Method for identifying an unknown fingerprint by generating a numeric representation through interleaving digits

1. A method for searching a database comprising data related to a plurality of fingerprints, the method comprising:

identifying at least two minutiae points in an image of an unknown fingerprint;

generating a plurality of properties wherein each property of the plurality of properties is based on a relation between the at least two minutiae points;

assigning a number comprising a plurality of digits to each of the plurality of properties, wherein the assigning comprises assigning a number comprising a plurality of bits to each of the plurality of properties;

grouping the plurality of properties into a plurality of subsets of properties;

generating a plurality of numeric representations of the unknown fingerprint based on the plurality of subsets of properties;

using the plurality of numeric representations as search arguments when searching the database;

wherein each of the plurality of numeric representations is generated by at least partly interleaving the plurality of digits; and

wherein the assigning comprises assigning a respective binary number a 3 a 2 a 1 a 0 , b 3 b 2 b 1 b 0 , c 3 c 2 c 1 c 0 , d 3 d 2 d 1 d 0 . . . N 3 N 2 N 1 N 0 to each of the plurality of properties, and the generating comprises generating the numeric representation by arranging the plurality of bits in the following order: N 3 . . . d 3 c 3 b 3 a 3 N 2 . . . d 2 c 2 b 2 a 2 N 1 . . . d 1 c 1 b 1 a 1 N 0 . . . d 0 c 0 b 0 a 0 .

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein interleaving comprises interleaving the plurality of digits such that the plurality of digits of the numeric representation are arranged in an interleaved or intertwined manner.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein interleaving comprises interleaving most significant bits of the plurality of bits.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein interleaving comprises interleaving all bits of the plurality of bits.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein interleaving comprises interleaving the plurality of bits bitwise.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein interleaving comprises arranging the plurality of bits in order of significance, from most significant bits to least significant bits within a numeric representation.

7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

masking away at least some least significant bits of the plurality of bits.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method is used for at least one of a crime scene investigation, a police control, an authentication equipment or a passage system at an airport, industrial park or building.

9. A method for searching a database comprising data related to a plurality of fingerprints, the method comprising:

identifying at least two minutiae points in an image of an unknown fingerprint;

generating a plurality of properties wherein each property of the plurality of properties is based on a relation between the at least two minutiae points;

assigning a number comprising a plurality of digits to each of the plurality of properties, wherein the assigning comprises assigning a number comprising a plurality of bits to each of the plurality of properties;

grouping the plurality of properties into a plurality of subsets of properties;

generating a plurality of numeric representations of the unknown fingerprint based on the plurality of subsets of properties;

using the plurality of numeric representations as search arguments when searching the database; and

wherein each of the plurality of numeric representations is generated by at least partly interleaving the plurality of digits; and

wherein assigning comprises assigning a respective binary number a 3 a 2 a 1 a 0 , b 3 b 2 b 1 b 0 , c 3 c 2 c 1 c 0 , d 3 d 2 d 1 d 0 . . . N 3 N 2 N 1 N 0 to each of the plurality of properties, and generating comprises generating the numeric representation by arranging the plurality of bits in the following order: a 3 b 3 c 3 d 1 . . . N 3 a 2 b 2 c 2 d 2 . . . N 2 a 1 b 1 c 1 d 1 . . . N 1 a 0 b 0 c 0 d 0 . . . N 0 .

10. A method for searching a database comprising data related to a plurality of fingerprints, the method comprising:

identifying at least two minutiae points in an image of an unknown fingerprint;

generating a plurality of properties wherein each property of the plurality of properties is based on a relation between the at least two minutiae points;

assigning a number comprising a plurality of digits to each of the plurality of properties, wherein the assigning comprises assigning a number comprising a plurality of bits to each of the plurality of properties;

grouping the plurality of properties into a plurality of subsets of properties;

generating a plurality of numeric representations of the unknown fingerprint based on the plurality of subsets of properties;

using the plurality of numeric representations as search arguments when searching the database; and

wherein each of the plurality of numeric representations is generated by at least partly interleaving the plurality of digits; and

