Patent ID: 8233680

Claim:
A method of identifying an individual comprising successively: a) an identification step ( 1201 ) during which the identity of the individual to be identified is read; b) an obtaining step ( 1203 ) during which there are obtained a transformation function (Γ) and an encrypted image ( 302 a , 302 b ) previously recorded which corresponds to the said identity read and which was obtained by transformation of an image of a biometric data item ( 100 ) of the said individual into at least two encrypted images ( 302 a , 302 b ) by the transformation function (Γ), the encrypted images ( 302 a , 302 b ) being such that visual recognition of the forms of the said biometric data item requires the superimposition of all the encrypted images ( 302 a , 302 b ); c) a capture step ( 1202 ) during which another image of the biometric data ( 400 , 700 ) to be identified is captured; d) a transformation step ( 1204 ) during which the other image thus captured is transformed into at least one encrypted image to be identified ( 500 , 802 ) using the transformation function (Γ); e) a superimposition step ( 1206 ) during which a superimposition image resulting from the superimposition of the encrypted image/images ( 302 a , 302 b ) recorded and the encrypted image/images to be identified ( 500 , 802 ) is formed; and f) a verification step ( 1208 ) during which the superimposition image thus formed is verified; i) in the case of positive verification, an identification step ( 1210 ) during which a decision with regard to the identification of the individual is taken on the basis of the said verification step ( 1208 ); and ii) in the case of negative verification, a step of improving the alignment of the encrypted image/images recorded ( 302 a , 302 b ) with respect to the encrypted image/images to be identified ( 500 , 802 ) and a looping back step ( 1214 ).