EP0772929B1 - Verfahren und systeme zur erzeugung und authentifizierung unveränderbarer selbstüberprüfender artikel - Google Patents

Verfahren und systeme zur erzeugung und authentifizierung unveränderbarer selbstüberprüfender artikel Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0772929B1
EP0772929B1 EP95928140A EP95928140A EP0772929B1 EP 0772929 B1 EP0772929 B1 EP 0772929B1 EP 95928140 A EP95928140 A EP 95928140A EP 95928140 A EP95928140 A EP 95928140A EP 0772929 B1 EP0772929 B1 EP 0772929B1
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Prior art keywords
recipient
data
data set
specific
article
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0772929A1 (de
EP0772929A4 (de
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Dennis G. Priddy
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Siemens Energy and Automation Inc
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Siemens Energy and Automation Inc
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F7/00—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
    • G07F7/08—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • G07C9/00—Individual registration on entry or exit
    • G07C9/20—Individual registration on entry or exit involving the use of a pass
    • G07C9/22—Individual registration on entry or exit involving the use of a pass in combination with an identity check of the pass holder
    • G07C9/25—Individual registration on entry or exit involving the use of a pass in combination with an identity check of the pass holder using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F7/00—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
    • G07F7/08—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means
    • G07F7/12—Card verification

Definitions

  • the present invention relates in general to encoding methods and systems, and in particular to methods, systems and articles of manufacture for creating and authenticating self-verifying articles.
  • Authenticity of the endorsement is determined by comparing the signature appearing upon the check with a signature sample of the check writer on file with the bank. A reasonably good forgery of the endorsement might enable an unauthorized person to illegally cash the check.
  • identification issues often arise in the context of security.
  • common apartment and office building security systems require that anyone wishing to enter the building "sign in" in front of a security guard, and often, to present the guard with a previously issued personal identification document which authorizes access to the building.
  • the security guard is required to exercise his best personal judgment to determine that the identification document is authentic and that the person presenting it is the person identified on the identification document.
  • a security guard may be deceived by a person who is correctly identified on a forged or altered identification document.
  • private individuals are required to present to the police personal identification, such as a driver's license, at the scene of a traffic accident or when stopped for a traffic violation.
  • personal identification documents are required for admittance to voting polls, and when crossing international boundaries and/or importing or exporting goods.
  • an article shall be defined as any item having a surface, which may include a substrate, to which data may be fixed.
  • the term fixed shall mean one or more of the following, but is not limited to, attached, imprinted, adhered, etched, scratched, painted, printed, peened, embedded, machined, drilled, stamped, or otherwise imaged.
  • biometric information refers to a characteristic personal to an individual, such as a signature, a finger print or a picture, for example.
  • a sample of biometric information to be used is obtained from the person at an "encodation" site where the memory device is programmed under secure conditions.
  • the sample is formed into a code by conventional encoding techniques.
  • the sample may be obtained by having the person place a hand, eye, face or other unique physical feature upon a scanning input device.
  • the scanned information is then encoded to form a code which is subsequently stored to an alterable, portable memory device (i.e., magnetic strips, electronic or optical memory cards, floppy disks, etc.).
  • the portable memory device is issued to the person.
  • the person presents the portable memory device at a "remote access/decodation" site where identification verification is to occur, and the information contained within the portable memory device is read from memory.
  • Another sample of biometric information is then obtained by the person again placing a particular physical feature upon the input scanning device.
  • the read code and the just sampled biometric information are compared by a machine to determine authenticity.
  • the read code may be decoded, e.g., using a process that reverses the encodation performed previously, or the sample information encoded, e.g., using the same encoding process used at the encryption site, to make the comparison. Because this method requires a processing system for performing data encoding and/or decoding, complex opto-electric hardware at every encodation and remote access site, and a memory device for each person, this solution is exceedingly expensive.
  • an identification card and method and apparatus for producing and authenticating such an identification card.
  • Identity, Status or characteristics are scanned to produce a digital signal which is compressed, encrypted, and coded as a two dimensional barcode or as some other appropriate form of coding, which is incorporated into one portion of the identification card.
  • the image is also printed or otherwise embodied onto another portion of the identification card.
  • a text message maybe appended to the signal before it is encrypted and also printed as plain text on the identification card.
  • the signal representing the image is encrypted using a public key encryption system and the key is downloaded from a center. This key maybe changed from time to time to increase security.
  • To facilitate authentication the corresponding decryption key is encrypted with another key and incorporated on the card.
  • To validate the card the coded message is scanned, decoded, decrypted, expanded and displayed. The card may then be authenticated by comparison of the displayed representation of the image and the displayed text message with the image and text message printed on the card.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide methods and systems for inexpensively, accurately and efficiently producing unalterable self-verifying personal and commercial articles.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide methods and systems for accurately, efficiently and inexpensively authenticating presented self-verifying articles.
  • a still further object of the present invention is to provide methods and systems for verifying the authenticity of self-verifying articles presented at remote access sites which do not require expensive verification equipment, such as physical-trait-scanning input devices, or the inconvenience of a communication channel to a central location.
