Patent GB-1403765-A (GB)
Title: Identification of individuals
IPC: G06T7/00
Filed: 1972-11-03
Abstract: 1403765 Checking the identity of individuals R E ROTHFJELL 3 Nov 1972 [4 Nov 1971 9 May 1972] 50825/72 Headings G4T and G4R [Also in Division B6] In a system (e.g. banking, credit-card shopping) wherein it is necessary to check the identity of an individual requesting use of the system, data representing at least one characterizing contour of the face of each authorized system user is stored, and a similar contour derived from or associated with the individual requesting use is compared with either the stored contours one by one or with the stored contour associated with the authorized user who the individual claims to be. Each authorized user may have an identity card bearing, on one surface, at least one photograph of his face and, on the reverse surface, at least one prominent facial line in superposition with the corresponding contour of the photograph. A layer of translucent plastics overlying the reverse surface prevents alteration of the facial line(s). Holding the card up to a light source enables the correspondence of the lines and the contours to be checked. On requesting use of the system, the card is placed in a unit which scans the lines. The stored lines which should correspond with the scanned lines are retrieved from the store, e.g. a computer, using, as an address, a personal code number read from the card or a personal identity number entered into the unit, and the stored and scanned lines are compared to check the card's authenticity. The lines scanned on those cards subsequently found not to be authentic may be stored in a special register. Instead of using a personal number to address the computer store, the data derived from scanning the lines on the card may be used to search the store. The scanning unit may itself check that the lines on the card and the corresponding photograph contours coincide.  The lines may not be inscribed on the card. In this case the unit reads a personal number on the card and this is used to address the computer store which causes the stored lines corresponding to the stored number to be displayed on a screen of the unit. By placing the card over the screen, coincidence of the lines and photograph contours can be checked. Identity cards need not be issued to each user. In this case, one of two methods can be used. In a first, a glass sheet is located between an individual requesting system use and an official. The stored lines corresponding to the authorized user who the individual purports to be are projected on to the sheet, the individual aligns himself with the projected lines and the official checks for coincidence of the lines and the corresponding features of the individual's face. In a second, one or more television cameras are trained on the individual's face, corresponding images being displayed on monitoring screens. The stored lines which should correspond with the individual are then retrieved from store and superposed on the image(s) on the screen(s) to enable the coincidence check. The stored data representing the lines may be in the form of a number of co-ordinate points on each line. Instead of 2-D contours, 3-D contours derived from holograms may be used.