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TimeIPS Knowledge Base

Table of Contents: Article IndexPrintable Version

Applies to versions: 1.8, 1.9, 1.10, 1.11



Biometric Validation



TimeIPS can validate employee identification using biometric fingerprint authentication. Employees clock in and out of TimeIPS and are asked to present their finger or thumb for validation. You can deny the clock event or send an email warning if the validation fails.

TimeIPS offers three types of fingerprint Biometric validation: Optical, Capacitance and Swipe Radio Frequency (RF) based technologies. For more information or instruction with the Swipe RF Reader, please refer to the two instructional videos located at:

Using the left pane Main Menu, click on: Administration » Clocking » Biometric Validation

The first step in setting up Biometric Validation is to identify the Global Fingerprint Settings Default. These settings allows you to quickly set up Biometric Validation for all employees. If necessary, you can adjust settings for individual employees (step 2), such as not requiring validation for some employees or changing the system's reaction when authentication is not successful. In step 3, TimeIPS enrolls each employee's fingerprint for authentication and validation during clock in's and out's.


     

  1. Set the Global Fingerprint Settings:
    1. Choose a system default threshold, Upon authentication failure when required, Allowable Identification Attempts, Enrollment Biometrics Capture Method, Number of Captured Templates on Enrollment, Number of Templates for Progressive Enrollment, and (if applicable), Relay Triggers Require Biometric Authentication options from the pull-down.
    2. Enter the number of seconds the system will wait to receive a valid read for the Biometric Read Timeout
    3. Click on the Update Global Fingerprint Settings button to apply the settings.
  2. (Optional) If you have individual employees that should have different thresholds or failure actions:

       

    1. Open Employees -> Employees and click the "Biometrics" tab for the employee to adjust.
    2. Select the employee's Individual Fingerprint Threshold and On Failure options from the pull-downs.
    3. Prints will be shown and the "Clear Prints" button can be used to remove all prints and allow the empolyee to enroll again.
    4. Click on the Save Row button to apply the settings.

     

  3. Have employees Enroll their Fingerprints(s).
    NOTE: Employees will be prompted to enroll their fingerprints the next time they attempt to clock in or out once the Biometric device has been installed and the global and individual Fingerprint Settings have been applied, .
    1. Clock in or out as usual (swipe badge or enter ID on keypad and press ENTER).
    2. Follow the visual and audio directions to enroll then authenticate.
      NOTE: Use the ball of the finger (not the tip) and press firmly enough that the finger makes good contact with the read area.

      NOTE: Once the enrollment is complete, TimeIPS will load the enrolled fingerprint(s) so your clock in or out from step 3a can be authenticated. It will then prompt you to present your thumb.

    4.  

EXAMPLE: Company 1 is set to Multi-Read enrollment with 1 captured Fingerprint. The enrollment process beings when the employee clocks in for the first time. The employee places his thumb centered on the biometric reader for all three reads. The best of the three reads is captured.

EXAMPLE: Company 2 is set to Quick enrollment with 3 captures. The enrollment process beings when the employee clocks in for the first time. For the first capture, the employee places his thumb centered on the biometric reader for the single read. For the second capture, the employee tilts his thumb slightly to the left for the single read. For the final capture, the employee tilts his thumb slightly to the right for the single read.

EXAMPLE: Company 3 is set to Multi-Read enrollment with 2 captured fingerprint. The enrollment process beings when the employee clocks in for the first time. For the first capture, the employee places his right thumb centered on the biometric reader for all three reads. For the second capture, the employee places his left thumb centered on the biometric reader for all three reads. The employee can clock in and out with either thumb. Again note that supervised enrollment is HIGHLY recommended for multiple captures to ensure that each employee enrolls with only his own thumbs.

WARNING: Allowing multiple fingerprint captures could allow more than one individual to provide a thumb at enrollment, thereby allowing multiple individuals to authenticate for one employee. When using multiple captures, supervised enrollment is advised.

 

If an employee has consistent authentication failures:

There are two types of error you may see when an employee attempts to authenticate using biometrics: "Could not read finger print" indicates that the reader is unable to take a good scan of the print. If you received this message:

  • When employees touch the sensor, they must use the "ball" of their fingers (not the tip).  If they're doing it correctly, the finger will be straight, not curled.
  • Make sure the employees press reasonably firmly on the sensor.  The finger must spread out over the surface of the sensor so the senor can read it.
  • Employees should press on the sensor fairly quickly.  They should not hesitate.  A slow touch or touch-release-touch can confuse the reader.
  • Press the finger on the sensor and hold it still for a couple of seconds.  If the clock doesn't seem to read the finger, twist your finger slightly, or slide it just a bit, and hold it again for a couple of seconds.
  • Fingers read much better if they have a slight bit of moisture.  If hands are very dry, try using a bit of hand lotion.  If lotion is not available, just take a deep breath and slowly exhale onto the finger for a few seconds.  Then, immediately press the finger to the sensor.
  • Ensure that employee hands are clean.  Employees should wash their hands if needed. It is advisable to provide towels for employees to properly dry their hands after washing as excessively wet fingerprints will also fail to read.
  • Try different fingers.  Some fingers may not have sufficient fingerprint detail to be used.  Try the thumb or other fingers.  Try both hands.

    • The second message of "No match found" would indicate that it a read was taken but the read wasn't a clear match to the data on file. This is not unusual especially for employees new to the biometric reader, in a situation like this please try the following steps:

    • Raise the number of attempts to five thus giving the employee at least five tries to obtain a match
    • Delete the employee's Fingerprint data using the Clear Fingerprint Data link on the Fingerprint Settings page. The employee will be prompted to enroll on their next clock in/out.
    • Lower the employee's fingerprint threshold.

    If an employee injures the finger they use for clock in/out:

    • Delete the employee's Fingerprint data using the Clear Fingerprint Data link on the Fingerprint Settings page. The employee will be prompted to enroll on their next clock in/out.

     

     

    Recommended Enrollment Method

    1. Set "Enrollment Fingerprint Capture Method" to  Multi-read.
    2. Set "Number of Captured Fingerprint on Enrollment" to 2.
    3. Set "Number of Number of Fingerprints for Progressive Enrollment" to 10.
    4. When employees enroll, have them:
      • present their right index finger straight on for the first capture,
      • present their left index finger straight on for the second capture

    Alternative Enrollment Method

    1. Set "Enrollment Fingerprint Capture Method" to Quick.
    2. Set "Number of Captured Fingerprint on Enrollment" to 5.
    3. When employees enroll, have them:
      • present their thumb/finger straight on for the first capture,
      • roll the thumb/finger to the left for the second capture,
      • to the right for the third capture,
      • the top of the thumb/finger for the fourth capture,
      • and a different finger straight on for the fifth capture.

    Alternative Enrollment Method

      (For those not wanting to use Progressive Enrollment)
      This procedure captures a large surface area for one finger and the main surface for another digit (in case of injury to the first finger).

     

    Progressive Enrollment

    The TimeIPS system has the ability to “learn” each time a user provides a fingerprint. If the fingerprint is a match to a stored fingerprint, the TimeIPS system generates and stores a new template based on the current template for future matching. For each new template that is stored, an old template that has not been used for matching is discarded.

    This method allows users to provide fewer enrollment prints (saving time), reduces false-negatives over time as the system can more easily recognize the employee, and accommodates fingers or swipe methods that change over time.

    • Set the Number of Captured Fingerprints on Enrollment to desired number. (Remembering that if it is multiple a supervisor should be present during enrollment)

      •  

    • Set the Number of Fingerprints for Progressive Enrollment to 10.


    This will allow the maximum amount of stored fingerprints and when 10 has been reached the 11th good match will be stored and will automatically remove the least used fingerprint in the system thereby always maintaining the best 10 matches for that employee.

    Fingerprint Storage

    TimeIPS captures fingerprint data for each employee. Unless specifically requested, TimeIPS does not store an image of the employee's fingerprint. The TimeIPS reader looks for and "maps" the pattern on the finger or thumb, and then creates an mathematical profile of the print using an algorithm.

    The profile data is stored as binary data to be used for later comparisons. It allows future prints to be analyzed and rated as to the degree of similarity to the original print(s). For convenience, the system is capable of storing up to ten print profiles per employee.

    When an employee enters a PIN code or presents a badge, TimeIPS will prompt for a finger or thumb to be presented to the reader for validation. TimeIPS will, at that time, compare the data it is reading currently against the profile(s) it has stored on file for that specific employee number.

    The data stored within the system uses formatting and encoding that is proprietary to the TimeIPS system, and can not be used to re-create a fingerprint or for any purpose outside of TimeIPS.



    See Also:
    Hand Punch Biometric Validation (1.6, 1.8, 1.9, 1.10, 1.11, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2)
    Biometric Validation Troubleshooting (1.8, 1.10, 1.11, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2)

    ©2004-2023 TimeIPS, Inc. All Rights Reserved - TimeIPS and the TimeIPS logo are registered trademarks of TimeIPS, Inc.
    "Intelligent Personnel System" "Run your Business. We'll watch the clock." are trademarks of TimeIPS, Inc.
    TimeIPS is protected by one or more patents. Patent No. US 7,114.684 B2.