WO2014001598A1

WO2014001598A1 - A method, an apparatus and a computer program product for biometric identification

Info

Publication number: WO2014001598A1
Application number: PCT/FI2012/050657
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sailesh Sathish
Original assignee: Nokia Corporation
Priority date: 2012-06-25
Filing date: 2012-06-25
Publication date: 2014-01-03

Abstract

The invention relates to biometric identification, especially to fingerprint data. A method comprises receiving a request from requesting means to provide at least fingerprint data. The request comprises requirement for the fingerprint data.A fingerprint scan for a plurality of fingers is performed in order to receive a plurality of fingerprint data. At least one fingerprint datum of the plurality of fingerprint data is transmitted to the requesting means.

Description

A METHOD, AN APPARATUS AND A COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR BIOMETRIC IDENTIFICATION

Technical Field

This invention relates to biometric identification. In particular, the invention relates to a method for providing biometric data. Background

Biometric identification is identification of a person based on his/her physical traits, for example an iris, one or more fingerprints, a voice, a DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) or a hand print. Services that are accessible through authentication by biometric identification are developing increasingly. For example, voting, banking services, purchasing services, medical services, security services, travelling are examples of service that can be accessed through user authentication by biometric identification method. Also, every inhabitant of a certain country can be given a unique identification number that is based on at least their biometric information. An example of such is Aadhaar in India, which can be used to authenticate and identify Indian people anywhere in India, and to allow access to various services.

Now there is a need for a solution that simplifies the procedure for obtaining the biometric data from people, and also provides consistent biometric data to services/applications requesting the biometric data.

Brief Summary

An improved method and technical equipment implementing the method has been invented, by which the above needs are fulfilled. Various aspects of the invention include a method, an apparatus, a computer program product and a computer readable medium, which are characterized by what is stated in the independent claims. Various embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims. According to a first aspect, a method comprises receiving a request from requesting means to provide fingerprint data, said request comprising requirement for the fingerprint data; performing a fingerprint scan for a plurality of fingers in order to receive a plurality of fingerprints; and transmitting at least one fingerprint of the plurality of fingerprints to the requesting means.

According to a second aspect, an apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: receive a request from requesting means to provide fingerprint data, said request comprising requirement for the fingerprint data; perform a fingerprint scan for a plurality of fingers in order to receive a plurality of fingerprints; and transmit at least one fingerprint of the plurality of fingerprints to the requesting means.

According to a third aspect, an apparatus comprises receiving means configured to receive a request from requesting means to provide fingerprint data, said request comprising requirement for the fingerprint data; scanning means configured to perform a fingerprint scan for a plurality of fingers in order to receive a plurality of fingerprint data; and transmitting means configured to transmit at least one fingerprint datum of the plurality of the fingerprint data to the requesting means. According to a fourth aspect, a computer program product comprises a computer- readable medium bearing computer program code embodied therein for use with a computer, the computer program code comprising: code for receiving a request from requesting means device to provide fingerprint data, said request comprising requirement for the fingerprint data; code for performing a fingerprint scan for a plurality of fingers in order to receive a plurality of fingerprints; and code for transmitting at least one fingerprint of the plurality of fingerprints to the requesting means.

According to a fifth aspect, a computer-readable medium is encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform: receiving a request from requesting means to provide fingerprint data, said request comprising requirement for the fingerprint data; performing a fingerprint scan for a plurality of fingers in order to receive a plurality of fingerprints; and transmitting at least one fingerprint of the plurality of fingerprints to the requesting means.

According to an embodiment, the requirement includes at least one of the following: optional one or more fingerprints, selected one or more fingerprints, full ten fingerprints, full five fingerprints, selected hand, a certain threshold for fingerprint quality.

According to an embodiment, at least one fingerprint is selected from said plurality of fingerprints according to the requirement in said request, wherein said selected at least one fingerprint is transmitted to the requesting means.

According to an embodiment, the request also comprises a request to provide iris data relating to one or two iris.

According to an embodiment, iris data is received from one camera.

