A vendor of biometric face recognition systems has used Linux to build a smart camera claimed capable of identifying users without help from a networked server. L-1 Identify Solutions's VisionAccess 3D Face Reader is equipped with a Texas Instruments RISC/DSP SoC (system-on-chip) running MontaVista Linux.

(Click for larger view of the VisionAccess 3D Face Reader)

L1 says its facial recognition systems target high-volume security applications, for example authenticating thousands of employees as they start a new shift. Customers include the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel, which L-1 says is the world's largest casino. Developed by L-1's Enterprise Access Division (formerly Bioscrypt), the new VisionAccess 3D Face Reader is claimed to offer a faster, more compact alternative to “client/server” face recognition systems, where identification algorithms are run on a powerful central server.

The VisionAccess device appears to have a camera, along with software that analyzes the “entire” facial surface structure of a person's face, L-1 says, generating over 40,000 measurements that are then compared to pre-stored, 10MB facial templates before granting or denying access.

On the software side, the VisionAccess device runs MontaVista Linux. It also uses McObject's hybrid on-disk/in-memory eXtremeDB Fusion database.

According to McObject, Fusion uses simple database schema declarations, allowing one set of data to be declared as transient and managed in memory for high-speed access. Other record types are committed to disk. Presumably, this enables templates under consideration as possible matches to be managed in memory, while the VisionAccess's complete template library — which can extend to 60,000 10MB templates, or about 600GB — resides on-disk.

Specs

The VisionAccess 3D Face Reader is equipped with a Texas Instruments (TI) DaVinci TMS320DM6446 system-on-chip (SoC). Designed for video-oriented consumer devices and incorporated in a number of Linux-ready video surveillance cameras, the DM6446 combines an ARM9 RISC core and a digital signal processor (DSP) that is optimized for video processing. I/O includes Ethernet and USB. Additionally, third-party access control panels and card readers can be attached using Wiegand, RS232, RS422, or RS485 interfaces.

Availability

The VisionAccess 3D Face Reader system is expected to ship this month, at an undisclosed price. More information may be available here.

 
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