# US 10,503,991 B2 · Method of host-directed illumination and system for conducting host-directed illumination > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,503,991 B2 - Document ID: US10503991B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/200,695 - Filed: 2018-11-27 - Published: 2019-04-18 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-15 - Assignees: Daon Holdings Limited - Applicants: Daon Holdings Limited - Inventors: Richard Jay Langley; Michael Peirce; Nicolas Jacques Jean Sezille - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10503991B2 ## CPC - G06F 21/32: using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints - G06V 10/141: Control of illumination - G06V 40/168: {Feature extraction; Face representation} - G06V 40/172: {Classification, e.g. identification} - G06V 40/45: {Detection of the body part being alive} - H04L 63/0861: {using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231)} - H04W 12/065: Continuous authentication - H04W 12/12: Detection or prevention of fraud - H04L 63/0853: {using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234)} - H04W 12/65: Environment-dependent, e.g. using captured environmental data - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A method of host-directed illumination for verifying the validity of biometric data of a user is provided that includes capturing biometric data from a user with an authentication device during authentication and directing illumination of the biometric data from a host authentication system during the capturing operation. Moreover, the method includes comparing illumination characteristics of the captured biometric data against illumination characteristics expected to result from the directing operation, and determining that the user is a live user when the illumination characteristics of the captured biometric data match the illumination characteristics expected to result from the directing operation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for detecting user liveness comprising: capturing, by a computing device, a sequence of discrete images of the face of a user while a display screen included in the computing device turns on and off to apply illumination to the face of the user; transmitting over a network, by the computing device, the sequence of discrete images to an authentication computer system; recognizing, by the authentication computer system, reflections in a plurality of the images, the reflections resulting from the illumination applied during said capturing step; and determining, by the authentication computer system, the user is live when the reflections recognized in each image included in the plurality of images correspond to the illumination applied during said capturing step. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method for detecting user liveness in accordance with claim 1 further comprising authenticating, by the authentication computer system, the user based on one of the discrete images and a record user image. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method for detecting user liveness in accordance with claim 1, further comprising illuminating the face of the user with light outside the visible spectrum. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method for detecting user liveness in accordance with claim 1 further comprising transmitting over the network, by the authentication computer system, an illumination instruction to the computing device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A method for detecting user liveness in accordance with claim 1 further comprising tracking movement of an illuminated region on the face of the user, the illuminated region being illuminated with light outside the visible spectrum. ### Claim 6 An authentication computer system for detecting user liveness comprising: a processor; and a memory for storing data, said authentication computer system being associated with a network and said memory being in communication with said processor and having instructions stored thereon which, when read and executed by said processor cause said authentication computer system to: recognize reflections in a plurality of images included in a sequence of discrete images, the sequence of discrete images being captured by a computing device and being transmitted to said authentication computer system over the network, the reflections resulting from turning on and off a display screen included in the computing device to apply illumination to the face of the user while capturing the sequence of discrete images; and determine the user is live when the reflections recognized in each image included in the plurality of images correspond to the illumination applied while capturing the respective image. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) An authentication computer system for detecting user liveness in accordance with claim 6, wherein the instructions when read and executed by said processor further cause said authentication computer system to authenticate the user based on one of the plurality of images and a record user image. ### Claim 8 A method for detecting user liveness comprising: capturing, by a computing device, a sequence of discrete images of the face of a user while a display screen included in the computing device turns on and off to apply illumination to the face of the user; recognizing, by the computing device, reflections in a plurality of the images, the reflections resulting from the illumination applied during said capturing step; and determining, by the computing device, the user is live when the reflections recognized in each image included in the plurality of images correspond to the illumination applied during said capturing step. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A method for detecting user liveness in accordance with claim 8 further comprising authenticating the user based on one of the discrete images and a record user image. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) A method for detecting user liveness in accordance with claim 8, further comprising illuminating the face of the user with light outside the visible spectrum. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) A method for detecting user liveness in accordance with claim 8 further comprising tracking movement of an illuminated region on the face of the user, the illuminated region being illuminated with light outside the visible spectrum. ### Claim 12 A computing device for detecting user liveness comprising: a display screen; a processor; and a memory configured to store data, said computing device being associated with a network and said memory being in communication with said processor and having instructions stored thereon which, when read and executed by said processor cause said computing device to: capture a sequence of discrete images of the face of a user while said display screen turns on and off to apply illumination to the face of the user; recognize reflections in a plurality of the images, the reflections resulting from the illumination applied during capture; and determine the user is live when the reflections recognized in each image included in the plurality of images correspond to the illumination applied during said capturing step. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A computing device for detecting user liveness in accordance with claim 12, wherein the instructions when read and executed by said processor further cause said computing device to authenticate the user based on one of the discrete images and a record user image. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A computing device for detecting user liveness in accordance with claim 12, wherein the instructions when read and executed by said processor further cause said computing device to illuminate the face of the user with light outside the visible spectrum. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) A computing device for detecting user liveness in accordance with claim 12, wherein the instructions when read and executed by said processor further cause said computing device to track movement of an illuminated region on the face of the user, the illuminated region being illuminated with light outside the visible spectrum.