Department of Defense Awards Contract to Ultra-Scan and University at Buffalo to Develop Optimal Biometric Systems

Business Wire, Sept 8, 2004

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Partnership Will Test Use of Multiple Biometrics to Accurately Identify Possible Threats to National Security

In an effort to advance the nation's ability to identify potential security threats, the Department of Defense through the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, has awarded Ultra-Scan Corporation and the University at Buffalo's Center for Unified Biometrics and Sensors (CUBS) a highly competitive Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) contract.

The initiative is focused upon the development of an optimal method of combining multiple biometric technologies to identify individuals in large-scale identity management programs. Ultra-Scan will work on this program in conjunction with CUBS, part of the University at Buffalo (UB), State University at New York.

"After the attacks of September 11th, accurate personal identification gained significant attention. Biometric-based recognition emerged as one of the most promising technologies to achieve high confidence in positively identifying individuals," said Dr. John K. Schneider, president of Ultra-Scan Corporation. "This project illustrates the commitment of the Department of Defense to further develop an effective and accurate identification system."

The goal of this STTR research contract is to develop effective data fusion techniques to precisely identify individuals based upon multiple physical characteristics (biometrics). By combining biometric measurements, such as a person's fingerprint and signature, an improvement in accuracy and processing speed is expected. This project builds upon an ongoing initiative between the U.S. Army and Ultra-Scan to develop and deliver a highly accurate two-finger fingerprint scanner.

The partnership teams CUBS' expertise in the use of signatures as a biometric and Ultra-Scan's superior fingerprint identification system (LUIS(TM)). Together, CUBS and Ultra-Scan will develop methods for the creation of highly accurate systems that identify individuals based on a combination of several biometrics. Human physical characteristics can change with age, weight, injury, and other such factors. By using multiple methods for measurement and identification, the challenges these variations pose can be minimized.

"While it is quite possible that the signatures of two individuals may be very similar, the chances that both their signatures and fingerprints are alike are very remote," said Venu Govindaraju, Ph.D., UB professor of computer science and engineering and director of CUBS. "Together, Ultra-Scan and CUBS are developing the science and the mathematics that will allow us to establish the optimal method of combining biometrics in a single system."

To date, biometrics-based access control systems have not been broadly deployed in large-scale applications. This is mostly due to a wide variation in accuracy from the use of a single biometric technology. Ultra-Scan and CUBS will combine their resources to create a system utilizing multiple biometric technologies that will enable large-scale applications to be successful. In addition, the research will result in applications for identity management systems within the healthcare and financial industries.

About the Center for Unified Biometrics and Sensors (CUBS), University at Buffalo, the State University at New York

The Center for Unified Biometrics and Sensors (CUBS) will advance the science of biometrics to provide key enabling technologies to build engineered systems with focus on homeland security applications. By fostering cross-disciplinary programs of research, education, community outreach, industry collaboration, and technology transfer, CUBS bridges academia and industry to design, develop, and prototype sensors and other devices for commercialization. The Center enables development of new biometric technologies from proof-of-concept to product-readiness including usability studies and educational outreach to evaluate and mitigate any ethical and legal concerns. It will also foster the development of radically different biometric technologies geared toward developing applications focused on improving comfort, convenience and security for personal and commercial use (http://cubs.buffalo.edu)

About Ultra-Scan Corporation

Ultra-Scan Corporation is an identity management solutions provider serving the healthcare, government and transportation security, and financial markets. Ultra-Scan's breakthrough biometric technology is distinguished from other authentication systems in three key areas: enrollability - the ability to read and enroll virtually any fingerprint; usability - the robustness to operate indoors or outdoors in real-world environments with quick throughput processing; and accuracy - the ability to perform faster and more accurate matches that any other biometric technology. The company holds U.S. pat. Nos. 5,224,174; 5,689,576; 5,587,533; 5,456,256; 5,647,364; 5,935,071; 6,296,610; 6,715,674 and has several foreign and U.S. Patents pending. Additional information can be found at www.ultra-scan.com.