Info Security Products Guide - A4Visiion - A New Model of Biometric Security for Corporate Campuses and More

In a time when security initiatives are at the forefront of corporate agendas, security directors are discovering that new biometric technologies can notably increase entry point protection, secure sensitive assets and reduce outside threats. Security directors commonly turn to system integrators and dealers to provide an effective, multifactor authentication system that can integrate easily with existing hardware and software.

3D facial recognition creates a new advanced biometric option, as seen in the technology and systems designed and manufactured by A4Vision, located in Sunnyvale, California. The unique A4Vision solution is a combination of specific optical hardware and advanced software that incorporates 3D based algorithms that capture, store and compare biometric data. This new technology adds the increased level of security required for today’s environment.

3D Facial recognition provides a valuable enhancement to physical access control installations. Utilizing 3D facial recognition, A4Vision’s system provides a consistent result regardless of ambient light conditions, background color, facial cosmetics and accessories such as hats or glasses. The result is a solution that is truly non-invasive and highly effective.

Traditional access control systems rely on readers and cards that can be stolen, lost, shared or copied. The A4Vision system relies on the characteristics of a person’s face, which cannot be lost, shared or stolen. A combination approach using both systems together provides greater protection because it requires not only the correct card but also the correct facial features to allow access.

The following is a general example of how 3D facial recognition integrates into a high-level security system.

ABC Company has a three-building campus. Building one is reserved for corporate offices, human resources, sales, and customer support; building two is dedicated to research and new product development; and the third building is manufacturing. Each building has access control requirements to enter, but not all employees need or should have access to every area.

It is common for these facilities to have an existing card-based access control system in place. The system will control which employee can go where based on the data encoded on the card. The A4Vision system integrates easily with systems on the market which incorporate laser, magnetic stripe, Wiegand and proximity based card technologies. With the A4Vision system in place, the employees will now use their card and/or pin number plus their facial features to be granted access, enforcing multi-factor security to affect a highly secure verification solution.

Although physical access control has been among the most common applications for 3D face recognition there are many others. Using the A4Vision Software Developer Kit, a system can be configured to conduct multiple functions, including time and attendance applications, monitoring and surveillance solutions and site security systems.

In a monitoring and surveillance application, if access is denied because the person’s face and the existing template it is being compared to do not match there are a number of system responses that can be programmed into the security application. First, the door would not unlock and access would be denied. This event would signal the central monitoring station to alert security staff that access was denied. The system could trigger the multiplexer monitoring the assigned camera to go to full-screen, providing security staff with an instant visual of the entrance and the individual. This process takes seconds and allows the security staff to make a visual, human assessment of the situation and take further action if necessary.

The A4Vision 3D biometric system consists of three primary products: the Enrollment Station, the Face Reader, and VA SDK. The Enrollment Station is used to initially capture biometric facial features, which are processed and turned into a template. Face Readers are used at access point locations and perform the matching operation between a stored template and the person presenting their face to a reader. The SDK is used to quickly and easily integrate into existing systems. The SDK can also be used to perform added levels of customization, integration, or application with the A4Vision technology.

The software processes the raw data and performs image filtering, instantly reconstructing the 3D surface, smoothing and interpolating data to avoid holes and optimizing the image. Initial collection takes between three to five seconds to complete and it is non-invasive.

Through a proprietary matching engine and algorithms, the system performs employee identification and verification either locally or using a networked database. In identification mode, the system compares the extracted biometric template against all locally or network-stored templates in real-time. In verification mode, the extracted biometric template is compared against a stored piece of data such as a card or pin number or against an on-chip stored template.

A4Vision is committed to developing and licensing advanced identification systems and solutions using breakthrough 3D face recognition technology.

A4Vision products are designed for a broad range of security requirements, including applications for access control, law enforcement and commercial markets, as well as those for PC and Internet. A4Vision’s 3D facial biometric and camera tracking systems are based on a combination of patented optical technology, targeting and tracking software and recognition algorithms. Through innovations in 3D data capturing and processing capabilities, these systems permit industry-leading accuracy in real-time facial recognition and tracking.

For more information about A4Vision and its products visit the company’s website at www.a4vision.com or call 408-446-1133.