ISO IEC TR 24722-2024 PDF

Full title and description

ISO/IEC TR 24722:2024 — Information technology — Biometrics — Multimodal and other multibiometric fusion. This technical report describes and analyses current practices for combining multiple biometric sources (multi-characteristic, multi-instance, multi-sensorial, multialgorithmic) and explains high-level fusion approaches such as score‑level and decision‑level fusion to support interoperability and system design.

Abstract

This technical report provides descriptions and analyses of current practice on multimodal and other multibiometric fusion, including references to more detailed descriptions where appropriate. It explains high‑level multibiometric concepts and fusion approaches (multi‑characteristic, multi‑instance, multi‑sensorial, multialgorithmic) and covers score‑level and decision‑level logic to aid implementers and evaluators.

General information

• Status: Published.
• Publication date: 5 December 2024.
• Publisher: ISO/IEC (published under ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 37).
• ICS / categories: 35.240.15 (Identification cards and related devices / Biometrics).
• Edition / version: Edition 3 (2024).
• Number of pages: 22 pages.

Scope

ISO/IEC TR 24722:2024 surveys and analyses techniques and practices for fusing biometric information from multiple sources to improve recognition, reliability, and robustness. The report focuses on conceptual descriptions and explanatory material for multibiometric fusion types (multi‑characteristic, multi‑instance, multi‑sensorial, multialgorithmic) and fusion levels (sensor, feature, score, rank, decision), offering guidance rather than normative conformance requirements. It is intended to inform system designers, evaluators and standards developers about options, trade‑offs and common approaches.

Key topics and requirements

• Definitions and high‑level concepts for multibiometric systems and fusion strategies (multi‑characteristic, multi‑instance, multi‑sensorial, multialgorithmic).
• Descriptions of fusion levels and methods: sensor‑level, feature‑level, score‑level, rank‑level and decision‑level fusion.
• Discussion of fusion logic and combination rules (e.g., score normalization, weighted combination, decision rules) and illustrative examples.
• Considerations for system evaluation and performance: how fusion affects error rates, robustness and trade‑offs.
• Interoperability and integration considerations for combining modalities, sensors and algorithms.
• Guidance on practical design choices and references to further detailed normative standards and evaluation methodologies.

Typical use and users

This technical report is used by biometrics system architects, algorithm developers, integrators, test laboratories, researchers and procurement/specification teams to understand fusion options and to inform implementation, evaluation and standardization efforts. It is also useful to policy makers and project managers who need an overview of multibiometric fusion approaches and their implications for performance and interoperability.

Related standards

ISO/IEC TR 24722:2024 complements and references other ISO/IEC biometrics standards developed by JTC 1/SC 37, notably the ISO/IEC 19794 series (biometric data interchange formats), ISO/IEC 19795 (performance testing and reporting), ISO/IEC 30107 (presentation attack detection) and ISO/IEC 24745 (biometric information protection). It sits within the SC 37 family of standards for biometric interoperability and evaluation.

Keywords

biometrics, multibiometric, multimodal fusion, score‑level fusion, decision‑level fusion, multi‑instance, multi‑sensor, multialgorithmic, interoperability, ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 37

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO/IEC TR 24722:2024 is a technical report (non‑normative guidance) that surveys and explains current practices for multimodal and multibiometric fusion to help designers, evaluators and standards developers understand fusion approaches and trade‑offs.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers high‑level multibiometric concepts and fusion techniques — including multi‑characteristic, multi‑instance, multi‑sensorial and multialgorithmic fusion — and explains sensor, feature, score and decision‑level combination approaches, with discussion of evaluation and integration considerations.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Biometrics engineers, system integrators, researchers, test labs, standards developers, procurement teams and policy makers who need a clear overview of multibiometric fusion approaches and their impacts on system performance and interoperability.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: Current — ISO/IEC TR 24722:2024 was published in December 2024 (Edition 3) and replaces earlier editions (2015 and 2007). Organisations using older editions should refer to the 2024 edition for the latest technical‑report guidance.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is part of the ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 37 family of biometrics standards and complements related standards such as the ISO/IEC 19794 interchange formats, ISO/IEC 19795 performance and ISO/IEC 30107 presentation‑attack detection guidance.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Multimodal, multibiometric fusion, score fusion, decision fusion, multi‑sensor, multi‑instance, multialgorithmic, interoperability, biometric evaluation.