6 Cluster-PC Matching Server Software MST 1 N/A (*2) 

Note (*1): Hardware pricing includes assembling, software loading, Off Site testing, and shipping and installation 

Note (*2): Software Costs are quoted separately based on particular requirements of each customer. 

4 58 
6 

NEC AFIS – SYSTEM DESCRIPTION DOCUMENT – FPVTE 2003 

Cluster-PC Matching Server for LST 

NO. COMPONENT QUANTITY COST 

1 

Host Server 

Dell Precision Workstation 450 

- CPU: Dual Intel Xeon 3.06GHz 

- Memory 2GB 

- 40GB First Disk Drive 

- 80GB Second Disk Drive 

1 $5,500 (*1) 

2 

Backend Server 

Dell Precision Workstation 450 

- CPU: Dual Intel Xeon 3.06GHz 

- Memory 1GB 

- 40GB First Disk Drive 

- 80GB Second Disk Drive 

9 $49,500 (*1) 

3 Monitor 

NEC/Mitsubishi LCD 1850 1 $800 (*1) 

4 UPS 

APC SUA1500 5 $4350 (*1) 

5 HUB 

Dell PowerConnect 5212 1 $2,000 (*1) 

6 Cluster-PC Matching Server Software LST 1 N/A (*2) 

Note (*1): Hardware pricing includes assembling, software loading, Off Site testing, and shipping and installation 

Note (*2): Software Costs are quoted separately based on particular requirements of each customer. 

SPECIAL MODIFICATIONS FOR FPVTE2003 TEST 

The following specific test application was developed to conduct both MST and LST. 

1. Reading and parsing the XML files defined for FpVTE Target and Query data 

2. Managing LST 31 subtests over multiple Backend Servers 

3. Writing score files defined by FpVTE 

5 59 
Ateities 10, Vilnius 2057, Lithuania, Phone: +370 5 2773315, Fax: +370 5 2773316, http://www.neurotechnologija.com 

VeriFinger System Description 

1. Overview of the submitted system 

In the FpVTE 2003 Neurotechnologija Ltd. has submitted the fingerprint identification engine VeriFinger, 

intended for biometric system developers and integrators. The FpVTE 2003 test system was run on a 

personal computer working under Windows XP Professional and using VeriFinger 4.2 software. 

The VeriFinger fingerprint recognition algorithm follows the commonly accepted fingerprint identification 

scheme, which uses a set of specific fingerprint points (minutiae). However, it contains many original 

algorithmic solutions, which enhance the system performance and reliability. Some of them are listed below: 

Adaptive image filtration algorithm which eliminates noise, ridge ruptures, stuck ridges and extracts minutiae 

reliably even from poor quality fingerprints, with processing time of about 0.2 - 0.4 seconds. 

The VeriFinger matching algorithm contains both 1:1 (verification), and 1:N (identification) modes. The 

algorithm is fully tolerant to fingerprint translation and rotation. Such tolerance is usually attained by using 

the Hough Transform-based algorithms, but this method is quite slow and unreliable. VeriFinger uses an 

original fingerprint matching algorithm instead, which currently enables the achievement of fast matching 

and identifying of fingerprints even if they are rotated, translated and have only 5 – 7 similar minutiae 

(usually fingerprints of the same finger have 20 – 40 similar minutiae). 

VeriFinger does not require the presence of a fingerprint core or delta points in the image, and can recognize 

the fingerprint from any part of it. However, if these points are present, it uses them for more reliable 

recognition. 

VeriFinger can use database entries which were pre-sorted using certain global features. Fingerprint 

matching can then be performed first with the database entries having global features most similar to those of 

the test fingerprint. If matching within this group yields no positive result, then the next record with most 

similar global features is selected, and so on, until the matching is successful or the end of the database is 

reached. In most cases the correct match will be found at the beginning of the search. As a result, the 

number of comparisons required to achieve fingerprint identification decreases drastically, and 

correspondingly, the effective matching speed increases. 

VeriFinger has a fingerprint enrollment with features' generalization mode. This mode enables the collection 

of generalized fingerprint features from three fingerprints of the same finger. Each fingerprint image is 

processed and features are extracted. Then the three collections of features are analyzed and combined into a 

single generalized features collection which is then written to the database. This way, the enrolled minutiae 

are more reliable and the fingerprint recognition quality considerably increases using this enrollment mode. 

VeriFinger includes algorithm modes that help to achieve better results for specific scanners. 

