• Journal of KIISE:Software and Applications
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.911-921
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• 2004

Accurate minutiae extraction from input fingerprint images is one of the critical modules in robust automatic fingerprint identification system. However, the performance of a minutiae extraction is heavily dependent on the quality of the input fingerprint images. If the preprocessing is performed according to the fingerprint image characteristics in the image enhancement step, the system performance will be more robust. In this paper, we propose a knowledge-based preprocessing method, which extracts S features (the mean and variance of gray values, block directional difference, orientation change level, and ridge-valley thickness ratio) from the fingerprint images and analyzes image quality with Ward's clustering algorithm, and enhances the images with respect to oily/neutral/dry characteristics. Experimental results using NIST DB 4 and Inha University DB show that clustering algorithm distinguishes the image Quality characteristics well. In addition, the performance of the proposed method is assessed using quality index and block directional difference. The results indicate that the proposed method improves both the quality index and block directional difference.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.142-153
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• 2016

In crime scene investigation, fingerprint identification is regarded to be one of the most important techniques for personal identification. However, objective and unbiased evaluation methods that would compare the fingerprints with diverse available and developing methods are currently lacking. To develop an objective and quantitative method to improve fingerprint evaluation, a preliminary study was performed to extract useful research information from the analysis with densitometric image analysis (CP Atlas 2.0) and the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) for the developed fingerprints on porous surfaces. First, inked fingerprints obtained by varying pressure (kg.f) and pressing time (sec.) to find optimal conditions for obtaining fingerprint samples were analyzed, because they could provide fingerprints of a relatively uniform quality. The extracted number of minutiae from the analysis with AFIS was compared with the calculated areas of friction ridge peaks from the image analysis. Inked fingerprints with a pressing pressure of 1.0 kg.f for 5 seconds provided the most visually clear fingerprints, the highest number of minutiae points, and the largest average area of the peaks of the friction ridge. In addition, the images of the developed latent fingerprints on thermal paper with the iodine fuming method were analyzed. Fingerprinting condition of 1.0 kg.f/5 sec was also found to be optimal when generating highest minutiae number and the largest average area of peaks of ridges. Additionally, when the concentration of ninhydrin solution (0.5 % vs. 5 %) was used to compare the developed latent fingerprints on print paper, the best fingerprinting condition was 2.0 kg.f/5 sec and 5 % of ninhydrin concentration. It was confirmed that the larger the average area of the peaks generated by the image analysis, the higher the number of minutiae points was found. With additional tests for fingerprint evaluation using the densitometric image analysis, this method can prove to be a new quantitative and objective assessment method for fingerprint development.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.2583-2605
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• 2016

Fingerprint positioning is a main stream and key technique for seamless positioning systems. In this paper, we develop a performance evaluation testbed for fingerprint based Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) positioning system. The testbed consists of positioning server, positioning terminal, Access Point (AP) units, positioning accuracy analysis system and testing scenarios. Different from other testbeds tended to focus on testing in same situation, in the proposed testbed, a couple of scenarios are set to test the positioning system including indoor and outdoor environments. Handset-side positioning mode and network-side positioning mode are provided simultaneously. Variety of motion models, such as static model, low-speed model and high-speed model are considered as well as different positioning algorithms. Finally, some implementation cases are analyzed to verify the credibility of the testbed.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.1066-1071
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• 1998

This paper aims to examine the relationship between the directional characteristics and the quality for fingerprint image as preprocessing stage for adative image enchancement. In order to do that, we transformed the original images into directional images and set up the subimage size of 16, 32, 64 and the direction of 1, 2, 3, 4. Then we extracted the accumulated directional value as the measurement of quality for fingerprint images. By using the clustering algirthm, we performed an analytic experiemnt with the result. Finally, we could extract the optimal subimage size and directional characteristics of fingerprint image.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.258-263
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• 2001

This paper complements the shortcomings of the original edge following algorithm. We propose a new edge following method which exploits the uncertainty residing in fingerprint analysis. Based on fuzzy set theory, the proposed algorithm computes the current local quality of a fingerplinL image by considering two Jocal properties: a relative cardinality of fuzzy set and a local variance. According to the calculated local quality infonnation, we dynamically adopt the appropriate different methods.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2006.04a
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• pp.136-137
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• 2006

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.287-295
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• 2017

This study is aimed at observing effects of fingerprint image quality on various photographing conditions in the aspect of resolution. Discrimination between two friction ridges plays an important role in the value of fingerprint image, and it can be confirmed with quantification of pixels of boundary region which is existing between two friction ridges. In this study, several factors were estimated with same fingerprint image using Adobe photoshop CS 6 for analysis: changes of image quality by ISO, movement when photographing, and photographers' experience and skill. Consequently, there was no significant change of image quality by ISO. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the hand-held images between crime scene investigators and laymen, yet there was significant difference between hand-held images and images using tripod in the aspect of resolution. This study shows that using tripod is very important in forensic fingerprint photography through empirical methods.

• Journal of the Institute of Convergence Signal Processing
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.249-255
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• 2004

In fingerprint verification and identification, fingerprint and background region should be segmented. For this purpose, most systems obtain variance of brightness of X and Y direction using Sobel mask. To decide given local region is background or not, the variance is compared with a certain threshold. Although this method is simple, most fingerprint image does not separated with two region of fingerprint and background region. In this paper, we presented a new segmentation algorithm based on Run-Length Connectivity analysis. For a given binary image after thresholding, suggested algorithm calculates RL of X and Y direction. Until the given image is segmented to two regions, small run region is successively inverted. Experimental result show that this algorithm effectively separates fingerprint region and background region.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.27 no.8A
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• pp.796-804
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• 2002

This paper presents a new algorithm of fingerprint image analysis and processing using directional filter bank(DFB). The directional components of ridge is very important in pre-processing steps of fingerprint image processing such as image enhancement by directional filtering followed by estimationg the directional image of ridge patterns. The DFB analyzes input image into directional subband images and synthesizes them to the perfectly reconstructed image. In this paper, a new fingerprint processing algorithm using the DFB is proposed. The algorithm decomposes the fingerprint image into directional subband images and performs directional map generation, foreground segmentation, singular points extraction and image enhancement based on local directional energy estimate.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.283-292
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• 2016

Conventional fingerprint powders used during crime scene investigations pose potential health hazards. Thus, multiple natural replacement powders, including squid ink powder, indigo and rice powder were used to develop (visualize) latent fingerprints on non-porous surfaces (e.g., glass, plastic and tile). Fingerprints developed using the natural powders were compared using the Automatic Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) with those developed with traditional black powder. The peak areas of ridges were also compared using densitometric image analyses. Collectively, objective and quantitative evaluation methods were developed. The effectiveness of natural powders varied depending on the surface but, in general, squid ink powder performed well on most surfaces. Indigo powder performed well on tile surfaces, while rice powder performed well on glass surfaces. Plastic was the most difficult surface from which to develop fingerprints. Image analysis using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) demonstrated the importance of the size and shape of natural powder particles to properly adhere to the ridges. Although densitometric image analyses did not correlate the number of minutiae and ridge peak areas, an unbiased, objective evaluation method would be possible using image analyses with a reference image. Additional experimentation will yield safe and cost-effective natural powders with which adequate fingerprint development can be performed.