wherein assigning comprises assigning a respective binary number a 7 a 6 a 5 a 4 a 3 a 2 a 1 a 0 , b 7 b 6 b 5 b 4 b 3 b 2 b 1 b 0 , c 7 c 6 c 5 c 4 c 3 c 2 c 1 c 0 , d 7 d 6 d 5 d 4 d 3 d 2 d 1 d 0 . . . N 7 N 6 N 5 N 4 N 3 N 2 N 1 N 0 to each of the plurality of properties, and generating comprises generating the numeric representation by arranging the plurality of bits in the following order: N 7 . . . d 7 c 7 b 7 a 7 N 6 . . . d 6 c 6 b 6 a 6 N 5 . . . d 5 c 5 b 5 a 5 N 4 . . . d 4 c 4 b 4 a 4 N 3 . . . d 3 c 3 b 3 a 3 N 2 . . . d 2 c 2 b 2 a 2 N 1 . . . d 1 c 1 b 1 a 1 N 0 . . . d 0 c 0 b 0 a 0 .

11. A method for searching a database comprising data related to a plurality of fingerprints, the method comprising:

identifying at least two minutiae points in an image of an unknown fingerprint;

generating a plurality of properties wherein each property of the plurality of properties is based on a relation between the at least two minutiae points;

assigning a number comprising a plurality of digits to each of the plurality of properties, wherein the assigning comprises assigning a number comprising a plurality of bits to each of the plurality of properties;

grouping the plurality of properties into a plurality of subsets of properties;

generating a plurality of numeric representations of the unknown fingerprint based on the plurality of subsets of properties;

using the plurality of numeric representations as search arguments when searching the database; and

wherein each of the plurality of numeric representations is generated by at least partly interleaving the plurality of digits; and

wherein assigning comprises assigning a respective binary number a 7 a 6 a 5 a 4 a 3 a 2 a 1 a 0 , b 7 b 6 b 5 b 4 b 3 b 2 b 1 b 0 , c 7 c 6 c 5 c 4 c 3 c 2 c 1 c o , d 7 d 6 d 5 d 4 d 3 d 2 d 1 d 0 . . . N 7 N 6 N 5 N 4 N 3 N 2 N 1 N 0 to each of the plurality of properties, and generating comprises generating the numeric representation by arranging the plurality of bits in the following order: a 7 b 7 c 7 d 7 . . . N 7 a 6 b 6 c 6 d 6 . . . N 6 a 5 b 5 c 5 d 5 . . . N 5 a 4 b 4 c 4 d 4 . . . N 4 a 3 b 3 c 3 d 3 . . . N 3 a 2 b 2 c 2 d 2 . . . N 2 a 1 b 1 c 1 d 1 . . . N 1 a 0 b 0 c 0 d 0 . . . N 0 .

12. A method for searching a database comprising data related to a plurality of fingerprints, the method comprising:

identifying at least two minutiae points in an image of an unknown fingerprint;

generating a plurality of properties wherein each property of the plurality of properties is based on a relation between the at least two minutiae points;

assigning a number comprising a plurality of digits to each of the plurality of properties, wherein the assigning comprises assigning a number comprising a plurality of bits to each of the plurality of properties;

grouping the plurality of properties into a plurality of subsets of properties;

generating a plurality of numeric representations of the unknown fingerprint based on the plurality of subsets of properties;

using the plurality of numeric representations as search arguments when searching the database; and

wherein each of the plurality of numeric representations is generated by at least partly interleaving the plurality of digits; and

wherein assigning comprises assigning a respective binary number a 7 a 6 a 5 a 4 a 3 a 2 a 1 a 0 , b 7 b 6 b 5 b 4 b 3 b 2 b 1 b 0 , c 7 c 6 c 5 c 4 c 3 c 2 c 1 c 0 , d 7 d 6 d 5 d 4 d 3 d 2 d 1 d 0 . . . N 7 N 6 N 5 N 4 N 3 N 2 N 1 N 0 to each of the plurality of properties, and generating comprises generating the numeric representation by arranging the plurality of bits in the following order: a 7 a 6 a 5 a 4 a 3 a 2 a l a o a 7 b 7 c 7 d 7 . . . N 7 b 6 c 6 d 6 . . . N 6 b 5 c 5 d 5 . . . N 5 b 4 c 4 d 4 . . . N 4 b 3 c 3 d 3 . . . N 3 b 2 c 2 d 2 . . . N 2 b 1 c 1 d 1 . . . N 1 b 0 c 0 d 0 . . . N 0 .