Document Creation and Authentication System

• US 20070256137A1
• Filed: 05/17/2005
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dexrad Limited
• Original Assignee: Dexrad Limited
• Inventors: Tame, Gavin
• Granted Patent: US 8,479,007 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/26
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 1/00 Machines for printing and issuing tickets printing mechanisms per se B41; output mechanisms of digital computers G06C11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/41 with means for the generation of identity documents
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration

Abstract

A method and system for creating and authenticating a document are disclosed. According to the method, a user of a document creation system is registered to ensure the creation of an authentic document. A document is then created having a user discernable portion and an encoded portion. The encoded portion includes identification data identifying the registered user of the document creation system, as well as contents data corresponding to at least part of the user discernable portion of the document, and authentication data. A central record of the document is created, the record comprising data which corresponds at least partially to the data in the encoded portion of the document. To authenticate the document subsequently, an image of the encoded portion of the document is acquired, for example using fax machine or a camera of a mobile telephone and transmitted to an authentication centre. The data in the encoded portion of the document is extracted and the document is authenticated by comparing the extracted data with data in the respective central record. Preferably, the encoded portion of the document contains instructions relating to the authentication process for obtaining biometric data from the respective user of the document creation system. For example, the encoded portion of the document may comprise a password, and the document creator is contacted to generate a live voiceprint of the password to be compared with a stored voiceprint for verification purposes. A system for creating and authenticating a document by the above method are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of creating a document, the method comprising:

registering a user of a document creation system to ensure that an authentic document is created;

creating a document having a user discernable portion and an encoded portion, the encoded portion including identification data identifying the registered user of the document creation system, contents data corresponding to at least part of the user discernable portion of the document, and authentication data; and

creating a central record of the document comprising data corresponding at least partially to the data in the encoded portion of the document.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises allocating a unique document identification code to the document.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the unique document identification code comprises data indicating the nature of the document, and a data/time stamp.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the unique document identification code is included in the encoded portion of the document and in the central record of the document.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the identification data identifying the user of the document creation system comprises a unique user identity code.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the authentication data comprises biometric data obtained from the user.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the biometric data comprises fingerprint or voiceprint data.

8. A method according to claim 5 wherein the unique user identity code, together with personal details of the user and the authentication data, is stored in a database as a central record accessible for authentication purposes.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein the encoded portion of the document and/or the respective record in the central database include instructions relating to an authentication process to be followed when authenticating the document.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the instructions comprise a password to be spoken by a user of the document creation system to identify the user biometrically.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein the encoded portion of the document is a machine-readable symbol that is printed in a size and format suitable for acquisition by a conventional imaging device to permit acquisition and transmission of the encoded portion of the document to an authentication center.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the size and format of the encoded portion are selected to be compatible with conventional fax machines and relatively low resolution digital cameras provided on mobile telephones.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein the encoded portion is printed in a size, density and format that can successfully be acquired by imaging devices having a resolution of 200 DPI or less.

14. A method according to claim 11 wherein the encoded portion of the document is printed as a two-dimensional symbolic barcode.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein the two-dimensional symbolic barcode is encrypted and incorporates error correction data.

16. A method of authenticating a document created by the method of claim 1, comprising:

acquiring an image of the encoded portion of the document to be authenticated;

transmitting the image to an authentication center;

decoding the image to extract the data contained therein; and

authenticating the document by comparing the extracted data with data in the respective central record.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein the authentication step includes contacting the respective registered user of the document creation system, receiving current identification data from the user, and comparing the received current identification data with data in the central record and the data extracted from the encoded portion of the document.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the current identification data received from the user is biometric data.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein the biometric data is fingerprint data.

20. A method according to claim 18 wherein the biometric data is voiceprint data.

21. A method according to claim 16 wherein, where the encoded portion of the document contains instructions relating to the authentication process, the biometric data is obtained according to said instructions.

22. A method according to claim 21 wherein the instructions comprise a password to be spoken by the user of the document creation system to permit acquisition of a current voiceprint for comparison against a stored voiceprint of the password.

23. A system for creating and authenticating a document, the system comprising:

a secure document creation system accessible by an authorized user to create an authentic document having a user discernable portion and an encoded portion, the encoded portion including identification data identifying the registered user of the document creation system, contents data corresponding to at least part of the user discernable portion of the document, and authentication data;

a central database for storing a central record of the document comprising data corresponding at least partially to the data in the encoded portion of the document; and

an authentication center for receiving an image of the encoded portion of the document to be authenticated, decoding the image to extract the data contained therein, and authenticating the document by comparing the extracted data with data in the respective central record.

24. A system according to claim 23 wherein the authentication center comprises a voice identification server arranged to compare biometric data received from a document creator/signatory identified in the encoded portion of the document, with current biometric data, thereby to verify the identity of said creator/signatory.

25. A system according to claim 24 wherein biometric data is voiceprint data, the voice identification server being arranged to contact the document creator/signatory and to guide the document creator/signatory through a voice identification procedure with voice commands.