SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ENCODING CONTENT AND AN IMAGE

• US 20140281945A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Artificial Intelligence Research Group Limited
• Original Assignee: Artificial Intelligence Research Group Limited
• Inventors: Avni, Yossi, Suchard, Eytan
• Granted Patent: US 9,741,085 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/268
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0028 Adaptive watermarking, e.g. Human Visual System [HVS]-based watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/376 Acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/388 Sampling; Contour coding; Stroke extraction
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/12 Applying verification of the received information cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32

Abstract

A method of encoding content data into a digital image that includes determining bit values of a pixel within the digital image, modifying the bit values within the pixel based on content data to be encoded in order to encode the content data into the digital image, wherein determining the bit values of a pixel within the digital image comprises determining a binary representation of the bit values of the pixel and wherein modifying the bit values comprises determining a binary representation of the content data to be encoded within the pixel and encoding the content data using a reversible binary operation.

A method of encoding content data into a digital image that includes determining bit values of a pixel within the digital image, modifying the bit values within the pixel based on content data to be encoded in order to encode the content data into the digital image, wherein determining the bit values of a pixel within the digital image comprises determining a binary representation of the bit values of the pixel and wherein modifying the bit values comprises determining a binary representation of the content data to be encoded within the pixel and encoding the content data using a reversible binary operation.

Claims

1. A method of encoding content data into a digital image comprising:

determining bit values of a pixel within the digital image;

modifying the bit values within the pixel based on content data to be encoded in order to encode the content data into the digital image;

wherein determining the bit values of a pixel within the digital image comprises determining a binary representation of the bit values of the pixel and wherein modifying the bit values comprises determining a binary representation of the content data to be encoded within the pixel and encoding the content data using a reversible binary operation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital image comprises a grayscale image such that a black pixel is represented by all the bit values being set to a value of zero and a white pixel is represented by all the bit values being set to a value of one.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital image comprises a Red-Green-Blue (RGB) image such that each pixel within the image is expressed as an RGB triplet of colour components and wherein the determining step comprises determining the bit values of each colour component of the RGB triplet within the pixel and wherein the modifying step comprises modifying at least part of one colour component within the triplet of the pixel via the reversible binary operation.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the modifying step comprises modifying at least part of each colour component within the triplet of the pixel.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the RGB image is based on a colour system where the colour components within the triplet have integer values from 0 to 255.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein:

the colour components comprise n bits each;

and modifying a colour component comprises modifying m bits of a colour component, where m<

n.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an area of the digital image where all the pixels have the same bit values such that data to be encoded within the digital image is confined within the determined area of the digital image.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein each pixel within the determined area is modified.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein each pixel within the determined area is associated with predetermined bit values and the step of determining bit values of a pixel within the digital image comprises looking up the predetermined bit values.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein a unique predetermined bit value is associated with a user.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the reversible binary operation is an XOR operation.

12. A computing device for encoding content data into a digital image comprising:

a processor configured to;

determine bit values of a pixel with the digital image by determining a binary representation of the bit values of the pixel;

determining a binary representation of content data to be encoded within the pixel;

modify the bit values within the pixel based on the content data to be encoded; and

encode the content data within the pixel using a reversible binary operation.

13. The computing device of claim 12, wherein a server includes the computing device, and the server further comprises:

inputs configured to receive the content data; and

outputs configured to output the digital image encoded with the content data.

14. The computing device of claim 12, wherein a mobile computing device includes the computing device, and the mobile computing device comprises inputs configured to receive the content data.

15. A method of encoding user data within a signature field of an electronic document comprising:

receiving, with one or more processors, user data captured as a user enters a signature gesture, the user data comprising a plurality of sample points;

generating, with the one or more processors, a digital image for incorporation into the signature field of the electronic document;

encoding, with the one or more processors, the user data within pixels of the digital image;

inserting, with the one or more processors, the digital image within the signature field of the electronic document.

16. A method of claim 15, wherein the signature gesture entered by the user is a signature gesture entered into a computing device via an input device.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the signature gesture is sampled as it is entered into the computing device in order to produce user data.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein each sample point comprises position data and temporal data.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the signature gesture is entered via a touch interface and the user data comprises touch position data.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the user data further comprises lift data representing when the user is not in contact with the touch interface during signature capture.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the signature gesture is entered via a motion sensing device.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the user data comprises three dimensional position data.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the image file comprises a background portion.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the background portion comprises a unique colour associated with the user.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the unique colour is stored in a user profile.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the user data is encoded into pixels forming the background portion of the signature field.

27. The method of claim 15, further comprising generating a representation of the entered signature gesture from the captured user data wherein the representation of the captured signature gesture comprises a trace line reproduction of the signature gesture entered by the user.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the user data is encoded into pixels forming the trace line reproduction of the signature.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the trace line reproduction comprises a unique colour associated with the user.

38. An electronic document comprising a signature field wherein the signature field comprises user data encoded according to the method of claim 15.

39. The electronic document of claim 38 wherein the document has been digitally signed with a digital certificate to prevent alteration.

30. A computing device for encoding user data within a signature field of an electronic document, the computing device comprising:

an input for receiving user data captured as a user enters a signature gesture, the user data comprising a plurality of sample points;

image generator for generating a digital image for incorporation into the signature field of the electronic document;

an encoder for encoding the user data within pixels of the digital image;

an insertion module for inserting the digital image within the signature field of the electronic document.

31. A server device for encoding user data within a signature field of an electronic document comprising:

an input for receiving user data captured as a user enters a signature gesture, the user data comprising a plurality of sample points;

image generator for generating a digital image for incorporation into the signature field of the electronic document;

an encoder for encoding the user data within pixels of the digital image;

an output for outputting a digital image having the user data encoded therein.