  • the invention is directed to a self-verifying article which contains an encoded machine-readable data set which includes recipient-specific biometric data.
  • Self-verifying articles include, for example, commercial instruments (i.e., notes, drafts, checks, bearer paper, etc.), transaction cards (i.e., ATM cards, calling cards, credit cards, etc.), personal identification documents (i.e., driver's licenses, government benefit cards, passports, personal identification papers, etc.) and labels affixed to package surfaces, including for example identification of the package owner or sender, which may be used for verifying imported goods by customs agents.
  • a subset of, or the whole of, the biometric data set may be, for example, a graphic image of a personal characteristic considered unique to a particular individual, such as, for example, a fingerprint, a retinal scan, a photo, a signature, etc., or some combination of the foregoing, is encoded to generate a machine readable data set.
  • This article is preferably a low cost article, of paper or plastic, but may be any substrate, and the machine-readable data set is preferably fixed upon or in the article.
  • the article also may, but need not, contain a human readable version of the biometric data set.
  • the encoded machine readable data set is fixed upon the article in a manner which is neither comprehensible, nor detectable, by the human-eye, unless assisted by a suitably arranged reading device.
  • a check, or any other article for that matter has fixed thereon a machine readable data set including the authorized user's signature.
  • a would be forger would not have a sample of an authorized signature to copy.
  • a comparison of the user's signature with the decoded signature permits verification at the site of use.
  • a human-readable textual data set also appears on the article, optionally with selected subsets of the textual data set also being encoded and concatenated, interleaved, etc. with the encoded biometric data set.
  • a textual data set comprises all data which is not biometric data.
  • FIG. 1A illustrates a functional diagram of a system for producing a self-verifying article in accordance with the present invention.
  • the system includes an input data set 100, which includes a biometric data set 101 and an optional textual data set 102, an article 10, a processing system 103 and a self verifying article 104.
  • data set 100 is comprised of recipient specific data.
  • Biometric data set 101 may include one or more physical traits personal to the potential article recipient (i.e., photo, retinal scan, finger print, signature, etc.), while textual data set 102, which is optionally included in input data set 100, may include one or more textual attributes (i.e., name, address, height/weight, eye color, etc.).
  • Processing system 103 is operable to produce self verifying article 104 by generating a unique machine-readable data set for fixing upon article 10.
  • Processing system 103 includes input means, processing means, output means and article producing means.
  • the input means are for receiving input data set 100 and article 10.
  • the processing means are for validating input data set 100, both syntactically and semantically, and encoding selected subsets of biometric data set 101, and, optionally, selected portions of textual data set 102 (optionally, the data to be encoded may first be encrypted, if desired).
  • the output means are for transmitting a validated and encoded data set, along with the selected subsets of biometric data set 101, and optionally with the textual data set 102, to the article producing means.
  • the article producing means are for fixing the validated and encoded data set, and for optionally fixing the selected subsets of biometric data set 101 and optionally textual data set 102, to article 10, thereby producing self-verifying article 104.
  • processing system 103 ensures data integrity by encoding all selected biometric and textual data subsets into a compact unalterable machine-readable data set, and subsequently, configuring the machine-readable data set as one or more matrices.
  • the machine-readable data set may be divided into two or more individual segments, which segments may then be incorporated into two or more two dimensional machine-readable matrices, which may or may not appear visually similar in size.
  • the multiple matrices though physically separate, may contain check values and features which assure the detection of any attempted alteration of either the human-readable text and/or the machine-readable matrices.
  • the encoded biometric data and textual data can be concatenated into one data string, divided by approximately two, and then formed into two matrices of approximately equal size.
  • the biometric data and text data may be interleaved, for example, in alternating bits, bytes, group of bytes, etc. to form a data string which is then divided into the two matrices.
  • each matrix is provided with a checksum for verifying the data integrity of each matrix independently.
  • the matrices may have an interdependent checksum that is used to verify the data integrity of both matrices collectively. As a result of these checksums, if one matrix is altered, or if both matrices are altered, invalid data will be read.
  • interleaving biometric data and textual data according to a predetermined routine enhances the ability to detect altered matrices.
  • biometric data set 101 could be formed as one matrix and textual data set 102 could be formed as a second matrix.
  • Enhanced data security is obtained and maintained by verifying the machine-readable data set for acceptability against predetermined criteria which may include searching a data base (e.g., an organized, comprehensive collection of data stored for use by processing system(s)) of previously issued articles to determine uniqueness.
  • input data set 100 may be received at a remote access encodation site not equipped with the verification and/or encodation algorithm(s), in which case, a data signal representation or both the recipient-specific biometric data and the related textual data may be transmitted to a secure central host (shown in a similar context in FIG. 2A), the central host then performs the above mentioned verification.
  • the transmission may be by wired or non-wired communication.
