Mathematical Model for Pattern Verification

Pattern verification is mathematically defined, an appropriate decision function derived, and a measure for system evaluation is given. Two basic postulates are set forth to fully define a verification system: each known class is expected, with nonzero probability, to be verified under the correct class label; and the pattern vector extracted during verification should be descriptive of the given class, independent of which class label was entered into the system. Through appropriate use of a priori probabilities, three types of information can be incorporated into the theory: the expected number of times a given class will require verification, the expected use of each class label by a given class, and the likelihood that a particular class is susceptible to “impostor” patterns.