Fingerprint authentication with template updating

1. A method of authenticating a finger of a user against a stored template and expanding the stored template, comprising the steps of:

acquiring a present partial candidate fingerprint image;

retrieving a stored enrolment representation for said user, the stored enrolment representation comprising said stored template, and a stored representation of at least a first previous partial candidate fingerprint image acquired in connection with a previous failed authentication attempt for said user;

determining if a first match between a representation of the present partial candidate fingerprint image and said stored template fulfills a first template updating requirement;

determining if a second match between said representation of the present partial candidate fingerprint image and said stored representation of the at least first previous partial candidate fingerprint image fulfills a second template updating requirement;

when it is determined that said first match fulfills said first template updating requirement and said second match fulfills said second template updating requirement:

providing a signal indicating a successful authentication; and

forming a first expanded template based on said stored template, said present partial candidate fingerprint image and said at least first previous partial candidate fingerprint image.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein it is determined if said second match fulfills said second template updating requirement by comparing said stored representation of the at least first previous partial candidate fingerprint image and said representation of the present partial candidate fingerprint image.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:

when it is determined that said first match fulfills said first predefined template updating requirement:

forming an updated template based on said stored template and said present candidate fingerprint image,

wherein it is determined if said second match fulfills said second template updating requirement by comparing said stored representation of the at least first previous partial candidate fingerprint image and said updated template.

4. The method according to claim 3 , further comprising the steps of:

determining if a third match between a stored representation of a second previous partial candidate fingerprint image and said first expanded template fulfills a third template updating requirement; and

when it is determined that said third match fulfills said third template updating requirement:

forming a second expanded template based on said first expanded template and said second previous partial candidate fingerprint image.

5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

when it is determined that said first match fails to fulfill said first template updating requirement:

forming an updated enrolment representation by adding said representation of the present partial candidate fingerprint image to said stored enrolment representation.

6. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising the step of:

evaluating at least one image property of said present partial candidate fingerprint image in respect of an image property criterion,

wherein said representation of the present partial candidate fingerprint image is only added to said stored enrolment representation when said at least one image property fulfills said image property criterion.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein said image property criterion is indicative of a threshold image quality.

8. The method according to claim 6 , wherein said image property criterion is indicative of a likelihood that said present partial candidate fingerprint image is an image of a finger of said user.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein said image property criterion is indicative of a threshold spatial frequency of fingerprint ridges or valleys.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said stored enrolment representation comprises a stored representation of a plurality of previous partial candidate fingerprint images, each having been acquired in connection with a corresponding previous failed authentication attempt for said user, said method further comprising the steps of:

evaluating at least one property of each previous partial candidate fingerprint image in said plurality of previous partial candidate fingerprint images; and

removing at least one of said previous partial candidate fingerprint images from said stored enrolment representation based on said evaluation.

11. A fingerprint authentication system for authenticating a user, comprising:

a fingerprint sensor;

a memory; and

processing circuitry connected to said fingerprint sensor, and to said memory for:

controlling said fingerprint sensor to acquire a present partial candidate fingerprint image of a candidate fingerprint to be authenticated;

retrieving, from said memory, at least one stored enrolment representation for said user, the at least one stored enrolment representation comprising a stored template, and a stored representation of at least a first previous partial candidate fingerprint image acquired in connected with a previous failed authentication attempt for said user;

determining if a first match between a representation of the present partial candidate fingerprint image and said stored template fulfills a first template updating requirement;

determining if a second match between said representation of the present partial candidate fingerprint image and said stored representation of the at least first previous partial candidate fingerprint image fulfills a second template updating requirement;

when it is determined that said first match fulfills said first template updating requirement and said second match fulfills said second template updating requirement:

providing a signal indicating a successful authentication; and

forming a first expanded template based on said stored template, said present candidate fingerprint image and said at least first previous candidate fingerprint image.

12. The fingerprint authentication system according to claim 11 , wherein said processing circuitry is configured to determine if said second match fulfills said second template updating requirement by comparing said stored representation of the at least first previous partial candidate fingerprint image and said representation of the present partial candidate fingerprint image.

13. The fingerprint authentication system according to claim 11 , wherein said processing circuitry is configured to, when it is determined that said first match fulfills said first predefined template updating requirement:

form an updated template based on said stored template and said present candidate fingerprint image; and

determine if said second match fulfills said second template updating requirement by comparing said stored representation of the at least first previous partial candidate fingerprint image and said updated template.

14. An electronic device comprising;

a fingerprint authentication system according to claim 11 ; and

a processing unit configured to control said fingerprint authentication system to carry out a fingerprint authentication of a user, and to perform at least one user-requested process only if said user is verified using said fingerprint authentication system.