  • the recipient-specific biometric data is encoded, which preferably includes utilization of compression algorithms, combining the biometric data subsets, and optionally, the textual data subsets, into one or more machine-readable matrices. If input data set 100 was received at a remote access encodation site not equipped with the encodation algorithm(s), the resulting encoded binary string is transmitted as previously discussed to the remote access encodation site. A standard article issuance device (shown in FIG. 1B) then fixes the machine-readable data set onto one or more self-verifying articles.
  • a record of the event is automatically entered into the data base, which, if input data set 100 is received at a remote access encodation site, may be located at the central host. Entry of the record insures that duplicate articles are not inadvertently issued at a later date. Note that the number of articles issued is directly related to the intended use of the articles.
  • Apps of this aspect of the invention include issuing only a single driver's license having a unique encoded photo, or issuing multiple articles, such as checks, traveler's checks, bank account withdrawal slips, etc. having the same encrypted signatures.
  • FIG. 1B illustrates an isometric view of processing system 103.
  • Processing system 103 includes a personal computer ("PC") 105 coupled with a article issuance device 114.
  • PC 105 is comprised of a hardware casing 106 (shown as having a cut away view), a monitor 109. a keyboard 110 and optionally a mouse 113.
  • Hardware casing 106 includes both a floppy disk drive 107 and a hard disk drive 108.
  • Floppy disk drive 107 is operable to receive, read and write to external disks, while hard disk drive 108 is operable to provide fast access data storage and retrieval.
  • PC 105 may be equipped with any suitably arranged structure for receiving and transmitting data, including, for example, tape and compact disc drives, and serial and parallel data ports.
  • CPU central processing unit
  • RAM random access memory
  • PC 105 is shown having a single CPU 111, PC 105 may be equipped with a plurality CPUs 111 operable to cooperatively carry out the principles of the present invention.
  • Article generating device 114 is operable to receive one or more output data sets from PC 105, and fix the output data sets to the article's surface.
  • PC 105 and article generating device 114 have been utilized for illustrating one implementation of processing system 103, the invention may alternately be implemented within any processing system having at least one processing unit, including, for example, sophisticated calculators and hand held, mini, main frame and super computers, including RISC and parallel processing architectures, as well as within network combinations of the foregoing, and may utilize any suitably arranged article producing means.
  • FIG. 1C illustrates a conceptual block diagram of one of any number of sub-processing systems which may be utilized in conjunction with FIGS. 1A and 1B.
  • the sub-processing system includes a single processing unit, such as CPU 111, coupled via data bus 118 with a memory storage device, such as RAM 112.
  • Memory storage device 112 is operable to store one or more instructions which processing unit 111 is operable to retrieve, interpret and execute.
  • Processing unit 111 includes a control unit 115, an arithmetic logic unit (“ALU") 116, and a local memory storage device 117, such as, for example, stackable cache or a plurality of registers.
  • Control unit 115 is operable to fetch instructions from memory storage device 112.
  • ALU 116 is operable to perform a plurality of operations, including addition and Boolean AND needed to carry out instructions.
  • Local memory storage device 117 is operable to provide high speed storage used for storing temporary results and control information.
  • FIG. 2A illustrates a functional block diagram of a system for verifying the authenticity of a received self-verifying article in accordance with the present invention.
  • the system includes self-verifying article 104, a remote access site processing system 200, optionally coupled with a central host processing system 103 (as indicated by the broken line), and an authenticity message displaying means 201, such as a display device, a printer, or other suitably arranged indicating device.
  • Self-verifying article 104 includes at least one encoded data set which includes a first data subset that is an encoded copy of a portion, or the whole, of a biometric data set.
  • Self-verifying article 104 also includes both a text data set and a biometric data set.
  • Remote access site processing system 200 includes input means, processing means and output means.
  • the input means are for receiving self-verifying article 104.
  • the processing means are for verifying the authenticity of self-verifying article 104, which may include communications between remote access site processing system 200 and central host processing system 103.
  • the output means are for transmitting an authenticity message produced by the processing means to display means 201.
  • the processing means are operable to scan self-verifying article 104 to locate and decode the encoded first data set and to compare the decoded first data set with a second data set, which is either obtained from the bearer of the article or is fixed to self-verifying article 104, and to generate the output signal indicating authenticity of article 104.
  • the processing means either selectively bypasses or is not operable to perform the comparison of the decoded first data set and the second data set. Instead, the processing means generates an output signal representative of the decoded first data set, e.g., a graphic image display of the portion of the biometric data set, and the second data set to a display device for manual comparison and verification by a processing system operator.
  • the processing system operator may manually compare the decoded first data set, and optionally the second data set (if one is fixed to the article), with the article bearer or a biometric data set obtained from the bearer, e.g., the bearer's signature or appearance, or from a database.
  • the illustrated system for verifying the authenticity of self-verifying article 104 may utilize a variety of devices including, for example, portable terminals, fixed station readers, and flat bed scanners, each of which may directly incorporate decoder capability or have decoder capability available at a base/host station, such as processing system 103, via wired or radio frequency, short wave, cellular, infrared or other form of non-wired communication.
  • Remote access site processing system 200 and/or central host processing system 103 may be configured with keyboards and display screens of sufficient resolution to accurately display the encoded biometric image and/or textual data, and may incorporate imaging apparatus necessary to convert machine-readable data sets into binary machine language bits in preparation for decoding.