According to an embodiment, iris data is received from two cameras.

According to an embodiment, the requesting means is one of the following: a device, an application, a service.

According to an embodiment, the fingerprint information is received from a single fingerprint detector.

According to an embodiment, the fingerprint information is received from a plurality of fingerprint detectors.

Description of the Drawings

In the following, various embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the appended drawings, in which

Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of a biometric identification system,

Figure 2 illustrates an embodiment of an apparatus for scanning ten fingers and two iris simultaneously,

Figure 3 illustrates an embodiment of an apparatus for scanning five fingers and one iris simultaneously,

Figure 4 illustrates an embodiment of an apparatus for scanning five fingers and two iris simultaneously,

Figure 5 illustrates another embodiment of an apparatus for scanning five fingers and one iris simultaneously,

Figure 6 illustrates an embodiment of a client software for an apparatus, Figure 7 illustrates an embodiment of a system operating with biometric identification, and

Figure 8 illustrates an embodiment of an apparatus. Detailed Description of the Embodiments

In the following, several embodiments of the invention will be described in the context of biometric identification for services. It is to be noted, however, that the invention is not limited to this context. In fact, the different embodiments have applications widely in any environment where biometric identification is expected and biometric data is needed.

In the description, term "device" or "apparatus" relates to any handheld electronic device: a mobile phone, a mobile terminal, a mobile device, a smartphone, a tablet computer, a personal digital assistant, etc. The electronic device may be able to connect to the internet, but this is not a requirement.

Figure 1 illustrates a very simple example for biometric identification. A sensor 101 receives biometric data, for example a fingerprint data, a voice data, data concerning persons iris or retina etc. There can be more than one sensor 101 for scanning different biometric traits. The sensor data may be pre-processed 102 to remove artifacts from the sensor and to enhance the input (e.g. removing background noise). The pre-processing 102 relates to the type of biometric data and utilizes such processing methods that are suitable for such type of biometric data (e.g. image processing methods for fingerprints, iris or other image based data uses, audio processing methods for voice, etc.) After this necessary features are extracted 103 from the processed data. Then a template 104 is created by a vector of numbers or an image with particular properties. The template is a combination of relevant features extracted from the data. The template is matched 105 to a stored templates 106 in order to find out the person being identified. After matching, the data can be provided to an application device 107 or service. This procedure can relate to any biometric identification process. However, it is possible that one or more of the steps presented in Fig. 1 are replaced with other steps or left out from the procedure. Figure 2 illustrates an embodiment of an apparatus for obtaining biometric data. In this example, the apparatus is a mobile phone. The biometric data can be obtained by such an apparatus for registering purposes, for example, at the time a person is acquiring a biometric identification, or for accessing services that utilizes biometric identification. Figure 2A illustrates a front cover 200 of the apparatus, and Figure 2B illustrates a back cover 210 of the apparatus. The apparatus of Figure 2A and 2B is configured to perform simultaneous scanning of ten fingerprints and two iris in a single operation. This is achieved in such a manner that a person holds the apparatus in his/her hands, fingers being placed on marked locations 204, 205, 216, 217 and eyes looking at spots 202, 203. The thumb is placed on the location 204, 205 that may be on the same side as the iris scanners 202, 203, and rest of the fingers are placed on locations 216, 217 on the back cover 210 of the apparatus. This is achieved by providing a detective display on both cover sides of the apparatus. The display may be completely detective for the scanning purposes, and extended from the front cover to back cover of the device. Alternatively, the display may have detective areas at both ends, where detective areas are extended from the front cover to the back cover of the device, and thus covering locations 204, 216 and 205, 217. Yet, as an alternative, the display may only be detective on such parts of the display, where the fingers are placed, i.e. locations 204, 205, 216, 217. It is also possible that each location 216, 217 comprises a piece of detective display covering full four fingers, but the device may also have four different or independent pieces of detective areas for both of the locations. Figure 3 illustrates another embodiment of the apparatus for obtaining biometric data. Again, in this example, the apparatus is a mobile phone. Figure 3A illustrates a front cover 300 of the apparatus, and Figure 3B illustrates a back cover 310 of the apparatus. The apparatus is configured to perform simultaneous scanning of five fingerprints and one iris in a single operation. This is achieved in such a manner that a person holds the apparatus in his/her other hand so that the five fingers are placed on marked locations 304, 316 and one of the eyes is looking at the spot 301 . The thumb is placed on the location 304 that may be on the same side as the iris scanner 301 , and the rest of the fingers are placed on locations 316 the back cover 310 of the apparatus.

