Matrix code for encryption, storage, and transmission of data

• US 9,298,932 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2012
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dougharty, Tong C., Givens, Charlet N., Vora, Janki Y., Wang, Fang
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, JEFFERY L
• Application Number:
  US13/631,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20140095888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,277 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/602 Providing cryptographic facilities or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2107 File encryption
• CPC Class Codes: G09C 5/00 Ciphering apparatus or methods not provided for in the preceding groups, e.g. involving the concealment or deformation of graphic data such as designs, written or printed messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash

Abstract

A computer utilizes a matrix code to securely communicate information. To utilize the matrix code, the computer receives a scan of the matrix code, and identifies a first mask within a data region of the matrix code, wherein the first mask includes public user data, and identifies a second mask within the data region of the matrix code, wherein the second mask include private user data. The computer decodes the public user data and the private user data from the matrix code, and decrypts one or both of the public user data and the private user data. The computer also removes a distortion operation from the second mask, wherein removing the distortion operation includes reversing a transformation, rotation, skew, shear, reflection, or projection operation.

Claims

1. A method for utilizing a matrix code for encryption, storage, and transmission of data, the method comprising:

generating a base matrix code with a first user data mask wherein the first user data mask including the first user data is in a data region in the base matrix code and the first user data is encrypted;

transmitting the base matrix to a first matrix code scanner, wherein the first matrix code scanner scans the first user data mask and the first user data is decrypted;

generating a second user data mask in the base matrix code using the decrypted first user data to create a combined matrix code including both the first user data mask and the second user data mask, wherein the second user data mask including the second user data is in the data region in the base matrix code and is separated from the first user data mask, and the second user data is encrypted; and

transmitting the combined matrix code to a second matrix code scanner, wherein the second matrix code scanner scans both the first user data mask and the second user data mask for further applications, and both the first user data and the second user data are decrypted.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user data is a public user data and the second user data is a private user data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second user data is distorted using a distortion technique that prevents unintended revelation of the second user data to parties not able to reverse the distortion technique.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

reversing the distortion technique applied to the second user data, wherein reversing the distortion technique includes reversing a skew, shear, reflection, or projection operation.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein reversing the distortion technique includes receiving an authorization including a password, a personal identification number, or a biometric information.

6. A computer program product for utilizing a matrix code for encryption, storage, and transmission of data, the computer program product comprising:

one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to generate a base matrix code with a first user data mask wherein the first user data mask including the first user data is in a data region in the base matrix code and the first user data is encrypted

program instructions to transmit the base matrix to a first matrix code scanner, wherein the first matrix code scanner scans the first user data mask and the first user data is decrypted;

program instructions to generate a second user data mask in the base matrix code using the decrypted first user data to create a combined matrix code including both the first user data mask and the second user data mask, wherein the second user data mask including the second user data is in the data region in the base matrix code and is separated from the first user data mask, and the second user data is encrypted; and

program instructions to transmit the combined matrix code to a second matrix code scanner, wherein the second matrix code scanner scans both the first user data mask and the second user data mask for further applications, and both the first user data and the second user data are decrypted.

7. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the first user data is a public user data and the second user data is a private user data.

8. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the second user data is distorted using a distortion technique that prevents unintended revelation of the second user data to parties not able to reverse the distortion technique.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising:

program instructions to reverse the distortion technique applied to the second user data, wherein reversing the distortion technique includes reversing a skew, shear, reflection, or projection operation.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein reversing the distortion technique includes receiving an authorization including a password, a personal identification number, or a biometric information.

11. The computer program product of claim 6, further comprising:

program instructions to identify a symbol for determining a position and an orientation of the base matrix code.

12. A system for utilizing a matrix code for encryption, storage, and transmission of data, the system comprising:

one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories, one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices, and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to generate a base matrix code with a first user data mask wherein the first user data mask including the first user data is in a data region in the base matrix code and the first user data is encrypted;

program instructions to transmit the base matrix to a first matrix code scanner, wherein the first matrix code scanner scans the first user data mask and the first user data is decrypted;

program instructions to generate a second user data mask in the base matrix code using the decrypted first user data to create a combined matrix code including both the first user data mask and the second user data mask, wherein the second user data mask including the second user data is in the data region in the base matrix code and is separated from the first user data mask, and the second user data is encrypted; and

program instructions to transmit the combined matrix code to a second matrix code scanner, wherein the second matrix code scanner scans both the first user data mask and the second user data mask for further applications, and both the first user data and the second user data are decrypted.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first user data is a public user data and the second user data is a private user data.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the second user data is distorted using a distortion technique that prevents unintended revelation of the second user data to parties not able to reverse the distortion technique.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein further comprising:

program instructions to reverse the distortion technique applied to the second user data, wherein reversing the distortion technique includes reversing a skew, shear, reflection, or projection operation.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein program instructions to reverse the distortion technique includes receiving an authorization including a password, a personal identification number, or a biometric information.

17. The computer program product of claim 12, further comprising:

program instructions to fill in one or more portions of the data region not taken up by the first user data mask or the second user data mask with test-pattern data or padding data.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein each of the first user data mask and the second user data mask is a region within the data region.

19. The computer program product of claim 12, further comprising:

program instructions to identify a symbol for determining the a position and an orientation of the base matrix code.