  • the imaging apparatus may be based on any of a number of technologies, including CCD, CMOS, and NMOS or other forms of light sensitive sensors, which sensors may be structured in the form of a two dimensional area or one-dimensional linear arrays, or a single beam laser reading for scanning a two-dimensional image in a raster pattern.
  • imaging apparatus is a linear array scanner that is vertically aligned with a solid border of an imprinted machine readable code 205, and when two or more matrices are used, these matrices are arrayed in parallel orientation so that the two symbols can be passed by the CCD scanner using a conventional card swipe action as in conventional magnetic strip reading. The matrices are then read and a video image of each matrix is stored in memory for processing. Imaging may also be achieved through the use of lasers, laser-diodes, infrared or other such binary imaging technologies which devices may also be structured in the form of two-dimensional area or one-dimensional linear arrays.
  • readers may include the ability to automatically verify the images and information encoded within the machine-readable matrix to the human recognizable version on the same article. In one embodiment, this comparison may be accomplished internal to remote access site processing system 200's memory thereby precluding the need for key pads and/or high resolution display screens on the terminals. Alternately, as introduced, operators may visually compare the information displayed on the terminal screen to the human readable information now present on the article and/or to the article bearer.
  • FIG. 2B illustrates an isometric view of a hand held computer which may be used as remote access site processing system 200.
  • Hand held computer 200 includes a keypad 202, a display screen 203 and an input port 204.
  • Keypad 202 includes a systematic arrangement of keys for manually receiving input data from a user.
  • Display screen 203 is for displaying an authenticity message, and/or biometric and/or textual data.
  • Input port 204 is for receiving self-verifying article 104, here illustrated as a driver's license, which in the illustrated embodiment includes encrypted machine-readable data sets 205 a;b configured as two optically readable binary matrices.
  • Remote access site processing system 200 includes at least one processing unit and one memory storage device, such as the subprocessing system illustrated in FIG. 1C.
  • the processing unit includes a microprocessor having associated memory (non-volatile storage for containing the program instruction set to identify and decode the matrices, and volatile memory for a data processing work area), a video memory for storing an image of the matrices to be decoded, and associated signal conditioning circuits, which are mounted on a single printed circuit board.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a preferred single machine-readable binary coded matrix, generally indicated as a matrix 205.
  • Matrix 205 is a sample of the Data Matrix symbology developed by International Data Matrix, Inc., Clearwater, Florida, the assignee of this invention.
  • Matrix 205 has a perimeter 300 formed by intersecting sides 301 formed of solid lines and intersecting perimeter sides 302 formed of dark perimeter squares 303 and light perimeter squares 304 in an alternating pattern.
  • Data is stored within perimeter 301 of matrix 204 by converting each character to be stored to a visual binary code represented by dark and light squares corresponding to ones and zeros of encoded binary information.
  • FIG. 4A illustrates a flow diagram for producing an unalterable self-verifying article in accordance with the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1A.
  • the recipient-specific data set which is comprised of at least one data subset, is received by processing system 103 (input block 401).
  • Processing system 103 preferably performs a graphic image compression of a first data subset.
  • Image compression by a factor of approximately 50:1 or better is preferred to obtain a digital representation of the acquired data.
  • Such compressed data is capable of reproducing on a conventional graphic display screen the recipient specific image without any significant degradation of visual quality (block 402).
  • the image compression may be by any standard routine e.g., Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT), LZW (Lempcl-Ziv), fractal, or others to reduce the amount of bits required to encode the first data subset.
  • DCT Discrete Cosine Transform
  • LZW Lempcl-Ziv
  • fractal or others to reduce the amount of bits required to encode the first data subset.
  • a compression ratio of 50:1 is deemed suitable, but other ratios may be used.
  • a graphic image enhancement routine may be performed on the first data subset, preferably before the data compression step, in order to enhance the image contrast, sharpen and smooth edges and reduce the effect of shadows, particularly for imaging a photograph of the recipient.
  • Suitable image enhancement routines are known, and described R. Gonzalez et al., Digital Image Processing, published by Addison-Wesley Publishing Co. (Reading MA) 1987.
  • Processing system 103 selectively encodes the compressed first data set, thereby generating a machine readable data set (processing block 403). This selectively encoding step is more fully discussed in connection with the detail description of FIG. 4B.
  • Processing system 103 is further operable to configure the machine-readable data set as an optically readable binary code forming one or more matrices (processing block 404).
  • Processing system 103 fixes the machine-readable data set and the first recipient-specific data subset onto a surface of an article, thereby producing self-verifying article 104 (processing block 405).
  • the matrix is fixed on the article using a conventional printing process, e.g., thermal, thermal transfer, ink-jet, bubble-jet, laser jet, dot matrix printing, etc.
  • the matrix or matrices may be fixed sub-surface, e.g., by laminating a top surface or by placing the matrix over the printed layer of a multilayer article.
