Facial authentication system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11809538-B2
Application number	US-202217845685-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 21, 2022
Priority date	Sep 1, 2020
Publication date	Nov 7, 2023
Grant date	Nov 7, 2023

Abstract

An authentication system accesses an image of a face of a user. The face of the user is partially covered by a facial mask. The authentication system detects an area on the facial mask and generates a first identification of the user based on the area on the facial mask. The authentication system also detects an exposed area uncovered by the facial mask on the face of the user and generates a second identification of the user based on the exposed area. The authentication system compares the first identification of the user with the second identification of the user, and authenticates the user based on the comparison.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
accessing an image of a face of a user, the face being partially covered by a facial mask, wherein the facial mask comprises a first visual element visible to a camera, and a second visual element visible to the camera only when exposed to a light source operating at a non-human visible light spectrum;
detecting a content in an area on the facial mask;
generating, at a computer, a first identification of the user based on the content;
detecting a first exposed area uncovered by the facial mask on the face of the user;
generating, at the computer, a second identification of the user based on the first exposed area;
determining that the first identification of the user does not match with the second identification of the user;
in response to determining that the first identification of the user does not match with the second identification of the user, generating a request to the user to uncover a portion of the facial mask from the face of the user to expose a second exposed area of the face of the user; and
validating an identity of the user based on the second exposed area.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating, at the computer, a third identification of the user based on the second exposed area;
comparing the first identification of the user with the third identification of the user; and
determining that the first identification of the user matches the third identification of the user based on the comparing.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the facial mask comprises a user signature signed with ink that is not visible to a human eye,
wherein the method further comprises:
illuminating the facial mask with a light source operating at a light spectrum that renders the ink visible to a camera of the computer;
capturing an image of the user signature illuminated by the light source; and
generating, at the computer, the first identification of the user based on the image of the user signature.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the user signature is located in a signature detection area on the facial mask.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein generating the first identification of the user further comprises:
accessing a user signature library, the user signature library comprising a library of user identifiers and corresponding signature images;
comparing the user signature with the user signature library; and
determining the first identification of the user based on comparing the user signature with the user signature library.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the light source renders a content, printed with the ink on the facial mask, visible to the camera, wherein generating the first identification of the user is based on an image of the content.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , further comprising:
identifying the signature detection area on the facial mask.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the facial mask includes a visual element,
wherein generating the first identification of the user further comprises:
accessing a user identification library, the user identification library comprising a library of user identifiers and corresponding visual elements;
comparing the visual element with the user identification library; and
determining the first identification of the user based on comparing the visual element with the user identification library.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 ,
wherein generating the first identification of the user further comprises:
accessing a user identification library, the user identification library comprising a library of user identifiers and corresponding visual elements;
comparing the first visual element and the second visual element with the user identification library; and
determining the first identification of the user based on comparing the first visual element and the second visual element with the user identification library.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the exposed area uncovered by the facial mask on the face of the user further comprises:
determining biometrics data based on the exposed area,
wherein generating the second identification of the user based on the exposed area further comprises:
comparing the determined biometrics data with biometrics data from a biometrics library, the biometric library comprising a library of biometrics data and corresponding user identifiers; and
determining the second identification of the user based on comparing the determined biometrics data with the biometrics library.

11. A computing apparatus comprising:
a processor; and
a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, configure the computing apparatus to perform operations comprising:
accessing an image of a face of a user, the face being partially covered by a facial mask, wherein the facial mask comprises a first visual element visible to a camera, and a second visual element visible to the camera only when exposed to a light source operating at a non-human visible light spectrum;
detecting a content in an area on the facial mask;
generating a first identification of the user based on the content;
detecting a first exposed area uncovered by the facial mask on the face of the user;
generating a second identification of the user based on the first exposed area;
determining that the first identification of the user does not match with the second identification of the user;
in response to determining that the first identification of the user does not match with the second identification of the user, generating a request to the user to uncover a portion of the facial mask from the face of the user to expose a second exposed area of the face of the user; and
validating an identity of the user based on the second exposed area.

12. The computing apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise:
generating a third identification of the user based on the second exposed area;
comparing the first identification of the user with the third identification of the user; and
determining that the first identification of the user matches the third identification of the user based on the comparing.

13. The computing apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the facial mask comprises a user signature signed with ink that is not visible to a human eye,
wherein the operations further comprise:
illuminating the facial mask with a light source operating at a light spectrum that renders the ink visible to a camera of the computer;
capturing an image of the user signature illuminated by the light source; and
generating, at the computer, the first identification of the user based on the image of the user signature.

14. The computing apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the user signature is located in a signature detection area on the facial mask.

15. The computing apparatus of claim 13 , wherein generating the first identification of the user further comprises:
accessing a user signature library, the user signature library comprising a library of user identifiers and corresponding signature images;
comparing the user signature with the user signature library; and
determining the first identification of the user based on comparing the user signature with the user signature library.

16. The computing apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the light source renders a content, printed with the ink on the facial mask, visible to th

Assignees

• Nortek Security & Control Llc

Inventors

• Learmonth Darren

Classifications

• G06F21/32 Primary

  using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints · CPC title

• G06V10/141

  Control of illumination · CPC title

• G06V40/161

  Detection; Localisation; Normalisation · CPC title

• G06V40/172 Primary

  Classification, e.g. identification · CPC title

• G06V40/33

  based only on signature image, e.g. static signature recognition · CPC title