VeriFinger is available for developers and system integrators as a Software Development Kit or in its Source 

Code version. The VeriFinger software allows rapid algorithm integration into biometric enabled 

applications. VeriFinger is available for MS Windows, MS Windows CE 3.0 and Linux. 

60 
Ateities 10, Vilnius 2057, Lithuania, Phone: +370 5 2773315, Fax: +370 5 2773316, http://www.neurotechnologija.com 

2. Component list of the system to be evaluated 

VeriFinger can work on different hardware and software platforms. In the FpVTE 2003 VeriFinger is 

presented using the following configuration: 

Hardware: 

Desktop PC, 2.6 GHZ Pentium 4 Hyperthreading, 

512 MB DDR SDRAM (400 GHZ), 

Dual 40 GB Western Digital Hard Drives w/ 8 MB cache, RAID 1 configuration, 

Standard keyboard and mouse, 

SVGA Monitor, 

UPS power backup. 

Software: 

MS Windows XP Professional. 

VeriFinger 4.2 software test version. 

3. Cost breakdown for the submitted system 

VeriFinger 4.2 is available as Software Development Kits and in Source Code packages. 

VeriFinger SDK prices start as low as US$ 299.00. For each VeriFinger based product installation, 

developers or system integrators will need to obtain additional VeriFinger DLL licenses. DLL license prices 

are dependent on order quantity and other options and range from US$ 10.00 to US$ 75.00 per installation. 

VeriFinger source code package pricing is negotiated on a case by case basis depending on the intended use 

and the estimated size of the user base. 

4. Modifications required to take FpVTE 2003 

An application was written using the VeriFinger Standard SDK to perform the Middle Scale Test of FpVTE 

2003. The following functionality was incorporated into the application: 

• Reading of FpVTE 2003 test, metadata and dataset definitions (XML files) 

• Reading of ANSI/NIST files 

• Dataset enrollment 

• Many-to-Many matching (optimized matching of dataset against itself) using One-to-Many matching 

feature of VeriFinger SDK 

• Writing of similarity and image quality files in FpVTE 2003 format 

• Resuming in case of crash due to power outages or other problems 

• Status information displaying and logging 

61 
NIST Verification Test Bed (VTB) 

The NIST VTB is described in the document 

Wilson, Watson, Reedy, Hicklin. Studies of Fingerprint Matching Using the NIST 

Verification Test Bed (VTB) ; NISTIR 7020; 7 July 2003. 

(ftp://sequoyah.nist.gov/pub/nist_internal_reports/ir_7020.pdf) 

The following summary is taken from that document. 

The VTB matcher (Bozorth98) is being made available as public domain source code as 

part of the revised NIST Fingerprint Image Software (NFIS), in mid-2004. 

The VTB is a collection of commercial off the shelf (COTS) computer hardware and a 

suite of public domain application software, unlike most fingerprint matchers, which are 

expensive to obtain, and require specialized hardware. The VTB was developed to be a 

reference matcher that can provide a performance baseline for future analyses of 

fingerprint matchers, as well as comparative analysis of different sets of fingerprint data. 

VTB DESCRIPTION 

The VTB is a system comprised of a collection of COTS hardware and public domain 

software. A general description of what constitutes the VTB is presented in this section. 

Hardware description 

The VTB is currently comprised of 16 dual-processor personal computers. All nodes are 

equally equipped with the following hardware: 

• Dual 1.8Mhz Intel Xeon Processors with 512K Cache 

• 400 MHz system bus 

• 1 GB PC800 memory 400MHz ECC 

• 64bit Gigabit Network card 

• 64bit SCSI adapter card 

• External IDE RAID with SCSI interface 

° 700GB capacity 

° 8-120GB ATA100, 7200RPM drives 

° Raid level 5 with 1 hot spare 

Software description 

In addition to the Linux operating system (Red Hat Linux 7.2), a suite of NIST 

application software was installed on each VTB node. 

NIST Fingerprint Image Software 

The NIST Fingerprint Image Software (NFIS) provides many of the fingerprint 

capabilities required by the VTB. NFIS is a large public domain source code distribution 

organized into four major packages: 

62 
NIST VERIFICATION TEST BED (VTB) SYSTEM DESCRIPTION 

1. PCASYS (Pattern Classification Automation SYStem) is a neural network based 

fingerprint pattern classification system; 

2. MINDTCT (MINutiae DeTeCTor) is a fingerprint minutiae detector; 

3. AN2K (ANSI/NIST 2000) is a reference implementation of the ANSI/NIST 2000 

standard; and 

4. IMGTOOLS (IMaGe TOOLS) is a collection of image utilities, including encoders and 

decoders for Baseline and Lossless JPEG and the FBI’s Wavelet Scalar Quantization 

(WSQ) specification. 

