# US 11,308,340 B2 · Verification method and system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,308,340 B2 - Document ID: US11308340B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/108,183 - Filed: 2018-08-22 - Published: 2019-02-28 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-22 - Assignees: Onfido Ltd - Applicants: Onfido Ltd. - Inventors: Hasan Sheikh Faridul; Mohamed Ben Arbia - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11308340B2 ## CPC - G06V 20/647: {by matching two-dimensional images to three-dimensional objects} - G01S 7/539: using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section - G01S 15/04: Systems determining presence of a target - G01S 15/10: using transmission of interrupted, pulse-modulated waves (determination of distance by phase measurement G01S15/32) - G01S 15/86: Combinations of sonar systems with lidar systems; Combinations of sonar systems with systems not using wave reflection - G01S 15/88: Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications (seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting G01V1/00) - G06F 3/04883: for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text - G06F 21/32: using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints - G06V 40/166: {using acquisition arrangements} - G06V 40/169: {Holistic features and representations, i.e. based on the facial image taken as a whole} - G06V 40/40: Spoof detection, e.g. liveness detection - G06V 40/45: {Detection of the body part being alive} - G06V 40/50: Maintenance of biometric data or enrolment thereof - G06V 40/70: Multimodal biometrics, e.g. combining information from different biometric modalities - G06N 3/02: Neural networks - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06N: COMPUTING ARRANGEMENTS BASED ON SPECIFIC COMPUTATIONAL MODELS ## Abstract The present invention relates to a method of verifying that (or determining whether) a biometric feature of a live human is present. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of verifying that (or determining whether) a biometric feature of a live human is present for use as part of a biometric recognition system and/or method. In particular, the invention relates to a method 100 of determining whether a biometric feature of a live human is present, comprising: using a camera 106, capturing 202 visual data of a presented biometric feature; transmitting 204 a signal towards the biometric feature; using a sensor 108, capturing 206 data related to a reflected signal from the presented biometric feature; and determining 208 whether the visual data and the reflected signal data relate to a biometric feature having realistic dimensions thereby to determine 210 that a live biometric feature is present. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for determining whether a biometric feature of a live human is present, comprising: using a camera, capturing visual data of a presented biometric feature; transmitting a sound wave towards the biometric feature in accordance with a pattern; wherein the pattern comprises at least one pulse each being followed by a pause with a random duration; using a sensor, capturing data related to a reflected signal from the presented biometric feature; wherein the pattern is configured such that a pulse in the reflected signal,- said pulse corresponding to a reflection of the most recently transmitted pulse from the presented biometric feature, is received during the pause following the most recently transmitted pulse; and determining whether the visual data and the reflected signal data relate to a biometric feature having realistic dimensions thereby to determine that a live biometric feature is present. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein determining whether the visual data and the reflected signal data relate to a biometric feature having realistic dimensions comprises determining whether the visual data and the reflected signal data in combination relate to a biometric feature having realistic dimensions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the visual data relates to an angular size of the presented biometric feature. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the reflected signal data relates to a distance of the presented biometric feature from the sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the reflected signal data relates to the shape of a presented biometric feature. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein determining whether the visual data and the reflected signal data relate to a biometric feature having realistic dimensions comprises comparing the visual data and the reflected signal data against a model related to realistic dimensions of a biometric feature. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A method according to claim 5, further comprising collecting data for use in the model, the data for use in the model comprising visual data and reflected signal data of a biometric feature of a live human and visual data and reflected signal data of a falsified biometric feature of a live human. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) A method according to claim 5, wherein the model is a trained classifier. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A method according to claim 8, further comprising training the model based on presented biometric features of live humans and presented falsified biometric features of live humans. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) A method according to claim 5, wherein the model comprises a convolutional neural network. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting data related to the presented biometric feature for remote processing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, further comprising selecting a pattern from a plurality of patterns; wherein selecting a pattern comprises randomly selecting a pattern. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein transmitting a signal comprises using a single transmitter. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein a single sensor is used to capture data related to a reflected signal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the biometric feature is one or more of: a face; a hand; a palm; a thumb; and one or more fingers. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, further comprising, using a screen, performing one or more of the following actions: presenting the captured visual data to the presented biometric feature; instructing a live human to locate the biometric feature at a particular position relative to the camera and/or the sensor; and instructing a live human to perform a particular gesture with the biometric feature. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a microphone. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A method according to claim 17, wherein the signal comprises an ultrasound wave. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the method forms part of a multi-modal method for determining whether a biometric feature of a live human is present. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A method of verifying the identity of a user, comprising performing the method of claim 1; and verifying the identity of the user by comparing biometric information of the user against a database of biometric information of verified users. ### Claim 21 A method for determining whether a biometric feature of a live human is present, comprising: using a sensor, capturing visual data related to a presented biometric feature; transmitting an ultrasound wave to the presented biometric feature, wherein the ultrasound wave is capable of causing an involuntary response from a biometric feature of a live human; and determining whether the data indicates that the involuntary response has occurred thereby to determine whether a biometric feature of a live human is present. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) A computer program product having a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising software code adapted to carry out the method of Claim 1. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) A client or user device in the form of a telecommunications device or handset such as a smartphone or tablet adapted to execute the computer program product of Claim 22. ### Claim 24 Apparatus for determining whether a biometric feature of a live human is present, comprising: a camera for capturing visual data of a presented biometric feature; a transmitter adapted to transmit a sound wave towards the biometric feature in accordance with a—pattern; wherein the pattern comprises at least one pulse each being followed by a pause with a random duration; a sensor for capturing data related to a reflected signal from the presented biometric feature; wherein the pattern is configured such that a pulse in the reflected signal, said pulse corresponding to a reflection of the most recently transmitted pulse from the presented biometric feature, is received during the pause following the most recently transmitted pulse; and a processor adapted to determine whether the visual data and the reflected signal data relate to a biometric feature having realistic dimensions thereby to determine that a live biometric feature is present.