Object processing employing movement

• US 8,923,550 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2012
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoads, Geoffrey B., Rodriguez, Tony F., Bradley, Brett A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Akhavannik, Hadi
• Application Number:
  US13/405,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20120163666A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/211 Schema design and management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/106 Display of layout of documents; Previewing
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/14 the marking being sensed by radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/347 Passive cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/388 using mutual authentication without cards, e.g. challenge-response
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/60 relating to illumination properties, e.g. using a reflectance or lighting model
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/80 Recognising image objects characterised by unique random patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/004 using digital security elements, e.g. information coded on a magnetic thread or strip
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/12 Visible light, infrared or ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/121 Apparatus characterised by sensor details
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/2033 Matching unique patterns, i.e. patterns that are unique to each individual paper
• 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 7/0813 Specific details related to card security
• 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 7/125 Offline card verification
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/608 Watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/805 Lightweight hardware, e.g. radio-frequency identification [RFID] or sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3278 using physically unclonable functions [PUF]

Abstract

Directional albedo of a particular article, such as an identity card, is measured and stored. When the article is later presented, it can be confirmed to be the same particular article by re-measuring the albedo function, and checking for correspondence against the earlier-stored data. The re-measuring can be performed through us of a handheld optical device, such as a camera-equipped cell phone. The albedo function can serve as random key data in a variety of cryptographic applications. The function can be changed during the life of the article. A variety of other features are also detailed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

capturing plural successive images of an object from different viewpoints using a camera-equipped device, said capturing occurring during relative movement between the device and the object; and

by reference to data thereby collected, making a determination concerning the object, based on 2D directional albedo data obtained by processing said plural successive images from different viewpoints,

wherein said determination is made independently of information about positioning of any illumination source relative to the object.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said object comprises an identity document.

3. The method of claim 1 that includes making a determination concerning identification of said object.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the relative movement comprises a wave or swoop movement.

5. The method of claim 1 that includes determining a geometrical position of the object relative to the camera for plural of said images.

6. The method of claim 5 that includes determining a viewing angle for plural of said images.

8. The method of claim 1 that includes determining a geometrical position of the object relative to the camera by reference to visible features of the object.

9. The method of claim 1 that includes processing plural of said images to determine 2D directional albedo information for plural regions on said object, and making said determination concerning the object using the 2D directional albedo information.

10. The method of claim 1 in which making a determination comprises performing a correlation operation between 2D directional albedo information obtained by processing said captured images, and previously-stored 2D directional albedo information.

7. A method comprising:

capturing plural successive images of an object from different viewpoints using a camera-equipped device, said capturing occurring during relative movement between the device and the object;

by reference to data thereby collected, making a determination concerning the object, based on 2D directional albedo data obtained by processing said plural successive images from different viewpoints; and

determining a geometrical position of the object relative to the camera by reference to a watermark signal steganographically encoded on the object.

11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein that, if executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to perform a method including:

capturing plural successive images of an object using a camera-equipped device, said images having different viewpoints; and

by reference to data thereby collected, making a determination concerning the object, based on 2D directional albedo data obtained by processing said plural successive images from different viewpoints,

wherein said determination is made independently of information about positioning of any illumination source relative to the object.

12. A portable device including a camera, a processor, and a memory, the memory storing instructions that configure the processor to:

capture plural successive images of an object using said device, said images having different viewpoints; and

by reference to data thereby collected, make a determination concerning the object, based on 2D directional albedo data obtained by processing said plural successive images from different viewpoints,

wherein said determination is made independently of information about positioning of any illumination source relative to the object.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein that, if executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to perform a method including:

capturing plural successive images of an object using a camera-equipped device, said images having different viewpoints; and

by reference to data thereby collected, making a determination concerning the object, based on 2D directional albedo data obtained by processing said plural successive images from different viewpoints; and

determining a geometrical position of the object relative to the camera by reference to a watermark signal steganographically encoded on the object.

14. A portable device including a camera, a processor, and a memory, the memory storing instructions that configure the processor to:

capture plural successive images of an object using said device, said images having different viewpoints; and

by reference to data thereby collected, make a determination concerning the object, based on 2D directional albedo data obtained by processing said plural successive images from different viewpoints; and

determine a geometrical position of the object relative to the camera by reference to a watermark signal steganographically encoded on the object.