  • the machine-readable data set is imprinted over an already printed area of the article, such as the photograph on a driver's license for example.
  • the matrix is formed by introducing bubbles or voids into the article, or drilling or punching holes into or through the article, according to the matrix pattern, such that the code is machine readable by a technique capable of detecting the absence or presence of material, or the relative density of material, or the depth of a bubble, void, hole or the like in the article, e.g., ultrasonically, or by a light measuring system or other suitable imaging system having a bounceback signal capable of distinguishing the code.
  • FIG. 4B illustrates a more detailed flow diagram of processing block 402 illustrated in FIG. 4A.
  • START block 406 Upon entering START block 406, the selective encodation of the first data set begins.
  • Processing system 103 compares the first data set with system control values to determine if the first data set is within acceptable tolerances (processing block 407).
  • the step of comparing may include, for example, syntactic and/or semantic analysis. If it is determined that the first data set is invalid as received ("N" branch of decisional block 408), then processing system 103 aborts self-verifying article production (termination block 409). Alternatively, if it is determined that the first data set is valid as received ("Y" branch of decisional block 408), then processing system 103 searches a data base of previously issued articles to determine if the issued article is unique (processing block 410), uniqueness being determined on a subjective basis as a function of the type of article being produced.
  • processing system 103 may be internal or external to processing system 103, and that in either system, processing system 103 may search the data base directly, or indirectly.
  • the data base may be stored remotely and controlled by another processing system with which processing system 103 communicates. If it is determined that the first data set is not unique as received ("N" branch of decisional block 411), then processing system 103 aborts self verifying article production (termination block 412).
  • processing system 103 selectively inserts one or more subsets of the received recipient-specific data set as al least one record into the data base (processing block 413). Processing system 103 then encodes the first data set (processing block 414), and in one embodiment adds error correction bits to the encoded first data set (processing block 415).
  • the selective encodation of only the first data set as embodied within FIGS. 4A and 4B was for illustrative purposes only, and it is understood that among the various aspects and features of the present invention is the ability to selectively encode a plurality of compressed recipient-specific data subsets, and to subsequently concatenate, interleave, etc. the encoded subsets, thereby forming a single machine-readable data set.
  • processing system 103 is operable to configure the machine-readable data set into one or more optically readable matrices wherein individual encoded data subsets may span two or more matrices.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram for verifying the authenticity of a received self-verifying article in accordance with the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2A.
  • the self-verifying article which in this embodiment includes a plurality of data sets wherein a first data set is an encoded copy of a second data set, is received by a remote access site processing system 200 (input block 501).
  • Remote access site processing system 200 then scans the received self-verifying article to locate the encoded first data set (processing block 502).
  • Remote access site processing system 200 decodes the encoded first data set (processing block 503), and compares the decoded first data set with the second data set to determine the authenticity ot the received self-verifying article (processing block 504).
  • the comparison step is accomplished through communications between remote access site processing system 200 and processing system 103, wherein processing system 103 maintains a data base of recipient-specific data relating to previously issued self-verifying articles. Communications between remote access site processing system 200 and processing system 103 may be accomplished via wired or nonwired communication means. In an alternate embodiment, at least the decoded first data set, and optionally the second data set, are transmitted to an output display device for manual comparison by a system operator. If it is determined that the decoded first data set is not authentic ("N" branch of decisional block 505), then remote access site processing system 200 displays an authenticity message 201 indicating that the self-verifying article is invalid (output block 506). Alternatively, if it is determined that the decoded first data set is authentic ("Y" branch of decisional block 505), then remote access site processing system 200 displays an authenticity message 201 indicating that the self-verifying article is valid (output block 507).
  • remote access site processing system 200 prior to decoding the encoded first data set, converts the received self-verifying article into a digital bit-map image, and separates the digital bit-map image into a plurality of regions, wherein a first region includes the encoded first data set and a second region includes the second data set.
  • both the first and second regions may include a plurality of biometric and/or textual data subsets which remote site processing system 200 is further operable to convert into common data formats for processing.
  • the self verifying article contains two matrices which have a first data set of biometric data and a second data set of textual data.
  • the article also may contain a magnetic stripe for containing alterable data, which may be programmed by scanning the machine readable matrices, decoding certain data contained therein and, decoding that data (with or without other data), onto the magnetic stripe. This makes the self verifying article useful in applications which require reading a magnetic stripe.
  • a further use of the invention is to prevent software piracy.
  • Software is a special form of program which has been recorded to a storage medium, such as one of the above identified storage mediums.
  • Software enables programs to be freely transferred or copied from one storage medium to another, which enables unlicensed users to obtain illegal copies of the software.
  • the purchaser of a processing system provides a hardware vendor with industry standardized personal data, which may include biometric data, which is, optionally encrypted, and stored internal to the processing system.
  • the processing system purchaser buys software
  • the purchaser is again required to provide such industry standardized personal data, which is compressed, optionally encrypted, encoded into a machine-readable data set, preferably as one or more binary coded matrices, and fixed to the surface of a portable storage medium, such as a floppy or compact disk.
