Method of key generation using biometric features
US7844827B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 31, 2006 |
| Grant date | Nov 30, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 30, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L63/062
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for generating an encryption key using physical characteristics of a biometric sample is described. In one embodiment, the biometric feature(s) from a sample are analyzed to generate a feature vector. After discretizing the feature(s), the resultant feature vector is translated into a bit vector. The bit vector is the secure biometric key that results from the biometric(s). The secure biometric key is used to generate at least one cryptographic key. A similar process is used to access the cryptographic key secured by the secure biometric key. If the access biometric key matches the secure biometric key, the cryptographic key is revealed and access is allowed. In another embodiment, if the access biometric key does not match the secure biometric key a camouflaging process is used to provide an unauthorized user a bogus secure biometric key indistinguishable from the correct secure biometric key.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.