NIST develops biometric communication protocol

The new protocol is said to use some of the same technologies that underpin the web.

The protocol, called WS-Biometric Devices (WS-BD), reportedly allows desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones to access sensors that capture biometric data such as fingerprints, iris images and face images using web services.

According to a statement from NIST, the WS-BD protocol will make it easier to set up and maintain secure biometric systems for verifying identity because such biometric systems will be more straightforward to assemble with interoperable components compared with current biometrics systems that generally have proprietary device-specific drivers and cables.

WS-BD enables interoperability by adding a device-independent web-services layer in the communication protocol between biometric devices and systems.

‘This would be useful to many organisations that house biometric systems, including border control and customs agencies,’ said computer scientist Kevin Mangold.

Using current biometric systems, when one biometric sensor breaks it can be expensive and time consuming to find a replacement because manufacturers often change product lines and phase out previous-generation devices. A few broken devices could entail having to rebuild the entire system, upgrade devices and drivers that may be incompatible with host operating systems and retrain personnel, he added.