Common Biometric Exchange Formats Framework (CBEFF)

The Common Biometric Exchange Formats Framework (CBEFF) describes a set of data elements necessary to support biometric technologies in a common way. These data elements can be placed in a single file used to exchange biometric information between different system components or between systems. The result promotes interoperability of biometric-based application programs and systems developed by different vendors by allowing biometric data interchange. This specification is a revised (and augmented) version of the original CBEFF, the Common Biometric Exchange File Format, published as NISTIR 6529. In addition to the name change, which reflects more accurately the scope of the specification, NISTIR 6529-A incorporates new features such as a CBEFF nested structure in order to support multiple biometric data types (e.g., finger, face and voice) and/or multiple biometric data blocks of the same biometric type (e.g., finger biometric data blocks from more than one finger) within a CBEFF data structure, a Biometric Feature to further define the type of biometric data being placed in the file, a Validity Period for that data, an expanded definition of the Creator field which now specifies a Product Identifier, and Index Field associated with a specific instance of biometric reference data, a Challenge-Response field and a Payload field. NISTIR 6529-A also defines two new CBEFF Formats, biometric data objects for use within smart cards and other tokens and a simple root header for use in domains where more than one Patron Format, simple or nested, may be encountered.