Systems and methods for authenticating photographic image data

• US 10,733,315 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2018
• Issued: 08/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TruePic, LLC
• Original Assignee: TruePic, Inc.
• Inventors: Stack, Craig, Lyons, Jason, Lyons, Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): Lanier, Benjamin E
• Application Number:
  US16/114,428
• Publication Number:
  US 20180365442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/645 using a third party
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/121 Timestamp cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements involving time stamps H04L9/3297
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 received data contents, e.g. message integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/561 Adding application-functional data or data for application control, e.g. adding metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/104 Location integrity, e.g. secure geotagging
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/65 Environment-dependent, e.g. using captured environmental data

Abstract

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for authenticating photographic data. In one embodiment, a method comprises providing an image authentication application for use on a client device, the application configured to control image capture and transmission; receiving an image data file from the application at the authentication server comprising a photographic image captured by the application and metadata associated therewith; applying a watermark to the photographic image to create a watermarked image; applying date and time information to the tagged image; applying location information to the tagged image; creating a web address associated with the image data file; uploading the photographic image, the tagged image, or both to the web address; and transmitting an authenticated image file to the client device, the authenticated image file comprising one or more of: the watermarked image, the photographic image, the date and time information, geographic information, and the web address.

Claims

1. A method of authenticating images received from a client device and providing authenticated image files, the method being implemented by an authentication server having one or more processors programmed to perform the method, the method comprising:

receiving, by the authentication server, an image file from the client device via a network;

obtaining, by the authentication server, responsive to receipt of the image file, a time at which a request to transmit the image file to the authentication server was received by an authentication application executing at the client device;

generating, by the authentication server, an authenticated image file based on the image file, one or more timing requirements, and the authentication information, wherein the one or more timing requirements includes a requirement that the request to transmit the image file to the authentication server was received by the authentication application executing at the client device within a predefined time period after the time at which the authentication application executing at the client device was opened;

receiving, by the authentication server, through a third party site different from the client device and the authentication server, a request for the authenticated image file or the authentication information; and

responsive to the request, providing, by the authentication server, the authenticated image file or the authentication information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the authentication information further comprises:

obtaining, by the authentication server, geolocation information from an image authentication application executing at the client device and in communication with the authentication server, wherein the geolocation information comprises information that indicates a location at which the image file was created and is obtained by the image authentication application based on a geolocation function of the client device to prevent alteration of the geolocation information by a user of the client device.

3. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

obtaining, by the authentication server, responsive to receipt of the image file, authentication information comprising a server-derived date and time, wherein the server-derived date and time includes a date and time at which the image file was received from the client device at the authentication server and is independent of a client-derived date and time determined at the client device;

obtaining, by the authentication server, first date and time information from an image authentication application executing at the client device and in communication with the authentication server, wherein the first date and time information comprises information obtained by the image authentication application that indicates a date and time that the image file was created at the client device; and

determining, by the authentication server, one or more timing requirements have been satisfied, wherein the one or more timing requirements includes a requirement that the image file be received by the authentication server, as indicated by the server-derived date and time, within a predefined time period after the date and time that the image file was created at the client device, wherein the authenticated image file is generated based further on the determination that the one or more timing requirements have been met.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving, through the third party site, the request for the authenticated image file or the authentication information comprises:

receiving, by the authentication server, the request from the third party site via a website hosted by the authentication server.

5. The method of claim 4, the method further comprising:

placing, by the authentication server, the authenticated image file at a file location linked to by a uniform resource indicator; and

providing, by the authentication server, the uniform resource indicator to the client device in response to receipt of the image file from the client device, wherein receiving the request comprises receiving a request via the uniform resource indicator.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein providing the authenticated image file or authentication information comprises:

providing, by the authentication server, the authenticated image file or authentication information via the website hosted by the authentication server.

7. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

providing, by the authentication server, the authenticated image file to the client device, wherein the client device shares the authenticated image file through the third party site from which the request for the authenticated image file or the authentication information is received.

8. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

obtaining, by the authentication server, first geolocation information from an image authentication application executing at the client device and in communication with the authentication server, wherein the first geolocation information comprises information obtained by the image authentication application that indicates a first geolocation at which the image file was created at the client device; and

obtaining, by the authentication server, second geolocation information from the image authentication application and in communication with the authentication server, wherein the second geolocation information comprises information obtained by the image authentication application that indicates a second geolocation at which the image file was transmitted from the client device; and

determining, by the authentication server, one or more geographic requirements have been satisfied, wherein the one or more geographic requirements includes a requirement that the second location is within a predefined distance from the first location, wherein the authenticated image file is generated based further on the determination that the one or more geographic requirements have been met.

9. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

obtaining, by the authentication server, first geolocation information from an image authentication application executing at the client device and in communication with the authentication server, wherein the first geolocation information comprises information obtained by the image authentication application that indicates a first geolocation at which the image file was created;

obtaining, by the authentication server, second geolocation information from the image authentication application, wherein the second geolocation information comprises a user-defined location input by the user that indicates the user'"'"'s assessment of where the image file was created; and

comparing, by the authentication server, the first geolocation information and the second geolocation information; and

determining, by the authentication server, that the second geolocation information is accurate based on the comparison, wherein the image file is authenticated based further on the determination that the second geolocation information is accurate.

10. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

obtaining, by the authentication server, first geolocation information from an image authentication application executing at the client device and in communication with the authentication server, wherein the first geolocation information comprises information obtained by the image authentication application that indicates a first geolocation at which the image file was created;

determining, by the authentication server, one or more suggested addresses or points of interest corresponding to the first geolocation;

transmitting, by the authentication server, the one or more suggested addresses or points of interest to the image authentication application; and

receiving, by the authentication server, an identification of a user selection of at least one of the one or more suggested addresses or points of interest from the image authentication application, wherein the image file is authenticated based further on the user selection.

11. A system of authenticating images received from a client device and providing authenticated image files, the system comprising:

an authentication server having one or more processors programmed to;

receive an image file from the client device via a network;

obtain, by the authentication server, a time at which a request to transmit the image file to the authentication server was received by an authentication application executing at the client device;

generate an authenticated image file based on the image file, one or more timing requirements, and the authentication information, wherein the one or more timing requirements includes a requirement that the request to transmit the image file to the authentication server was received by the authentication application executing at the client device within a predefined time period after the time at which the authentication application executing at the client device was opened;

receive, through a third party site different from the client device and the authentication server, a request for the authenticated image file or the authentication information; and

responsive to the request, provide the authenticated image file or the authentication information.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein to obtain the authentication information, the authentication server is further programmed to:

obtain geolocation information from an image authentication application executing at the client device and in communication with the authentication server, wherein the geolocation information comprises information that indicates a location at which the image file was created and is obtained by the image authentication application based on a geolocation function of the client device to prevent alteration of the geolocation information by a user of the client device.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the authentication server is further programmed to:

obtain, responsive to receipt of the image file, authentication information comprising a server-derived date and time, wherein the server-derived date and time includes a date and time at which the image file was received from the client device at the authentication server and is independent of a client-derived date and time determined at the client device;

obtain first date and time information from an image authentication application executing at the client device and in communication with the authentication server, wherein the first date and time information comprises information obtained by the image authentication application that indicates a date and time that the image file was created at the client device; and

determine one or more timing requirements have been satisfied, wherein the one or more timing requirements includes a requirement that the image file be received by the authentication server, as indicated by the server-derived date and time, within a predefined time period after the date and time that the image file was created at the client device, wherein the authenticated image file is generated based further on the determination that the one or more timing requirements have been met.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein to receive, through the third party site, the request for the authenticated image file or the authentication information, the authentication server is further programmed to:

receive the request from the third party site via a website hosted by the authentication server.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the authentication server is further programmed to:

place the authenticated image file at a file location linked to by a uniform resource indicator; and

provide the uniform resource indicator to the client device in response to receipt of the image file from the client device, wherein the request for the authenticated image file is received via the uniform resource indicator.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein to provide the authenticated image file or authentication information, the authentication server is further programmed to:

provide the authenticated image file or authentication information via the website hosted by the authentication server.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the authentication server is further programmed to:

provide the authenticated image file to the client device, wherein the client device shares the authenticated image file through the third party site from which the request for the authenticated image file or the authentication information is received.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the authentication server is further programmed to:

obtain first geolocation information from an image authentication application executing at the client device and in communication with the authentication server, wherein the first geolocation information comprises information obtained by the image authentication application that indicates a first geolocation at which the image file was created at the client device; and

obtain second geolocation information from the image authentication application and in communication with the authentication server, wherein the second geolocation information comprises information obtained by the image authentication application that indicates a second geolocation at which the image file was transmitted from the client device; and

determine one or more geographic requirements have been satisfied, wherein the one or more geographic requirements includes a requirement that the second location is within a predefined distance from the first location, wherein the authenticated image file is generated based further on the determination that the one or more geographic requirements have been met.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the authentication server is further programmed to:

obtain first geolocation information from an image authentication application executing at the client device and in communication with the authentication server, wherein the first geolocation information comprises information obtained by the image authentication application that indicates a first geolocation at which the image file was created;

obtain second geolocation information from the image authentication application, wherein the second geolocation information comprises a user-defined location input by the user that indicates the user'"'"'s assessment of where the image file was created; and

compare the first geolocation information and the second geolocation information; and

determine that the second geolocation information is accurate based on the comparison, wherein the image file is authenticated based further on the determination that the second geolocation information is accurate.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the authentication server is further programmed to:

obtain first geolocation information from an image authentication application executing at the client device and in communication with the authentication server, wherein the first geolocation information comprises information obtained by the image authentication application that indicates a first geolocation at which the image file was created;

determine one or more suggested addresses or points of interest corresponding to the first geolocation;

transmit the one or more suggested addresses or points of interest to the image authentication application; and

received an identification of a user selection of at least one of the one or more suggested addresses or points of interest from the image authentication application, wherein the image file is authenticated based further on the user selection.