External Hardware Fingerprint scanner and android device integration

Question

I want to build an android application like employee attendance using fingerprint scanner. I want to know that,

1. Is it possible using external hardware device for fingerprint scanning?
2. How to integrate Android application with external hardware finger print scanning device.
3. How to fetch data from external hardware device and store data in local database.

Thank you in advance.

Answer 1

1. Is it possible using external hardware device for fingerprint scanning?

Yes there's some fingerprint scanners compatible with Android Platform and with SDK for Android. Scanners are plugged on USB port so you can't charge tablet and use fingerprint scanner simultaneous. For instance:

• http://www.dermalog.com/en/products_solutions/fingerprintscanner/
• http://www.futronic-tech.com/product_fs80h.html
• http://www.crossmatch.com/authentication-hardware/

There's also some devices with integrated fingerprint scanner and with SDK to enroll and verify multiple users. For instance Samsung or iPhone only provide SDK to verify 1 user (user of device) but others manufacturers provide an SDK to enroll and match multiple users.

2. How to integrate Android application with external hardware finger print scanning device.
3. How to fetch data from external hardware device and store data in local database.

Fingerprint scanners (quoted upper) have Android SDK to enroll and to verify. Some of ones only return fingerprint image. For fingerprint scanners only return image, you have to use external library to convert image to minutiae and enroll and verify as:

• http://www.nist.gov/itl/iad/ig/nbis.cfm
• http://www.neurotechnology.com/verifinger.html