Method for authenticating objects identified by images or other identifying information

• US 5,351,302 A
• Filed: 05/26/1993
• Issued: 09/27/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frank T. Leighton, Silvio Micali
• Original Assignee: Frank T. Leighton, Silvio Micali
• Inventors: Micali, Silvio, Leighton, Frank T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory, Bernarr E.
• Application Number:
  US08/067,493
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 380/4, 380/21, 380/23, 380/24, 380/25, 380/30, 380/43, 380/49, 380/50, 235/379, 235/380, 235/382, 340/825.31, 340/825.34
• US Class Current: 380/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/346 Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3821 Electronic credentials
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/12 Card verification
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/84 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 involving digital signatures

Abstract

The method and system of the present invention utilizes public-key cryptography to create "secure" titles for personal and real property such as vehicles and the like. The title preferably comprises a card in which is stored a digital signature of one or more identifiers such as a vehicle identification number, the vehicle license plate and the owner'"'"'s name. To effect a transfer of the property, the digital signature on the title must first be shown to have been generated from the one or more identifiers.

Claims

1. A method for authenticating an object identified by a data string, the data string including a digitized image of the object, comprising the steps of:

generating a signature of the data string using a private key of a public-key cryptosystem pair, the public-key cryptosystem pair also having a public key M;

decrypting the signature using the public key M of the public-key cryptosystem pair; and

comparing the decrypted signature with the digitized image to thereby authenticate the object.

2. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the data string is stored in a card having a memory.

3. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the data string also includes information identifying an owner of the object.

4. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the data string also includes alphanumeric information uniquely associated with the object.

5. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the data string includes information identifying an owner of the object and alphanumeric information uniquely associated with the object.

6. The method as described in claim 5 wherein the owner information and the alphanumeric information are concatenated with the digitized image to form the data string.

7. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the data string includes a text string describing the object.

8. A method for authenticating an object identified by a data string, the data string being stored on a storage media and including at least a digitized image of the object, comprising the steps of:

receiving the storage media and generating a signature of the data string using a first key of a cryptosystem pair, the cryptosystem pair also having a second key;

decrypting the signature using the second key of the cryptosystem pair; and

comparing the decrypted signature with the digitized image to thereby authenticate the object.

9. The method as described in claim 8 wherein the cryptosystem is a public-key cryptosystem and the first key is a private key and the second key is a public key.