# US 2014/0197922 A1 · System and method for positive identification on a mobile device

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- Number: US 2014/0197922 A1
- Document ID: US20140197922A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/743,149
- Filed: 2013-01-16
- Published: 2014-07-17
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-16
- Assignees: Cygnus Broadband, Inc.
- Applicants: Cygnus Broadband, Inc.
- Inventors: Kenneth Stanwood; David Gell
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197922A1

## CPC

- G06F 21/32: using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
- H04N 23/611: where the recognised objects include parts of the human body
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

A method of capturing a photograph of a user's face with a mobile device includes determining alignment of an image of the user's face with a camera of the mobile device; providing one of a visual indicator and an audible sound as an alignment verification aid which indicates to the user when facial alignment is favorable; and taking a photograph of the user's face when alignment of the user's face with the camera is favorable.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of capturing a photograph of a user's face with a mobile device, the method comprising:
determining alignment of an image of the user's face with a camera of the mobile device;
providing one of a visual indicator and an audible sound as an alignment verification aid which indicates to the user when facial alignment is favorable; and
taking a photograph of the user's face when alignment of the user's face with the camera is favorable.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the alignment verification aid changes from a first state to a second state when the user's face is favorably aligned.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising providing at least one of audible and textual instructions which direct the user to move the camera to achieve favorable alignment of the user's face with the camera.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the photograph of the user's face is taken automatically when alignment of the user's face with the camera is favorable.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein a plurality of photographs are automatically taken prior to a final photograph automatically taken at favorable alignment.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising performing three-dimensional (3D) facial recognition based on the plurality of photographs and the final photograph.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting motion of the user's eyes prior to taking the photograph of the user's face.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting constriction and dilation of the user's pupils when a light source is brightened and then dimmed prior to taking the photograph of the user's face.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting whether the user's face is smiling or whether the user's eyes are open and providing a smile or eyes open indication to the user via the alignment verification aid.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the alignment verification aid changes from a first state to a second state when it is detected that the user is not smiling or the user's eyes are open.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the photograph of the user's face is taken automatically when it is detected that the user is not smiling or the user's eyes are open.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising providing at least one of audible and textual instructions which direct the user to refrain from smiling or to open the eyes.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising providing at least one of audible and textual instructions which direct the user to smile and then to refrain from smiling or to close the eyes and then to open them.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising performing facial recognition on the captured photograph of the user's face.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein a first photograph of the user's face is taken at a first facial alignment and a second photograph of the user's face is taken at a second facial alignment different from the first facial alignment.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, further comprising providing at least one of audible and textual instructions directing the user to position the camera for the first facial alignment and for the second facial alignment.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the first facial alignment is one eye and nose in profile and the second facial alignment is the other eye and nose in profile.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, further comprising performing three-dimensional (3D) facial recognition based on the first and second photographs of the user's face.

### Claim 19

A method of capturing an image of a user's iris with a mobile device, the method comprising:
determining alignment of an image of the user's eye with a camera of the mobile device;
providing one of a visual indicator and an audible sound as an alignment verification aid which indicates to the user when eye alignment is favorable; and
capturing an image of the user's iris when alignment of the user's eye with the camera is favorable.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the alignment verification aid changes from a first state to a second state when the user's eye is favorably aligned.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, further comprising providing at least one of audible and textual instructions which direct the user to move the camera to achieve favorable alignment of the user's eye with the camera.

### Claim 22 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the iris image is captured automatically when alignment of the user's eye with the camera is favorable.

### Claim 23 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, further comprising detecting motion of the user's eyes prior to capturing the image of the user's iris.

### Claim 24 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, further comprising detecting constriction and dilation of the user's pupils when a light source is brightened and then dimmed prior to capturing the image of the user's iris.

### Claim 25 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, further comprising detecting whether the user's eye is open and providing an eye open indication to the user via the alignment verification aid.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25, wherein the alignment verification aid changes from a first state to a second state when it is detected that the user's eye is open.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The method of claim 26, wherein the image is captured automatically when it is detected that the user's eye is open.

### Claim 28 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25, further comprising providing at least one of audible and textual instructions which direct the user to open the eyes.

### Claim 29 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25, further comprising providing at least one of audible and textual instructions which direct the user to close the eyes and then to open them.

### Claim 30 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, further comprising performing iris recognition on the captured iris image.

### Claim 31 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the user's iris is illuminated with visible light.

### Claim 32 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the user's iris is illuminated with near infrared light.

### Claim 33 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the user's iris is illuminated with both visible light and near infrared light.