NFIS is essential to the VTB as fingerprint image files on the VTB are formatted 

according to ANSI/NIST 2000 and are compressed using WSQ. Minutiae are extracted 

from fingerprint images using MINDTCT. PCASYS is not used in the VTB. 

Four-Finger Plain Segmenter 

A key issue to be addressed when considering next generation border control systems is 

the impact (if any) on searching legacy repositories of rolled impressions with plain 

impressions captured with live-scan devices. To begin to explore this issue, NIST 

required a very specific type of fingerprint repository; one where there not only are 

matched pairs of rolled fingerprints, but that also included pairs of plain impressions 

mated to rolled impressions. No operational data of this type was available, so NIST 

needed to quickly and efficiently develop such a repository. 

A strategy was developed based on the fact that a standard tenprint card contains a 

complete set of ten rolled finger impressions, and the same card contains a corresponding 

set of plain impressions. If one were to extract both sets of fingerprints from the card, 

then plain versus rolled studies could be conducted. The greatest challenge with this is 

that two groups (left and right hand) of four fingers (index, middle, ring, and little) are 

imprinted in a single box on the card. There is one box for the four fingers from the right 

hand, and a second box for the four fingers from the left hand. 

A segmenter was designed to automatically extract plain impressions from an image of a 

four-finger plain impression box. Commercial segmenters are available, but there were 

unique requirements that made it necessary for NIST to develop its own technology. 

Commercial products have been designed to specifically process live-scan images, and 

they have difficulty handling artifacts in the image such as handwriting, which is 

common on scanned images of tenprint cards. Commercial products are designed to 

primarily maximize yield with little feedback to automatically reject questionable 

segmentations. The NIST segmenter is carefully designed to find a compromise between 

maximum yield and accurate automatic results. It was anticipated that as many as one 

million card images would be processed, so complete automation with no manual 

interaction or verification was critical. 

The NIST segmenter uses a down-sampled binary version of the four-finger plain image. 

A search is made, which includes rotation, for the best fit of four black ridges (fingers) 

and three white valleys (space between fingers) and if a sufficient fit can not be found the 

plains are rejected and not used. After finding all four fingers, the fingertips are isolated 

by a window, sized just large enough to enclose the fingertip. If any errors occur while 

2 63 
NIST VERIFICATION TEST BED (VTB) SYSTEM DESCRIPTION 

trying to isolate the fingertips, or if the final windows do not meet minimum size 

requirements, the plains are rejected. Finally, each fingerprint is copied from the original 

four-finger image, without removing rotation, into a new image with white background. 

Therefore, any pixels not filled by the copy are set to white. 

If plain impressions are rejected for any reason, then the entire card is removed from the 

resulting repository. Using this approach with the NIST segmenter, about 50% of all 

cards processed are rejected. The high rejection rate is offset by the fact that the 

remaining results are highly accurate, and no human interaction was required to build the 

repository. 

Bozorth98 Fingerprint Minutiae Matcher 

The VTB detects and reports minutiae in a fingerprint image using MINDTCT distributed 

in NFIS. Minutiae are points in a finger's friction skin where ridges end (called a ridge 

ending) or split (called a ridge bifurcation). These features are represented in their most 

fundamental form as a coordinate point (designating location) and an angle (designating 

the orientation of local ridge flow). 

Once minutiae are extracted, two different finger image impressions can be compared to 

each other by matching their corresponding sets of minutiae data fundamentally 

comprised of an x and y coordinate and a theta angle (x,y,?),. The VTB uses a matcher 

algorithm referred to as the Bozorth98 matcher, which was chosen as the best available 

fingerprint matcher for which the algorithm and source code were readily available. 

The Bozorth98 matcher is an algorithm developed and implemented by Alan Bozorth of 

the FBI. The algorithm, developed in 1993-95, was designed to match two sets of 

(x,y,t)’s in such a way as to be rotationally invariant. This capability enables the 

algorithm to match two fingerprints without the need to first compensate for the fact that 

the fingerprints may have been captured at varyingly independent orientations. 

To accomplish this, the algorithm transforms each fingerprint’s set of (x,y,t)’s into a 

specialized rotationally invariant graph. To compute a match score between two 

fingerprints, the algorithm iteratively searches between both fingers’ graphs for subsets 

(or subgraphs) that are compatible, i.e. coordinate locations and orientations of the 

minutiae represented within the subgraphs are similar enough to each other based on 

defined tolerances. The more nodes contained within a compatible subgraph, the higher 

the accumulated match score. The more subgraphs that are compatible between the two 

fingerprints, the higher the accumulate match score. The basic algorithm used in the 

Bozorth98 matcher is a variation of a Hough transform, which has been used as the basis 

of many fingerprint matchers from the 1980s through the present. 

