Visual credential verification

• US 8,406,480 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2009
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Peters, Mark E., Grigsby, Tavis M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bhatnagar, Anand
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARK, SOO JIN
• Application Number:
  US12/372,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20100209006A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,498 Days
• Field of Search: 382115-118, 382124-127, 340 52- 585
• US Class Current: 382/116
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/00 Pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/80 Recognising image objects characterised by unique random patterns

Abstract

A solution for visual credential verification. The solution includes an apparatus, system, and method embodiment. The apparatus for visual credential verification includes an input module, a comparison module, and a response module. The input module receives from a security official an image of an unverified credential, such as a badge, that an individual has presented to the security official. The comparison module determines whether or not the unverified credential is valid or invalid. The determination includes comparing the image of the unverified credential with known good images of valid credentials. The comparison module may also compare authentication information such as a photo of the individual, a name, or a badge number, with known good authentication information. Based on the comparison module'"'"'s determination, the response module notifies the security official that the unverified credential is either valid or invalid. A system for visual credential verification may be implemented with a server in communication with a security official'"'"'s electronic device, such as a cell phone.

Claims

1. A method for visual credential verification, the method comprising:

assigning a security level to a requested action prior to validating an unverified credential;

validating, by a processor, the unverified credential if an image of the unverified credential matches at least one verified credential image to a degree above a first determined threshold, and if the requested action has a low-security level, wherein the validating is performed independently of comparing authentication information of an individual presenting the unverified credential with verified authentication information; and

validating, by the processor, the unverified credential if an image of the unverified credential matches at least one verified credential image to a degree above a second determined threshold, if the requested action has a high-security level, and if the authentication information of the individual presenting the unverified credential is above a third determined threshold when compared to verified authentication information.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising invalidating the unverified credential if the image of the unverified credential is above the second determined threshold when compared to at least one verified credential image, if the requested action has a high-security level, and if the authentication information of the individual presenting the unverified credential is below the third determined threshold when compared to verified authentication information.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising invalidating the unverified credential if the image of the unverified credential is below the first determined threshold when compared to at least one verified credential image and if the requested action has a low-security level.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising invalidating the unverified credential if the image of the unverified credential is below the second determined threshold when compared to at least one verified credential image and if the requested action has a high-security level.

5. The method of claim 1, further including deriving the authentication information inherently from the image of the unverified credential.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the unverified credential is an identification badge.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second threshold is different than the first threshold.

8. An apparatus for visual credential verification comprising:

an input module configured to receive an image of an unverified credential and authentication information;

a comparison module configured to;

assign a security level to a requested action prior to validating an unverified credential; and

determine that the unverified credential is one of a valid credential and an invalid credential, wherein the determination comprises;

validating the unverified credential if the image of the unverified credential is above a first determined threshold when compared to at least one verified credential image and if the requested action has a low-security level, the validating performed independently of comparing the authentication information of an individual presenting the unverified credential with verified authentication information; and

validating the unverified credential if the image of the unverified credential is above a second determined threshold when compared to at least one verified credential image, if the requested action has a high-security level, and if the authentication information of the individual presenting the unverified credential is above a third determined threshold when compared to verified authentication information;

a response module configured to send a notification that the unverified credential is valid in response to the comparison module determining that the unverified credential is the valid credential.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the input module is further configured to receive the authentication information separately from the image of the unverified credential.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the verified authentication information is provided by an issuing authority.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the authentication information comprises one or more of a badge number, a name, and an image of the individual.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the input module is further configured to receive a classification of the unverified credential; and

the apparatus further comprises a classification module configured to narrow a classification of verified credential images that are compared with the image of the unverified credential based on the classification of the unverified credential.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the classification comprises one or more of an issuing authority, a jurisdiction, and a credential type.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the input module is further configured to receive the image of the unverified credential over a network.

15. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the authentication information further includes an answer to a security question.

16. A computer-readable storage device with an executable program stored thereon to implement visual credential verification, wherein the program instructs a microprocessor to:

assign a security level to a requested action prior to validating an unverified credential;

validate the unverified credential if an image of an unverified credential matches at least one verified credential image to a degree above a first determined threshold, and if the requested action has a low-security level, wherein the validating is performed independently of comparing authentication information of an individual presenting the unverified credential with verified authentication information; and

validate, by the processor, the unverified credential if an image of an unverified credential matches at least one verified credential image to a degree above a second determined threshold when compared to at least one verified credential image, if the requested action has a high-security level, and if the authentication information of the individual presenting the unverified credential is above a third determined threshold when compared to verified authentication information.

17. The computer-readable storage device of claim 16, wherein the image of the unverified credential is received from an electronic device with image-capturing capability.

18. The computer-readable storage device of claim 16, wherein the program further instructs the processor to invalidate the unverified credential if the image of the unverified credential is below the first determined threshold when compared to at least one verified credential image and if the requested action has a low-security level.

19. The computer-readable storage device of claim 16, wherein the program further instructs the processor to invalidate the unverified credential if the image of the unverified credential is below the second determined threshold when compared to at least one verified credential image and if the requested action has a high-security level.

20. The computer-readable storage device of claim 16, wherein the program further instructs the processor to derive the authentication information inherently from the image of the unverified credential.