Patent ID: 7841300

Claim:
A system for uniquely identifying a particular individual subject from a group of subjects, wherein each individual subject in said group of subjects includes at least one external characteristic having a plurality of features that are unique to said individual subject, comprising: subject processing means for positioning an individual subject from said group of subjects to enable determination of said at least one external characteristic that is unique to said individual subject; image generation means for obtaining an image of said positioned subject that records said plurality of features of said at least one of said external characteristics that are unique to said individual subject; image data processing means for performing a correlation of said plurality of features of said at least one of said external characteristics that are unique to said individual subject as recorded in said image of said positioned individual subject with said plurality of features of said at least one of said external characteristics that are unique to individual subjects in said group of subjects as recorded in previously recorded images of said individual subjects; and database match means for generating an indication of a match when said plurality of features of said at least one of said external characteristics that are unique to said individual subject as recorded in said image of said positioned individual subject matches said plurality of features of said at least one of said external characteristics that are unique to individual subjects in said group of subjects as recorded in one of said previously recorded images of said individual subjects.