Standards

Recognizing that the development of standards is crucial to the mass adoption of biometrics, L-1 Identity Solutions actively participates in both nationally- and internationally-recognized standards initiatives:

  • Technical co-editor for face recognition data interchange specifications (ANSI/INCITS 385 and ISO 19794-5, referred to by the ICAO 9303 standard for Machine-Readable Travel Documents).
  • Technical co-editor for iris data interchange format.
  • Contributor to minutiae- and image-based fingerprint data interchange format standards.
  • Technical co-editor and active contributor to technical interfaces specifications such as CBEFF and BioAPI.
  • Voting member of International Committee on Information Technology Standards M1 (biometrics section of national organization that produces technical standards for the American National Standards Institute).
  • Technical expert on the US delegation to the JTC1/International Standards Organization SC37 (Subcommittee on Biometrics).
  • Collaborated with ICAO representatives in travel document standards setting activities.
  • Actively shaping standards via work in task groups for smart cards and biometric application profiles. Attend meetings related to the standards applicable to both our core technology and our products.
  • Technical expert on the US delegation to the International Standards Organization JTC1 SC17 WG3 (Identification Cards and Personal Identification / Machine Readable Travel Documents).

In addition, L-1 Identity Solutions either currently complies or is in the process of complying with the following standards and specifications:

  • ANSI/INCITS 378 and ISO/IEC 19794-2 Minutiae-Based Fingerprint Data Interchange:
    Facilitates interoperability and efficiency in terms of storage for minutiae-based fingerprint templates.
  • ANSI/INCITS 385 and ISO/IEC 19794-5 Face Recognition Data Interchange Format:
    Ensures that enrolled images will meet a quality standard needed for both automated face recognition and human inspection of facial images; facilitates the use of face information in applications that have limited storage (e.g. passports, visas, driver’s licenses, etc.) and allows interoperability among facial recognition vendors.
  • ANSI/INCITS 379 and ISO/IEC 19794-6 Iris Data Interchange Format:
    Facilitates interoperability by defining a standard for exchange of iris image information. Contains a specific definition of attributes, a data record format for storing and transmitting the iris image and certain attributes, a sample record, and conformance criteria
  • ISO/IEC 19784-1 BioAPI 2.0:
    Defines a high-level generic biometric verification and identification model allowing software applications to interface with underlying biometric services and technologies. Enables components of a biometric system to be provided by more than one vendor and to work together through a defined API (application programming interface). Open-system, consensus standard developed by a consortium of biometric vendors, integrators, and end-users over a period of several years. L-1 Identity Solutions is an active member of the INCITS M1 and ISO SC37 Technical Interfaces committees that developed and maintain this important interoperability standard.
  • ISO/IEC 19785 CBEFF:
    Defines a data structure for creating files of biometric data that fosters interoperability between biometric components and systems. Consists of a standard header, a biometric specific memory block (BSMB), and an optional digital signature. Also includes specification for patron formats.
  • MINEX:
    Ongoing evaluation by NIST of vendor interoperability based on the ANSI/INCITS 378 standard. Provides measurements of performance and interoperability of core template encoding and matching technologies. Developed to establish compliance for the US Government’s PIV (Personal Identity Verification) Program. Minutiae Exchange (MINEX) tests are performed on an SDK submitted by a vendor. L-1’s BioEngine SDK includes MINEX template creation and matching capabilities that exceed the interoperability performance provided by the version NIST evaluated in 2005 and reported on March 2006. This SDK can be used to implement MINEX functionality as part of a custom application. L-1 makes this available as an optional add-on to the workflow around an ABIS fingerprint solution.