Document processing methods

• US 8,983,117 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2013
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoads, Geoffrey B., Rodriguez, Tony F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Akhavannik, Hadi
• Application Number:
  US13/854,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20130290379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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. In a method of compiling a database useful by an issuer of identity credentials, the method including storing—

for each of plural issued credentials—

a name of a credentialed person, and an image of such person, an improvement that includes also storing directional albedo information unique to said issued credential.

2. A method comprising the acts:

capturing image data from an identification document; and

by reference to directional albedo information previously known about said document, characterizing a position of said document in at least three dimensions, said characterizing act being performed by a hardware processor configured to perform such act.

3. The method of claim 2 that includes, by reference to steganographically encoded calibration data conveyed by said document, characterizing a position of said document in at least three dimensions.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said dimensions comprise at least tip, tilt, and rotation angles.

5. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing instructions for configuring a processor programmed thereby to perform acts including:

receiving image data corresponding to an identification document; and

by reference to directional albedo information previously known about said document, characterizing a position of said document in at least three dimensions.