Source verification using images

• US 5,859,935 A
• Filed: 04/25/1997
• Issued: 01/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Henderson, D. Austin Jr., Johnson, Walter A. L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johns, Andrew W.
• Application Number:
  US08/845,649
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/181, 382/209, 382/217, 382/218, 382/219, 382/317, 358/400, 358/401, 358/402, 358/403, 358/404, 358/405, 358/448, 235/375
• US Class Current: 382/317
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0084 Determining the necessity for prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00846 based on detection of a dedicated indication, e.g. marks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00848 by detecting a particular original
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00875 Inhibiting reproduction, e.g. by disabling reading or reproduction apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3233 of authentication information, e.g. digital signature, watermark
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 Transmission

Abstract

Original source verifying data defining a first source verifying image are stored in memory. The first source verifying image can be produced by a human making marks by hand in a field of a form, which can then be provided by a scanner or a facsimile transmission through image input circuitry. If a second source verifying image is received that is the same as the first source verifying image, an operation is performed that would not be performed if the images were not the same, such as an operation accessing a related item of data. For example, the first source verifying image can be received with a document image, and data defining the document image and the original source verifying data can be stored so that a source verifying image that is the same as the first source verifying image must be received before an operation can access the document data and provide it to image output circuitry for printing or facsimile transmission. As a result, the marked form is analogous to a key: Only someone who possesses the marked form or a high quality copy can obtain access to the document data. If the marked form is lost or destroyed, the document data cannot be accessed.

Claims

1. A machine for performing source verification so as to determine whether an operation may be performed, the machine comprising:

image input circuitry for obtaining image set data as input;

a memory device having data stored therein; and

a processor connected for receiving image set data from the image input circuitry;

the processor further being connected for accessing the data stored in said memory device;

the data stored in the memory device comprising;

original source verifying data defining and original source verifying image, said original source verifying image associated with said operation;

match criterion data defining a criterion for use in generating sameness data indicating whether two images are the same; and

instruction data indicating instructions the processor can execute;

said instruction data including instructions for;

receiving image set data from the image input circuitry, the image set data defining an image set that shows a purported source verifying image;

comparing the image set data and the original source verifying data from memory to obtain similarity measure data;

the similarity measure data indicating a measure of similarity between the original and purported source verifying images;

comparing the match criterion data and the similarity measure data to obtain sameness data indicating whether the original and purported source verifying images are the same; and

performing said operation only if the sameness data indicate that the original and purported source verifying images are the same.

2. The machine of claim 1 in which the input image circuitry is connected for receiving facsimile transmissions.

3. The machine of claim 1 wherein document data defining an image of a document is further stored in said memory device;

the operation performed by the processor if the sameness data indicate that the original and purported source verifying images are the same is an operation that accesses the document data, so that a source verifying image that is the same as the original source verifying image must be received before the document data can be accessed.

4. The machine of claim 3, further comprising image output circuitry for providing data defining images as output;

said instruction data further comprising instructions for;

extracting output image data from said document data;

the output image data defining a version of the image of the document; and

providing the output image data to the image output circuitry.

5. The machine of claim 4 in which the output image circuitry is connected for providing facsimile transmissions.

6. The machine of claim 3 wherein a database system is further stored in said memory;

the database system storing the document data and the original source verifying data so that the processor, upon accessing the original source verifying data, can access the document data.

7. The machine of claim 1 in which the machine is a fax server.

8. The machine of claim 1 in which the machine is a copier.

9. The machine of claim 1 in which the image input circuitry is connected for receiving facsimile transmissions;

the image set data from the image input circuitry being obtained from a facsimile transmission;

the machine further comprising;

image output circuitry connected for providing facsimile transmissions,

the processor being connected for receiving data from facsimile transmissions from the image input circuitry and for providing data for facsimile transmissions to the image output circuitry;

the operation performed by the processor being an operation that provides output facsimile data to the image output circuitry for facsimile transmission;

the processor not providing the output facsimile data to the image output circuitry for facsimile transmission if the sameness data indicate that the original and purported source verifying images are not the same.

10. The machine of claim 1 in which the image input circuitry comprises a scanner;

the machine further comprising;

a printer;

the processor being connected for receiving data defining images from the scanner and for providing data defining images to the printer;

the operation performed by the processor being an operation that provides print output data to the printer;

the processor not providing the print output data to the printer if the sameness data indicate that the original and purported source verifying images are not the same.

