Biometric enrollment systems and methods

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to biometric enrollment systems including a camera and an image analysis module. The camera configured is to capture a probe image of a subject, the probe image including an iris of the subject. The image analysis module is configured to determine an iris characteristic of the iris in the probe image. The image analysis module is configured to analyze the probe image relative to a first enrollment image to determine if a match exists based on the iris characteristic. If the match exists, the image analysis module is configured to electronically store the matched probe image as an accepted image. The image analysis module is configured to select and establish the accepted image as a second enrollment image if the accepted image meets enrollment image criteria.

1 . A biometric enrollment system, comprising:
 a camera configured to capture a probe image of a subject, the probe image including an iris of the subject; and   an image analysis module configured to (i) determine an iris characteristic of the iris in the probe image, (ii) analyze the probe image relative to a first enrollment image to determine if a match exists based on the iris characteristic, (iii) if the match exists, electronically store the matched probe image as an accepted image, and (iv) select and establish the accepted image as a second enrollment image if the accepted image meets enrollment image criteria.   
     
     
         2 . The biometric enrollment system of  claim 1 , wherein the iris characteristic is a normalized iris texture ratio (NITR) of the iris. 
     
     
         3 . The biometric enrollment system of  claim 1 , wherein the enrollment image criteria includes whether the iris characteristic of the iris in the probe image is within a coverage area of the first enrollment image. 
     
     
         4 . The biometric enrollment system of  claim 3 , wherein the coverage area of the first enrollment image defines a variation in the iris characteristic of the iris acceptable for a match with the first enrollment image. 
     
     
         5 . The biometric enrollment system of  claim 3 , wherein the enrollment image criteria includes whether the iris characteristic of the iris in the probe image meets an iris biometric standard. 
     
     
         6 . The biometric enrollment system of  claim 5 , wherein the iris biometric standard is at least one of International Organization of Standardization (ISO) 19794 or ISO 29794. 
     
     
         7 . The biometric enrollment system of  claim 1 , wherein the first enrollment image is electronically stored in a first bin of a predetermined number of bins, an iris characteristic of the iris in the first enrollment image corresponding to a range of the iris characteristic of the first bin. 
     
     
         8 . The biometric enrollment system of  claim 7 , wherein the image analysis module is configured to electronically store the accepted image in a second bin of the predetermined number of bins, the iris characteristic of the iris in the accepted image corresponding to a range of the iris characteristic of the second bin. 
     
     
         9 . The biometric enrollment system of  claim 8 , wherein the first enrollment image in the first bin and the second enrollment image in the second bin provide enrollment images in different ranges of the iris characteristic. 
     
     
         10 . The biometric enrollment system of  claim 1 , comprising one or more illumination sources configured to illuminate the iris of the subject. 
     
     
         11 . The biometric enrollment system of  claim 1 , wherein the second enrollment image includes a coverage area partially overlapping a coverage area of the first enrollment image. 
     
     
         12 . The biometric enrollment system of  claim 1 , wherein if the match does not exist, the image analysis module is configured to electronically store the probe image as a rejected image in a database. 
     
     
         13 . The biometric enrollment system of  claim 1 , wherein the first enrollment image, the accepted image, and the second enrollment image are electronically stored in a database. 
     
     
         14 . A method of biometric system enrollment, comprising:
 capturing a probe image of a subject with a camera, the probe image including an iris of the subject;   determining an iris characteristic of the iris in the probe image with an image analysis module;   analyzing the probe image relative to a first enrollment image to determine if a match exists based on the iris characteristic;   if the match exists, electronically storing the matched probe image as an accepted image;   determining if the accepted image meets enrollment image criteria; and   if the accepted image meets the enrollment image criteria, selecting and establishing the accepted image as a second enrollment image.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising illuminating the iris of the subject with one or more illumination sources. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein determining if the accepted image meets the enrollment image criteria comprises determining whether the iris characteristic of the iris in the probe image is within a coverage area of the first enrollment image. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the coverage area of the first enrollment image defines a variation in the iris characteristic of the iris acceptable for a match with the first enrollment image. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein determining if the accepted image meets the enrollment image criteria comprises determining whether the iris characteristic of the iris in the probe image meets an iris biometric standard. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the iris biometric standard is at least one of International Organization of Standardization (ISO) 19794 or ISO 29794. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein if the match does not exist, the method comprises electronically storing the probe image as a rejected image in a database. 
     
     
         21 - 30 . (canceled)