The algorithm is the primary (currently the only) matcher used on the VTB. All results 

reported in this report were generated using the Bozorth98 matcher. Note that the 

performance of the Bozorth98 matcher has never been tested against other fingerprint 

algorithm matchers, and therefore represents an arbitrary baseline. 

On the hardware platform mentioned above, the VTB can perform approximately 20,000 

fingerprint comparisons per minute, or 30 million comparisons per day. 

3 64 
65 
66 
67 
68 
69 
Hub 

Raytheon Company FpVTE 2003 Evaluation System (MST) 

Overview 

This system is submitted for evaluation purposes only. It represents only the core processing and matching 

subsystems of our overall criminal AFIS solution. 

The general concept used is to distribute the work across several computers and processes using a message 

-passing interface (MPI). For the MST configuration, two single-processor machines are used. A 

controlling process resides on one of the machines and directs work to the other processes. This allows for 

flexible solutions depending on the system needs. 

Single processor Single processor 

with 2 worker 

 processes 

with controller and 

worker process.

Figure 1 MST Configuration 

A two-stage matching process is used for multi-print comparisons. 

Components 

Software: 

• Microsoft Server 2003 (Standard Edition) – Operating system 

• Microsoft Visual Studio.Net. – Used for all custom software applications 

• MPICH – MPI implementation for parallel processing developed by Argonne National 

Laboratory. 

• RAYAFIS – Image processing minutia extraction and matching. 

Processing Hardware: 

• 2 x HEWLETT-PACKARD D530PC Pentium 4, 2.6 GHz Workstations 

o 80 GB HD 

o 512 MB RAM 

• Linksys EtherFast 10/100 5 port hub 

Cost Breakdown 

Pricing information is not available at current time. 

Modifications 

70 
Raytheon Criminal AFIS is being developed as a complete collection, analysis, and search solution. The 

interface to this evaluation system was developed specifically to perform the tasks in FpVTE 2003. The 

custom applications take the place of the demographic storage and contoller layer which are part of the 

AFIS Processing Center. 

Raytheon Company FpVTE 2003 Evaluation System (LST) 

Overview 

This system is submitted for evaluation purposes only. It represents only the core processing and matching 

subsystems of our overall criminal AFIS solution. 

The general concept used is to distribute the work across several computers and processes using a message 

-passing interface (MPI). In the LST configuration, the controlling process is on a machine by itself while 

the worker processes are distributed among the other machines. This allows for flexible solutions 

depending on the system needs. 

Single processor 

controller 

Single processor 

with 2 worker

 processes 

Single processor 

with 2 worker

 processes 

2 x Rackmount 

dual processors 

each running 

2 worker 

processes 

Hub 

Figure 2 LST Configuration 

71 
Components 

Software: 

• Microsoft Server 2003 (Standard Edition) – Operating system 

• Microsoft Visual Studio.Net. – Used for all custom software applications 

• MPICH – MPI implementation for parallel processing developed by Argonne National 

Laboratory. 

• RAYAFIS – Image processing minutia extraction and matching. 

Processing Hardware: 

• HEWLETT-PACKARD D51C Pentium 2.4 GHz Workstation 

o 40GB HD 

o 512 MB RAM 

• 2 x HEWLETT-PACKARD D530PC Pentium 4 2.6 GHz Workstations 

o 80 GB HD 

o 512 MB RAM 

• 2 x HEWLETT-PACKARD DL360R03 X3.06/533 Dual Xeon Rackmounts 

o 70 GB RAID 

o 2 GB RAM 

• Linksys EtherFast 10/100 5 port hub 

Cost Breakdown 

Pricing information is not available at current time. 

Modifications 

Raytheon Criminal AFIS is being developed as a complete collection, analysis, and search solution. The 

interface to this evaluation system was developed specifically to perform the tasks in FpVTE 2003. The 

custom applications take the place of the demographic storage and controller layer that are part of the AFIS 

Processing Center. 

72 
9 November 2003 

SAGEM MORPHO, INC. 

FpVTE 2003 

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION DOCUMENT 

Version 1.1 

SAGEM_MST1 

SAGEM_MST2 

SAGEM_LST1 

SAGEM_LST2 

SAGEM SystemDescriptionDocument V1.1 

73 
 

9 November 2003 

1. Overview of the system to be evaluated 

The systems tested in FpVTE are based on the SAGEM MetaMorphoTM commercial AFIS product, 

linked to a dedicated matching engine set up for the NIST FpVTE tests. 

