The DHS has opened its IXM specification for vendors to enhance biometric system interaction. The Office of Biometric Identity Management automates message validation. Future announcements are anticipated regarding biometric data schema.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has made its specification for interacting with the nation’s largest biometrics database available to vendors and developers. This move allows biometric technology providers to create compatible software and hardware that can effectively interface with the DHS biometric system and, by extension, with the broader U.S. government.
The Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT) Exchange Messages (IXM) specification is now publicly accessible for the first time since 2016, as noted by John Splain, Senior Biometrics Subject Matter Expert at Aver. The DHS Office of Biometric Identity Management (OBIM) has developed an automated system to validate messages from stakeholders to ensure they conform to the specification.
Splain indicates that further announcements regarding the IXM Schema and Conformance Tool will be forthcoming. On March 11, DHS updated its webpage on “Exchanging Biometric Data,” outlining the data-sharing framework with the FBI’s Next Generation Identification (NGI) System and the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), alongside its engagement with the international community.
The FBI’s NGI employs the Electronic Biometric Transmission Specification (EBTS) for data receipt from various agencies, while the DoD uses a version of EBTS based on the ANSI/NIST-ITL 1-2011 data format. Additionally, DHS shares data on an international level through the Secure Real-Time Platform (SRTP). Developers and vendors interested in accessing the IXM Conformance Tool can find a contact email provided on the Exchanging Biometric Data webpage.
The DHS has proactively facilitated interaction with its biometric database by making the IXM specifications available to vendors. This development is expected to enhance the interoperability of biometric technologies across various government departments and international partners. Future announcements from DHS will likely provide greater insights into the IXM Schema and its tools, promoting seamless data exchange and collaborative security measures.
Original Source: www.biometricupdate.com
