DIGIMARC CENTRIAN FACIAL IMAGE DATABASE MANAGEMENT TOOLS
by Nigel Ward

An investigative Solution for Facial Image Management Offered as part of Digimarc’s Secure Identification Solutions.

The Centrian Facial Image Database Management Tools are based on the best of today’s cutting-edge facial analysis and matching technology. Digimarc has deployed these systems to meet our customer’s antifraud objectives.

The first and crucial element is to pre-empt fraud at the point of issuance. Second, is to discover fraud during back office investigations. To meet these objectives, the Centrian Facial Image Database Management Tools can be implemented in two forms: -

One to one (1:1) matching of faces at Digimarc CentrianTM ID Workstation is a powerful deterrent to fraud during the document renewal process. Centrian Facial Image database Management Tools detects attempts at fraud by matching the ‘live’ portrait against a previously stored image. If it detects a miss-match, the operator is alerted and the issuance process halted until a manager over-rides or cancels the transaction.

This Check: -

  • Prevents new documents from being re-issued with fraudulent information.

  • Reduced collusion and prepares the facial image for future (optional) forensic applications

  • Reduces operator error such as accidental issuance to the wrong person

Forensic Fraud Detection Implementation
One to many (1:N) software that searches an ID document issuers database for matching facial images after a driver’s licence or ID card has been issued, is an effective fraud investigation tool.

In particular, 1:N searches help detect: -

  • One individual holding two or more licences or IDs under different names

  • Different individuals holding the same licence or ID card

  • Attempts to alter signatures and facial features

  • Operator error – such as two identities used for the same ID card

  • Patterns of error that might indicate collusion

  • Known offenders returning for a new and fraudulent licence or ID card

  • Applying for multiple licences/ ID cards on a single day

Through these reverse lookups, sometimes other suspicious patterns emerge. For example, many fraudulent document holders may be living at the same address. Or the address may be non-existent. In this way, eth system may help you find fraud that my otherwise not be detected.

Centrian Facial Image Database Management Tools software is an optional, backward compatible and fully integrated module available in Digimarc Centrian ID Workstation products.

Access Control Implementation
This system may also be used for access control. The one to one (1:1) matching of facial data at a Centrian ID Workstation is also used to verify the identity of the workstation operators. By managing facial (or fingerprint) templates centrally, operators may log-on to any workstation through region or country. Management software may also be fine tuned to prevent multiple simultaneous log-ons, or allow access only during certain business hours.

Batch Processing
Everyday, all new images capture in branch offices are enrolled as a batch in the Centrian Facial Image search database. In addition, the issuer can designate a group from these new images to be checked for fraud. For example, all documents that are new issuances’ can be tagged and automatically searched against the entire facial image database. If an individual such as a multiple offender presents false documents to get a new licence or ID, the Centrian Facial Image Database Management Tool software will find the previously issued documents. Overnight batch processing is advantageous since it frees computer resources needed by investigators during business hours.

Interactive Processing
Each investigator may also interactively choose a record from the issuer’s image server and search for duplicates or multiple identities, using an intuitive, web-based interface.

The candidate images are sorted according to facial similarity and ordered with the most similar images at the beginning of the list. An operator may pick one of the candidates and zoom in to images for a side to side comparison of the faces, signatures and (optional) fingerprints. A dossier may also be printed with summary demographics and all the images.

Mainframe Feedback
Whenever fraud is detected the investigator may flag the record and send the result to the issuer’s image server or mainframe to block further issuances.

Accelerated Deployment
The Centrian Facial Image Database Management Tools system is based on secure web technology. Deployment of the field is quick since no client software needs to be installed. Once an investigator is assigned an account he/she logs in to the Centrian Facial Image Database Management Tools and uses all the functions through Internet Explorer which comes with all current versions of Microsoft Windows.

Accelerated Enrolment
Digimarc’s unique legacy database enrolment services accelerate an otherwise very time consuming process. Images are enrolled in parallel so 10 million images enrol in about the same time as 1 million images.

How do Facial Recognition Systems Work?
Biometric-based investigative tools represent a relatively new class of tools in the investigator’s arsenal. Please contact us for further technical information.

The Investigator Counts
It is important to note that automated fraud detection systems do not make a decision. Investigators make the final judgement. It is precisely because judgement is required, that human intervention is essential.

A Case Study in Facial Image Management for Antifraud

Digimarc’s Centrian Facial Image Management Tools are deployed at the Colorado Department of Revenue (DOR). This system is integrated with DOR licencing systems to detect fraud, to increase the integrity of their licencing database and to protect cardholders from identity theft.

Facial biometrics is required by Colorado legislative mandate because it is: -

  • Effective investigative tool

  • Accepted by the public

  • Proven to reduce identity fraud

  • Advanced the DOR towards compliance with rule: one person-one licence

Colorado’s image template database contains over 11 million facial templates and is growing at the rate of about 5,000 per day. In the addition, about 1,000 of these images are earmarked by DOR for fraud checking. Even at this scale, it takes less than a minute to search all 11 million records and build a candidate list for each record.

Centrian Facial Image Database Management Tools Elements
The base product provides essential investigative functions. You can grow the Centrian Facial Image Database Management Tools by adding optional features that are important to your business objectives.

Hardware

  • Web server

  • Tracking database and image manager

  • Facial recognition server

  • Searches (up to 2million facial recognition templates stored on each search engine)

Software

  • Batch processing

  • Interactive searching with web browser

  • Progressive searching on candidates

  • Custom interface to issuing authority’s image server

  • Legacy enrolment service

  • Activity reports

  • System backup and recovery software

Optional Features

Security

  • Secure sockets layer (SSL) network protocol to prevent eavesdropping

  • Digital signature to validate the computer used to access the system

  • Fingerprint log-on to verify each user of the system

  • Strong encryption

Performance Upgrades

  • Networked attached storage unit for image caching

  • Dual CPU web server or database server

  • Image thumb-nailing

Optional Investigation Tools

  • 1:1 verification of candidate facial images compared to probe facial images

  • Adobe PDF dossier

  • Searching with probe images obtained from scanned photographs

About Digimarc’s Secure Identification Solutions
Digimarc is the world leader in supplying secure identification solutions to governments, businesses and organisations that require highly secure high quality and large volume ID systems and documents.

Digimarc’s Secure Identification Solutions can be customised to meet the special needs of an organisation and include the hardware, software, services, card materials and secure IDs.

Digimarc’s Secure Identification Solutions are used daily in thousands of locations around eth world. Digimarc produce more than 60 million government-issued photo IDs a year, including drivers licences for 32 American states, as well as national and voter ID cards, social security and welfare cards and drivers licences in over 24 countries internationally, including Mexico, Philippines, Hong Kong, Africa, United Kingdom Russia and New Zealand.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Window XP Operating System
Intel Pentium III Processor 500 MHz or better
256 MB Memory
Minimum 10 GB Hard Disk

For further information visit www.digimarc.com/DIDS

Digimarc ID Systems
63 Third Avenue
Burlington
MA 01803
USA

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Digimarc ID Systems International
Knyvett House
The Causeway
Staines
TW18 3BA
United Kingdom

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