MetaMorphoTM is a complete turnkey biometric identification system that can be configured and 

customized to meet specific customer requirements. It supports external interfaces to other systems, 

workstations with user interface functions, image processing subsystems, matching subsystems, 

workflow management, database management and system administration functions. 

Usually an AFIS system is designed to process transactions coming from various sources one after 

the other, whereas in the FpVTE 2003 evaluation, participants are required to process batches of 

transactions. Moreover, only a few candidate scores are normally returned to the user, whereas in 

the FpVTE 2003 evaluation, participants are required to provide as many matching scores as 

possible. 

Hence, the architecture of the AFIS system has been modified in order to take these specific 

requirements into account. A set of specific control scripts has been developed in order to automate 

the tests. 

SAGEM provided four systems, two for the MST test, and two for the LST test. The four systems are 

multi-stations, in order to dispatch image processing and matching requests over several “Fingerprint 

processing” workstations. Hence, every system is composed of a Workflow Control station, which 

supports the MetaMorphoTM AFIS and the control scripts, and of a set of Fingerprint Processing 

stations. 

MetaMorpho Workflow Control station 

x Analyzes test description and starts the appropriate script 

x Imports NIST files containing individual records 

x Balances feature extractions over several Fingerprint Processing stations 

x Distributes matching requests to available Fingerprint Processing stations (every station 

contains the full feature vector database, providing redundancy in case of hardware failure) 

x Retrieves result files from Fingerprint Processing stations to build up the similarity matrix 

x Creates MD5 files for output 

Fingerprint Processing stations 

x Decompresses the WSQ fingerprint images 

x Extracts the fingerprint features from the image 

x Matches the data sets according to the test description file 

x Generates the result files 

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9 November 2003 

2. Component list for the system to be evaluated 

Software 

In order to ease system installation, the same software is installed on every machine. It is composed 

of: 

Operating System: 

x Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional (Service Pack 2) 

Application software: 

x MetaMorpho software: MST version 3.1.2A.NST.2A; LST version 3.1.2A.NST.3A) 

x Matcher engine (MST version 3.1.2A.NST.2A; LST version 3.1.2A.NST.3A) 

x Control scripts (MST version 3.1.2A.NST.2A; LST version 3.1.2A.NST.3A) 

COTS software - managed and identified as COTS 3.4. 

x Versant 6.0.5 

x Apache 1.3.27 

x Python 2.2.1 

x SWSQ (SAGEM internally developed WSQ library) 

COTS communication software 

x Ataman 2.4 

Hardware 

There are two different PC configurations included in each test system: 

 Hardware configuration 1 is used for the MetaMorpho workflow station. In one test system, this 

configuration also holds the fingerprint processing station. There is always one PC for 

configuration 1 in each test system. 

 Hardware configuration 2 is used for the fingerprint processing station(s). There are zero, one or 

more PC’s for configuration 2. 

Hardware configuration 1 (workflow control station): 

x Pentium IV, 3.0GHz CPU 

x 1024MB RAM 

x 40 GB Hard Drive 

x 2 x 73.6GB SCSI Hard Drives (mirrored) 

Hardware configuration 2 (fingerprint processing station): 

x Pentium IV, 3.0GHz CPU 

x 1024MB RAM 

x 80 GB Hard Drive 

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9 November 2003 

SAGEM_MST1: 1 machine for both Workflow Control and Fingerprint processing. 

SAGEM_MST2: 1 machine for both Workflow Control and Fingerprint processing. 

SAGEM_LST1: 1 Workflow Control station and 6 Fingerprint Processing stations 

SAGEM_LST2: 1 Workflow Control station and 2 Fingerprint Processing stations 

WORKFLOW 

CONTROL 

STATION 

... 

FINGERPRINT 

PROCESSING 

STATION 1 

FINGERPRINT 

PROCESSING 

STATION N 

Target 

Data Set 

Target 

Data Set 

... 

