Fingerprint authentication is the best choice for highly secure applications because of the accuracy and convenience it provides.  A major drawback in integrating this biometric technology into a whole system includes expensive and complicated maintenance, however combining it with the smart card technology makes all the difference necessary to downscale the cost of maintaining the system without compromising security.

With the AET60 BioCARDKey Fingerprint Reader, smart card and fingerprint technologies are combined into one secure platform that caters to applications in different environments— whether online or offline, whether for small or large user populations.

i) Better security via multi-factor authentication
Authentication is either two-way or three-way. The RDKey verifies something “you have” (smart card), something “you are” (fingerprint) and something “you know” (PIN/password). Users carry their fingerprint templates with them and fingerprint verification authenticates only the smart card user, neutralizing privacy concerns and security risks posed by dummy fingerprints or stolen cards.  Anti-security threats are further eliminated via more factors of authentication.

ii) Affordable, flexible and scalable system
By storing an encrypted fingerprint template into a smart card, matching merely involves checking the live fingerprint against the stored template. Hence, in contrast to a traditional fingerprint system, an AET60 BioCARDKey-based system does not require extra provision for fingerprint algorithm, database, server, and network connectivity, thus lowering both setup and maintenance costs.

Total cost of ownership is lower in an AET60 BioCARDKey-based fingerprint system

Complete local-site authentication implies that, under normal circumstances, a biometric system can be constructed with just three components: local PC applications (or remote server applications), any common smart cards, and the AET60 BioCARDKey. As only the front-end applications need modification or replacement, back-end system architecture remains intact, removing scalability constraints and allowing undemanding system administration and maintenance.

A simple local-site authentication process

iii) Easy application development
The BioCARDKey is compliant with the BioAPI specification, which gives way for interoperability between different software applications and biometric technologies developed by different vendors. Nevertheless, developers can do away with the complicated BioAPI specification by using ACS’s simple API. The API and software development kit – which contains demo programs, tools/utilities, sample codes and reference manual – provided by ACS lets developers integrate fingerprint authentication into smart card-based applications effortlessly, without requiring them to have an in-depth knowledge of biometrics.

• Integrated fingerprint scanner and smart card reader
• Full-speed USB interface
• Requires no additional power supply
• Smart card reader:
  o    Supports all microcontroller cards, with T=0 or T=1 protocols
  o    Supports ISO 7816 Class A, B and C (5V, 3V and 1.8V) cards
• Fingerprint scanner:
  o    UPEK large area fingerprint sensor
  o    Large active sensor size – 12.8 mm x 18.0 mm
  o    High-resolution 508 DPI imaging
  o    Utilizes CMOS active capacitive pixel-sensing technology, resulting to high-quality fingerprint images in any environment
• Encrypted fingerprint template stored inside smart card
• Session key generation among smart card, BioCARDKey processor and host computer
• Compliant with BioAPI Specification 1.1

• Remote electronic voting
• Secure e-Commerce
• Secure home banking
• E-Government applications
• Healthcare applications
• Physical access
• Computer/network access