Method and system for enabling an image to be authenticated

• US 20020083323A1
• Filed: 12/22/2000
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Trotter, Andy Lloyd, Cromer, Daryl Carvis, Locker, Howard Jeffrey, Ward, James Peter, Dayan, Richard Alan
• Application Number:
  US09/746,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20020083323A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/176
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/603 Digital right managament [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3234 involving additional secure or trusted devices, e.g. TPM, smartcard, USB or software token network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using an additional device in a packet data network H04L63/0853
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91342 the copy protection signal being an authentication signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3233 of authentication information, e.g. digital signature, watermark
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/328 Processing of the additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/913 for scrambling ; for copy protection

Abstract

A method and system for enabling an image to be authenticated is disclosed. The method and system comprise providing a digital signature associated with a device, allowing a user to capture the image utilizing the device and associating the digital signature and information related to the user with the captured image wherein the digital signature and the information related to the user are capable of being utilized to authenticate the captured image. Through the use of the method and system in accordance with the present invention, digital images can be captured whereby the digital signature of the capturing device, as well as information related to the photographer (i.e. name, company, etc.), are associated with the captured image. By associating the digital signature of the camera, as well as information related to the photographer, with the captured image, the subsequent authentication of the digital image is more reliable.

Claims

1. A method for enabling an image to be authenticated, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a digital signature associated with a device;

b) allowing a user to capture the image utilizing the device; and

c) associating the digital signature and information related to the user with the captured image wherein the digital signature and the information related to the user are capable of being utilized to authenticate the captured image.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the device is capable of electronically transmitting images.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the device comprises a digital camera.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the information related to the user comprises the user'"'"'s identity.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein step c) further comprises:

c1) utilizing a radio frequency interface to associate the user'"'"'s identity with the captured image.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the radio frequency interface includes a public/private key pair associated with the user.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein step c) further comprises:

c1) utilizing a smart card to associate the user'"'"'s identity with the captured image.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the smart card includes a private key and a related public key wherein the private key and the related public key are associated with the user.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein step c1) further comprises:

c1a) associating the private key with the captured image.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein step c1) further comprises:

c1a) associating the private key with the captured image.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein step c1a) comprises the steps of:

1) storing the captured image and the digital signature in a file, wherein the file is located within a memory of the digital camera;

2) hashing the file thereby producing a digest; and

3) associating the digest with the private key.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein step c1a) comprises the steps of:

2) storing the captured image and the digital signature in a file, wherein the file is located within a memory of the digital camera;

2) hashing the file thereby producing a digest; and

3) associating the digest with the private key.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the device is capable of electronically transmitting images.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the device comprises a digital camera.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the information related to the user comprises the user'"'"'s identity.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the means for associating further comprises:

means for utilizing a radio frequency interface to associate the user'"'"'s identity with the captured image.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the radio frequency interface includes a public/private key pair associated with the user.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein the means for associating further comprises:

means for utilizing a smart card to associate the user'"'"'s identity with the captured image.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the smart card includes a private key and a related public key wherein the private key and the related public key are associated with the user.

21. The system of claim 18 wherein the means for associating further comprises:

means for associating the private key with the captured image.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the means for associating further comprises:

means for associating the private key with the captured image.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein the means for associating the private key with the captured image comprises:

means for storing the captured image and the digital signature in a file, wherein the file is located within a memory of the digital camera;

means for hashing the file thereby producing a digest; and

means for associating the digest with the private key.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the means for associating the private key with the captured image comprises:

means for storing the captured image and the digital signature in a file, wherein the file is located within a memory of the digital camera;

means for hashing the file thereby producing a digest; and

means for associating the digest with the private key.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 25 wherein the device is capable of electronically transmitting images.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 26 wherein the device comprises a digital camera.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 27 wherein the information related to the user comprises the user'"'"'s identity.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 28 wherein step c) further comprises:

c1) utilizing a radio frequency interface to associate the user'"'"'s identity with the captured image.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 29 wherein the radio frequency interface includes a public/private key pair associated with the user.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 28 wherein step c) further comprises:

c1) utilizing a smart card to associate the user'"'"'s identity with the captured image.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 31 wherein the smart card includes a private key and a related public key wherein the private key and the related public key are associated with the user.

33. The method of claim 30 wherein step c1) further comprises:

c1a) associating the private key with the captured image.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein step c1) further comprises:

c1a) associating the private key with the captured image.

35. The computer readable medium of claim 33 wherein step c1a) comprises the steps of:

1) storing the captured image and the digital signature in a file, wherein the file is located within a memory of the digital camera;

2) hashing the file thereby producing a digest; and

3) associating the digest with the private key.

36. The computer readable medium of claim 34 wherein step c1a) comprises the steps of:

1) storing the captured image and the digital signature in a file, wherein the file is located within a memory of the digital camera;

2) hashing the file thereby producing a digest; and

3) associating the digest with the private key.

13. A system for incorporating information into an image, the system comprising:

means for producing a digital signature uniquely associated with a device;

means for allowing a user to utilize the device to capture the image; and

means for associating the digital signature and information related to the user with the captured image.

25. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for enabling an image to be authenticated, the program instructions comprising the steps of:

a) providing a digital signature associated with a device;

b) allowing a user to capture the image utilizing the device; and

c) associating the digital signature and information related to the user with the captured image wherein the digital signature and the information related to the user are capable of being utilized to authenticate the captured image.