Fingerprint preview quality and segmentation

Abstract

A ridge flow based fingerprint image quality determination can be achieved independent of image resolution, can be processed in real-time and includes segmentation, such as fingertip segmentation, therefore providing image quality assessment for individual fingertips within a four finger flat, dual thumb, or whole hand image. A fingerprint quality module receives from one or more scan devices ridge-flow-containing imagery which can then be assessed for one or more of quality, handedness, historical information analysis and the assignment of bounding boxes.

1 . An image quality determination method for an input image of any resolution comprising:
 determining ridge flow for a received image;   establishing a ridge flow array; and   identifying one or more regions of the image.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining and scoring a quality of the image. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising assigning a bounding box to a portion of the image. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining handedness of the image. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising performing a historical analysis of a plurality of received images for one or more of quality, handedness and assignment of bounding boxes. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a grid spacing for the image based on image resolution. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising modifying a processing window and Fourier coefficient frequency based on the image resolution. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising selecting grid points for the image and, for each image grid point, determine Fourier coefficients for a sub-window around the grid point for a predetermined number of frequencies at different angles. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising determining a correlation map based on a peak correlation between the predetermined number of frequencies at different angles and a local ridge flow. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a peak ridge flow angle from a correlation map. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising averaging a correlation map. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is performed in real-time. 
   
   
       13 - 22 . (canceled) 
   
   
       23 . An image quality module for an input image of any resolution comprising:
 a ridge flow module adapted to determine ridge flow for a received image, establish a ridge flow array and identify one or more regions of the image.   
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 23 , further comprising a quality determination module adapted to determine and score a quality of the image. 
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the ridge flow module is further adapted to assign a bounding box to a portion of the image. 
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 23 , further comprising a handedness module adapted to determine handedness of the image. 
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 23 , further comprising an auto-capture module adapted to perform a historical analysis of a plurality of received images for one or more of quality, handedness and assignment of bounding boxes. 
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 23 , further adapted to determine a grid spacing for the image based on image resolution. 
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 28 , further adapted to modify a processing window and Fourier coefficient frequency based on the image resolution. 
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 23 , further adapted to select grid points for the image and, for each image grid point, determine Fourier coefficients for a sub-window around the grid point for a predetermined number of frequencies at different angles. 
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 30 , further adapted to determine a correlation map based on a peak correlation between the predetermined number of frequencies at different angles and a local ridge flow. 
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 23 , further adapted to determine a peak ridge flow angle from a correlation map. 
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 23 , further adapted to average a correlation map. 
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the system operates in real-time. 
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 23 , further comprising a sampling module adapted to resample the input image. 
   
   
       36 . An image quality determination system for an input image of any resolution comprising:
 means for determining ridge flow for a received image;   means for establishing a ridge flow array; and   means for identifying one or more regions of the image.   
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 36 , further comprising means for determining and scoring a quality of the image. 
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 36 , further comprising means for assigning a bounding box to a portion of the image. 
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 36 , further comprising means for determining handedness of the image. 
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 36 , further comprising means for performing a historical analysis of a plurality of received images for one or more of quality, handedness and assignment of bounding boxes. 
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 36 , further comprising means for determining a grid spacing for the image based on image resolution. 
   
   
       42 . The system of  claim 41 , further comprising means for modifying a processing window and Fourier coefficient frequency based on the image resolution. 
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 36 , further comprising means for selecting grid points for the image and, for each image grid point, determine Fourier coefficients for a sub-window around the grid point for a predetermined number of frequencies at different angles. 
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 43 , further comprising means for determining a correlation map based on a peak correlation between the predetermined number of frequencies at different angles and a local ridge flow. 
   
   
       45 . The system of  claim 36 , further comprising means for determining a peak ridge flow angle from a correlation map. 
   
   
       46 . The system of  claim 36 , further comprising means for averaging a correlation map. 
   
   
       47 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the system operates in real-time. 
   
   
       48 - 58 . (canceled)