Use of a digital signature obtained from at least one structural characteristic of a material element to protect the direct reading of sensitive data and method for reading this protected data

• US 20050262350A1
• Filed: 02/07/2005
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signoptic Technologies
• Original Assignee: Signoptic Technologies
• Inventors: Boutant, Yann, Labelle, David, Seux, Herve
• Granted Patent: US 8,943,325 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/176
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2107 File encryption
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/80 Recognising image objects characterised by unique random patterns
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/805 Lightweight hardware, e.g. radio-frequency identification [RFID] or sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 involving digital signatures

Abstract

The invention is related to the use of one or several digital signatures obtained from at least one structural characteristic of a material element that has a complex, chaotic, unique and stable structure, to protect the direct reading of sensitive data, a media of such protected data and a method for reading this protected data.

Claims

1. Method for reading protected sensitive data characterised in that the reading is performed by subjecting the protected sensitive data in digital form to a digital processing which implements at least one digital signature obtained from at least one structural characteristic of a material element chosen from among all or part of a fibrous material, plastic, metal, leather, wood, composite material, glass, mineral, crystalline structure.

2. Method for reading protected sensitive data set forth in claim 1 characterised in that the protection of the sensitive data implemented the sensitive data in digital form and at least one digital signature obtained from at least one structural characteristic of a material element chosen from among all or part of a fibrous material, plastic, metal, leather, wood, composite material, glass, mineral, crystalline structure, and in that the reading is performed by subjecting the protected sensitive data in digital form to a digital process inverse to that used to protect it and which implements one or several digital signatures of the material element that was used to protect it.

3. Method set forth in claim 1 characterised in that it implements at least a digital signature obtained from at least one characteristic of a material element reflecting its complex, chaotic, unique and stable structure.

4. Method set forth in claim 1 characterised in that the digital signature(s) is (are) random.

5. Method set forth in claim 1 characterised in that the material element is fully or partly chosen from paper, cardboard or nonwoven.

6. Method set forth in claim 5 characterised in that the material element is part of a paper, cardboard or nonwoven, on to which it is marked out by a transparent material, stable with time and ensuring its protection, for example, a plastic or resin coating.

7. Method set forth in claim 2 characterised in that the digital signature(s) used during the reading correspond to those used during the protecting.

8. Method set forth in claim 7 characterised in that the digital structural characteristic(s) and/or digital signature(s) implemented during the protecting are backed up in a permanent and safe manner, whereas the material element from which were or was issued the digital signature(s) is destroyed, and are used for the reading.

9. Method set forth in claim 2 characterised in that the digital signature(s) used during the reading are subjected to check keys, error correcting codes or a statistical dependence test.

10. Method set forth in claim 1 characterised in that, if its implementation authorises the successful reading of the sensitive data, it also validates the authentic nature of the digital signature(s) used and/or the material element from which it issues.

11. Method set forth in claim 1 characterised in that it comprises an additional phase in the method for reading, which compares the read data with the sensitive data known to the user, allows to validate the authentic nature of the digital signature(s) implemented, the material element from which it issues and the sensitive data.

12. Method set forth in claim 1 characterised in that the digital signature is obtained via detection, using one or several sensors, of one or several structural characteristics of this element, followed by a digitisation and possibly accompanied by an encoding according to one or several algorithms of this or these structural characteristics.

13. Method set forth in claim 12 characterised in that the structural characteristic(s) reflect the complex, chaotic, unique and stable structure of the material element.

14. Method set forth in claim 12 characterised in that the detection is performed thanks to an optical or electronic sensor, after applying a wave or electromagnetic radiation to the material element.

15. Method set forth in claim 12 characterised in that the detection is performed thanks to contact sensor, the material element acting as a media for an ultrasonic wave, or an electric, thermal, chemical, biological type stress, the behaviour/response from the material element subjected to this wave or stress being recorded in different orientations.

16. Method set forth in claim 1 characterised in that the digital signature is in a binary form or in the form of a real or complex image or several images in shades of grey.