  • the software is loaded onto the processing system, the matrices are scanned, decoded and verified in accordance with the principles of the present invention, compared with the previously stored data to ensure a commonality of ownership, thereby limiting software piracy. If common ownership is found, then the software is loaded onto the processing system along with the decoded industry standardized personal data.
  • the new owner in order to load his software, will have to have the industry standardized personal data redefined, which could suspend the new owner's use of the existing software or automatically delete the existing software.
  • a "transfer" of ownership routine might be available to reactivate the suspended use of the existing software if ownership of the particular software was legally transferred.

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Claims (28)

  1. Verfahren zur Erzeugung eines Empfänger-spezifischen selbstüberprüfenden Artikels, wobei das Verfahren die Schritte umfasst: Empfangen eines Empfänger-spezifischen biometrischen Datensatzes, wobei der Empfänger-spezifische Datensatz einen oder mehrere Empfänger-spezifische Unter-Datensätze umfasst; Kodierung eines ersten Empfänger-spezifischen biometrischen Unter-Datensatzes zur Erzeugung eines Maschinen-lesbaren Datensatzes; Konfigurieren des Maschinen-lesbaren Datensatzes in einen optisch lesbaren Binärcode in Form mindestens einer Matrix (205); und Anbringen des Maschinen-lesbaren Datensatzes an einem Artikel, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der erwähnte Vergleichsschritt während der Feststellung der Annahmefähigkeit weiterhin den folgenden Schritt einschließt: Durchsuchen einer Datenbasis von früher erzeugten unabänderbaren Artikeln, um festzustellen ob der Empfänger-spezifische biometrische Datensatz einzigartig ist, wobei die Datenbasis von früher erzeugten Artikeln eine oder mehrere Protokolle umfasst; bei Feststellung der Nicht-Einzigartigkeit Verwerfen der Erzeugung das einzigartigen Empfänger-spezifischen Artikels; und bei Feststellung der Einzigartigkeit Einfügen des Empfänger-spezifischen biometrischen Datensatzes in mindestens eines der Protokolle innerhalb der Datenbasis von früher erzeugten unabänderbaren Artikeln.
  2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei der Kodierungsschritt weiterhin umfasst den Schritt: Vergleich mindestens eines Teils des ersten Empfänger-spezifischen biometrischen Unter-Datensatzes mit einem Kontrollwert, um festzustellen, ob der ersten Empfänger-spezifische Unter-Datensatz innerhalb akzeptierbarer Toleranzen des Kontrollwertes ist.
  3. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei dem Konfigurationsschritt vorausgeht der Schritt: selektive Kodierung eines zweiten Empfänger-Unterdatensatzes.
  4. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei dem Konfigurationsschritt vorausgeht der Schritt: selektive Kodierung eines zweiten Empfänger-spezifische Unterdatensatzes; und Zusammenführen des verschlüsselten zweiten Empfänger-spezifischen Unter-Datensatzes mit dem verschlüsselten ersten Empfänger-spezifischen Unter-Datensatzes, wodurch der Maschinen-lesbare Datensatz gebildet wird.
  5. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Anbringungsschritt den Schritt des Ätzens der Matrix (205) in den Artikel einschließt.
  6. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Anbringungsschritt den Schritt des Einkerbens der Matrix (205) in den Artikel einschließt.
  7. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Kodierungsschritt weiterhin die Verschlüsselung des ersten Empfänger-spezifischen biometrischen Unter-Datensatzes umfasst.
  8. Verfahren nach Anspruch 7 soweit abhängig von Anspruch 4 oder 5, wobei der Zusammenführungsschritt umfasst den Schritt: Durchschießen des kodierten zweiten Empfänger-spezifischen Unter-Datensatzes mit dem kodierten ersten Empfänger-spezifischen biometrischen Unter-Datensatzes.
  9. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche soweit abhängig von Anspruch 3 oder 4, wobei der zweite Empfänger-spezifische Unter-Datensatz textliche Daten (102) umfasst.
  10. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei der Kodierungsschritt einschließt den Schritt: Konfigurieren des Maschinen-lesbaren Datensatzes in einen optisch lesbaren, zwei Matrizen bildenden Binärcode.
  11. Verfahren zur Verifizierung die Authentizität eines entgegengenommenen Empfänger-spezifischen selbstverifizierenden Artikels, wobei der Empfänger-spezifische selbstverifizierende Artikel eine Vielzahl von Datensätzen einschließlich einen ersten biometrischen Datensatz und einen zweiten biometrischen Datensatz umfasst, wobei der erste Datensatz eine kodierte Kopie des zweiten Datensatzes ist, umfassend folgende Schritte: Scannen des entgegengenommenen Empfänger-spezifischen Artikels zur Ortung des kodierten ersten biometrischen Datensatzes; Dekodieren des kodierten ersten biometrischen Datensatzes; und Vergleichen des dekodierten ersten biometrischen Datensatzes mit dem zweiten biometrischen Datensatz um die Authentizität des entgegengenommenen Empfänger-spezifischen Identifizierungs-Artikels festzustellen, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Vielzahl von Datensätzen textliche Daten umfasst, der erste biometrische Datensatz mit einer kodierten Kopie des textlichen Datensatzes entsprechend einer vorbestimmten Routine durchschossen ist und als eine Matrix von optisch Maschinen-lesbaren binären Daten konfiguriert ist, wobei die Matrix mit einer Prüf-Summe versehen ist, und wobei das Verfahren den Schritt der Feststellung umfasst, ob die Matrix geändert wurde, indem die Matrix im Lichte der Prüf-Summe gelesen wird und Prüfen, ob ungültige Daten gelesen werden.