Figure 4 illustrates another embodiment of the apparatus for obtaining a biometric data. Again, in this example, the apparatus is mobile phone. Figure 4A illustrates a front cover 400 of the apparatus, and Figure 4B illustrates a back cover 410 of the apparatus. The apparatus is configured to perform simultaneous scanning of five fingerprints and two iris in a single operation. This is achieved in such a manner that a person holds the apparatus in his/her other hand so that the five fingers are placed on marked locations 404, 416 and both eyes are looking at the spot 401 , 402. The thumb is placed on the location 404 that may be on the same side as the iris scanners 401 , 402 and the rest of the fingers are placed on locations 416 the back cover 410 of the apparatus.

Figure 5 illustrates yet a further embodiment of the apparatus for obtaining biometric data. Again, in this example, the apparatus is mobile phone. Figure 5A illustrates a front cover 500 of the apparatus, and Figure 5B illustrates a back cover 510 of the apparatus. The apparatus is configured to perform simultaneous scanning of five fingerprints and one iris in a single operation. This is achieved in such a manner that a person holds the apparatus in his/her other hand so that the five fingers are placed on marked locations 504, 516 and one of the eyes is looking at the spot 501 . The thumb is placed on the location 504 that may be on the same side as the iris scanner 501 , and the rest of the fingers are placed on locations 516 the back cover 510 of the apparatus. Also for embodiments shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, the display may be completely detective for the scanning purposes, and extended from the front cover to back cover of the device. Alternatively, the display may be detective only from that end of the device, where the fingers are placed, and such a detective portion of the display may be extended from the front cover to the back cover of the device. Yet, as an further alternative, the display may only be detective on such parts of the display, where the fingers are placed. It is also possible that each location 316, 416, 516 comprises a piece of detective display covering full four fingers, but the device may also have four different or independent pieces of detective displays for said locations. For obtaining the fingerprint data the apparatus may use high capacitance touch screen (CTS), where the capacitance resolution is higher than the bifurcations on the fingers. The enhanced capacitive screens allow multi-finger scanning. The CTS can be extended behind the apparatus, i.e. to the back cover, where the four (or eight) fingers are placed for scanning purposes. It is also possible to use multiple fingerprint detectors on locations of front and back cover of the device where the fingers are to be placed.

Instead of having a full CTS screen for all the fingerprints, it is possible to use e.g. optical fingerprint scanner for e.g. thumbs. Such an optical fingerprint scanner can be placed on back cover of the device, whereby four finger scan may be performed from the front cover of the device having the CTS screen at least for the parts of the device where the fingers are placed. The screen on the back cover of the apparatus does not necessarily have to cover the whole back cover of the apparatus, but just the length where the finger scan is needed. This is applicable for both ten finger scan and five finger scan. The screen width on one side of the back cover may cover, for example, an average width of four fingers. In addition, the back cover does not necessarily need to have a liquid crystal display (LCD) layer, but only the capacitance layer. However, an LCD layer below the capacitance layer is advantageous for display purposes. If there is an additional LCD layer on the back cover, such an LCD layer can be used for additional display by applications and not only for identification purposes.

On the front cover of the apparatus, the high capacitance touch screen may be provided only at the place where the thumb is scanned at minimum, and the rest of the screen may be normal liquid crystal. However, it is appreciated that the whole front cover may be high capacitance touch screen as well.

