Iris Recognition

Sathya Swathi Mabbu

Long N Vuong
 Topics
 Technique of iris recognition
 Attacks
 Implementation
 Advantages & Disadvantages
 Why Iris Recognition?
 Iris patterns are unique.
 Iris patterns do not change with age.
 Non Contact approach.
 Simplicity and ease of implementation.
 Speed – the process of matching the iris
patterns is very fast.
 Technique
Step 1: Capturing the image of the eye using a camera.
Step 2: Differentiating the outline of the iris and the sclera,
and the pupil from the iris.
sclera

iris

pupil

Step 3: Encoding the image using demodulation (also

removes reflections, intrusion of eye lid lashes, contact
lens outline etc.,). Code is 256 bytes.
 Iris pattern - Comparison
 Test of Statistical Independence
 Compare the iris codes (256*8=2048 bits)
of the eyes using the following formula

[Code A (XOR) Code B] AND Mask A AND Mask B

H.D =
Mask A AND Mask B

This is called Hamming Distance (H.D).

 Speed Performance
 On a 300 MHz workstation, the execution times
for the steps in iris recognition are listed below,
Operation Time
 Image focus 15 millisec
 Scrub specular reflections 56 millisec
 Localize eye and iris 90 millisec
 Fit pupillary boundary 12 millisec
 Detect both eyelids 93 millisec
 Remove lashes and contact lens edges 78 millisec
 Demodulation and IrisCode creation 102 millisec
 XOR comparison of two IrisCodes 10 micro sec

 100,000 comparisons can be performed in a

second.
IrisCode is a registered trademark of Iridian Technologies
 Attacks

1. Iris patterns printed

on contact lens
Countermeasure: 2D
Fourier Transform
 Attacks cont…
 Digital Replay attack
Countermeasure: Encryption of iris code,
database security.
Example: Iridian Technologies has established
3DES Encryption as the standard.
 Attacks cont…
 Picture of an iris
Countermeasure: Liveness test ( on command eye
movement, pupillary light reflex , red eye effect,
light absorption properties of living tissue,
hippus etc.,)

RED EYE EFFECT

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE IRIS RECOGNITION SYSTEM
 The Process and Analysis Unit
 Each image is given to the P&A Unit for recognition:
1. Splits the colored image and tests the morphology
2. Transforms the image in a 3D image
3. Transforms the image in the frequencies domain
4. Transforms the image in a multidimensional objects,
then the algorithm executes the last analysis to
recognize a person
The Largest National Deployment
 Iris recognition border-crossing system in the
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
 Advantages of the Iris for
Identification
 Highly protected, internal organ of the eye
 Externally visible, patterns imaged from a
distance
 Iris patterns possess a high degree of
randomness
 Patterns apparently stable throughout life
 Encoding and decision-making are
tractable
 Disadvantages of the Iris for
Identification
 Small target to acquire from a distance
 Moving target…within another…on yet
another
 Located behind a curved, wet, reflecting
surface
 Obscured by eyelashes, lenses, reflections
 Illumination should not be visible or bright
 Why iris recognition is not so famous?

 Convenience
 Acceptance
 Cost
Q&A