Fernando L. Podio

Microscopic image analysis of defect areas in optical disks

This paper presents techniques developed at the Information Technology Laboratory of the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST/ITL) for enabling microscopic image analysis of optical data storage media such as optical disks. These non-destructive techniques allow investigators to easily locate on the media a pre-existing series of media defects. These techniques can be applied to any type of optical disks including CDs and DVDs. The paper describes the experimental setup and the techniques utilized to achieve localization and registration of media defects. These techniques include data acquisition, computer control, auto focus, image processing, and remote control and observation. An extension of this setup utilizing available graphical programming environments can allow investigators at different locations to share and discuss the information on media defects by use of the Internet.

Research on methods for determining optical disk media life expectancy estimates

Methodologies for determining extrapolated life expectancy values for optical disk media were investigated at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). These investigations showed that the life expectancy values of optical disk media vaiy greatly due to several factors, including the method used to derive the value of the quality parameter (the byte error rate), the areas measured in the disks, the written patterns used and the criteria for data analysis. Vendors life expectancy claims can be properly assessed by prospective users if standard methods for calculating and reporting extrapolated life expectancy values are implemented.

Advances in biometric standardisation - addressing global requirements for interoperable biometrics

Biometric standards promote the availability of multiple sources of compatible products in the marketplace. They benefit end-users as well as system developers, biometric vendors and the Information Technology industry. This paper addresses the status of published biometric standards, ongoing biometric standards development activities and short-term standards development plans. Development of biometric standards often impacts related efforts such as token-based, security and telecommunication standards development. Examples are provided. A brief discussion on the global marketplace needs for these standards (reflected in the ongoing development projects) and adoption examples are provided. The paper focuses mainly on international standards, but other biometric standards considered to have a large international impact are also addressed.

Conformance Testing Methodology Framework for ANSI/NIST-ITL 1-2011 Update: 2013, Data Format for the Interchange of Fingerprint, Facial & Other Biometric Information

ii Certain commercial entities, equipment, or materials may be identified in this document in order to describe an experimental procedure or concept adequately. Such identification is not intended to imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, nor is it intended to imply that the entities, materials, or equipment are necessarily the best available for the purpose. (NIST) stimulates U.S. economic growth and industrial competitiveness through technical leadership and collaborative research in critical infrastructure technology, including tests, test methods, reference data, and forward-looking standards, to advance the development and productive use of information technology. To overcome barriers to usability, scalability, interoperability, and security in information systems and networks, ITL programs focus on a broad range of networking, security, and advanced information technologies, as well as the mathematical, statistical, and computational sciences. Special Publication 500-series reports on ITLs research in tests and test methods for information technology, and its collaborative activities with industry, government and academic organizations. This publication is a contribution of the National Institute of Standards and Technology and is not subject to copyright. Any organization interested in reproducing Conformance Testing Framework for ANSI/NIST-ITL 1-2011 Update 2013, Data Format for the Interchange of Fingerprint, Facial & Other Biometric Information is free to do so. However, there shall be no alteration to any of the material information contained in the publication. NIST retains the sole right to submit this publication to any other forum for any purpose. Certain commercial entities, equipment, or materials may be identified in this document in order to describe an experimental procedure or concept adequately. Such identification is not intended to imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, nor is it intended to imply that the entities, materials, or equipment are necessarily the best available for the purpose. iv Foreword The existence of biometric standards alone is not enough to demonstrate that products meet the technical requirements specified in the standards. Conformance testing captures the technical description of a specification and measures whether an implementation faithfully implements the specification. Conformance testing provides developers, users, and purchasers with increased levels of confidence in product quality and increases the probability of successful interoperability. Lack of conformance to the required standard(s) can, in many cases, jeopardize the expected biometric recognition performance or prevent access to the data (as well as impact the overall operational performance) since implementers may …

Common Biometric Exchange Formats Framework Standardization

Common Biometric Exchange Formats Framework (CBEFF) provides a standardized set of definitions and procedures that support the interchange of biometric data in standard data structures called CBEFF biometric information records (BIRs). BIRs are well-defined data structures that consist of two or three parts: the standard biometric header (SBH), the biometric data block (BDB), and possibly the optional security block (SB). CBEFF permits considerable flexibility regarding BIR structures and BDB content, but does so in a way that makes it easy for biometric applications to evaluate their interest in processing a particular BIR. CBEFF imposes no restrictions on the contents of a BDB, which can conform to a standardized biometric data interchange format or can be completely proprietary. CBEFF standardizes a set of SBH data element definitions and their abstract values. A few of these data elements are mandatory in all SBHs (such as identifying the BDB format) and the rest are optional or conditional. Most of the data elements support description of various attributes of the BDB within the BIR. The optional SB provides a container for integrity and/or encryption related data that must be available to validate or process the BIR and/or BDB (such as integrity signatures and encryption algorithm identity).

