Verification method and system

1. A method for determining whether a biometric feature of a live human is present, comprising:

using a camera, capturing visual data of a presented biometric feature;

transmitting a sound wave towards the biometric feature in accordance with a pattern; wherein the pattern comprises at least one pulse each being followed by a pause with a random duration;

using a sensor, capturing data related to a reflected signal from the presented biometric feature;

wherein the pattern is configured such that a pulse in the reflected signal,- said pulse corresponding to a reflection of the most recently transmitted pulse from the presented biometric feature, is received during the pause following the most recently transmitted pulse; and

determining whether the visual data and the reflected signal data relate to a biometric feature having realistic dimensions thereby to determine that a live biometric feature is present.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein determining whether the visual data and the reflected signal data relate to a biometric feature having realistic dimensions comprises determining whether the visual data and the reflected signal data in combination relate to a biometric feature having realistic dimensions.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the visual data relates to an angular size of the presented biometric feature.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the reflected signal data relates to a distance of the presented biometric feature from the sensor.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the reflected signal data relates to the shape of a presented biometric feature.

6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein determining whether the visual data and the reflected signal data relate to a biometric feature having realistic dimensions comprises comparing the visual data and the reflected signal data against a model related to realistic dimensions of a biometric feature.

7. A method according to claim 5 , further comprising collecting data for use in the model, the data for use in the model comprising visual data and reflected signal data of a biometric feature of a live human and visual data and reflected signal data of a falsified biometric feature of a live human.

8. A method according to claim 5 , wherein the model is a trained classifier.

9. A method according to claim 8 , further comprising training the model based on presented biometric features of live humans and presented falsified biometric features of live humans.

10. A method according to claim 5 , wherein the model comprises a convolutional neural network.

11. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising transmitting data related to the presented biometric feature for remote processing.

12. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising selecting a pattern from a plurality of patterns; wherein selecting a pattern comprises randomly selecting a pattern.

13. A method according to claim 1 , wherein transmitting a signal comprises using a single transmitter.

14. A method according to claim 1 , wherein a single sensor is used to capture data related to a reflected signal.

15. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the biometric feature is one or more of: a face; a hand; a palm; a thumb; and one or more fingers.

16. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising, using a screen, performing one or more of the following actions: presenting the captured visual data to the presented biometric feature; instructing a live human to locate the biometric feature at a particular position relative to the camera and/or the sensor; and instructing a live human to perform a particular gesture with the biometric feature.

17. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a microphone.

18. A method according to claim 17 , wherein the signal comprises an ultrasound wave.

19. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the method forms part of a multi-modal method for determining whether a biometric feature of a live human is present.

20. A method of verifying the identity of a user, comprising performing the method of claim 1 ; and

verifying the identity of the user by comparing biometric information of the user against a database of biometric information of verified users.

21. A method for determining whether a biometric feature of a live human is present, comprising:

using a sensor, capturing visual data related to a presented biometric feature;

transmitting an ultrasound wave to the presented biometric feature, wherein the ultrasound wave is capable of causing an involuntary response from a biometric feature of a live human; and

determining whether the data indicates that the involuntary response has occurred thereby to determine whether a biometric feature of a live human is present.

22. A computer program product having a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising software code adapted to carry out the method of Claim 1 .

23. A client or user device in the form of a telecommunications device or handset such as a smartphone or tablet adapted to execute the computer program product of Claim 22 .

24. Apparatus for determining whether a biometric feature of a live human is present, comprising:

a camera for capturing visual data of a presented biometric feature;

a transmitter adapted to transmit a sound wave towards the biometric feature in accordance with a—pattern; wherein the pattern comprises at least one pulse each being followed by a pause with a random duration;

a sensor for capturing data related to a reflected signal from the presented biometric feature;

wherein the pattern is configured such that a pulse in the reflected signal, said pulse corresponding to a reflection of the most recently transmitted pulse from the presented biometric feature, is received during the pause following the most recently transmitted pulse; and

a processor adapted to determine whether the visual data and the reflected signal data relate to a biometric feature having realistic dimensions thereby to determine that a live biometric feature is present.