Age verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated age verification systems require a user device with network connectivity, limiting their functionality when such devices are unavailable, and may be vulnerable to spoofing attempts, especially in situations where age verification is necessary without access to electronic devices.
Innovation Solution
An image processing system that captures and processes images to determine age and liveness characteristics, using thermal imaging and liveness detection to verify if the image is from a living human, allowing for age-restricted activities and initiating further verification if necessary, without relying on network connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If automated age verification uses digital identity services with QR codes and biometric matching, then verification robustness is improved, but device complexity and network connectivity requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex electronic verification systems (smartphone apps, network connectivity, digital identity services) with a simplified optical detection system using camera-based image processing. The system captures images of physical ID documents and uses image analysis to verify age, substituting mechanical/optical methods for electronic/digital ones.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a visual copy of the ID document through camera imaging and processes this copy to extract age information. Instead of requiring access to digital databases or network services, the system works entirely with captured image data, making verification independent of network connectivity and complex device requirements.
2Measurement precision
If age verification requires network connectivity and electronic devices, then verification accuracy is improved, but accessibility and ease of operation worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs verification autonomously by capturing images and automatically processing them to determine age. The operator simply needs to capture the ID document image, and the system handles all verification steps automatically, eliminating the need for manual data entry or complex interactions with digital systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces electronic verification processes requiring network connectivity with optical image processing that can be performed locally. This substitution maintains verification accuracy through sophisticated image analysis while dramatically improving accessibility by removing network and device requirements.
3Ease of operation
If traditional age verification methods are used without liveness detection, then ease of operation is improved, but vulnerability to spoofing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by detecting liveness characteristics before completing the verification process. It analyzes physiological signals such as heartbeat-induced skin color changes or respiratory patterns in the captured image to ensure the subject is alive, preventing spoofing attempts with photographs or digital displays before verification is finalized.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes color changes in the captured image, specifically physiological signals like subtle skin color variations caused by heartbeat or respiration. These natural color fluctuations serve as liveness indicators, allowing the system to distinguish between living subjects and static images while maintaining ease of operation.
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 in scenarios without network access, reducing the risk of spoofing by confirming the age and liveness of the individual, thus ensuring compliance with age restrictions in various contexts.
Implementation Method 1
receiving at least one thermogram captured at a computer terminal
Implementation Method 2
The physiological signature may be a heartbeat detected from skin colour changes in the at least one image
Data Source
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.