ANSI/NIST-ITL 1-2011 Requirements and Conformance Test Assertions

(NIST) promotes the U.S. economy and public welfare by providing technical leadership for the Nations measurement and standards infrastructure. ITL develops tests, test methods, reference data, proof of concept implementations, and technical analysis to advance the development and productive use of information technology. ITLs responsibilities include the development of technical, physical, administrative, and management standards and guidelines for the cost-effective security and privacy of sensitive unclassified information in Federal computer systems. This Interagency Report discusses ITLs research, guidance, and outreach efforts in computer security, and its collaborative activities with industry, government, and academic organizations. Certain commercial entities, equipment, or materials may be identified in this document in order to describe an experimental procedure or concept adequately. Such identification is not intended to imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, nor is it intended to imply that the entities, materials, or equipment are necessarily the best available for the purpose. Abstract The current version of the ANSI/NIST-ITL standard Data Format for the Interchange of Fingerprint, Facial & Other Biometric Information is specified in two parts. Part 1, ANSI/NIST-ITL 1-2007, specifies the traditional format, and Part 2, ANSI/NIST-ITL 2-2008, specifies a NIEM-conformant XML format. Both parts have been combined into one document, which is being revised and augmented. The Computer Security Division (CSD) of NIST/ITL has developed a set of test assertions based on the requirements specified in the 4 th draft of the new ANSI/NIST-ITL standard. Over twelve hundred test assertions have been identified and organized into a set of tables to assist in the development of a conformance test tool designed to test implementations of the new version of the ANSI/NIST-ITL standard for selected record types. These tables were contributed to the Conformance Testing Methodology (CTM) Working Group which was recently established by NIST/ITL to develop a CTM for the new version of the ANSI/NIST-ITL (AN-2011) standard. A ballot was conducted on a revised draft (5th draft) of the AN-2011 standard. A new draft will be developed based on the comments received as a result of this ballot. As the technical content of the AN-2011 draft standard evolves towards approval and publication, and comments on the assertion tables in this document are received, revised versions of these tables will be developed until they fully address the requirements of the approved AN-2011 standard. This publication documents the assertions developed and the terms, operands, and operators used …

Conformance Test Suite for CBEFF Biometric Information Records

Deployment of standards-based biometric technologies is expected to significantly raise levels of security for critical infrastructures that has not been possible to date with other technologies. These systems require a comprehensive set of technically sound standards that meet the customers needs. The existence of standards alone, however, is not enough to demonstrate that products meet the technical requirements specified in the standards. Conformance testing captures the technical description of a standard and measures whether an implementation faithfully implements the standard. Conformity assessment provides confidence to users through programs that demonstrate the conformity of products to specific standards. This paper discusses a conformance test suite (CTS) for biometric information records (BIRs) claiming conformance to data structures specified in common biometric exchange formats framework (CBEFF) standards. The paper summarizes conformance testing procedures and criteria for testing these data structures. A conformance testing architecture and a CTS implementation developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to assess conformance to these CBEFF data structures is described. Ongoing and future work is discussed.

A new computer-based self-correcting calibration system for computer storage media

Abstract A new method for calibrating magnetic computer storage media Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) has been developed at the National Bureau of Standards (NBS). This calibration system applies to a new class of higher density Standard Reference Magnetic Computer Storage Media. The foundation of this method is based on both the analysis of and experience with the present well-established SRM calibration systems. Errors that would be introduced into the calibration process by unwanted system changes are prevented from doing so through the use of self-correcting techniques. The data which are automatically produced by these techniques also simplify the calibration process. The outputs from this new calibration method provide the users of these high density Standard Reference Materials with information which is easily related to the Master Reference media saturation curve. The development of magnetic computer storage media Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) is also described.