17. Method set forth in claim 1 characterised in that it implements the digital signature of a material element, issued from paper, cardboard or nonwoven, obtained after detection of its interactivity with visible light, via look through, by using a CCD or CMOS sensor.

18. Method set forth in claim 1 characterised in that the reading uses one or several cryptographic algorithms, the digital signature(s) acting as decryption keys.

19. Method set forth in claim 2 characterised in that the protecting of the sensitive data in digital form is performed by means of a steganographic algorithm, the digital signature(s) of the material element playing the role of steganographic keys.

20. Method set forth in claim 2 characterised in that the protecting of the sensitive data in digital form is performed by combining it with at least one digital signature of a material element, rendering both the sensitive data in digital form and the digital signature at least partially illegible.

21. Method set forth in claim 20 characterised in that the combination is made from the binary, hexadecimal, ASCII or alphabetic form of the sensitive data in digital form and of the digital signature(s) of the material element, by jointly or singly applying the principles of permutation, transposition, substitution, iteration, mask (logical operators including XOR, addition, subtraction, bit by bit (in sequence) or block by block . . . ) or mathematical properties of modular algebra (modulo n) and of numbers theory.

22. Method set forth in claim 20 characterised in that the combination was made by applying the disposable mask principle (one-time pad).

23. Method set forth in claim 2 characterised in that the protecting of the sensitive data in digital form was performed using the digital signature(s) as “

digital envelopes”

of the sensitive digital data in compressed, cyphered and/or steganographed form.

24. Method set forth in claim 1 characterised in that the structural characteristic(s) are digitised, then sampled with time.

25. Method set forth in claim 1 characterised in that the sensitive data is dynamic, such a an audio and/or video sequence.

26. Method set forth in claim 25 characterised in that the protection is performed by means of a dynamic digital signature obtained by repeating a static digital signature or by repeated detection, through the use of one or several sensors, of one or several structural characteristics of a static material element.

27. Method set forth in claim 25 characterised in that the protection is performed by means of a dynamic digital signature obtained by via continuous detection, through the use of one or several sensors, of one or several structural characteristics of a material element in relative movement to the sensor(s).

28. Method set forth in claim 27 characterised in that the material element is a reel of paper, cardboard or nonwoven, in movement, or paper being manufactured on a paper machine.

29. Method set forth in claim 2 characterised in that the protection implements several digital signatures from the same or from different material elements, and in that the reading uses one or several digital signatures of one or several material elements, authorising distinct access levels to some parts of the sensitive data.

62. Device used to implement the method for reading set forth in claim 1, characterised in that it comprises means for locating a material element selected and detected on the latter, one or several of its structural characteristics, in particular reflecting its complex, chaotic, unique and stable structure, connected to a storing and processing unit, ensuring:

a2) the acquiring, shaping/conditioning, digitising and possible encoding according to one or several algorithms of the structural characteristic(s) detected to generate one or several digital signatures of the material element, in particular reflecting its complex, chaotic, unique and stable structure,

b2) the reading of the sensitive data protected by implementing a digital process which uses the digital signature(s) generated in stage a2, as reading key(s), and which advantageously corresponds to the digital process substantially inverse to that used to associate the digital signature(s) with the original sensitive data, whilst being protected.

63. Device used to implement the method for reading set forth in claim 1, characterised in that it comprises means for finding a material element selected and detected on the latter, one or several of its structural characteristics, reflecting its complex, chaotic, unique and stable structure, connected to a storing and processing unit, ensuring:

a2) the digitising and possibly the coding according to one or several algorithms of the structural characteristic(s) detected to generate one or several of the digital signatures

b2) the reading of the sensitive data protected by implementing a digital process which uses the digital signature(s) generated in stage a2, as reading key(s), and which corresponds to the digital process inverse to that used to associate the digital signature(s) with the original sensitive data, whilst being protected.

64. Device set forth in claim 62, characterised in that an optical sensor is used to detect the structural characteristic(s) of the material element.

