Methods and products employing biometrics and steganography

• US 6,804,378 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2003
• Issued: 10/12/2004
• 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:
  US10/366,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20030179903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/232, 382/115, 382/117, 382/118, 382/124, 380/210, 380/252, 380/287, 380/51, 380/54, 713/176, 283/72, 283/74, 283/77, 283/85, 283/113, 283/901
• 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

Digital or analog objects are steganographically encoded with plural bit digital data. The encoding may proceed with reference to biometric data, such as fingerprint or retinal scan data. One application of such technology is to encode identification documents, such as a drivers'"'"' licenses. The encoded data can later be decoded and used, e.g., for authentication purposes.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving data related to a physical attribute of a person; and

steganographically encoding plural-bits of information in an object using said data;

wherein said encoding is detectable through computer analysis from visible light scan data corresponding to said object.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising steganographically encoding an object with a data payload that includes said data, wherein the encoded object is associated with said person.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the physical attribute is a fingerprint.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the data is a robust digital image of said fingerprint.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the physical attribute is a visual appearance of a portion of said person.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the data comprises a retinal image.

7. The method of claim 1 in which the object is a digital object comprising samples, each sample having a value, and the steganographic encoding results in alteration of plural of said sample values.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said plural-bits of information comprise said data.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said plural-bits of information comprise said data together with additional bits associated with detection and/or correction of errors.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the object comprises image data.

11. A storage medium having image data produced by the method of claim 10 stored thereon.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the object comprises a photograph.

13. A physical document having the photograph produced by the method of claim 12 formed thereon.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the data is other than pixel information corresponding to an image of the person'"'"'s head.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the object comprises a document, and the steganographic encoding is not apparent to a human observer of the document, yet can be detected from visible light scan data corresponding to said document.

16. A method comprising:

receiving data that uniquely corresponds to a particular entity; and

steganographically encoding plural-bits of information in an object using said data;

wherein said encoding is detectable through computer analysis from visible light scan data corresponding to said object.

17. The method of claim 16 that includes sensing a physical attribute of said entity, and deriving the data therefrom.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said plural-bits of information comprise said data.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said plural-bits of information comprise said data together with additional bits associated with detection and/or correction of errors.

20. The method of claim 16 in which the object is a digital object comprising samples, each sample having a value, and the steganographic encoding results in alteration of said sample values.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein the object comprises image data.

22. A storage medium having image data produced by the method of claim 21 stored thereon.

23. The method of claim 16 wherein the data is other than pixel information corresponding to an image of said entity.

24. A document comprising:

a substrate;

text printed on the substrate;

a graphic carried by the substrate, the graphic conveying a visual impression to human viewers thereof;

the graphic additionally being steganographically encoded to secretly convey plural bits of digital data recoverable by computer analysis of said graphic, said steganographic encoding being locally scaled in amplitude in accordance with features of said graphic.

25. A method for verifying an association between a bearer of an object and the object comprising:

receiving a physical attribute of the bearer; and

decoding steganographically embedded data from the object;

wherein the steganographically embedded data is embedded using the physical attribute of the bearer, and said decoding includes computer analysis of visible light scan data corresponding to said object.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the embedded data includes a representation of the physical attribute and the association is verified by comparing the embedded data with the physical attribute.

27. An identification document comprising:

a plastic substrate;

text printed on the substrate, said text including a user name;

a graphic carried by the substrate, the graphic conveying a visual impression to human viewers thereof;

the graphic additionally being steganographically encoded to secretly convey plural bits of digital data recoverable by computer analysis of visible light scan data corresponding to said graphic, said digital data correlating to said printed text;

a barcode carried by the substrate, the barcode conveying a user number.