Apparatus and method for issuing and authenticating securities, etc. using digital watermarking

• US 20030159046A1
• Filed: 01/29/2003
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MarkAny, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MarkAny, Inc.
• Inventors: Kim, Jong Won, Choi, Jong Uk
• Granted Patent: US 7,457,957 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/176
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0042 Fragile watermarking, e.g. so as to detect tampering
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0071 using multiple or alternating watermarks
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/0034 using watermarks
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/004 using digital security elements, e.g. information coded on a magnetic thread or strip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3216 using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32165 using cosine transforms
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3217 using wavelet transforms
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32187 with selective or adaptive application of the additional information, e.g. in selected frequency coefficients
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32299 using more than one embedding method
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32304 Embedding different sets of additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3235 Checking or certification of the authentication information, e.g. by comparison with data stored independently
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3239 using a plurality of different authentication information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 Printing or stamping

Abstract

Simultaneously with a robust watermark and fragile watermark or semi-watermark is embedded into conventional securities, etc., such as gift coupon, various kinds of ticket, coupon, electronic stamp, bond & debenture, note, stock certificate, lottery, paper money, check, etc. and various kinds of public documents including certificates, etc. requiring confirmation and authentication (hereinafter, referred to as “securities, etc.”) in the form of digital file. Such watermark-embedded securities, etc. are conveniently issued on-line and are printed out in the form of paper through a printer. The printed securities, etc. are used off-line and are authenticated by determining the forgery or alternation by means of photocopy, etc. through the detection of the embedded watermark,

Claims

1. A method for issuing securities, etc. in printed-out form to a user, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) generating a digital file of said securities, etc. and watermark according to an issuance-option which said user has selected;

(b) embedding said generated watermark into said digital file of said securities, etc.; and

(c) printing out said watermark-embedded digital file.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises, before said step (a), a step of:

(a′

) connecting said user to a site which provides a service for issuing said securities, etc. through a network and selecting an issuance-option.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said watermark is generated in step (a) by using at least one of a key-type method, a logo-type method and a method simultaneously employing both methods.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said generating watermark using a key-type method comprises, at least one of generating said watermark by a plurality of keys in accordance with primary information of said securities, etc. and generating said watermark using a checksum or hash-value obtained from the entire information of said securities, etc.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said embedding said watermark at said step (b) comprises, at least one of embedding a robust watermark and a fragile watermark simultaneously, and embedding a semi-watermark into said digital file.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said fragile watermark and said semi-watermark are embedded with a controlled embedding level such that said printed-out securities, etc. are detected only when said securities have experienced the first A/D conversion through a scanner, and said printed-out securities not being detected when said securities have experienced later A/D or D/A conversion.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step (c) comprises the steps of:

(c1) adding an option for controlling printing of said watermark-embedded digital file; and

(c2) printing out said watermark-embedded digital file according to said option for controlling printing.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said option for controlling printing at said step (c1) comprises an option for setting the number of print outs of said watermark-embedded digital file.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said option for controlling printing further comprises, in the state of setting said number of print outs, an option for commanding a memory to delete the latest document simultaneously with an end of printing command after the printing command has been executed.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein said option for controlling printing at said step (c1) comprises, an option for displaying only an information of said securities, etc. to be issued or only an image of securities, etc. without watermark embedded thereto on a screen of the user'"'"'s terminal when said watermark-embedded digital file is printed out.

11. An apparatus for issuing securities, etc. in printed-out form to a user, the apparatus comprising:

an issuing means for issuing securities, etc. in the form of digital file;

a terminal being connected with said issuing means through a network, transmitting an issuance-option by selection of said user of securities, etc. to said issuing means, and receiving securities, etc. according to said issuance-option from said issuing means; and

print-out means being connected with said terminal, printing out said securities, etc. received from said terminal,

wherein said issuing means comprises;

means for generating a digital file of said securities, etc. and watermark according to said issuance-option, and

means for embedding said generated watermark into said digital file of said securities, etc.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said means for generating watermark generates said watermark by using at least one of a key-type method, a logo-type method, and a method simultaneously employing both methods.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said generating watermark using a key-type method comprises, at least one of generating said watermark by a plurality of keys in accordance with primary information of said securities, etc. and generating said watermark using a checksum or hash-value obtained from the entire information of said securities, etc.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said embedding watermark comprises, at least one of embedding a robust watermark and a fragile watermark simultaneously, and embedding a semi-watermark into said digital file.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said fragile watermark and said semi-watermark are embedded with a controlled embedding level such that said printed-out securities, etc. are detected only when said securities have experienced the first A/D conversion through a scanner, and said printed-out securities not being detected when said securities have experienced later A/D or D/A conversion.

16. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said issuing means further comprises an option for controlling printing of said watermark-embedded digital file.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said option for controlling printing comprises an option for setting the number of print out of said watermark-embedded digital file.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said option for controlling printing further comprises, in the state of setting said number of print outs, an option for commanding a memory to delete the latest document simultaneously with an end of printing command after the printing command has been executed.

19. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said option for controlling printing at said step (c1) comprises, an option for displaying only an information of said securities, etc. to be issued or only an image of securities, etc. without watermark embedded thereto on a screen of the user'"'"'s terminal when said watermark-embedded digital file is printed out.

20. A method for authenticating watermark-embedded securities, etc. in the printed-out form, the method comprising the steps of:

(d) reading said watermark-embedded securities, etc. in the printed-out form and converting said securities, etc. to a digitalized image;

(e) extracting watermark embedded at an issuing apparatus from said digitalized image;

(f) generating watermark from an information included in said digitalized image; and

(g) determining authenticity of said securities, etc. by calculating a correlation between said extracted watermark and said generated watermark.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein said step (g) comprises the steps of:

(g1) calculating a correlation between the extracted robust watermark and the generated robust watermark; and

(g2) calculating a correlation between extracted fragile watermark and generated fragile watermark,

and wherein the determination of the authenticity of said securities, etc. is made based on whether the correlation calculation between said robust watermarks and between said fragile watermarks satisfies a predetermined correlation condition.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein said step (g) comprises a step of:

calculating a correlation between the extracted semi-watermark and the generated semi-watermark,

and wherein the determination of the authenticity of said securities, etc. is made based on whether the correlation calculation between said robust watermarks and between said fragile watermarks satisfies a predetermined correlation condition.

23. An apparatus for authenticating watermark-embedded securities, etc. in the printed-out form, the apparatus comprising:

an image A/D converter for reading said watermark-embedded securities, etc. in the printed-out form and converting said securities, etc. to a digitalized image; and

an authenticating unit for extracting a watermark embedded at an issuing apparatus from said digitalized image, generating a watermark from an information included in said digitalized image, and determining authenticity of said securities, etc. by calculating a correlation between said extracted watermark and said generated watermark.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said authenticating unit comprises:

means for calculating a correlation between the extracted robust watermark and the generated robust watermark; and

means for calculating a correlation between the extracted fragile watermark and the generated fragile watermark,

and wherein the determination of the authenticity of said securities, etc. is made based on whether the correlation calculation between said robust watermarks and between said fragile watermarks satisfies a predetermined correlation condition.

25. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said authenticating unit comprises:

means for calculating a correlation between the extracted semi-watermark and the generated semi-watermark,

and wherein the determination of the authenticity of said securities, etc. is made based on whether the correlation calculation between said robust watermarks and between said fragile watermarks satisfies a predetermined correlation condition.