Security document with steganographically-encoded authentication data

• US 6,546,112 B1
• Filed: 11/23/1998
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoads, Geoffrey B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johns, Andrew W.
• Application Number:
  US09/198,022
• Time in Patent Office: 1,597 Days
• Field of Search: 382/181, 382/232, 382/239, 382/190, 382/195, 382/209, 382/100, 380/54, 380/210, 380/252, 380/287, 380/51, 283/72, 283/74, 283/77, 283/85, 283/113, 283/901, 713/176
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/00 Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof printing processes to produce identification or security features B41M3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/23 Identity cards
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/309 Photographs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06046 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/14 the marking being sensed by radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/18 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/06253 for a specific application
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1447 extracting optical codes from image or text carrying said optical code
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/005 Robust watermarking, e.g. average attack or collusion attack resistant
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0052 Embedding of the watermark in the frequency domain
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0064 for copy protection or copy management, e.g. CGMS, copy only once, one-time copy
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0065 Extraction of an embedded watermark; Reliable detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/80 Recognising image objects characterised by unique random patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/41 : with means for the generation of identity documents
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/22 : in combination with an identity check of the pass holder
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/253 : visually
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/0032 : using holograms
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/0034 : using watermarks
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/004 : using digital security elements, e.g. information coded on a magnetic thread or strip
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/0047 : using checkcodes, e.g. coded numbers derived from serial number and denomination
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/005 : Testing security markings invisible to the naked eye, e.g. verifying thickened lines or unobtrusive markings or alterations
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/2016 : using feature extraction, e.g. segmentation, edge detection or Hough-transformation
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/2033 : Matching unique patterns, i.e. patterns that are unique to each individual paper
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 : for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• 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 7/086 : by passive credit-cards adapted therefor, e.g. constructive particularities to avoid counterfeiting, e.g. by inclusion of a physical or chemical security-layer for security documents G07D7/00; for the reading of record-carriers in general G06K7/00; for the design of coded credit-cards G06K19/10
• 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 7/1016 : Devices or methods for securing the PIN and other transaction-data, e.g. by encryption arrangements for secret communication, see H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/12 : Card verification
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/122 : Online card verification
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 19/018 : Audio watermarking, i.e. embedding inaudible data in the audio signal
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 : Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00094 : involving measures which result in a restriction to authorised record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00115 : wherein the record carrier stores a unique medium identifier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00166 : involving measures which result in a restriction to authorised contents recorded on or reproduced from a record carrier, e.g. music or software
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00181 : using a content identifier, e.g. an international standard recording code [ISRC] or a digital object identifier [DOI]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0021 : involving encryption or decryption of contents recorded on or reproduced from a record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00884 : involving a watermark, i.e. a barely perceptible transformation of the original data which can nevertheless be recognised by an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00891 : embedded in audio data
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/665 : using psychoacoustic properties of the ear, e.g. masking effect
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00005 : relating to image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00037 : Detecting, i.e. determining the occurrence of a predetermined state H04N1/00031 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00079 : remotely
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32144 : embedded in the image data, i.e. enclosed or integrated in the image, e.g. watermark, super-imposed logo or stamp
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3216 : using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32203 : Spatial or amplitude domain methods H04N1/32309 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32208 : involving changing the magnitude of selected pixels, e.g. overlay of information or super-imposition H04N1/32219, H04N1/32224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32251 : in multilevel data, e.g. greyscale or continuous tone data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32288 : Multiple embedding, e.g. cocktail embedding, or redundant embedding, e.g. repeating the additional information at a plurality of locations in the image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32352 : Controlling detectability or arrangements to facilitate detection or retrieval of the embedded information, e.g. using markers for decoding, detection or retrieval operations H04N1/32149 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/00 : Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/467 : characterised by the embedded information being invisible, e.g. watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91321 : the copy protection signal being a copy protection control signal, e.g. a record inhibit signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91335 : the copy protection signal being a watermark
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23892 : involving embedding information at multiplex stream level, e.g. embedding a watermark at packet level
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8358 : involving watermark protecting executable software by watermarking G06F21/16; image watermarking in general G06T1/0021; watermarks inserted in still images for transmission purposes H04N1/32144; inserting watermarks during video coding H04N19/467
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 : of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3207 : of an address
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 : of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3233 : of authentication information, e.g. digital signature, watermark
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 : which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 : Printing or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 : Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/328 : Processing of the additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/913 : for scrambling ; for copy protection

Abstract

Security of a document is enhanced by steganographically embedding, within a graphic on the document, data that can be used in conjunction with text on the document to authenticate the document.

