An evaluation of the generalisability and applicability of the PhysioNet electrocardiogram (ECG) repository as test cases for ECG-based biometrics

The PhysioNet is a very popular internet-based ECG repository which provides open access to a variety of ECG datasets. The data is collected from subjects within a medical framework, with the intention of acquiring clinically relevant information from patients. Because of the convenience afforded by the internet, literally thousands of ECG records can be downloaded and used for non-medical purposes, such as biometrics. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the applicability and/or suitability of the PhysioNet ECG data for deployment within biometrics. The needs and mindset of a clinician may be quite different from that of a security engineer. This paper therefore attempts to provide a preliminary examination of the PhysioNet ECG data repository along these dimensions, emphasising the need to create methodologies in the context of biometrics that not only take these considerations into account, but integrates them into the biometric methodology.