Optical waveguides – Optical fiber bundle
Reexamination Certificate
1997-09-25
2001-11-13
Bella, Matthew C. (Department: 2621)
Optical waveguides
Optical fiber bundle
C382S116000, C283S069000, C340S870030, C356S071000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06317544
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to identification systems. More particularly, it relates to a method and apparatus for identifying individuals based on biometric information such as fingerprints and photographs.
(b) Description of Related Art
In the past, identification of individuals that are processed by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) or other governmental agencies, for example, has been a relatively slow process. Although many governmental agencies maintain large databases containing fingerprints, photographic information and other relevant data pertaining to individuals that use the services of the respective agencies, no known system has been able to quickly search and retrieve information relating to identification and interaction with these individuals. For example, the INS interacts with and is required to identify millions of persons each year, including immigration law violators, immigration benefit applicants, individuals requesting asylum, travelers, and visitors to the United States. Many encounters are processed under severe time constraints and with insufficient access to relevant information.
A co-pending, commonly owned patent application, Ser. No. 08/937,957 filed on Sep. 25, 1997 addresses this problem by providing a distributed biometric identification system and architecture for rapidly identifying individuals using fingerprint and photographic data. The disclosed architecture includes a centralized INS server, a plurality of distributed client workstations that are remotely located from the centralized server, and a wide area telecommunications network interconnecting the client workstations to the server. The centralized server includes a transaction management subsystem, a database for storing fingerprint minutiae of individuals that are of interest to users of the system, a matching controller subsystem coupled between the transaction management subsystem and the database for matching fingerprints of individuals to fingerprints stored in the database, and an image storage and retrieval subsystem for storing and retrieving electronic images of fingerprints and photographic images of individuals.
The above-described system is highly effective in allowing a large number of remotely located users to access, search, compare and retrieve various types of biometric identifying data/information. The present invention is directed to an improvement wherein user location options, user mobility, and overall user access to the distributed biometric system is even further enhanced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention may be embodied in a distributed biometric identification system having highly mobile user workstations. More particularly, the invention may be embodied in a distributed, mobile biometric identification system and architecture for rapidly identifying individuals using fingerprint and photographic data. The disclosed architecture includes a centralized server, and a plurality of distributed, mobile client workstations that are remotely located from the centralized server. The mobile workstation includes a substantially portable two-way communications link (e.g., a land-based or satellite-based mobile radiotelephone) that may be used to place the mobile workstation in communication with the centralized server. The centralized server includes a transaction management subsystem, a database for storing fingerprint minutiae of individuals that are of interest to users of the system, a matching controller subsystem coupled between the transaction management subsystem and the database for matching fingerprints of individuals to fingerprints stored in the database, and an image storage and retrieval subsystem for storing and retrieving electronic images of fingerprints and photographic images of individuals.
The above-described mobile workstation is preferably embodied in a substantially portable computing environment having, for example, a portable computer, a portable camera coupled to the computer, a portable fingerprint scanner coupled to the computer, and a substantially portable two-way communications link (e.g., modem) coupled to the computer. Preferably, the communications link includes a land-based or satellite-based mobile radiotelephone.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the portable computer includes a so-called “notebook” or “laptop” computer having for example 32 MB of RAM, an AC power supply, and an AC power cable. Additionally, the portable computer is outfitted with an MRT VideoPort PC card and a Megahertz 33.6 modem/ethernet card. The MRT VideoPort PC card serves as the interface between the portable computer hardware and the fingerprint scanner and the color camera. An MRT video cable is also provided to connect the MRT VideoPort PC card to the fingerprint scanner and the color camera. The Megahertz 33.6 modem/ethernet card provides the portable computer the ability to network to the INS server from local and remote sites. Specifically, networking from local sites can be accomplished through the ethernet functionality of the card. Remote networking can be accomplished through the use of the 33.6 baud modem functionality of the card. Additionally, the required network and telephone cables are also used in the configuration. The portable computer may be configured with Windows 95 operating system software, for example. The portable computer may be further configured with a user-friendly and intuitive graphical user interface using, for example, Microsoft Visual C++ software, and a structured language (SQL) based, client-server, front end query tool. The SQL software is an off the shelf product from Oracle®. The SQL software is the foundation of the Oracle® level of communication within the system. That is, when the system user enters a query the Oracle® component that accepts the query needs to be able to communicate the query over the network to another Oracle® component. The SQL language performs the operation of enabling the query communication between Oracle® components. The portable computer's screen displays menu-driven screens from which users may select specific functions (such as search and enroll, search only, and verify functions) that are to be performed by the system.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the laptop computer, camera, fingerprint scanner and modem are electronically coupled together and conveniently housed in a carrying case. For example, a two-piece, hinged rugged construction carrying case may be outfitted with a foam template having cutouts for holding in place the various components, a power strip for accepting the power cord connections of the various components and providing 12 volt AC power thereto, and a 12 volt DC invertor having a 12 volt extension cord for coupling the strip to an alternative power source, for example, a cigarette lighter of an automobile. The power strip preferably includes surge suppressor circuitry to protect the various components from damage due to power surges.
In still another embodiment of the invention, the above-described portable computer may be housed in a portable, substantially rectangular, self-contained unit known generally as a “lunchbox” CPU. The lunchbox, according to the present invention, includes a main body, a front panel and a back panel. The front and back panels are hinged to the main body such that each may be folded up to a stowed position against the main body, or folded down to a deployed position away from the main body. In general, the main body houses the main computing boards and a display screen, the front panel houses a keyboard, and the back panel houses the camera, the fingerprint scanner and the modem. When in their stowed positions, the front and back panels and the main body combine to form the portable lunchbox. When the front panel is deployed, it exposes the keyboard and the display screen on the main body. When the back panel is deployed, it exposes the camera, fingerprint scanner and modem.
The following describes the
Braceland Joseph M.
Diehl Jeffrey W.
Glaze Mary L.
Baker & Botts L.L.P.
Bella Matthew C.
Chawan Sheela
Raytheon Company
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