METHOD FOR CONCEALING AND AUTHENTICATING BIOMETRIC DATA

Notice Date

January 26, 2001

Contracting Office

Sandia National Laboratories, Technology Partnerships Dept., PO Box 5800-MS1380, Albuquerque, NM 87185-1380

ZIP Code

87185-1380

E-Mail Address

click here to contact the Sandia CBD Administrator (adulsk@sandia.gov)

Description

Sandia National Laboratories (Albuquerque, New Mexico) has developed a method for concealing high-dimensional data (e.g., a spectrum or an image), subject to measurement error, such that identifying attributes of the data are hidden while the ability to authenticate the hidden data is maintained. The authentication of an individual via a high-dimensional biometric (e.g., fingerprint, retinal scan, near-infrared spectrum of tissue, etc.) is a situation where it would be valuable to apply such a method. In its natural state, the biometric might convey private information about the individual who is to be authenticated (e.g., medical condition of the individual). Furthermore, an individual's measured biometric will vary slightly each time it is presented, yet it must be compared with a reference signal from that particular individual. This measurement error invalidates the use of standard cryptographic authentication methods in such situations. In order to avoid disclosure of private information, the biometric signal is hidden via a transformation. The transformed signal is such that it provides no disclosure of private information while maintaining the ability to authenticate an individual even in the presence of measurement error. An example of how this method might be applied is as follows. During the initialization process for an individual, a single biometric measurement is obtained. A PIN is used to create an individual-specific transformation that converts the sensitive biometric to a non-revealing reference signal. During subsequent authentication attempts, the individual uses the same PIN to transform the new biometric into a form that is comparable to the reference signal. Sandia is making this method available to companies interested in partnering with Sandia to develop near/term and/or future applications of this method via licensing or cooperative development agreements. For further information, please respond by mail or fax to Alane Dulski by February 24, 2001 at: Sandia National Laboratories, MS 1380, P. O. Box 5800, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185-1380. Fax: (505) 843-4181. Please indicate the date and title of this CBD notice and the type of partnering agreements your company would be most interested in entering into.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010129/SPMSC004.HTM (W-025 SN50B8Y1)