News

Rikei Corporation (Head Office: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Satoru Isaka; hereinafter “Rikei”) is pleased to announce that it has begun development and sales of a platform effective in preventing impersonation, which uses face authentication technology to perform user authentication of existing applications in use by two factors.

New Product overview

This product is a platform for two-factor authentication using face authentication technology for existing applications that perform one-factor authentication at the time of use.

User authentication is conducted by linking user ID with face authentication when the application is started or authentication is run. Since user ID authentication and face authentication are integrated, this two-factor authentication makes it possible to log in without hassle, speedily and securely.

In addition to facial recognition, biometric authentication is also possible by actively moving your face from side to side. This effectively prevents impersonation such as holding up a face photo.

This authentication method is possible using a camera built into a computer, smartphone, or tablet, and does not require the introduction of a special camera or other device used for biometric authentication, which means that it deploys without any major changes to your environment.

System configuration diagram

Features

• Flexible interface
  Has API (*1) for use with the existing application. If the application does not support the API, there will be automatic input on the log-in screen.
• Authenticate with the device’s camera
  Authenticate with standard cameras on PCs, tablets and smartphones.
• Face Mask Compatible
  Advanced algorithms are used to determine whether a mask is being worn and whether it is authenticated, and to eliminate as much as possible misidentification when wearing a mask.
• Biometric authentication
  Proprietary gesture authentication prevents spoofing authentication, such as holding up a photo or video on a tablet. In addition, gesture authentication is performed at a high speed in order to reliably make a decision within a predetermined time period, as compared with AI authentication, which requires a certain amount of time for biometric determination.

*1 API (application programming interface): A tool used to link and integrate multiple applications and software.

Market Background

User authentication is becoming a mandatory feature when using applications.
However, with conventional authentication using user IDs and passwords, anyone other than the user can log in as long as they have the necessary information, and there are security vulnerabilities such as unauthorized access.

For this reason, two-factor authentication, which combines two factors, such as user authentication and biometric authentication (* 2), is recommended.

On the other hand, vein authentication and iris authentication, which are biometrics authentication, require special equipment to be installed, and the cost of the system itself is high, and many of them are difficult to carry.

Facial authentication, which is also used in smartphones, enables very speedy authentication. However, since two-dimensional (planar) data such as photos are often used for authentication, there are cases in which authentication can be performed by holding up registered image data or a photograph of the person in front.

In order to increase the accuracy, a technology used in combination with a multi-focus camera or an IR camera that captures three-dimensional features and the movement of an object is used, but the problem was that cameras that did not support these functions could not be authenticated. In addition, due to the effects of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, non-contact and mask wearing certification is required.

Rikei has developed face authentication technology that improves the issues faced in biometrics. This technology enables high-precision, high-speed, contactless two-factor authentication.

*2 Biometric authentication: Individual authentication that uses information about physical characteristics such as the human face, iris (colored part of the eyeball), veins and behavioral characteristics such as blinking and walking. The risk of impersonation is low because the authentication is based on individual characteristics.

Future development

In many cases, user authentication using face authentication has been introduced for the purpose of improving ease of use because it can be performed without contact. However, the market for two-factor authentication is expected to increase in the future in order to securely authenticate application users. We will enhance our functions as a solution to prevent unauthorized use, such as the use of user IDs when using inspection applications in business.

Delivery start date

September 2021

Principal product sales price

From ¥4.0 million

About Rikei Corporation

Since its establishment in 1957 as a solution vendor in the IT and electronics industries, Rikei Corporation has provided a variety of solutions ranging from systems to networks, VR/AR contents, electronic materials and electronic devices.

Rikei proposes solutions that utilize cutting-edge technologies and advanced products from Japan and overseas, and contributes to business development such as improving efficiency of operations and profits of customers.

*Product and company names mentioned herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.