EAGER: Biometric Authentication using Noncontact Cardiovascular Signals

In our increasingly interconnected society, user authentication - procedures for verifying that individuals are who they claim to be - is important for improving the security of digital systems. Authentication protocols commonly involve combinations of something the user knows (such as a password) or has (such as a card or fob), and biometrics (such as the recognition of a fingerprint).

This project develops novel biometric approaches based on the activity of the heart. Because shape and physiology of the cardiovascular system differ from person to person, it is possible to detect significant differences related to blood flow for different individuals. The project introduces methods for detecting information related to the cardiovascular system using a video camera, at the level of detail needed to perform user authentication.

The project's broader significance is the potential use of these new techniques, as well as a dataset of measurements collected from several individuals for cybersecurity and health care research and applications.

The underlying phenomenon in this project is photoplethysmography, which is the use of illumination-based sensors to record local volumetric changes in peripheral blood circulation. The investigators use video cameras to obtain measurements of cardiovascular activity, with the motivation that noncontact measurements are more convenient and unobtrusive than using devices that touch the skin.

An emphasis of the project is the use of machine-learning techniques to analyze signals from videos of the human face, to extract features that can distinguish individuals based solely on cardiovascular activity. The research includes characterization of camera parameters and illumination conditions. The primary goal is to demonstrate that the resulting system can be used for user authentication.

Potential contributions of this project include improved security of digital systems, along with better understanding of the cardiovascular system.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.