### Claim 34

A method of granting or denying access, the method comprising:
capturing an image of a user's face when alignment of the user's face with a camera of a mobile device is favorable;
performing facial recognition on the captured image;
determining if the user is authenticated as an authorized user based on facial recognition results;
when the user is authenticated as an authorized user, permitting access; and
when the user is determined to be an unauthorized user, denying access and storing the captured image of the unauthorized user.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The method of claim 34, wherein an authorized user is permitted access to at least one of an application and data available through the mobile device.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

The method of claim 35 wherein the authorized user is a member of a group of authorized users permitted access to the at least one of an application and data available through the mobile device.

### Claim 37 (depends on 34)

The method of claim 34, wherein a security analysis is performed on the stored image of the unauthorized user.

### Claim 38 (depends on 34)

The method of claim 34, wherein the captured image is used to train the facial recognition system.

### Claim 39 (depends on 34)

The method of claim 34, further comprising re-verifying the identity of the authorized user after access is permitted by periodically capturing images of a current user and performing facial recognition to authenticate the current user.

### Claim 40 (depends on 39)

The method of claim 39, wherein re-verification of the authorized user is performed based on verification information stored on the mobile device.

### Claim 41 (depends on 39)

The method of claim 39, wherein re-verification of the authorized user is performed when the current user is opportunistically aligned with the camera without interrupting the current user.

### Claim 42 (depends on 39)

The method of claim 39, wherein re-verification of the authorized user is performed after a predetermined period of time by interrupting the current user and requiring capture of a favorably aligned facial image.

### Claim 43 (depends on 39)

The method of claim 39, wherein when the current user is not authenticated as the authorized user, determining if the current user is authenticated as another authorized user based on facial recognition results; and
when the current user is authenticated as an authorized user, permitting access, and when the current user is not authenticated as an authorized user, denying access.

### Claim 44 (depends on 39)

The method of claim 39, wherein when one of a lack of device motion and horizontal orientation of the mobile device is detected for a predetermined period of time, the camera is activated, and when no face is detected, instructions are provided to the current user to move into view of the camera.

### Claim 45 (depends on 44)

The method of claim 44, further comprising when no user or no authorized user is present a display screen of the mobile device is darkened until an action is taken to resume access.

### Claim 46 (depends on 45)

The method of claim 45, wherein the action to resume access is one of moving the mobile device, performing on operation on a user interface of the mobile device, and re-verifying an authorized user of the mobile device.

### Claim 47 (depends on 44)

The method of claim 44, further comprising when no user or no authorized user is present the mobile device enters a mode requiring user authentication to resume access.

### Claim 48 (depends on 47)

The method of claim 47, wherein the mobile device immediately enters a mode requiring user authentication to resume access.

### Claim 49 (depends on 47)

The method of claim 47, wherein after a first timeout period the mobile device enters a mode requiring user authentication to resume access.

### Claim 50 (depends on 49)

The method of claim 49, wherein after a second timeout period the mobile device sends an alert to an entity responsible for security of the mobile device.

### Claim 51 (depends on 50)

The method of claim 50, wherein after a third timeout period the mobile device either logs off the previously authorized user or powers off.

### Claim 52

A method of granting or denying access, the method comprising:
capturing an image of a user's iris when alignment of the user's eye with a camera of a mobile device is favorable;
performing iris recognition on the captured image;
determining if the user is authenticated as an authorized user based on iris recognition results;
when the user is authenticated as an authorized user, permitting access; and
when the user is determined to be an unauthorized user, denying access and storing the captured image of the unauthorized user.

### Claim 53 (depends on 52)

The method of claim 52, wherein an authorized user is permitted access to at least one of an application and data available through the mobile device.

### Claim 54 (depends on 53)

The method of claim 53 wherein the authorized user is a member of a group of authorized users permitted access to the at least one of an application and data available through the mobile device.

### Claim 55 (depends on 52)

The method of claim 52, further comprising re-verifying the identity of the authorized user after access is permitted by periodically capturing facial images of a current user and performing facial recognition to authenticate the current user.

### Claim 56 (depends on 55)

The method of claim 55, wherein re-verification of the authorized user is performed based on verification information stored on the mobile device.

### Claim 57 (depends on 55)

The method of claim 55, wherein re-verification of the authorized user is performed when the current user is opportunistically aligned with the camera without interrupting the user.

### Claim 58 (depends on 55)

The method of claim 55, wherein re-verification of the user is performed after a predetermined period of time by interrupting the current user and requiring capture of a favorably aligned facial image.

### Claim 59 (depends on 55)

The method of claim 55, wherein when one of a lack of device motion and horizontal orientation of the mobile device is detected for a predetermined period of time, the camera is activated and when no face is detected, instructions are provided to the current user to move into view of the camera.

### Claim 60 (depends on 59)

The method of claim 59, further comprising when no user or no authorized user is present a display screen of the mobile device is darkened until an action is taken to resume access.

### Claim 61 (depends on 60)

The method of claim 60, wherein the action to resume access is one of moving the mobile device, performing on operation on a user interface of the mobile device, and re-verifying an authorized user of the mobile device.

