Identification and protection of security documents

• US 20080118099A1
• Filed: 07/03/2007
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoads, Geoffrey B., Alattar, Adnan M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,570,784 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0028 Adaptive watermarking, e.g. Human Visual System [HVS]-based watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/005 Robust watermarking, e.g. average attack or collusion attack resistant
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0051 Embedding of the watermark in the spatial domain
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0083 whereby only watermarked image required at decoder, e.g. source-based, blind, oblivious
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/10 Character recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/187 Frequency domain transformation; Autocorrelation
• 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: G07B 11/00 Apparatus for validating or cancelling issued tickets
• 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
• 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: G07D 7/005 Testing security markings invisible to the naked eye, e.g. verifying thickened lines or unobtrusive markings or alterations
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/20 Testing patterns thereon G07D7/004, G07D7/005 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/202 using pattern matching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/608 Watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3236 using cryptographic hash functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32149 Methods relating to embedding, encoding, decoding, detection or retrieval operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32352 Controlling detectability or arrangements to facilitate detection or retrieval of the embedded information, e.g. using markers for decoding, detection or retrieval operations H04N1/32149 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 : of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3207 : of an address
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 : of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3233 : of authentication information, e.g. digital signature, watermark
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 283/902 : Anti-photocopy

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and systems that are helpful for authenticating or protecting physical and electronic documents like financial documents and identification documents. In one implementation, a method is provided including: accessing a data repository including a library; obtaining a graphic or image from the library, wherein the graphic or image comprises a plural-bit identifier steganographically embedded therein; and, once obtained, applying the steganographically embedded image or graphic to a security document, the plural-bit identifier providing information associated with an authorized bearer of the security document or with the security document. Of course, other implementations are provided as well.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving digital data corresponding to a physical document;

transforming the digital data into a frequency domain;

comparing characteristics associated with the transformed digital data to predetermined characteristics that are associated with a first document type, and if the characteristics coincide, determining that the physical document is of the first document type; and

if the characteristics do not coincide,

comparing the characteristics of the transformed digital data to predetermined characteristics that are associated with a second document type, and if the characteristics coincide, determining that the physical document is of the second document type.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined characteristics comprise a radius.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined characteristics comprise a horizontal distance from a DC component response to a frequency point.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the predetermined characteristics further comprise an angle formed between a line from the origin to the frequency point and a horizontal axis.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein received digital data corresponds to optical scan data.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the characteristics associated with the transformed digital data correspond to steganographic indicia hidden on or in the physical document.

7. A method comprising:

accessing a data repository including a library;

obtaining a graphic or image from the library, wherein the graphic or image comprises a plural-bit identifier steganographically embedded therein; and

once obtained, applying the steganographically embedded image or graphic to a security document, the plural-bit identifier providing or linking to information associated with an authorized bearer of the security document or with the security document.

8. A security document produced according to claim 7.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the plural-bit identifier is uniquely associated with a document printer or assembler.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising adjusting the graphic or image according to a representation of information carried by the security document.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the security document comprises at least one of photo-identification document or a financial instrument.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the financial instrument comprises a banknote.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein the data repository is accessible on-line.

14. A computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising instructions to:

receive digital data corresponding to a physical document;

transform the digital data into a frequency domain;

compare characteristics associated with the transformed digital data to predetermined characteristics that are associated with a first document type, and if the characteristics coincide, determine that the physical document is of the first document type; and

if the characteristics do not coincide,

compare the characteristics of the transformed digital data to predetermined characteristics that are associated with a second document type, and if the characteristics coincide, determine that the physical document is of the second document type.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14 where the predetermined characteristics comprise a radius.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 14 where the predetermined characteristics comprise a horizontal distance from a DC component response to a frequency point.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 14 where the predetermined characteristics further comprise an angle formed between a line from the origin to the frequency point and a horizontal axis.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 14 where the received digital data corresponds to optical scan data.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18 where the optical scan data comprises visible light scanning.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 14 where the characteristics associated with the transformed digital data correspond to steganographic indicia hidden on or in the physical document.

21. A method comprising:

hosting a data repository comprising a library having a plurality of images or graphics stored therein;

upon receiving a request for a graphic or image in the library, steganographically embedding a plural-bit identifier in the graphic or image, the plural-bit identifier providing or linking to information associated with an authorized bearer of a security document or with the security document; and

providing the steganographically embedded graphic or image.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the plural-bit identifier is uniquely associated with a document printer or assembler.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising adjusting the graphic or image according to a representation of information carried by the security document.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the security document comprises at least one of photo-identification document or a financial instrument.