What is claimed is:
1. A method of configuring a data processing system following a power on or hardware reset event, comprising:
identifying at least one peripheral device connected to the system;
determining whether a hidden partition of a system DASD includes a BIOS extension file corresponding to the identified peripheral device; and
responsive to detecting a BIOS extension file corresponding to the identified peripheral device in the hidden partition, copying the file into a portion of a system memory of the data processing system.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying at least one peripheral device comprises a portion of a BIOS sequence initiated in response to the power on or hardware reset event.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining whether the hidden partition includes the BIOS extension file and copying the file into system memory comprise a portion of the BIOS sequence.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying at least one peripheral device comprises identifying a PCI adapter connected to a PCI bus of the data processing system.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying at least one peripheral device includes determining an adapter ID associated with the peripheral device and wherein determining whether the hidden partition includes the BIOS extension file comprises determining whether a BIOS extension file corresponding to the adapter ID is present.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining whether a BIOS extension file corresponding to the adapter ID is present comprises determining whether the hidden partition includes a file having a filename corresponding to the adapter ID.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether a hidden partition includes the BIOS extension file includes determining the boundary of the hidden partition.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the boundary of the hidden partition includes determining the MAX ADDRESS associated with the DASD.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the DASD is partitioned in compliance with PARTIES documentation.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the hidden partition includes a BIOS extension file and copying the file into system memory are repeated for each identified peripheral device.
11. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining that the identified adapter has an Option ROM and responsive thereto, copying either the Option ROM code or BIOS extension file in the hidden partition based on the state of a user-alterable system parameter.
12. A computer program product comprising a set of processor executable instructions for configuring a data processing system stored on a computer readable medium, the instructions comprising:
computer code means for identifying at least one peripheral device connected to the system;
computer code means for determining whether a hidden partition of a system DASD includes a BIOS extension file corresponding to the identified peripheral device; and
computer code means responsive to detecting a BIOS extension file corresponding to the identified peripheral device in the hidden partition for copying the file into a portion of a system memory of the data processing system.
13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the code means for identifying at least one peripheral device comprises a portion of a system BIOS.
14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the code means for determining whether the hidden partition includes the BIOS extension file and copying the file into system memory comprise a portion of the system BIOS.
15. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the code means for identifying at least one peripheral device comprises code means for identifying a PCI adapter connected to a PCI bus of the data processing system.
16. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the code means for identifying at least one peripheral device includes code means for determining an adapter ID associated with the peripheral device and wherein the code means for determining whether the hidden partition includes the BIOS extension file comprises code means for determining whether a BIOS extension file corresponding to the adapter ID is present.
17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the code means for determining whether a BIOS extension file corresponding to the adapter ID is present comprises code means for determining whether the hidden partition includes a file having a filename corresponding to the adapter ID.
18. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the code means for determining whether a hidden partition includes the BIOS extension file includes codes means for determining the boundary of the hidden partition.
19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the code means for determining the boundary of the hidden partition includes code means for determining the MAX ADDRESS associated with the DASD.
20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the DASD is partitioned in compliance with PARTIES documentation.
21. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the code means for determining whether the hidden partition includes a BIOS extension file and the code means for copying the file into system memory are repeated for each identified peripheral device.
22. The computer program product of claim 12, further comprising determining that the identified adapter has an Option ROM and responsive thereto, copying either the Option ROM code or BIOS extension file in the hidden partition based on the state of a user-alterable system parameter.
23. A data processing system including at least one processor, a system memory connected to the processor, a non-volatile storage device connected to the processor containing BIOS code, and a DASD connected to an IO bus of the system, the BIOS containing code for configuring the data processing system, the code comprising:
computer code means for identifying at least one peripheral device connected to the system;
computer code means for determining whether a hidden partition of a system DASD includes a BIOS extension file corresponding to the identified peripheral device; and
computer code means responsive to detecting a BIOS extension file corresponding to the identified peripheral device in the hidden partition for copying the file into a portion of a system memory of the data processing system.
24. The data processing system of claim 23, wherein the code means for identifying at least one peripheral device comprises a portion of a system BIOS.
25. The data processing system of claim 24, wherein the code means for determining whether the hidden partition includes the BIOS extension file and copying the file into system memory comprise a portion of the system BIOS.
26. The data processing system of claim 23, wherein the code means for identifying at least one peripheral device comprises code means for identifying a PCI adapter connected to a PCI bus of the data processing system.
27. The data processing system of claim 23, wherein the code means for identifying at least one peripheral device includes code means for determining an adapter ID associated with the peripheral device and wherein the code means for determining whether the hidden partition includes the BIOS extension file comprises code means for determining whether a BIOS extension file corresponding to the adapter ID is present.
28. The data processing system of claim 27, wherein the code means for determining whether a BIOS extension file corresponding to the adapter ID is present comprises code means for determining whether the hidden partition includes a file having a filename corresponding to the adapter ID.
29. The data processing system of claim 23, wherein the code means for determining whether a hidden partition includes the BIOS extension file includes codes means for determining the boundary of the hidden partition.
