Method of host-directed illumination and system for conducting host-directed illumination

1. A method of host-directed illumination comprising:

randomly selecting, by a host authentication system, a different combination of instructions from an instruction listing for each authentication transaction;

executing the selected instructions while capturing biometric data from a user with an authentication device, the selected instructions received from the host authentication system and the captured biometric data including a captured biometric data component and illumination characteristics generated as a result of illuminating the biometric data; and

comparing the captured illumination characteristics against corresponding illumination characteristics expected to result from capturing the biometric data.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising determining the user is live when the captured illumination characteristics match the expected illumination characteristics.

3. A method of host-directed illumination comprising:

randomly selecting, by a host authentication system, illumination instructions from an illumination instruction listing;

executing the selected instructions while capturing biometric data from a user with an authentication device, the selected instructions received from the host authentication system;

determining illumination characteristic differences between sequential images included in the captured biometric data;

comparing the determined illumination characteristic differences against corresponding expected illumination characteristic differences; and

determining the user is live when less than all of the determined illumination characteristic differences match the corresponding expected illumination characteristic difference.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising:

determining illumination characteristic differences between sequential images included in the captured biometric data;

comparing the determined illumination characteristic differences against corresponding expected illumination characteristic differences; and

determining the user is live when all of the determined illumination characteristic differences match the corresponding expected illumination characteristic difference.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising:

comparing temporal changes in the captured illumination characteristics against temporal changes expected to result from capturing the biometric data; and

determining the user to be live when the temporal changes match.

6. A method of host-directed illumination in accordance with claim 1 , said executing step comprising varying illumination of the biometric data over time or projecting a detectable pattern onto the biometric data.

7. A method of host-directed illumination in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising:

after determining the user is live, comparing the captured biometric data against user enrollment biometric data; and

successfully authenticating the user when the captured and enrollment biometric data match.

8. A liveness detection system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory configured to store user enrollment data records, said processor being programmed to:

randomly select a different combination of instructions from an instruction listing for each authentication transaction; and

compare illumination characteristics included in biometric data captured from a user while executing the selected instructions against corresponding illumination characteristics expected to result from capturing the biometric data to determine whether the user is live, the captured biometric data including a biometric data component and illuminations characteristics generated as a result of illuminating the biometric data.

9. A liveness detection system in accordance with claim 8 , said processor being further programmed to determine the user is live when the captured biometric data illumination characteristics match the expected characteristics.

10. A liveness detection system in accordance with claim 8 , said memory being further configured to store expected illumination characteristics for each user in the respective user enrollment data record.

11. A liveness detection system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory configured to store user enrollment data records, said processor being programmed to:

randomly select illumination instructions from an illumination instruction listing;

compare illumination characteristics included in biometric data captured from a user against corresponding illumination characteristics expected to result from capturing the biometric data to determine whether the user is live, the biometric data being captured while executing selected instructions;

determine illumination characteristic differences between sequential images included in captured biometric data;

compare determined illumination characteristic differences against corresponding expected illumination characteristic differences stored in said memory; and

determine the user is live when less than all of the determined illumination characteristic differences match the corresponding expected illumination characteristic difference.

12. A liveness detection system in accordance with claim 8 , said processor being further programmed to:

determine illumination characteristic differences between sequential images included in captured biometric data;

compare determined illumination characteristic differences against corresponding expected illumination characteristic differences stored in said memory; and

determine the user is a live user when each determined illumination characteristic difference matches the corresponding expected illumination characteristic difference.

13. A liveness detection system in accordance with claim 8 , said processor being further programmed to recognize an illumination characteristic pattern generated from an executed illumination instruction.

14. A liveness detection system in accordance with claim 8 , said processor being further programmed to:

compare the captured biometric data against user enrollment biometric data after the user is determined to be live; and

successfully authenticate the user when the captured and enrollment biometric data match.