New Algorithmic Approaches to Point Constellation Recognition

Point constellation recognition is a common problem with many pattern matching applications. Whilst useful in many contexts, this work is mainly motivated by fingerprint matching. Fingerprints are traditionally modelled as constellations of oriented points called minutiae. The fingerprint verifier’s task consists in comparing two point constellations. The compared constellations may differ by rotation and translation or by much more involved transforms such as distortion or occlusion.