32. The server device of claim 31, wherein the output is arranged to send the digital image encoded with user data to a further computing device for insertion with the signature field of an electronic document.

33. The server device of claim 31, further comprising an insertion module for inserting the digital image within the signature field of the electronic document.

34. A method of encoding user data within a digital image comprising:

receiving user data that has been captured as a user performs a verification action, the user data comprising a plurality of sample points;

encoding the user data within pixels of the digital image.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising outputting the digital image with encoded user data for use as a verification stamp.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein at least some of the image comprises encoded user data captured during a user verification action.

37. A computing device for encoding user data within digital image, the computing device comprising:

an input for receiving user data captured as a user performs a verification action, the user data comprising a plurality of sample points; and

an encoder for encoding the user data within pixels of the digital image.

40. A method of verifying the identity a user from user data encoded within the pixels of a digital image, the method comprising:

decoding user data from pixels within the digital image, the user data representing data captured when a user entered a signature gesture into a computing device; and

comparing the user data with a reference signature gesture to determine the identity of the user.

41. A computing device for verifying the identity of a user from user data encoded within the pixels of a digital image, comprising;

a decoder arranged to decode user data from pixels within the digital image, the user data representing data captured when a user entered a signature gesture into a computing device;

a processor configured to compare the user data with a reference signature gesture to determine the identity of the user.

42. An apparatus for associating a handwritten signature with a user, the apparatus comprising:

a memory configured to store a user profile; and

a processor, in communication with the memory, the processor configured to;

receive user signature data and user profile information, the user signature data having been encoded based on a plurality of pixel colour values of a first image; and

associate the user signature data with the user profile information.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the user signature data comprises vector data derived from a handwritten signature.

44. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the user signature data comprises at least an x-coordinate value, a y-coordinate value, and a time value.

45. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the user signature data comprises a plurality of vector data points, and each vector data point is encoded using an XOR function with pixel colour value selected from the plurality of pixel colour values.

46. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the user signature data comprises a second image, the second image being obtained from the encoding of the user signature data with the plurality of pixel colour values of the first image, wherein a plurality of pixels of the second image correspond to the encoded user signature data.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the processor is further configured to decode the plurality of pixels of the second image corresponding to the encoded user signature data based on the plurality of pixel colour values of the first image.

48. An apparatus for authenticating a handwritten signature, the apparatus comprising:

a memory configured to store a first set of user signature data; and

a processor, in communication with the memory, the processor being configured to;

receive a second set of user signature data, the second set of user signature data corresponding to a handwritten signature;

receive a request to authenticate the handwritten signature;

compare the first set of user signature data with the second set of user signature data; and

provide an authentication message based on the results of the comparison of the first set of user signature data with the second set of user signature data.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein:

the first set of user signature data comprises a first plurality of vector data points;

the second set of user signature data comprises a second plurality of vector data points; and

comparing the first set of user signature data with the second set of user signature data comprises comparing the first plurality of vector data points with the second plurality of vector data points.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein a vector data point selected from the plurality of vector data points comprises an x-coordinate value, a y-coordinate value, and a time value.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the second set of user signature data is encoded based on a plurality of pixel colour values associated with an image.

52. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein an XOR function is used to encode the second set of user signature data with the plurality of pixel colour values.

53. An apparatus for encoding a human signature, comprising:

a memory having computer readable instructions; and

a processor programmed to use the computer readable instructions to;

receive a handwritten signature, the handwritten signature having one or more user data components;

associate the handwritten signature with a digital image having a plurality of pixels, each of the pixels having a colour value; and

encode the handwritten signature by combining one or more of the pixel colour values with the one or more user data components of the handwritten signature.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the one or more user data components comprise vector data associated the handwritten signature.

55. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the one or more user data components comprise gestures the user makes in making the handwritten signature.

56. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the processor encodes the handwritten signature by combining one or more of the pixel colour values with the one or more user data components of the handwritten signature using an exclusive OR function.

57. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the exclusive OR function is used on a subset of bit values associated with the one or more of the pixel colour values.

58. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the processor associates the handwritten signature with the digital image by selecting a graphic image and placing the graphic image adjacent the received handwritten signature.

59. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the processor encodes the handwritten signature to produce a unique color pattern based on the contours of the handwritten signature and the pixel color values.

60. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the apparatus comprises a server.

61. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the apparatus comprises a computing device selected from the group consisting of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet and a mobile phone.

62. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the processor is further programmed to transmit the encoded handwritten signature to another apparatus.

63. An apparatus for authenticating a user signature, comprising:

a memory having computer readable instructions; and

a processor programmed to use the computer readable instructions to;

receive a encoded signature that is encoded by combining one or more of the pixel color values of a digital image associated with an handwritten signature with one or more user data components of the handwritten signature;

compare the received handwritten signature with a stored handwritten signature of the user; and

transmit a message indicating whether the received signature is authenticable based on the comparison.

64. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the one or more user data components comprise vector data associated the handwritten signature.

65. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the one or more user data components comprise gestures the user makes in making the handwritten signature.

66. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the handwritten signature is encoded using an exclusive OR function.

67. The apparatus of claim 66, wherein the exclusive OR function is used on a subset of bit values associated with the one or more of the pixel colour values.

68. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the digital image comprises a graphic image selected by the user.

69. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the graphic image is adjacent the handwritten signature.

70. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the encoded signature includes a unique color pattern based on the contours of the handwritten signature and the pixel color values.

71. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the apparatus comprises a server.

72. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the apparatus comprises a computing device selected from the group consisting of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet and a mobile phone.