ISO/IEC 24713-1:2008

Overview

ISO/IEC 24713-1:2008 provides an overview of biometric systems and biometric profiles to support interoperability and data interchange. It defines common terminology, a harmonized conceptual architecture for a generic biometric system, and the relationships between that architecture and the biometric base standards used to implement interoperable solutions. The standard includes a diagram of the generic biometric system and describes individual components, generic functions (enrolment, verification, identification), interfaces, and the ID life‑cycle (proofing, registration, issuance, usage).

Key Topics

• Definitions and terms: Common vocabulary used across biometric profile standards to ensure consistent interpretation.
• Generic biometric architecture: Functional blocks and conceptual components such as:
  • Data capture subsystem
  • Transmission subsystem
  • Signal processing subsystem
  • Data storage subsystem
  • Matching subsystem
  • Decision subsystem
  • Administration and interface components
• Biometric functions: Clear descriptions of enrolment, verification, and identification workflows.
• Interfaces: Descriptions of typical integration points including Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), protocol interfaces, and hardware I/O.
• Relationship to applications: How biometric systems interact with host applications and the ID life‑cycle stages (proofing, registration, issuance, usage).
• Use of base standards: Guidance on combining biometric data interchange formats and interface standards to build profiles that fix options from base standards to achieve interoperability.
• Profile classes: Conceptual grouping into application, data, and interface classes used when developing biometric profiles.

Applications

ISO/IEC 24713-1 is practical for anyone designing, implementing, specifying, or auditing biometric solutions where interoperability and data interchange are required:

• System architects and engineers specifying biometric system architecture and interfaces
• Software developers integrating biometric functionality via APIs (e.g., BioAPI)
• Vendors building interoperable biometric products and sensors
• Systems integrators deploying multimodal or distributed biometric systems
• Procurement teams and compliance officers drafting requirements for biometric-enabled applications (physical access, identity management, border control)
• Government agencies and organizations creating biometric profile standards for specific domains (e.g., airport access control, seafarer identification)

Related Standards

• ISO/IEC 19794 - Biometric data interchange formats (referenced normative standard)
• CBEFF (Common Biometric Exchange Formats Framework) - BIR structures and metadata
• BioAPI - Biometric Application Programming Interface for modular system integration
• Other parts of ISO/IEC 24713: Part 2 (airport employee access control) and Part 3 (seafarer verification and identification)

Keywords: ISO/IEC 24713-1, biometric profiles, biometric interoperability, biometric data interchange, biometric system architecture, CBEFF, BioAPI, ISO/IEC 19794.