### Claim 62 (depends on 59)

The method of claim 59, further comprising when no user or no authorized user is present the mobile device enters a mode requiring user authentication to resume access.

### Claim 63 (depends on 62)

The method of claim 62, wherein the mobile device immediately enters a mode requiring user authentication to resume access.

### Claim 64 (depends on 59)

The method of claim 59, wherein after a first timeout period the mobile device enters a mode requiring user authentication to resume access.

### Claim 65 (depends on 64)

The method of claim 64, wherein after a second timeout period the mobile device sends an alert to an entity responsible for security of the mobile device.

### Claim 66 (depends on 65)

The method of claim 65, wherein after a third timeout period the mobile device either logs off the previously authorized user or powers off.

### Claim 67

A mobile device for performing user identity verification, the mobile device comprising:
a display module which displays visual information;
a camera module configured to capture and communicate images; and
a processor module communicatively coupled to the camera module and the display module,
wherein the processor module receives one or more images of a user captured by the camera module and determines, based on the captured one or more images, whether the captured one or more images correspond to an image of an authorized user, and
when the processor module determines the captured one or more images correspond to an image of an authorized user, the processor module permits the user access to one or more of the mobile device, an application available through the mobile device, and data available through the mobile device.

### Claim 68 (depends on 67)

The mobile device of claim 67, wherein the processor module processes the captured one or more images and determines whether the captured one or more images corresponds to an image of an authorized user.

### Claim 69 (depends on 67)

The mobile device of claim 67, wherein the processor module processes the captured one or more images and determines by communicating with an authentication server whether the captured one or more images corresponds to an image of an authorized user.

### Claim 70 (depends on 67)

The mobile device of claim 67, wherein the processor module determines whether the captured one or more images corresponds to an image of an authorized user includes deriving predefined metrics from the captured one or more images and comparing those metrics to the metrics of an image of an authorized user.

### Claim 71 (depends on 67)

The mobile device of claim 67, wherein the camera module communicates moving images of a user that are displayed on the display module, and
the processor module is configured to cause the display module to display at least one alignment template to align a facial feature of a user with the camera module.

### Claim 72 (depends on 71)

The mobile device of claim 71, wherein the processor module is configured to cause the camera module to capture a user image when the user facial feature is aligned with the alignment template.

### Claim 73 (depends on 67)

The mobile device of claim 67, wherein the captured one or more images and the image of an authorized user are iris images.

### Claim 74 (depends on 73)

The mobile device of claim 73, further comprising a visible light source and a near infrared light source configured to illuminate the iris of the user.

### Claim 75 (depends on 67)

The mobile device of claim 67, wherein when the determination result indicates that the captured one or more images or predetermined metrics derived from the captured one or more images do not correspond to an image of an authorized user or predetermined metrics derived from the image of an authorized user, access to use the mobile device is denied and the captured image is stored for subsequent security analysis.

### Claim 76 (depends on 67)

The mobile device of claim 67, wherein when the determination result indicates that the captured one or more images or predetermined metrics derived from the captured one or more images do not correspond to an image of an authorized user or predetermined metrics derived from the image of an authorized user, access to an application available through the mobile device is denied and the captured image is stored for subsequent security analysis.

### Claim 77 (depends on 67)

The mobile device of claim 67, wherein when the determination result indicates that the captured one or more images or predetermined metrics derived from the captured one or more images do not correspond to an image of an authorized user or predetermined metrics derived from the image of an authorized user, access to data available through the mobile device is denied and the captured image is stored for subsequent security analysis.

### Claim 78

A system for performing user identity verification, the system comprising:
a display module which displays visual information;
a camera module configured to capture and communicate images;
a transmitter/receiver module which communicates with a remote server; and
a processor module communicatively coupled to the display module, the camera module, and the transmitter/receiver module,
wherein the processor module receives one or more images of a user captured by the camera module and derives predetermined metrics from the captured one or more images, the processor module communicates the received one or more captured images to the transmitter/receiver module,
the transmitter/receiver module transmits the one or more captured images or the predetermined metrics derived from the captured one or more images to a remote server,
the transmitter/receiver module receives a determination, based on the captured one or more images or predetermined metrics derived from the captured one or more images, whether the captured one or more images or predetermined metrics derived from the captured one or more images correspond to an image of an authorized user or predetermined metrics derived from an image of an authorized user,
the transmitter/receiver module communicates the determination result to the processor module, and
when the determination result indicates that the captured one or more images or predetermined metrics derived from the captured one or more images correspond to an image of an authorized user or the predetermined metrics derived from an image of an authorized user, the processor module permits the user access to one or more of a mobile device, an application available through the mobile device, and data available through the mobile device.

### Claim 79 (depends on 78)

The system of claim 78, wherein images of authorized users or predetermined metrics derived from the images of authorized users are stored remotely from the system.