Fast WSQ API Toolkit

Mentalix’s Fast WSQ API Toolkit addresses the FBI-certified fingerprint image compression and decompression needs of turnkey system providers.  The Toolkit is for system integrators and programmers who offer electronic fingerprint identification systems to customers in the law enforcement industry.  The Fast WSQ API Toolkit enables developers to quickly add compression and decompression capabilities to custom fingerprint solutions.  And Mentalix is committed to continually fine-tuning the Toolkit to keep current with platform and operating system changes, as well as re-certifying the product as needed.  In addition, Mentalix provides multiple products, already utilized by major systems integrators worldwide, for IAFIS-certified fingerprint scanning, fingerprint image utilities, and color image acquisition — all of which can be used in conjunction with the Fast WSQ API Toolkit to create a complete fingerprint solution for end users.

The Toolkit is sold on a per-developer-seat basis.  Developers will need to determine which specific APIs are required for their end use, and in turn, will need to purchase from Mentalix the appropriate runtime licenses for each of their targeted end-user systems.  A runtime license agreement will specify the particular APIs and royalty to be paid to Mentalix for each runtime license.

 

Easy to integrate

Comprised of a single, platform-specific runtime library module, the product is available in a DLL for Windows platforms and a shared library for UNIX systems.  The Toolkit offers a uniform interface across all supported platforms.  For those who need additional capabilities, the Fast WSQ API Toolkit also works as an add-on to Mentalix’s other fingerprint and scanning products.

 

Reduces development effort

With its ‘C’ API, the Fast WSQ module allows you to quickly add fingerprint image compression/decompression functionality to Windows or UNIX systems.  The subroutines and sample ‘C’ program make it easy to include these features within larger systems.

 

WSQ format advantages

The Wavelet Scalar Quantization (WSQ) Gray-Scale Fingerprint Image Compression Algorithm is the standard mechanism as selected by the FBI for exchanging fingerprint image data.  The WSQ format provides an efficient method for storing compressed fingerprint image data, achieving a significant compression ratio with minimal loss of quality.  For example, a single fingerprint image from a 500 ppi FBI fingerprint card is typically 600KB.  With typical 15-20X compression, the amount of data that needs to be stored and exchanged is approximately 30KB.  Even if you do not specifically require FBI compliance, this is the most effective method for compressing and storing fingerprint image data.  Integrators can utilize the Fast WSQ API Toolkit to enable customers to easily convert raw grayscale image data to the much more compact FBI-certified WSQ format, or to convert any existing standard WSQ file back to raw grayscale image data.

 

    • FBI-certified WSQ compression and decompression support
    • Meets WSQ Version 3.1 specifications that help to avoid data loss for images that are larger than two inches in height
    • Guaranteed compatibility with compliant products
    • Industry leading performance
    • State-of-the-art implementation leverages latest hardware advances
    • Accepted by major systems integrators
    • Robust design does not impose arbitrary limits on print sizes

    • Easy-to-use API
    • Visual Basic Support
    • Sample C and Visual Basic programs with source code
    • Included utility program supports conversion between WSQ and RAW, TIFF, BMP, TGA, PPM, Rasterfile, and XWD formats
    • Consistent API across all supported platforms
    • FBI-certified for Windows, AIX, Solaris, HP-UX
    • User-controlled compression ratio
    • Complete error handling
    • Multi-threading support
    • Multi-ratio decompression support for fast, interactive, quality confirmation
    • Supports all fingerprint, palm print and footprint image sizes

  • PLATFORM
    CERTIFICATION STATUS, SOFTWARE VERSION
    Windows 2000/XP
    WSQ, 1.0
    Windows 2000/XP
    WSQ, 2.0
    Windows 2000/XP
    WSQ, 2.10
    WIN 32
    WSQ, 2.20
    WIN 32
    WSQ, 2.30
    WIN 32
    WSQ, 2.40
    Windows
    WSQ, 3.1 x86
    WSQ, 3.1 x64
    Windows 7
    WSQ, 3.1
    SUN Solaris 2.6/7/8
    WSQ, 2.10
    HP-UX 10.20
    WSQ, 2.10
    IBM AIX 4.2/4.3
    WSQ, 2.10
    Linux 2.6
    WSQ, 2.30
    Linux 2.6
    WSQ, 2.40
    Suse Linux Enterprise 11
    WSQ, 3.1
    KEY:Chart shows certification status and certified software version.  

    WSQ = Certified for FBI and NIST WSQ Gray-Scale Fingerprint Image Compression Specification

    Links in the chart above go to the certification document (in PDF format) for each certified module. You will need Acrobat Reader to view these files.

  • filedownloadFast WSQ API Toolkit brochure

    filedownloadFingerprint API Bundle brochure

    filedownloadFingerprint API product line overview