Liveness Detection Using Face-Gaze Direction Difference

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing biometric authentication systems face challenges in accurately distinguishing between live users and spoofing attempts, particularly when the angle of the face direction is small, leading to erroneous determinations.

Innovation Solution

An information processing system that acquires face and gaze directions, determines a difference between them, and corrects a score based on the face direction angle to enhance the accuracy of distinguishing between live users and spoofing attempts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the angle of face direction is used as a threshold for authentication, then authentication can be performed, but erroneous determinations occur when the face direction angle is small

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication accuracyVSAvoidface direction angle measurement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter used for determination from face direction angle alone to the difference between face direction and gaze direction. By introducing a new parameter (gaze direction) and calculating its difference with face direction, the system achieves more accurate determination while avoiding erroneous results when face direction angle is small.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces gaze direction as an intermediary parameter to mediate between face direction and authentication determination. Instead of directly using face direction angle, the system uses the difference between face direction and gaze direction as an intermediate measure, which provides more reliable information for authentication decisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If gaze direction analysis is added to improve determination accuracy, then authentication reliability improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveliving body determination accuracyVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges face direction acquisition and gaze direction acquisition into a unified determination process. Both parameters are acquired and processed together to calculate their difference, which is then used for authentication determination. This merging approach improves reliability while managing complexity through integrated processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4332880B1Information processing system, information processing method, and recording medium
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 NEC CORP
  • EP4332880B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4332880B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4332880B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An information processing system includes: a face direction acquisition unit that obtains a face direction of a user; a gaze direction acquisition unit that obtains a gaze direction of the user; a determination unit that determines whether or not the user is a living body, on the basis of a difference between the face direction and the gaze direction, when an angle of the face direction is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold; and an output unit that outputs a result of the determination. According to such an information processing system, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not the user is a living body.