In each embodiments (Figs. 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B), the four plus one finger scan as well as the eight plus two finger scan can be reversed. This means that four (or eight) fingers can be placed to front side of the cover and thumbs to back. This can be configured by means of software depending on user preference.

The present embodiment of giving fingerprint data by holding the apparatus with full hand is beneficial, because the pressure is increased on the fingers allowing more detailed scan. With normal single finger scan, the device needs to be placed on the flat surface or must be held by other hand. Sometimes, additional pressure on finger is needed to get clearer print.

The device can be configured to indicate to the user when the finger scan is completed. The indication can be visual, audible or tactile. The visual indication may comprise changing colors from red to green, when the scan is completed. Audible indication may comprise any sound. Tactile indication can comprise vibration.

As the LCD layers and the high capacitance layers are separate, there can be high capacitance layer in defined areas of the apparatus screen followed by lower resolution layer. This does not affect the display and the whole screen can be used for display.

Different applications require different levels of authentication. Some applications may require one finger scan, e.g. a thumb, but some applications may require multiple fingers to be scanned to improve the reliability and security. The present embodiments support these extremes and any other requirement therein between. For example, the present embodiments support single finger scan to multiple finger scans; selected finger scan; selected multiple fingers scan; full fingers (ten) scan. In addition, all these can be completed with one or two iris scans.

In addition, applications/services requiring the biometric data may ask the device to provide certain fingerprints being defined by finger names and selection between right and left hand. Applications/services may also ask the device to provide such fingerprints scans, where the ridges satisfy a certain threshold. This means that only the best set of fingerprint scans are provided to the application/service. Yet further, the applications/service may require the full ten finger scan. The apparatus is configured either to ask (with e.g. visual indication on the CTS) the user to place certain fingers on the device for scanning, or the apparatus may perform the full ten finger scan and select the fingerprints that were asked by the application/service. Alternatively, the full ten fingerprints (or optionally five) can be transmitted to the requesting application/service, whereby the requesting application/service performs the selection of the desired fingerprints according to their requirements. Figure 6 illustrates an embodiment of a client software for the device. The scan manager 610 of the client software first takes the application's/service's requirements into account. The requirements may be included into the request for providing fingerprint data for identification purposes. If the device supports ten finger scan, the device may highlight the correct hand (left or right depending on the application's/service's requirement) for the user on the correct parts of capacitance layer 605 of the device. User is free to hold both ends of the device, but the scan may take only place for the correct hand. It is also possible, that the scan manager 610 scans the entire set of fingers, but selects only the ones that have been requested by the application/service. On the other hand, if a threshold request has been provided by the application/service, the scan manager 610 shall take the best possible clear values from each finger scan and send those to the application/service. The user interface (Ul) manager 620 may perform Ul adaptation for the scan based on orientation 625 of the device. For example, in landscape mode (Figs. 2A, 2B; 3A, 3B; 4A, 4B), the user is able to hold both ends of the device, but if only single hand scan is required, the device may enable portrait mode (Figs. 5A, 5B) to inform the user by displaying the scanning areas on the display. If the user holds the device in the portrait mode, the Ul manager 620 will inform scan manager 610 on this and the scan may take place only at one end of the screen. The Ul manager 620 is configured to rely on scan patterns 650 defining the scanning areas for the device. The Ul manager is configured to decide which scan patterns 650 should be used in which scanning situation. This can be decided according to user settings 655. The scan manager 610 may receive instructions from the application/service and work in conjunction with the Ul manager 620 to decide amount of scan.

The application interface 685 is configured to provide access for local applications (clients of services in the device) to request authentication data. The local applications may request authorization details 670 from the client. The client may gather biometric authentication data from the user and use service information (from service registry 635) using secure transport connections 640 to confirm authorization with authorization service (see Fig. 7). Depending on service conditions and authorization model, the authorization data is provided to local client applications by local access management 660.