  12. Verfahren nach Anspruch 11, wobei der Scan-Schritt weiterhin umfasst den Schritt: Umwandlung der Datensatze in ein digitales Bit-Map-Bild; und Aufteilung des Bit-Map-Bildes in eine Vielzahl von Regionen, wobei eine erste Region den ersten kodierten Datensatz umfasst und eine zweite Region den zweiten Datensatz umfasst.
  13. Verfahren nach Anspruch 12, wobei die erste Region einen kodierten textlichen Unter-Datensatz (102) umfasst und der Dekodierschritt weiterhin umfasst den Schritt: Umwandlung des dekodierten textlichen Unter-Datensatzes (102) der ersten Region und eines textlichen Unterdatensatzes der zweiten Region in ein erstes Datenformat.
  14. Verfahren nach Anspruch 12, wobei die erste Region einen kodierten biometrischen Unter-Datensatz (101) umfasst und der Dekodierschritt weiterhin umfasst den Schritt: Umwandlung des dekodierten biometrischen Unter-Datensatzes (101) der ersten Region und eines zweiten biometrischen Unter-Datensatzes (101) in ein erstes Datenformat.
  15. Verfahren nach Anspruch 11, wobei der Vergleichsschritt weiterhin umfasst den Schritt: Übermittlung des ersten Datensatzes und des zweiten Datensatzes zu einem Verarbeitungssystem zur Bestimmung der Authentizität.
  16. Verarbeitungssystem zur Erzeugung eines einzigartigen Maschinen-lesbaren Datensatzes zur Anbringung an einem selbst authentifizierendem Empfänger-spezifischen Artikel, wobei das Verarbeitungssystem umfasst: eine Eingabe-Pforte bedienbar zur Aufnahme eines Empfänger-spezifischen biometrischen Datensatzes, wobei der Empfänger-spezifische biometrische Datensatz mindestens einen Empfänger-spezifischen biometrischen Unter-Datensatz umfasst; eine Speichereinheit bedienbar zur Speicherung einer Vielzahl von Verarbeitungssystem-Anweisungen; eine Verarbeitungseinheit zur Erzeugung des Maschinen-lesbaren Datensatzes zur Einprägung auf einem selbst authentifizierenden Empfänger-spezifischen Artikel durch Aufrufen und Ausführung mindestens einer der Anweisungen des Verarbeitungssystems von der Speichereinheit, wobei die Verarbeitungseinheit bedienbar ist zur Kodierung eines ersten Empfänger-spezifischen biometrischen Unter-Datensatzes; und eine Ausgabe-Pforte zur Übermittelung des kodierten ersten Empfänger-spezifischen biometrischen Unter-Datensatzes als Maschinen-lesbarer Datensatz; wobei die Verarbeitungseinheit weiterhin bedienbar ist zur Konfiguration des kodierten ersten Empfänger-spezifischen biometrischen Unter-Datensatzes in einen optisch lesbaren Binärcode in Form mindestens einer Matrix (205), dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das System weiterhin umfasst: Mittel zur Durchsuchung einer Datenbasis von früher erzeugten selbst authentifizierenden Artikeln, um festzustellen, ob der Empfänger-spezifische Datensatz einzigartig ist, wobei die Datenbasis von früher erzeugten selbst authentifizierenden Artikeln ein oder mehrere Protokolle umfasst; und Mittel zur Einfügung des Empfänger-spezifischen Datensatzes in mindestens eines der Protokolle innerhalb der Datenbasis von früher erzeugten selbst authentifizierenden Artikeln bei Feststellung der Einzigartigkeit.
  17. Verarbeitungssystem nach Anspruch 16, wobei die Verarbeitungseinheit ferner bedienbar ist, um: einen zweiten Empfänger-spezifischen Unter-Datensatz selektiv zu kodieren; und den zweiten Empfänger-spezifischen Unter-Datensatz mit dem kodierten ersten Empfänger-spezifischen Unter-Datensatz zu verbinden, wobei der Maschinen-lesbare Datensatz gebildet wird.
  18. Verarbeitungssystem nach Anspruch 17, wobei die Verarbeitungseinheit ferner bedienbar ist, um den Maschinen-lesbaren Datensatz in einen optisch lesbaren, zwei Matrizen bildenden Binärcode zu konfigurieren.
  19. Verarbeitungssystem nach Anspruch 16, weiterhin umfassend:
    Mittel zum Vergleichen das ersten Empfänger-spezifischen Unter-Datensatzes mit einem oder mehreren Kontrollwerten, um festzustellen, ob der erste Empfänger-spezifische Unter-Datensatz gültig ist.
