Two-steps perceptual important points estimator in 8-connected curves from handwritten signature

Estimating the salient points in 8-connected curves from handwritten signature is a difficult task due to their relation to the writer neuromotor system. This paper faces up this topic proposing a two-steps perceptual important points estimation method: the first step estimates the sharper salient points by a curvature analysis at multiple scales, whereas the second step estimates the smoother salient points relying on circular shapes between estimated salient points in step one. In this approach, both sharper and smoother salient points represent the set of perceptual important points in an eight connected signature trajectory. Our validations, conducted on 2112 signatures from 132 users of the BiosecurID database, are focused on i) evaluating the number of estimated perceptual important points; ii) evaluating their locations in the trajectory and iii) evaluating the accuracy of the estimated duration of the signatures from the number of perceptual important points. The obtained results are encouraging for new developments in handwriting analysis based on this procedure.