11. An article of manufacture for use in a machine that includes:

image input circuitry for obtaining data defining images as input;

memory for storing data;

the data stored in the memory including original source verifying data defining a original source verifying image;

said original source verifying image associated with an operation that may be performed in said machine;

the data stored in the memory further including sameness criterion data indicating a criterion for use in obtaining data indicating whether two images are the same;

a storage medium access device for accessing a medium that stores data; and

a processor connected for receiving data defining images from the image input circuitry;

the processor further being connected for accessing data in the memory;

the processor further being connected for receiving data from the storage medium access device;

the article comprising;

a storage medium that can be accessed by the storage medium access device when the article is used in the system; and

data stored by the storage medium so that the storage medium access device can provide the stored data to the processor when the article is used in the system;

the stored data comprising instruction data indicating instructions the processor can execute;

the processor in executing the instructions;

receiving image set data from the image input circuitry, the image set data defining an image set that shows a purported source verifying image;

using the image set data and the original source verifying data from memory to obtain similarity measure data;

the similarity measure data indicating a measure of similarity between the original and purported source verifying images;

using the sameness criterion data and the similarity measure data to obtain sameness data indicating whether the original and purported source verifying images are the same; and

performing said operation associated with the original source verifying image only if the sameness data indicate that the first and second source verifying images are the same.

12. A method of determining whether an operation may be performed based on whether two images are the same;

comprising;

storing match criterion data, said match criterion data for use in determining whether two images are the same;

storing an original source verifying image in memory said original source verifying image associated with said operation;

receiving a purported source verifying image;

measuring the similarity between the original source verifying image and the purported source verifying image to obtain measured similarity data;

using the match criterion data and measured similarity data to determine whether the original source verifying image and the purported source verifying image are the same; and

performing said operation only if the original source verifying image and the purported source verifying image are the same.

13. The method of claim 12 in which the act of storing an original source verifying image in memory comprises:

scanning a sheet of marking medium to obtain data defining a first image of the sheet;

the sheet being a form that includes a field;

the field including marks made by a human by hand; and

using the data defining a first image of the sheet to obtain the original source verifying image;

the original source verifying image comprising only the contents of the field;

the act of receiving a purported source verifying image comprising;

scanning the sheet of marking medium to obtain data defining a second image of the sheet; and

using the data defining a second image of the sheet to obtain purported source verifying image;

the purported source verifying image comprising only the contents of the field.

14. The method of claim 13 in which the act of storing an original source verifying image in memory further comprises:

scanning a document to obtain data defining an image of a document; and

storing the data defining an image of a document in memory;

the act of performing the operation comprising;

using the data defining an image of a document to provide a version of the image of the document as output.

15. In a system capable of processing image data, a method for determining whether an operation can be carried out in said system, said method comprising the steps of:

a) storing match criterion data, said match criterion data for use in determining if two images are the same;

b) storing an original source verifying image, said original source verifying image associated with an operation that may be performed in said system;

c) said system receiving a purported source verifying image in a request to perform said operation;

d) said system comparing said original source verifying image with said purported source verifying image to obtain similarity measure data, said similarity measure data indicating a measure of similarity between said original source image and said purported source verifying image;

e) said system comparing said similarity measure data to said match criterion data to determine if said original source verifying image is the same as said purported source verifying image; and

f) said system performing said operation associated with said original source verifying image only if said original source verifying image is the same as said purported source verifying image.

16. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein said match criterion data defines a threshold value.

17. The method of claim 15 in which the act of storing an original source verifying image comprises:

receiving an image set that shows the original source verifying image; and

extracting the original source verifying image from the image set that shows the original source verifying image.

18. The method of claim 17 in which the original source verifying images includes marks made by hand.

19. The method of claim 18 in which the marks are made in a field of a form, the image set showing an image of the form;

the original source verifying image being an image of the field.

20. The method of claim 15 in which the act of said system receiving a purported source verifying image comprises:

receiving an image set that shows the purported source verifying image; and

extracting the purported source verifying image from the image set that shows the purported source verifying image.

21. The method of claim 20 in which the purported source verifying image is represented by pixel data indicating a value for each pixel of the purported source verifying image and the original source verifying image is represented by pixel data indicating a value for each pixel of the original source verifying image;

the act of comparing said original source verifying image with said purported source verifying image comprising using the pixel data to compare values of pixels in the original and purported source verifying images to obtain the similarity measure data.