Configuration 1 Configuration 2 

MetaMorpho Feature Extraction 

Control Scripts Matcher Engine 

Test System Architecture 

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9 November 2003 

3. Detailed cost breakdown of the submitted system 

COTS Component Costs 

MST1: 

Workflow Control PC $ 3,500 

Fingerprint Processing PC(s) $ 00 

Network Switch $ 00 

UPS $ 400 

COTS software $ 570 

Total: $ 4,470 

MST2: 

Workflow Control PC $ 3,500 

Fingerprint Processing PC(s) $ 00 

Network Switch $ 00 

UPS $ 400 

COTS software $ 570 

Total: $ 4,470 

LST1: 

Workflow Control PC $ 3,500 

Fingerprint Processing PC(s) $ 6,000 

Network Switch $ 200 

UPS $ 400 

COTS software $ 1,990 

Total: $ 12,090 

LST2: 

Workflow Control PC $ 3,500 

Fingerprint Processing PC(s) $ 2,000 

Network Switch $ 200 

UPS $ 400 

COTS software $910 

Total: $ 7,010 

Software Licenses 

For two reasons, software license cost information cannot be provided in this document. 

x SAGEM pricing models are confidential and cannot be provided in a public document. 

x The four systems used for these tests integrate specific features that are not yet available in 

commercial products. 

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4. Details of any modifications required to take FpVTE 2003. 

MetaMorpho Workflow Control 

x The ANSI/NIST file import function was customized to meet FpVTE specification 

x Dedicated scripts were developed for FpVTE tests 

x The MetaMorpho workflow was customized 

MetaMorpho Fingerprint Processing 

x The matcher was modified to return as many matching scores as possible 

x The matcher parameters were tuned to handle the specific NIST image characteristics 

(image orientation, quality, ...) 

x The matcher output was modified to produce the required similarity matrix 

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Technoimagia Co., Ltd., 1st BB Building 6F, Ryogoku, Sumida-ku, Tokyo, Japan 130-0026 

Telephone: +81(3)5600-0980 Facsimile: +81(3)5600-0981 e-mail: info@technoimagia.co.jp 

URL: http://www.technoimagia.co.jp/e_index.htm 

1. Overview of Our System for FpVTE2003 

We have developed a special version of FP-Workstation for FpVTE2003 to demonstrate the capability of our 

fingerprint authentication algorithm. The software of FP-Workstation is constructed based on our proprietary 

fingerprint matching tool library, Fingerprint Authentication System Tool 21(“FAST21”). 

What is FAST 21? 

䂓 A unique minutiae extraction and matching algorithm for fingerprint identification and verification: 

3⁄4 FAST: Fast processing speed. The proposed FP-Workstation recorded approximately 4.5 msec per 

matching of the preliminary MST sample data set. 

3⁄4 ACCURATE: FAR < 0.0001% and FRR < 0.05% from 50,000 fingerprints using our optical sensors. 

3⁄4 ROBUST: Immune to the tilted angle of finger (180°) and finger surface conditions (wet/dry). 

3⁄4 COMPACT: Template data size per finger is 128 byte for a standard application. Only 256 bytes for an 

application that requires 1:N identification with the highest accuracy and the faster processing speed. 

3⁄4 EASY TO INTEGRATE: Can produce the above identification accuracy with any type of fingerprint 

sensor that can capture a fingerprint image of at least 500 dpi and 256 levels of grayscale. 

䂓 Application Program Interface (API) for implementing a versatile fingerprint verification system that is 

tailored for a particular requirement such as improvement and maintenance of a high security system by 

adding or embedding API to an existing client system. 

䂓 Fast fingerprint 1:N identification algorithm supporting a large-scale central administration system. 

3⁄4 A high security measure for client-server and web application systems. 

䂓 Compact and light software that can be loaded or embedded into various devices. 

3⁄4 We embedded FAST21 is in our “Match on Card,” a smart IC card with ISO7816 compliance. 

FAST 21 Library Lineup 

The following libraries for Windows and UNIX operating systems can be customized for various devices: 

3⁄4 FAST-Verify: Library module for 1:1 fingerprint verification 

3⁄4 FAST-Identify: Library module for 1:N fingerprint identification. 

3⁄4 FP-RADAR BASE: A plug-in card module for 1:N fingerprint identification engine, and 

accompanied libraries for controlling the module (for Windows operating systems). 

Applications of FAST21 

Two working applications are illustrated here: 

1/5 

79 
FP-Workstation System Description for FpVTE2003 Technoimagia Co., Ltd. 

FP-Security@Station for information security, and FP-Secure Gate for physical security. 

Case I. FP-Security@Station 

Accessed 

by whom? 

when? 

which file? 

which server? 

to do what? 

