BIOMETRIC AUTHENTICATION - How fingerprint recognition technology works

When the user places a finger on a Fingerprint Recognition Device for the first time, the fingerprint is scanned and converted into a computer-generated "biometric template". The templates can ONLY be recognized by the bio- metric devices created by a specific manufacturer. Also note; that these "templates" are NOT actual fingerprint im- ages. "Real" fingerprint images cannot be re-generated from these templates.

All fingerprints contain a unique number of physical characteristics called minutiae. Minutia include certain visible aspects of fingerprints such as ridges, ridge endings, and bifurcation (forking) of ridges. Most of the minutiae are found in the core points of fingerprints, and the core points themselves are found near the center of the fingerprint on the fleshy pad of the finger.

Core Points:

During the enrollment process, when the user places his/her finger(s) on the SecuraStock fingerprint sensor, the SecuraStock takes a picture of that user's finger's key minutiae points. The SecuraStock then uses its proprietary mathematical algorithm and converts that picture into a unique mathematical template which is comparable to a 60

-digit password. This unique template is then encrypted and stored in the SecuraStock database.

IMPORTANT NOTE

Privacy issues should never become a concern when using SecuraStock, since NO REAL IMAGE OF A USER'S FINGERPRINT IS ACTUALLY STORED. ONLY the minutiae-based templates are actually stored.

Each time a user's fingerprint is scanned, the SecuraStock searches its database for a matching fingerprint. If a user's matching fingerprint is found, then "door access" is recorded in the SecuraStock "audit log" and will be noted in subsequent reports.