65. Device set forth in claim 62, characterised in that the optical sensor is a CCD or CMOS sensor ensuring the detection of the structural characteristic(s) via look through.

30-31. -31. (canceled)

33. Method for protecting sensitive data implementing the sensitive data in digital form and at least a digital signature obtained from at least one structural characteristic of a material element chosen from among all or part of a fibrous material, plastic, metal, leather, wood, composite material, glass, mineral, crystalline structure, characterised in that the protecting of the sensitive data in digital form is performed by one of:

means of a cryptographic algorithm, the digital signature(s) of the material element playing the role of cryptographic key(s);

means of a steganographic algorithm, the digital signature(s) of the material element playing the role of steganographic key(s);

combining at least one digital signature of a material element, rendering both the sensitive data in digital form and the digital signature at least partially illegible, from their binary, hexadecimal, ASCII or alphabetic form, by jointly or singly applying the principles of permutation, transposition, substitution, iteration, mask (logical operators including XOR, addition, subtraction, bit by bit (in sequence) or block by block . . . ) or mathematical properties of modular algebra (modulo n) and of numbers theory; and

using the digital signature(s) as “

digital envelopes”

of the sensitive digital data in compressed, cyphered and/or steganographed form.

36. Method for protecting set forth in claim 33 characterised in that the combination was made by applying the disposable mask principle (one-time pad).

38. Method for protecting set forth in claim 33 characterised in that it implements at least a digital signature obtained from at least one characteristic of a material element reflecting its complex, chaotic, unique and stable structure.

39. Method for protecting set forth in claim 33 characterised in that the material element is fully or partly chosen from paper, cardboard or nonwoven.

40. Method for protecting set forth in claim 39 characterised in that the material element is part of a paper, cardboard or nonwoven, on to which it is marked out by a transparent material, stable with time and ensuring its protection, for example, a plastic or resin coating.

41. Method for protecting set forth in claim 33 characterised in that the digital signature obtained via detection, using one or several sensors, of one or several structural characteristics of this element, followed by a digitisation and possibly accompanied by an encoding according to one or several algorithms of this or these structural characteristics.

42. Method for protecting set forth in claim 41 characterised in that the structural characteristic(s) reflect the complex, chaotic, unique and stable structure of the material element.

43. Method for protecting set forth in claim 41 characterised in that the detection is performed thanks to an optical or electronic sensor, after applying a wave or electromagnetic radiation to the material element.

44. Method for protecting set forth in claim 41 characterised in that the detection is performed thanks to contact sensor, the material element acting as a media for an ultrasonic wave, or an electric, thermal, chemical, biological type stress, the behaviour/response from the material element subjected to this wave or stress being recorded in different orientations.

45. Method for protecting set forth in claim 33 characterised in that the digital signature is in a binary form or in the form of an image or several images in shades of grey.

46. Method for protecting set forth in claim 33 characterised in that it implements the digital signature of a material element, issued from paper, cardboard or nonwoven, obtained after detection of its interactivity with visible light, via look through, by using a CCD or CMOS sensor.

47. Method for protecting set forth in claim 33 characterised in that the structural characteristics are digitised, then sampled in time.

48. Method for protecting set forth in claim 33 characterised in that the sensitive data is dynamic, such as an audio and/or video sequence.

49. Method for protecting set forth in claim 48 characterised in that the protection is performed by means of a dynamic digital signature obtained by repeating a static digital signature or by repeated detection, through the use of one or several sensors, of one or several structural characteristics of a static material element.

50. Method for protecting set forth in claim 49 characterised in that the protection is performed by means of a dynamic digital signature obtained by via continuous detection, through the use of one or several sensors, of one or several structural characteristics of a material element in relative movement to the sensor(s).

51. Method for protecting set forth in claim 50 characterised in that the material element is a reel of paper, cardboard or nonwoven, in movement, or paper being manufactured on a paper machine.