30. The data processing system of claim 29, wherein the code means for determining the boundary of the hidden partition includes code means for determining the MAX ADDRESS associated with the DASD.
31. The data processing system of claim 30, wherein the DASD is partitioned in compliance with PARTIES documentation.
32. The data processing system of claim 23, wherein the code means for determining whether the hidden partition includes a BIOS extension file and the code means for copying the file into system memory are repeated for each identified peripheral device.
33. The data processing system of claim 23, further comprising determining that the identified adapter has an Option ROM and responsive thereto, copying either the Option ROM code or BIOS extension file in the hidden partition based on the state of a user-alterable system parameter.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method of biometric authentication comprising:
a) extracting feature sample data from a biometric sample;
b) prioritizing feature sample data based on the probability that the feature sample data will lead to an accurate identification of the person providing the biometric sample;
c) receiving higher priority feature sample data before lower priority feature sample data and correlating a value of said prioritized feature sample data with a feature template value to determine a registration value representative of a mathematical correlation between said value of said prioritized feature sample data and said feature template value;
d) accumulating said registration value in a register to create an accumulated registration value;
e) comparing the accumulated registration value against a threshold indicative of a successful authentication of said biometric sample with said feature template; and
f) if the accumulated registration value exceeds said threshold, determining that a successful authentication has been conducted; otherwise, determining that an unsuccessful authentication has been conducted.
2. A method as in claim 1, further comprising repeating a) through e) for a plurality of feature sample data packets representative of said biometric sample until the accumulated registration value exceeds said threshold, indicating that a successful authentication has been conducted, and ending biometric authentication; otherwise, repeating a) through e) until successful authentication or all feature sample data packets have been processed without a successful authentication.
3. A method as in claim 2, wherein the feature sample data is prioritized based on likelihood of the feature sample data contributing most significantly to the accumulated registration value.
4. A method as in claim 3, wherein prioritizing the feature sample data comprises ordering the feature sample data in descending order of likelihood that the feature sample data will contribute most significantly to the accumulated registration value.
5. A method as in claim 2, wherein the feature sample data is prioritized based on the quality or uniqueness of the feature represented by the feature sample data.
6. A method as in claim 2, further comprising determining whether said feature sample data corresponds to a particular feature and, if so, accumulating a first accumulated registration value for said particular feature; otherwise, accumulating a second accumulated registration value for the absence of said particular feature.
7. A method as in claim 2, wherein said biometric sample represents a fingerprint, further comprising dividing said fingerprint into respective areas within a coordinate system adapted for the location of biometric features of interest for extracting.
8. A method as in claim 7, wherein the feature sample data from respective areas is prioritized based on likelihood of the feature sample data contributing most significantly to the accumulated registration value.
9. A method as in claim 7, wherein the feature sample data from respective areas is prioritized based on the quality or uniqueness of the feature represented by the feature sample data in said respective areas.
10. A system for biometric data extraction and transmission of biometric feature sample data comprising:
a buffer capable of storing prioritized feature sample data extracted from a biometric sample, wherein prioritization of said feature sample data is based on the probability that the feature sample data will lead to an accurate identification of the person providing the biometric sample;
a processor that receives higher priority feature sample data before lower priority feature sample data and is capable of correlating a value of said prioritized feature sample data with a feature template value to determine a registration value representative of a mathematical correlation between said value of said prioritized feature sample data and said feature template value; and
an accumulation value register capable of storing an accumulation of said registration value in a register to create an accumulated registration value;
wherein said processor further is capable of comparing the accumulated registration value against a threshold indicative of a successful authentication of said biometric sample with said feature template and if the accumulated registration value exceeds said threshold, said processor is capable of determining that a successful authentication has been conducted; otherwise, said processor is capable of determining that an unsuccessful authentication has been conducted.
11. A system as in claim 10, wherein said system is housed within a smart card.
12. A system as in claim 11, wherein said processor is capable of executing Java and wherein the feature sample data stored in said buffer is stored in temporary variables and the accumulated registration value stored in said accumulation value register upon processing of said feature sample data is stored in a temporary variable.
13. A system as in claim 10, wherein said system comprises a network server and wherein said buffer, said processor, and said accumulation value register are all housed within said network server.
14. A storage medium having data stored therein, said data relating to instructions for processing feature sample data extracted from a biometric sample to perform biometric authentication, said instructions instructing a processor to perform:
a) prioritizing feature sample data based on the probability that the feature sample data will lead to an accurate identification of the person providing the biometric sample;
b) receiving higher priority feature sample data before lower priority feature sample data and correlating a value of said prioritized feature sample data with a feature template value to determine a registration value representative of a mathematical correlation between said value of said prioritized feature sample data and said feature template value;
c) accumulating said registration value in a register to create an accumulated registration value;
d) comparing the accumulated registration value against a threshold indicative of a successful authentication of said biometric sample with said feature template; and
e) if the accumulated registration value exceeds said threshold, determining that a successful authentication has been conducted; otherwise, determining that an unsuccessful authentication has been conducted.
