The handwritten signature as a biometric identifier: psychophysical model and system design

• Published in: European Convention on Security and Detection pp. 23 - 27
• Main Author: Plamondon, R
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: London IEE 1995
• Subjects: Computer vision and image processing techniques; Data security; test signature; psychophysical model; microcomputer applications; biometric identifier; system design; US Patents; handwriting recognition; human neuromuscular system; PC compatible environment; personalized multilevel comparison algorithm; verification mode; handwritten signature; authorisation; intrinsic stability; online approaches; registration mode; reference signatures; signature generation model
• ISBN: 0852966407; 9780852966402
• DOI: 10.1049/cp:19950462

The paper presents a signature generation model based on a few fundamental properties of the human neuromuscular system. It suggests some causes of the intrinsic stability and variability of signatures and provides conditions for using the signature as a biometric identifier. A brief critical survey of the different online approaches that have been used to tackle these problems over the past decades is then presented. Finally, a complete system based on the previous neuromuscular model is described, with special emphasis on the various decisions that have been made throughout the design process. The system (US Patents 5,077,802 and 5,101,437) works in a PC compatible environment. In registration mode, it quantifies the stability and variability of three reference signatures of a subject. In verification mode, the system segments and analyzes any test signature using a personalized, multilevel comparison algorithm. A decision about the authenticity of the test signature is generally made within a couple of seconds, based on global parameters, velocity functions and image features. We conclude with an overview of current work in the field.