The iris scan 602 may be performed by means of a camera locating on the front cover of the device (i.e. front camera). The iris scanners are self-calibrating so that they can adjust the position on the screen based on iris position detection. The iris position detection may be mechanical or based on software. Instead of self- calibration, the calibration can be done by varying distance from eye to device; scan calibration can be done as verified by the device. Spacing between iris itself is a biometric identifier but is not unique as such. The scanner can be configured to indicate to the user when the iris scan is completed. The indication can be visual, audible or tactile. The visual indication may comprise changing colors from red to green, or flashing a light (e.g. a flashlight, a LED (light-emitting diode)), when the scan is completed at correct calibration. Audible indication may comprise any sound. Tactile indication can comprise vibration. Instead of a front camera of the device, the back camera (i.e. camera locating on the back cover of the device) may also be configured to perform the iris scan. Such a situation may occur, when the device does not have a front camera. When the scanning camera is not on the same side with the display, the indication of the completed scanning can be given to the user with audible or tactile means or with a flashlight or a LED.

Figure 7 illustrates an embodiment of a system providing biometric authentication. The system comprises a UID service 710 that comprises a database for at least biometric data and corresponding identification numbers. The data in the UID service 710 is utilized by various services/applications 760, 770 that can be accessed by the user through a biometric identification. When a user desires to use an application 760, s/he provides her/his biometric data by a biometric scanner 730 (e.g. a device according to present embodiments) to the UID portal 720. The UID portal 720 defines whether the biometric identification and the UID number match with the data in the UID service 710. If the data matches, the UID portal may command the access API (Application Programming Interface) 740 to provide access to the user to the desired application 760.

Fig. 8 shows an apparatus according to an example embodiment. The apparatus may comprise memory, at least one processor and a circuitry and electronics for handling, receiving and transmitting data. In the example of Fig. 8, the apparatus 851 contains memory 852, at least one processor 853 and 856, and computer program code 854 (such as a client software according to Fig. 6) residing in the memory 852. The apparatus may also have one or more cameras 855 and 859 for capturing image data, for example stereo video. The apparatus may also contain one, two or more microphones 857 and 858 for capturing sound. The apparatus may also comprise a display 860. The display 860 is extended at least partly on the back cover of the apparatus. The apparatus 851 may also comprise an interface means (e.g., a user Interface) which allows a user to interact with the apparatus. The user interface means may be implemented using a display 860, a keypad 861 , voice control, or other structures. The apparatus may also be connected to another device e.g. by means of a communication block (not shown in Fig. 8) able to receive and/or transmit information. It needs to be understood that different embodiments of the apparatus allow different parts to be carried out in different elements.

The embodiments of the solution provide intuitive form factor for biometric scan. The embodiments represent a substantial advancement in the field of biometric identification as to its multifinger support and selective scan support (full ten finger, single hand, single finger). In addition, the present embodiments support threshold based biometric identification. The embodiments of the solution can operate on single touch screen technology. The embodiments are also easily scalable for future requirements for high secure authentication. In addition, the present biometric identification works with variety of authentication systems.

It is obvious that the present invention is not limited solely to the above-presented embodiments, but it can be modified within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

Claims:

1 . A method, comprising:

receiving a request from requesting means to provide fingerprint data, said request comprising requirement for the fingerprint data;

performing a fingerprint scan for a plurality of fingers in order to receive a plurality of fingerprint data; and

transmitting at least one fingerprint datum of the plurality of the fingerprint data to the requesting means.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the requirement includes at least one of the following: optional one or more fingerprints, selected one or more fingerprints, full ten fingerprints, full five fingerprints, selected hand, a certain threshold for fingerprint quality.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising

- selecting at least one fingerprint datum from said plurality of fingerprint data according to the requirement in said request, wherein said selected at least one fingerprint datum is transmitted to the requesting means.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2 or 3, wherein the request also comprises a request to provide iris data relating to one or two iris.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising

- receiving iris data from one camera.

6. The method according to claim 4, further comprising

- receiving iris data from two cameras.

7. The method according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 6, wherein the requesting means is one of the following: a device, an application, a service.

8. The method according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, further comprising - receiving the fingerprint data from a single fingerprint detector.