15. A storage medium as in claim 14, wherein said storage medium is housed within a smart card.
16. A storage medium as in claim 15, wherein said smart card further comprises a processor that is capable of executing Java and wherein the feature sample data is stored in temporary variables and the accumulated registration value upon processing of said feature sample data is stored in a temporary variable.
17. A storage medium as in claim 14, wherein said storage medium is housed within a network server.
18. A method of biometric authentication comprising:
a) extracting feature sample data from a biometric sample;
b) prioritizing feature sample data based on the probability that the feature sample data will lead to an accurate identification of the person providing the biometric sample;
c) receiving higher priority feature sample data before lower priority feature sample data and correlating a value of said prioritized feature sample data with a feature template value to determine a registration value representative of a mathematical correlation between said value of said prioritized feature sample data and said feature template value;
d) accumulating said registration value in a register to create an accumulated registration value;
e) comparing the accumulated registration value against a threshold indicative of a successful authentication of said biometric sample with said feature template; and
f) if the accumulated registration value exceeds said threshold, determining that a successful authentication has been conducted; otherwise, repeating a) through e) for a plurality of prioritized feature sample data packets representative of said biometric sample until the accumulated registration value exceeds said threshold, indicating that a successful authentication has been conducted, and ending biometric authentication; otherwise, repeating a) through e) until successful authentication or all prioritized feature sample data packets have been processed without a successful authentication.
19. A method as in claim 18, wherein the comparing is performed once for every M data packets of feature sample data that are processed in a) through d).
20. A method as in claim 19, wherein M=1.
21. A method as in claim 19, wherein only one data packet is processed at a time and discarded once processed.
22. A method as in claim 21, comprising providing a new data packet of prioritized feature sample data once said one data packet has been completely processed and the accumulated registration value has failed to exceed said threshold.
23. A method as in claim 18, wherein the method is performed at least partially within a biometric matching engine and wherein the biometric matching engine comprises a server based application.
24. A system for biometric data extraction and transmission of biometric feature sample data comprising:
a buffer capable of storing prioritized feature sample data extracted from a biometric sample, wherein prioritization of said feature sample data is based on the probability that the feature sample data will lead to an accurate identification of the person providing the biometric sample;
a processor that receives higher priority feature sample data before lower priority feature sample data and is capable of correlating a value of said prioritized feature sample data with a feature template value to determine a registration value representative of a mathematical correlation between said value of said prioritized feature sample data and said feature template value; and
an accumulation value register capable of storing an accumulation of said registration value in a register to create an accumulated registration value;
wherein said processor further is capable of comparing the accumulated registration value against a threshold indicative of a successful authentication of said biometric sample with said feature template and if the accumulated registration value exceeds said threshold, said processor is capable of determining that a successful authentication has been conducted; otherwise, said processor repeating the correlation, accumulation and comparison for a plurality of prioritized feature sample data packets representative of said biometric sample until the accumulated registration value exceeds said threshold, indicating that a successful authentication has been conducted, and ending biometric authentication, or until successful authentication or all prioritized feature sample data packets have been processed without a successful authentication.
25. A system as in claim 24, wherein said system is housed within a smart card.
26. A system as in claim 25, wherein said processor is capable of executing Java and wherein the feature sample data stored in said buffer is stored in temporary variables and the accumulated registration value stored in said accumulation value register upon processing of said feature sample data is stored in a temporary variable.
27. A system as in claim 24, wherein said system comprises a network server and wherein said buffer, said processor, and said accumulation value register are all housed within said network server.
28. A storage medium having data stored therein, said data relating to instructions for processing feature sample data extracted from a biometric sample to perform biometric authentication, said instructions instructing a processor to perform:
a) prioritizing feature sample data based on the probability that the feature sample data will lead to an accurate identification of the person providing the biometric sample;
b) receiving higher priority feature sample data before lower priority feature sample data and correlating a value of said prioritized feature sample data with a feature template value to determine a registration value representative of a mathematical correlation between said value of said prioritized feature sample data and said feature template value;
c) accumulating said registration value in a register to create an accumulated registration value;
d) comparing the accumulated registration value against a threshold indicative of a successful authentication of said biometric sample with said feature template; and
e) if the accumulated registration value exceeds said threshold, determining that a successful authentication has been conducted; otherwise, repeating a) through d) for a plurality of prioritized feature sample data packets representative of said biometric sample until the accumulated registration value exceeds said threshold, indicating that a successful authentication has been conducted, and ending biometric authentication; otherwise, repeating a) through d) until successful authentication or all prioritized feature sample data packets have been processed without a successful authentication.
29. A storage medium as in claim 28, wherein said storage medium is housed within a smart card.
30. A storage medium as in claim 29, wherein said smart card further comprises a processor that is capable of executing Java and wherein the feature sample data is stored in temporary variables and the accumulated registration value upon processing of said feature sample data is stored in a temporary variable.
31. A storage medium as in claim 28, wherein said storage medium is housed within a network server.