IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,632,529
Granted Patent B2
US 12,632,529 · App. 18/722,799 · Granted May 19, 2026

Authentication system, authentication method, and non-transitory recording medium

Inventors: Masataka Satoh (Tokyo, JP); Hideki Irisawa (Tokyo, JP); Takayuki Kase (Tokyo, JP); Naoki Tokunaga (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
G06F21/32G06V40/166G06V40/172G06V40/50H04N23/611H04N23/667
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,632,529
App. No.
18/722,799
Granted
May 19, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An authentication system includes: an imaging unit that is configure to switch between normal imaging and blur imaging that is imaging in a state of blurring with lower sharpness than that in the normal imaging; a target detection unit that detects an authentication target on the basis of a blurred image acquired by the blur imaging; a switching unit that switches the blur imaging to the normal imaging in a case where the authentication target is detected; and an authentication unit that performs authentication processing of authenticating the authentication targe on the basis of a normal image acquired by the normal imaging. According to such an authentication system, it is possible to perform the authentication processing in consideration of the privacy of the target.

Claims (23)

1 . An authentication system comprising:

an imaging unit that is configured to switch between normal imaging and blur imaging that is imaging in a state of blurring with lower sharpness than that in the normal imaging;

at least one memory that is configured to store instructions; and

at least one processor that is configured to execute the instructions to:

detect an authentication target on the basis of a blurred image acquired by the blur imaging;

switch the blur imaging to the normal imaging in a case where the authentication target is detected from the blurred image; and

perform authentication processing of authenticating the authentication target on the basis of a normal image acquired by the normal imaging.

2 . The authentication system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to, in a case where a face is detected in the blurred image and a size of the face is greater than a predetermined threshold, detect the face as a face of the authentication target.

3 . The authentication system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to, in a case where a moving object is detected in the blurred image and the moving object is approaching the imaging unit, detect the moving object as the authentication target.

4 . The authentication system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to identify a face area in which there is a face of the authentication target, and switch the blur imaging to the normal imaging only in the face area.

5 . The authentication system according claim 4 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to, in a case where a plurality of authentication targets are detected, switch the blur imaging to the normal imaging only in the face area of the authentication target closest to the imaging unit.

6 . The authentication system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to, in a case where the authentication processing of authenticating the authentication target is ended, switch the normal imaging to the blur imaging.

7 . The authentication system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to, when switching the blur imaging to the normal imaging, gradually increase sharpness of an image in accordance with a distance between the authentication target and the imaging unit.

8 . The authentication system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to store the normal image in a case where the authentication processing of authenticating the authentication target is successful, but not store the normal image in a case where the authentication processing of authenticating the authentication target is failed.

9 . The authentication system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to, in a case where the authentication target is detected and a predetermined action by the authentication target is detected, switch the blur imaging to the normal imaging.

10 . A computer implemented authentication method using an imaging unit that is configured to switch between normal imaging and blur imaging that is imaging in a state of blurring with lower sharpness than that in the normal imaging, the authentication method comprising:

detecting an authentication target on the basis of a blurred image acquired by the blur imaging;

switching the blur imaging to the normal imaging in a case where the authentication target is detected from the blurred image; and

performing authentication processing of authenticating the authentication target on the basis of a normal image acquired by the normal imaging.

11 . A non-transitory recording medium on which a computer program that allows at least one computer to execute an authentication method is recorded, the authentication method using an imaging unit that can switch between a normal imaging and a blur imaging in which the sharpness is lower than that of the normal imaging, the authentication method including:

detecting an authentication target on the basis of a blurred image acquired by the blur imaging;

switching the blur imaging to the normal imaging in a case where the authentication target is detected from the blurred image; and

performing authentication processing of authenticating the authentication target on the basis of a normal image acquired by the normal imaging.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 21, 2024
From: SATOH, MASATAKA; IRISAWA, HIDEKI; KASE, TAKAYUKI; TOKUNAGA, NAOKI
To: NEC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 067796/0007 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250045369A1 · Feb 6, 2025
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