Internet 

TCP- IP 

X-Console 

Template 

Identifier 

Acces Control 

Log Mgr 

Fire Wall 

Log file 

Template DB 

Linux Server 

Client PC 

(Java Virtual Machine)

Minutiae Extraction 

Image Enhancement 

Device Control 

Enrollment Matching

Java Applet 

Photo: FP-Stick 

 

 

 

Ɣ FAST 21 is embedded in the 

shaded areas in yellow. 䊶䊶䊶䊶㩷

Account 

information 

Server 

Client/ Individual

Information 

Server 

Printer

Server 

Ɣ Online transaction and data 

transfer through the Internet are 

secured at user’s command. 

SECURED INFORMATION EXCHANGE: FP-Security@Station is now officering BCA 

(Biometrics Certificate Authority) service through the Internet. 

2/5

80 
 

  

FP-Workstation System Description for FpVTE2003 Technoimagia Co., Ltd. 

Case II. FP-Secure Gate 

Multiple security gates controlled by a FP-Secure Gate Server

central server. Each gate has a gate 

terminal FP-320 that contains part 

of FAST-Verify as firmware. 

The central server contains 

FP-RADAR BASE. 

Each FP-Secure gate terminal has built-in firmware 

based on FP-Verify and an optical sensor. The gate 

terminal captures and enhances an accesser’s 

fingerprint image to extract characteristics points. 

Then, the gate terminal creates a template and 

transmits it to the server, requesting authentication. 

Photo: Fingerprint register for 

sever / Model FP-200LSC 

Template DB 

Log file 

FP-Secure Gate 

Terminal 

FP-RADAR BASE stores a template 

database and log files. Fingerprint images 

for templates are captured with our optical 

fingerprint register at the server. 

Photo: Gate terminal / 

Model FP-320 

KEYLESS ENTRY: with only fingerprint 

data, the FP-Secure Gate server controls 

multiple gates to a highly secured areas 

such as hazardous material storage rooms, 

controlled medicine rooms, weapon 

depots, and corporate intellectual property 

Built-in firmware 

Minutia Extraction 

Image Enhancement 

Image Sensing 

rooms. FP-Gate Server is scalable. Functional Diagram of Gate Terminal 

3/5

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FP-Workstation System Description for FpVTE2003 Technoimagia Co., Ltd. 

Additional Capability of FAST21 

FAST21 has superior fingerprint image enhancement capability for reproducing desired contrast of an acquired 

fingerprint image. 

Dry Finger Enhanced Image Wet Finger Enhanced Image 

FAST21 uses our unique minutiae extraction method for constructing a matching template. Processing time for 

generating a fingerprint template by FP-Workstation is approximately 0.24 msec per fingerprint image of the 

MST sample data set. 

Minutiae Extraction 

(Irreversible) 

2. Component List and Cost Breakdown for System

FP-Workstation has the following system configuration: 

Item Description Qty Cost (US $) 

The 

HP Workstation Model xw6000/CT with the following specification: 

Dual Xeon processors (3.06GHz/ 533MHz/ 1MB); 2GB 266 DDR RAM 

(4x512); NVIDIA Quadro4 299NVS; Dual Channel Ultra 320 SCSI 

36GB, 15000 rpm; 48X IDE CD-ROM drive; 48x/24x/48X CD-RW 

Drive; 3.5” Floppy Disk Drive; PS/2 Scroll Mouse; MS Windows XP 

Professional. 

1 6,141 

2 View Sonic 19” LCD Monitor Model VX900 1 790 

3 APS Uninterruptible Power Supply Model XS 1500 (1500VA) 1 250 

4 Technoimagia FAST-Verify Library for Developer 1 10,000 

5 Norton Antivirus Software (2004 version) 1 60 

Remark: The processing speed of FAST 21 is approximately proportional to the clock frequency of CPU you 

use. Items 1 may be replaced by a lower end PC to configure cost-effective FP-Workstation. Other than the 

processing speed, the output results and the accuracy are the same. For example, a single CPU (1.4GHz Pentium 

4) based PC rerecorded matching speed approximately 11.8 msec per matching for the MST sample data set. 

4/5

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FP-Workstation System Description for FpVTE2003 Technoimagia Co., Ltd. 

3. Customization for FpVTE2003 

We have customized FP-Workstation for FpVTE2003 according to the requirement of FpVTE203. 

In the flow chart shown below, steps in red were newly programmed for FpVTE2003 whereas steps 

in blue are based on our tool library module, FAST-Verify. 

START 

I. Reading and Parsing the FpVTE2003 Target and Query XML files: 

1. Create a working folder “My Data” to store working files. The directory structure follows the 

specified output structure by NIST. 

