Source verification using images
First Claim
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.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A machine for performing source verification so as to determine whether an operation may be performed, the machine comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An article of manufacture for use in a machine that includes:
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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.
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12. A method of determining whether an operation may be performed based on whether two images are the same;
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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. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
- comprising;
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification