Face-Controlled Liveness Verification

• US 20170185760A1
• Filed: 12/29/2015
• Published: 06/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensory Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sensory Incorporated
• Inventors: Wilder, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 10,102,358 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/166 using acquisition arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/45 Detection of the body part being alive

Abstract

Techniques for implementing face-controlled liveness verification are provided. In one embodiment, a computing device can present, to a user, a sequential series of targets on a graphical user interface (GUI) of the computing device, where each target is a visual element designed to direct the user'"'"'s attention to a location in the GUI. The computing device can further determine whether the user has successfully hit each target, where the determining comprises tracking movement of a virtual pointer controlled by the user'"'"'s gaze or face pose and checking whether the user has moved the virtual pointer over each target. If the user has successfully hit each target, the computing device can conclude that the user is a live subject.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

presenting, by a computing device to a user, a sequential series of targets on a graphical user interface (GUI) of the computing device, each target being a visual element designed to direct the user'"'"'s attention to a location in the GUI;

determining, by the computing device, whether the user has successfully hit each target, the determining comprising tracking movement of a virtual pointer controlled by the user'"'"'s gaze or face pose and checking whether the user has moved the virtual pointer over each target; and

if the user has successfully hit each target, concluding, by the computing device, that the user is a live subject.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

if the user is not able to successfully hit each target, concluding that the user is not a live subject.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

concurrently with presenting the sequential series of targets, attempting to authenticate the user based on one or more biometric characteristics.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

prior to presenting the sequential series of targets, attempting to authenticate the user based on one or more biometric characteristics.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the one or more biometric characteristics include the user'"'"'s face or the user'"'"'s voice.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein, if the computing device concludes that the user is a live subject, the method further comprises:

granting the user access to a secured resource.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein, if the computing device cannot authenticate the user, the method further comprises:

denying the user access to the secured resource.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein, upon presenting each target, the computing device attempts to re-authenticate the user.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein each target is presented at a random location in the GUI.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein tracking movement of the virtual pointer and checking whether the user has moved the virtual pointer over each target comprises:

directing the user to look at a reference point in the GUI, the reference point corresponding to an initial location of the virtual pointer;

capturing one or more first images of the user'"'"'s face while the user is looking at the reference point;

determining, based on the one or more first images, a reference frame for the user;

capturing one or more second images of the user'"'"'s face after presenting the target in the GUI; and

comparing each of the one or more second images against the reference frame.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein determining whether the user has successfully hit each target further comprises determining whether the user has hovered the virtual pointer over the target for a predefined duration.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein determining whether the user has successfully hit each target further comprises determining whether the user has followed a predefined trajectory to the target.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the number of targets in the sequential series is selected at random.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the number of targets in the sequential series is selected based on one or more criteria pertaining to the user or a resource that the user is attempting to access.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the virtual pointer is not visible to the user.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the presenting is performed during a face enrollment process for the user.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising, while the user is attempting to hit each target:

capturing one or more images of the user'"'"'s face; and

adding the one or more images to a face template of the user.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein, at each step in the sequential series, a plurality of targets are presented to the user, the plurality of targets includes a valid target and multiple invalid targets.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the valid target corresponds to a secret known to the user.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein determining whether the user has successfully hit each target comprises:

determining whether the user has successfully hit each valid target, without hitting the invalid targets.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon program code executable by a processor of a computing device, the program code comprising:

code that causes the processor to present to a user, a sequential series of targets on a graphical user interface (GUI) of the computing device, each target being a visual element designed to direct the user'"'"'s attention to a location in the GUI;

code that causes the processor to determine whether the user has successfully hit each target, the determining comprising tracking movement of a virtual pointer controlled by the user'"'"'s gaze or face pose and checking whether the user has moved the virtual pointer over each target; and

if the user has successfully hit each target, code that causes the processor to conclude that the user is a live subject.

22. A computing device comprising:

a camera;

a display;

a processor; and

a memory having stored thereon program code which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to;

present, to a user, a sequential series of targets on a graphical user interface (GUI) shown on the display, each target being a visual element designed to direct the user'"'"'s attention to a location in the GUI;

determine whether the user has successfully hit each target, the determining comprising tracking, using the camera, movement of a virtual pointer controlled by the user'"'"'s gaze or face pose and checking whether the user has moved the virtual pointer over each target; and

if the user has successfully hit each target, conclude that the user is a live subject.