Method and apparatus for transaction card security utilizing embedded image data

• US 6,536,665 B1
• Filed: 01/20/2000
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Ray, Lawrence A., Honsinger, Chris W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALSH, DANIEL I
• Application Number:
  US09/487,425
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/379, 235/382, 235/435, 382/115, 382/110, 380/4
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/347 Passive cards
• 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 7/125 Offline card verification

Abstract

A highly secure personal identification badge is achieved by having an area which contains machine readable information and also having a printed region having embedded data in the image printed thereon. A method of producing the identification badge, includes the steps of: forming a digital image of the badge holder; generating an array of random numbers using a random number generator that employs a seed value; adding the array of random numbers to the digital image to produce a modified digital image; and printing the modified digital image on the identification badge. The badge is authenticated by scanning the image on the identification badge to produce a recovered digital image; and correlating the array of random numbers with the recovered digital image to produce a validity check of the identification badge.

Claims

1. A method of producing an authenticatable identification badge, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a digital image of a badge holder;

(b) generating an array of random numbers using a random number generator that employs a seed value;

(c) combining the array of random numbers with the digital image to produce a modified digital image;

(d) printing the modified digital image on the identification badge; and

(e) recording the seed value on the badge.

2. The method claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(a) scanning the modified digital image on the identification badge to produce a recovered digital image;

(b) reading the seed value from the badge;

(c) regenerating the array of random numbers using the random number generator and the seed value that was read from the badge; and

(d) correlating the array of random numbers with the recovered digital image to produce a validity check of the identification badge.

3. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the seed value is an identification code unique to the identification badge holder.

4. The method claimed in claim 3, wherein the seed value includes the badge holder'"'"'s name.

5. The method claimed in claim 3, wherein the seed value is stored on the identification badge in machine readable form.

6. The method claimed in claim 2, wherein the array of random numbers is regenerated from the seed value.