生物辨識技術專利資訊分析

Abstract

生物辨識技術是近幾年興起之資訊安全技術，所謂生物辨識係指針對人類獨有的生理或行為特徵進行辨識或認證，例如指紋、臉型、掌型、虹膜、視網膜、靜脈、簽名、按鍵、語音、步行等，常應用於電腦系統與周邊設備、信用卡、護照、身份證、門禁系統、電子商務等。自911恐怖攻擊事件之後，各國政府均開始推行生物辨識相關計畫，其電子市場領域的發展更是突飛猛進，生物辨識技術將是未來資安技術的發展重心所在，其發展趨勢值得密切觀察深入剖析。而專利資訊是追蹤科學技術發展的最佳資訊來源之一，分析生物辨識專利資訊可達技術盤點、技術預測等功效，並可進行專利及產業佈局。 本研究以專利分析方法，利用各項專利指標進行實證研究，深入剖析各項生物辨識技術之發展趨勢，並同時以美國專利和歐洲專利作為專利資訊來源，從國家、專利權人與技術領域等面向分析生物辨識技術之專利成長、技術影響力、科學強度與技術生命週期，並同時剖析美國專利與歐洲專利之關聯性議題。 本研究主要結果發現：1.全球生物辨識技術專利件數仍持續成長；2.美國為全球生物辨識技術專利領先國家、日本次之；3.美國IBM公司為全球生物辨識技術領先專利權人、日本NEC公司次之；4.指紋辨識為生物辨識最大宗技術，臉型與語音辨識次之；5.美國為指紋、臉型、語音辨識及技術通論之技術影響力最高國家；6.美國為指紋、臉型、語音辨識及技術通論之科學強度最高國家；7.生物辨識技術與科學研究之關聯性較強；8.指紋、臉型辨識與技術通論發展已臻成熟，語音辨識技術變化較快；9.除美、日生物辨識技術專利大國外，歐洲國家於歐洲專利表現較佳，亞洲國家則於美國專利表現較佳；10.美、歐專利申請遞延效應影響生物辨識技術專利成長趨勢表現；11.生物辨識之美國專利以「數據識別」為主要技術內容，歐洲專利以「語言識別」為主要技術內容。

Biometrics, an information technology, has developed significantly in recent years. Biometrics technology identifies or verifies unique physiological or behavioral charateristics in humans, e.g. fingerprint, facial, hand, iris, retina, vein, signature, keystroke, voice, gait, etc. The technology is now been applied in many fields like computer systems and peripherials, credit card, passport, ID card, access control, and e-commerce. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, governments worldwide have initiated several biometrics schemes and thus stimulated market growth tremendously. As future information technology trends lie in biometrics, thorough survey and analysis of biometrics development are by all means necessary. Patent information stands for one of the best sources for tracing science and technology development. By analyzing biometrics patent information, technology inventory analysis and technology forecast can be reached. Futhermore, patent and industry strategies can also be generated. The methodology developed for this empirical study is quantitative analysis which uses patent indicators to analyze biometrics development trends. USPTO and EPO patents are both selected as patent information sources. This study aims to analyze biometrics patent growth, technology impact, science strength, and technology cycle time in country, assignee and technology aspects. This study also aims to explore relevant issues concerning USPTO and EPO patents. Summary of key findings of this study is as follows: 1. The patent numbers of biometrics worldwide are still growing. 2. The United States is the leading country of biometrics technology patents and Japan follows. 3. The IBM ranks top of biometrics assignees and NEC ranks second. 4. Fingerprint recognition serves as the major biometrics technology, with facial and voice recognition following. 5. The United States has the highest technology impact on fingerprint, facial, voice and general technology recognition. 6. The United States tops in science strength of fingerprint, facial, voice and general technology recognition. 7. Bimetrics has stronger linkage with scientific research. 8. Fingerprint, facial and general technology recognition are in the mature stage of technology development, whereas voice recognition has faster technology cycle time. 9. In spite of the US and Japan, European countries show better performance in EPO, whereas Asian countries perform better in USPTO. 10. The time delay effects in USPTO and EPO do affect the patent growth trends of biometrics. 11. In USPTO, the main technology content of biometrics lies in “recognition of data“; In EPO, “speech analysis or sysnthesis” stands for the main biometrics technology content.