52. Method for protecting set forth in claim 33 characterised in that the protection implements several digital signatures from the same or from different material elements, providing partial and/or distinct reading access to the sensitive data.

58. Media set forth in claim 53 characterised in that the protection was performed according to one of the methods described in claim 33.

34-35. -35. (canceled)

37. (canceled)

53. Data media comprising sensitive data protected from direct reading whose protection implemented the sensitive data in digital form and at least a digital signature obtained from at least one structural characteristic of a material element, characterised in that it is in the form of a paper, cardboard or nonwoven document, of which all or part corresponds to the material element from which issues at least one digital signature that was used to protect the sensitive data, which is in a localised form and protected by an external transparent folder acting as a protection against normal external attacks through usage, from which it can not be separated without being destroyed.

54. Media set forth in claim 53 characterised in that it comprises sensitive data protected from direct reading whose protection implemented the sensitive data in digital form and at least a digital signature obtained from at least one structural characteristic of a material element reflecting its complex, chaotic, unique and stable structure.

55. Media set forth in claim 53 characterised in that it holds all or part of the original sensitive data.

56. Media set forth set forth in claim 53 characterised in that it integrates at least a digital signature obtained from a structural characteristic of a material element, advantageously reflecting its complex, chaotic, unique and stable structure.

57. Media set forth in claim 56 characterised in that the digital signature(s) is in encrypted form.

59. Media set forth in claim 53 characterised in that the protected sensitive data are printed on said media in the form of a barcode.

60. Media set forth in claim 53 characterised in that it integrates one or multiple radio-frequency sensitive elements implemented in a contactless and distant data transmission.

61. Media set forth in claim 53 characterised in that it integrates a chip in which the protected sensitive data is recorded.

66. Method for encrypting with asymmetric keys, using a public key and a private key, characterised in that the public key and/or private key is a digital signature obtained from at least one structural characteristic of a material element chosen from among all or part of a fibrous material, plastic, metal, leather, wood, composite material, glass, mineral, crystalline structure.

67. Method set forth in claim 66 characterised in that the digital signature is obtained from at least one characteristic of the material element reflecting its complex, chaotic, unique and stable structure.

68. Method for securing sensitive data comprising the following steps:

a) one step of protection the direct reading of sensitive data implementing a method of protection, said method comprising implementing the sensitive data in digital form and at least a digital signature obtained from at least one structural characteristic of a material element chosen from among all or part of a fibrous material, plastic, metal, leather, wood, composite material, glass, mineral, crystalline structure, characterised in that the protecting of the sensitive data in digital form is performed by one of;

means of a cryptographic algorithm, the digital signature(s) of the material element playing the role of cryptographic key(s);

means of a steganographic algorithm, the digital signature(s) of the material element playing the role of steganographic key(s);

combining at least one digital signature of a material element, rendering both the sensitive data in digital form and the digital signature at least partially illegible, from their binary, hexadecimal, ASCII or alphabetic form, by jointly or singly applying the principles of permutation, transposition, substitution, iteration, mask (logical operators including XOR, addition, subtraction, bit by bit (in sequence) or block by block . . . ) or mathematical properties of modular algebra (modulo n) and of numbers theory; and

using the digital signature(s) as “

digital envelopes”

of the sensitive digital data in compressed, cyphered and/or steganographed form in order to obtain protected sensitive data; and

b) one step of reading the protected sensitive data obtained in step a), allowing to find the sensitive data.

69. Method for securing set forth in claim 68 characterised in that the step b) of reading implements a corresponding method of reading, the method of reading comprising subjecting the protected sensitive data in digital form to a digital processing which implements at least one digital signature obtained from at least one structural characteristic of a material element chosen from among all or Tart of a fibrous material, plastic, metal, leather, wood, composite material, glass, mineral, crystalline structure.

70. Method for securing set forth in claim 68 characterised in that the step of protection is followed by a storing on a data media.

71. Method for securing set forth in claim 69 characterised in that the step of protection is followed by a storing on a data media.