Claims

1. A photo identification document, characterized by steganographic encoding representing multi-bit data, said multi-bit data being computer-discernable from analysis of visible light scan data, but the existence of said encoded data not being evident to human observers of the document.

2. A plastic document according to claim 1.

3. A driver'"'"'s license according to claim 1.

4. A plastic-encased driver'"'"'s license according to claim 1.

5. The photo identification document of claim 1 in which the encoding is locally scaled in amplitude in accordance with visible features on the document.

6. The photo identification document of claim 1 in which the steganographic encoding spans some, but not all, of the document.

7. The photo identification document of claim 1 in which the steganographic encoding encompasses regions of the document distinct from any text or image thereon.

8. The photo identification document of claim 1 in which the encoding comprises slight changes to a visible image, the changes being tailored in accordance with local characteristics of the image so as to minimize impairing the aesthetics thereof.

9. The photo identification document of claim 1 in which each bit of the multi-bit data is encoded in plural locations across the document, but the encoding thereof is different at different locations.

10. The photo identification document of claim 1 in which the encoding comprises a texture imparted to a surface of said document.

11. The photo identification document of claim 1 in which the encoding comprises a calibration signal, said signal aiding the later decoding of said multi-bit data.

12. The photo identification document of claim 11 wherein the calibration signal is not apparent to human observers of the document.

13. The photo identification document of claim 1 having human-readable information formed thereon, and wherein the steganographic encoding represents data that is redundant with at least some of said human-readable information.

14. The photo identification document of claim 1 having human-readable information formed thereon, and wherein the steganographic encoding represents data that is correlated with, but not redundant of, the human-readable information.

15. The photo identification document of claim 1 having both human-readable information and a barcode formed thereon.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the multi-bit data comprises an index into a registry containing additional information.

17. The method of claim 16 in which the encoding is locally scaled in amplitude in accordance with visible features on the document.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the photo identification document comprises a plastic document.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein the photo identification document comprises a driver'"'"'s license.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein some regions of the document are not steganographically encoded.

21. The method of claim 13 wherein the encoding slightly changes a visible image on the document to encode the multi-bit data therein, the changes being adjusted in accordance with local characteristics of the visible image so as to avoid impairing the aesthetics thereof.

22. The method of claim 13 in which each bit of the multi-bit data is encoded at plural locations across the document, but the encoding of each said bit takes different forms at different locations.

23. The method of claim 13 in which the encoding includes texturing a surface micro-topology of the document to encode the plural binary bits therein.

24. The method of claim 13, further characterized by encoding a calibration signal in the photo, said calibration signal aiding the later decoding of the multi-bit data.

25. The method of claim 24 in which the calibration signal is not apparent to human observers of the document.

26. The method of claim 13 in which said encoding encompasses regions of the document distinct from any text or photo thereon.

27. The method of claim 16, further characterized by encoding a calibration signal in the photo, said calibration signal aiding the later decoding of the multi-bit data.

28. The method of claim 27 in which the calibration signal is not apparent to human observers of the document.

29. The method of claim 16 in which said encoding encompasses regions of the document distinct from any text or photo thereon.

30. A method of processing a photo identification document comprising:

using an inspection device, scanning the photo identification document using visible light to produce scan data;

decoding steganographically-encoded information from the scan data; and

presenting data related to said decoded information to an operator of the inspection device.

31. The method of claim 30 that includes:

encrypting information from the inspection device;

transmitting the encrypted information to a remote processor; and

wherein said presenting comprises presenting information returned from said remote processor to the operator.