Biometric Group Authentication via Count Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing access control devices, such as Automated Border Control gates, are inefficient in handling groups of people due to the administrative effort required for prior separation and limited throughput, and are not suitable for recording biometric characteristics in the required quality for multiple individuals simultaneously.

Innovation Solution

A device comprising a people counting system and a detection system that determines the number of individuals and detects biometric features, only providing the recorded features for processing if the number of detected individuals matches the counted number, using various sensors like cameras, fingerprint readers, and iris scanners, and includes a communication interface for remote processing and a signal generator to ensure complete recording.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If prior isolation of individuals is implemented to ensure unambiguous biometric matching, then biometric authentication reliability is improved, but administrative effort increases and throughput decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebiometric authentication reliabilityVSAvoidthroughput
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the biometric verification process into two independent stages: (1) simultaneous capture of biometric data from multiple individuals in a group using arrays of sensors, and (2) individual processing and matching of each biometric dataset against reference data. This segmentation allows groups to be processed efficiently without requiring physical separation, thereby maintaining reliability while improving throughput.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary capture of all biometric characteristics from group members simultaneously before any matching or verification operations. The biometric data (facial images, iris patterns, fingerprints) is captured and stored in association with each individual's travel document data in advance, enabling subsequent rapid verification without requiring individuals to be processed sequentially.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If prior isolation of individuals is implemented to ensure unambiguous biometric matching, then biometric authentication reliability is improved, but administrative effort increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebiometric authentication reliabilityVSAvoidadministrative effort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service biometric capture where group members present their travel documents and have their biometric characteristics automatically captured by the sensor arrays without requiring administrative personnel to manually isolate or process each individual. The automated capture and association of biometric data with travel document information eliminates manual intervention, reducing administrative effort while maintaining verification reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If surveillance cameras are used to track multiple individuals, then throughput is improved, but biometric characteristic quality and completeness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovethroughputVSAvoidbiometric characteristic quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces conventional surveillance cameras with specialized biometric sensor arrays including facial image cameras, iris scanners, and fingerprint sensors. These dedicated biometric capture devices are positioned and configured to simultaneously acquire high-quality biometric characteristics from multiple individuals in a group, ensuring both throughput improvement and maintenance of biometric data quality through purpose-built hardware rather than general-purpose surveillance equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3611659B1Device for providing a plurality of biometric features of a plurality of people in a group
Publication Date: 2023.10.18 BUNDESDRUCKEREI GMBH
  • EP3611659B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3611659B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3611659B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (100) for providing a plurality of biometric characteristics of a plurality of persons in a group of persons, wherein each person is assigned a biometric characteristic. The device (100) comprises a people-counting device (101) configured to determine the number of persons in the group of persons in order to obtain a first count. The device (100) further comprises a detection device (103) configured to detect the plurality of biometric characteristics, to compare at least two biometric characteristics of the plurality of biometric characteristics, to determine a number of distinct biometric characteristics within the plurality of biometric characteristics in order to obtain a second count of persons, and to provide the plurality of biometric characteristics if the first count of persons matches the second count of persons.