ABSTRACT
Fingerprint is the oldest method of identity authentication. It has
been formally accepted as a valid identity authentication method in
the court of law and used in forensics since the early 20th century
[1]. The fingertips have corrugated skin with line-like ridges flowing
from one side of the finger to another. The flow of the ridges
is not continuous and forms a pattern as shown in Fig. 2.1. The
pattern of ridges and ridge flow (also known as level-1 feature) gives
rise to classification pattern of arches, loops, and whorl while the
discontinuity in the ridges (also known as level-2 feature) gives rise
to feature points, called minutiae. The formation of the minutiae is
random, yet the fingerprint, once fully formed at about sevenmonths
of fetus development, will not change except due to injuries such
as cuts and burns or chemical erosion [2]. These properties make
fingerprint an attractive candidate for identity authentication.