9. The method according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 8, further comprising - receiving the fingerprint data from a plurality of fingerprint detectors.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:

- receive a request from requesting means to provide fingerprint data, said request comprising requirement for the fingerprint data;

- perform a fingerprint scan for a plurality of fingers in order to receive a plurality of fingerprint data; and

- transmit at least one fingerprint datum of the plurality of the fingerprint data to the requesting means.

1 1 . The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the requirement includes at least one of the following: optional one or more fingerprints, selected one or more fingerprints, full ten fingerprints, full five fingerprints, selected hand, a certain threshold for fingerprint quality.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10 or 1 1 , further comprising computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:

13. The apparatus according to claim 10 or 1 1 or 12, wherein the request also comprises a request to provide iris data relating to one or two iris.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:

- receiving iris data from one camera.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:

- receiving iris data from two cameras.

16. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims 10 to 15, wherein the requesting means is one of the following: a device, an application, a service.

17. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims 10 to 16, further comprising computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:

- receiving the fingerprint data from a single fingerprint detector.

18. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims 10 to 17, further comprising computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:

- receiving the fingerprint data from a plurality of fingerprint detectors.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

- receiving means configured to receive a request from requesting means to provide fingerprint data, said request comprising requirement for the fingerprint data;

- scanning means configured to perform a fingerprint scan for a plurality of fingers in order to receive a plurality of fingerprint data; and

- transmitting means configured to transmit at least one fingerprint datum of the plurality of the fingerprint data to the requesting means.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the requirement includes at least one of the following: optional one or more fingerprints, selected one or more fingerprints, full ten fingerprints, full five fingerprints, selected hand, a certain threshold for fingerprint quality.

21 . The apparatus according to claim 19 or 20, further comprising processing means configured to select at least one fingerprint datum from said plurality of fingerprint data according to the requirement in said request, wherein said selected at least one fingerprint datum is transmitted to the requesting means.

22. The apparatus according to claim 19 or 20 or 21 , wherein the request also comprises a request to provide iris data relating to one or two iris.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising at least one imaging means configured to receive iris data.

24. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims 19 to 23, wherein the requesting means is one of the following: a device, an application, a service.

25. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims 19 to 24, wherein the scanning means comprises at least one fingerprint detector.

26. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium bearing computer program code embodied therein for use with a computer, the computer program code comprising:

- code for receiving a request from requesting means to provide fingerprint data, said request comprising requirement for the fingerprint data;

- code for performing a fingerprint scan for a plurality of fingers in order to receive a plurality of fingerprint data; and

- code for transmitting at least one fingerprint datum of the plurality of fingerprint data to the requesting means.

27. A computer-readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform:

- performing a fingerprint scan for a plurality of fingers in order to receive a plurality of fingerprint data; and

- transmitting at least one fingerprint datum of the plurality of the fingerprint data to the requesting means.

28. The computer-readable medium according to claim 27, wherein the requirement includes at least one of the following: optional one or more fingerprints, selected one or more fingerprints, full ten fingerprints, full five fingerprints, selected hand, a certain threshold for fingerprint quality.

29. The computer-readable medium according to claim 27 or 28, further configured to perform - selecting at least one fingerprint datum from said plurality of fingerprint data according to the requirement in said request, wherein said selected at least one fingerprint datum is transmitted to the requesting means.

30. The computer-readable medium according to claim 27 or 28 or 29, wherein the request also comprises a request to provide iris data relating to one or two iris.

31 . The computer-readable medium according to claim 30, further configured to perform receiving iris data from one camera.

32. The computer-readable medium according to claim 30, further configured to perform receiving iris data from two cameras.

33. The computer-readable medium according to one of the preceding claims 27 to

32, wherein the requesting means is one of the following: a device, an application, a service.

34. The computer-readable medium according to one of the preceding claims 27 to

33, further configured to perform receiving the fingerprint data from a single fingerprint detector.

35. The computer-readable medium according to one of the preceding claims 27 to

34, further configured to perform receiving the fingerprint data from a plurality of fingerprint detectors.