2. 㪘㫅㪸㫃㫐㫑㪼㩷㫋㪿㪼㩷㪻㪸㫋㪸㩷㪺㫆㫅㫋㪼㫅㫋㫊㩷㫆㪽㩷㪻㪸㫋㪸㩷㪽㫀㫃㪼㫊㩷㫇㫉㫆㫍㫀㪻㪼㪻㩷㫎㫀㫋㪿㩷㪸㩷㪚㪛㪄㪩㪅

II. Converting Image Data (for all data files): 

1. Convert “䌡䌮-format” files to “img-format” files using an2k2txt.exe and dwsq.exe programs. 

III. Extracting Characteristic Points 䋨for all data files䋩: 

1. Perform image process including grayscale correction for each image file. 

2. Extract minutia from an enhanced image to make a corresponding template and IQM (image 

quality metrics). 

3. Temporarily store the template data and the calculated IQM scores in system RAM. 

4. Transfer the template data and IQM to a hard disk drive once all extractions are completed. 

IV. Matching Template Data 䋨for all matching pairs䋩: 

1. Perform matching a template data in the target against another in the query set. 

2. Write the result of a single matching event into the SIM file. 

3. Display the processing status on the monitor screen. 

4. 䌗䌡䌴䌣䌨dog for system troubles. Resume the evaluation routine once a trouble is eliminated. 

5. Make MD5 files using MD5Hash.exe. 

V. Making IQM file: 

1. Transfer the IQM data stored in RAM in step III-3 to a file. 

2. Make a MD5 file using MD5Hash.exe. 

END 

NOTE: Programs “an2k2txt.exe” and “dwsq.exe” are part of NFIS (NIST Fingerprint Image Software). 

“MD5Hash.exe” is part of FpVTE 2003 Sample Utilities 

. 

© Windows, UNIX, Pentium, and other products names are registered trademarks of corresponding companies 

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System Description Document 

Overview 

Ultra-Scan is a producer of fingerprint based identification systems. For eight years Ultra-Scan 

has manufactured ultrasonic (high frequency sound waves) based fingerprint readers which 

produce extremely high quality fingerprint images. By using high quality input images as input to 

our systems, we have been able to achieve a much higher level of overall system accuracy, as 

compared to competing systems. 

Our mature match algorithms were developed in house by the same team of scientists and 

engineers who developed the original AFIS system installed in the FBI thirty years ago. The 

majority of our efforts have been focused on optimizing the algorithms using the high quality 

images produced from our ultrasonic fingerprint readers. Please note, the image database used 

in the FpVTE 2003 Medium Scale Tests (MST) we participated in were collected using 

optical scanners, which do not produce the same high quality images as our ultrasonic 

based readers. As such, we do not expect to achieve the same level of performance we would if 

using ultrasonic based fingerprint images. 

Currently, Ultra-Scan offers three software products to our customers and partners: 

1. IDExpress Developer, an SDK which allows a system integrator to incorporate our 

fingerprint match technology into their own application, creating their own GUIs for a 

unique “look & feel.” 

2. IDExpress Enterprise, a complete, fully scalable and highly configurable and 

customizable AFIS built upon the IDExpress Developer foundation product listed above. 

3. Independent Verification & Validation (IV&V), a software performance measurement and 

analysis routine and service which allows us to access the exact performance a particular 

system is achieving during any given time interval. It’s design provides for discreet 

and/or comparative performance measurement of BioAPI imaging devices and matching 

algorithms and provides the means of identifying sources of performance limitations and 

anomalies. 

All three systems are built on the same underlying match technology. For FpVTE 2003, we 

choose to evaluate the IDExpress Developer and IV&V products, as IDExpress Enterprise does 

not support the unique requirements of the test without modifications. 

Component list for the system(s) to be evaluated 

IDExpress Developer 

Off-the-shelf PC with standard Windows operating system 

IDExpress Developer 

Test Application using IDExpress Developer 

IV&V 

Off-the-shelf PC with standard Windows operating system 

IV&V 

Detailed cost breakdown of the submitted systems 

IDExpress Developer 

Cost is determined by application market, number of expected enrollees, and number of expected 

match attempts. 

84 
IV&V 

Cost is determined by number of enrollees, number of inquiry match attempts, length of time to 

be analyzed, and detail of analyses to be performed. 

Details of any modifications required to take FpVTE 2003 

IDExpress Developer 

IDExpress Developer is an SDK. An application was developed using IDExpress Developer 

specifically for the unique requirements of the FpVTE 2003 test. 

IV&V 

The unique requirements of FpVTE 2003 were incorporated into the standard product prior to 

testing; IV&V was used as an off-the-shelf package for the test. 

85