Age verification
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated age verification systems require a user device with network connectivity, which may not always be available, and are vulnerable to spoofing attempts, such as presenting a photograph of an older person.
Innovation Solution
An image processing system that captures images to determine human characteristics, estimates age, and checks for liveness using thermal imaging or physiological signatures, initiating further verification if age requirements are not met or if the image does not exhibit liveness characteristics, allowing for age-restricted activities to be authorized.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If automated age verification using digital identity services is implemented, then age verification robustness is improved, but device complexity and network connectivity requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The verification process is divided into two distinct pathways: a primary pathway using the robust digital identity service with biometric matching, and a secondary pathway using age estimation from images. This segmentation allows the system to use the more complex verification method only when necessary, while providing a simpler alternative for cases where network connectivity or device requirements are problematic.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the verification parameter from requiring full digital identity verification with network connectivity to using age estimation from images when the primary method is unavailable. This parameter change allows the system to operate in environments with limited connectivity or simpler device requirements while maintaining verification capability.
2Ease of operation
If traditional age verification methods are used, then simplicity is maintained, but vulnerability to spoofing attempts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary age estimation from images before proceeding to the full verification process. This preliminary action provides an additional layer of verification that can detect spoofing attempts early, while still maintaining the simplicity of the overall process by only requiring full verification when the preliminary check indicates potential issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The age estimation process acts as an intermediary verification step between the user presenting themselves and the final authorization decision. This intermediary layer provides an additional check that can identify spoofing attempts without requiring the user to go through the complete verification process, thus maintaining simplicity while reducing vulnerability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If age estimation from images is used, then network connectivity requirements are reduced, but measurement precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the verification method based on available resources and confidence levels. When network connectivity is available and the digital identity service can provide a confident determination, that method is used. When connectivity is limited or the image-based estimation provides sufficient confidence, the system accepts the age estimation result, thus adapting to different operational conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the age estimation process to determine whether further verification is needed. If the age estimation provides a clear determination with sufficient confidence, the process terminates. If the estimation is uncertain or falls near the age threshold, the system initiates the more precise digital identity verification process, using feedback from the initial estimation to guide the verification depth.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables reliable age verification without the need for network connectivity and reduces spoofing attempts by confirming the presence of a living human, ensuring accurate age determination for age-restricted activities.
Implementation Method 1
The camera is a thermal imaging camera
Implementation Method 2
The physiological signature may be a heartbeat detected from skin colour changes in the at least one image
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Image processing systems and methods are provided for authorizing the performance at a computer terminal of an age-restricted activity. An estimated human age is determined based on human characteristics of a structure detected in an image captured at the computer terminal. It is determined whether the structure exhibits at least one liveness characteristic indicating the human characteristics from which the estimated human age is determined have been captured directly from a living human at the computer terminal. A positive determination is made as to whether performance of the age-restricted activity is authorized if the estimated human age meets a predetermined age requirement and the structure is determined to exhibit at least one liveness characteristic, and a negative determination is made if: i) the estimated human age does not meet the predetermined age requirement; and/or ii) the structure is not determined to exhibit at least one liveness characteristic.