Indigenous authentication for sensor-recorders and other information capture devices

• US 6,757,828 B1
• Filed: 07/27/2000
• Issued: 06/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joel D. Goldhar, Jonathan E. Jaffe
• Original Assignee: Goldhar/Jaffe Technology Development Corporation
• Inventors: Goldhar, Joel D., Jaffe, Jonathan E., Warot, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Kim
• Assistant Examiner(s): Song, Hosuk
• Application Number:
  US09/626,044
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 Days
• Field of Search: 713/176, 713/168, 713/161, 713/200, 380/258, 380/229, 380/200, 380/54, 380/46, 348/207.99, 382/276, 382/312-313
• US Class Current: 713/176
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3233 of authentication information, e.g. digital signature, watermark
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3235 Checking or certification of the authentication information, e.g. by comparison with data stored independently
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3236 Details of authentication information generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3252 Image capture parameters, e.g. resolution, illumination conditions, orientation of the image capture device H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3253 Position information, e.g. geographical position at time of capture, GPS data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3277 The additional information being stored in the same storage device as the image data

Abstract

A method and system of authentication for sensor-recorders and other information capture devices is disclosed. In accordance with aspects of the current invention, a digital sample of the environment is obtained. From this sample and at least one parameter representative of at least one condition under which the sample was generated, a digital signature is created. This signature is stored in memory with the sample to be checked at a later time for authenticity. The file is checked for authenticity by generating a second signature from the file and comparing that signature to the original signature. If the two signatures are identical, the sample is considered authentic and if the two signatures are different, the sample cannot be authenticated.

Claims

1. A method for authenticating a data stream stored in a data file in memory, said method comprising the steps of:

storing a data stream in a data file in a memory;

utilizing a sensor, which is tightly coupled to said memory, to generate at least one internal and unique parameter;

monitoring the integrity of the tight coupling between said memory and said sensor when said at least one internal and unique parameter is generated, and, if said integrity is compromised, then also providing an indication of said compromised integrity;

utilizing a signature protocol to generate a first signature based on said data stream and said at least one parameter, said first signature being generated without altering said data stream and being appended to said data file in said memory;

utilizing said signature protocol to generate a second signature based on said image;

comparing said first signature to said second signature,

if said first and second signatures are not the same, then generating an error signal that is displayed to a user to indicate that said stored data stream is not authentic, and

if said first and second signatures are the same, then generating an ok signal that is displayed to a user to indicate that said stored data stream is authentic.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said memory form a part of a digital camera.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one parameter comprises a random number.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of appending at least one additional parameter to said data file in said memory, said at least one additional parameter being generally representative of a condition under which said data stream was generated.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said at least one additional parameter is selected from a group consisting of:

GPS coordinates, zoom settings, AutoFocus status, focus quality sampling, roll, pitch and yaw values, compass headings, flash status, CamID, Seq, and a Security Value.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said data stream is a digit sample of an environment.