The method for fingerprint classification uses a local gradient directional binary pattern (LGDBP) descriptor. The method acquires digital images of fingerprints from a scanner or the like, and the LGDBP descriptors corresponding to the directional ridge patterns are calculated. Using the LGDBP descriptors as a fingerprint representation, an extreme learning machine neural network with a radial basis function kernel may is used to reduce substantially the search space to a predefined number of classes of known fingerprints to be searched to identify the fingerprint.