  20. Verarbeitungssystem nach Anspruch 16, weiterhin umfassend:
    eine Vorrichtung zur Erzeugung des Artikels, die mit der Ausgabe-Pforte verbunden ist, um den Maschinen-lesbaren Datensatz auf einem selbst authentifizierenden Empfänger-spezifischen Artikel zu fixieren.
  21. Verarbeitungssystem nach Anspruch 20, wobei die Vorrichtung zur Erzeugung des Artikels weiterhin Mittel umfasst, um mindestens einen Teil des Empfänger-spezifischen Datensatzes auf dem selbst authentifizierenden Artikel zu fixieren.
  22. Verarbeitungssystem zur Verifizierung der Authentizität eines selbst verifizierenden Artikels (104), umfassend: eine Eingabe-Pforte bedienbar um einen biometrischen Datensatz, umfassend erste und zweite Unter-Datensätze, zu empfangen, wobei der erste Unter-Datensatz eine kodierte Version eines zweiten Unter-Datensatzes ist, wobei die Eingabe-Pforte von einer Verarbeitungseinheit gesteuerte Mittel enthält, um die Oberfläche des selbst verifizierenden Artikels (104) selektiv zu scannen; eine Speichereinheit bedienbar, um eine Vielzahl von Anweisungen an das Verarbeitungssystem zu speichern; die Verarbeitungseinheit zur Verifizierung der Authentizität des selbst verifizierenden Artikels (104) durch Rückgriff auf und Ausführung mindestens einer der Anweisungen an die Verarbeitungseinheit aus der Speichereinheit, wobei die Verarbeitungseinheit bedienbar ist, um den kodierten ersten Unter-Datensatz zu dekodieren, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Eingabe-Pforte bedienbar ist, um textliche Daten zu empfangen, wobei der erste biometrische Datensatz mit einer kodierten Kopie der textlichen Daten durchschossen ist und als eine Matrix von optisch Maschinen-lesbaren binären Daten konfiguriert ist, die Matrix eine Prüfsumme aufweist und wobei das System bedienbar ist um festzustellen, ob die Matrix abgeändert wurde, indem die Matrix im Lichte der Prüfsumme gelesen wird und geprüft wird, ob ungültige Daten gelesen werden.
  23. Verarbeitungssystem nach Anspruch 22, weiterhin enthaltend Mittel zum Vergleichen des dekodierten ersten Unter-Datensatzes mit dem zweiten Unter- Datensatz.
  24. Verarbeitungseinheit nach Anspruch 23, weiterhin Mittel zur Erzeugung eines Ausgangssignals, das die Authentizität des selbst verifizierenden Artikels (104) anzeigt, aufweisend.
  25. Verarbeitungssystem nach Anspruch 22, wobei die Verarbeitungseinheit weiterhin bedienbar ist um: den erhaltenen Datensatz in ein digitales Bit-Map-Bild umzuwandeln; und das digitale Bit-Map-Bild in eine Vielzahl von Regionen selektiv zu unterteilen, wobei eine erste Region den kodierten ersten Unter-Datensatz umfasst und eine zweite Region den zweiten Unter-Datensatz umfasst.
  26. Verarbeitungssystem nach Anspruch 25, wobei die erste Region und die zweite Region jeweils einen biometrischen Unter-Datensatz (101) einschließen und die Verarbeitungseinheit ferner bedienbar ist, um den biometrischen Unter-Datensatz (101) der ersten Region und den biometrischen Unter-Datensatz (101) der zweiten Region in ein erstes Datenformat zu konvertieren.
  27. Verarbeitungssystem nach Anspruch 24, wobei die erste Region und die zweite Region jeweils textliche Unter-Datensätze (102) umfassen und die Verarbeitungseinheit ferner bedienbar ist, um den ersten textlichen Unter-Datensatz der ersten Region und den zweiten textlichen zweiten Unter-Datensatz der zweiten Region in ein erstes Datenformat umzuwandeln.
  28. Verarbeitungssystem nach Anspruch 22, weiterhin Mittel zur Darstellung des dekodierten ersten Unter-Datensatzes aufweisend.
EP95928140A 1994-07-26 1995-07-26 Verfahren und systeme zur erzeugung und authentifizierung unveränderbarer selbstüberprüfender artikel Expired - Lifetime EP0772929B1 (de)

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US28078594A 1994-07-26 1994-07-26
PCT/US1995/009397 WO1996003821A1 (en) 1994-07-26 1995-07-26 Methods and systems for creating and authenticating unalterable self-verifying articles
US280785 1999-03-29

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FI117077B (fi) * 1998-10-14 2006-05-31 Sonera Smarttrust Oy Menetelmä ja järjestelmä turvamerkinnän käyttämiseksi
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WO1996003821A1 (en) 1996-02-08
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CA2195681A1 (en) 1996-02-08
EP0772929A1 (de) 1997-05-14
CN1153402C (zh) 2004-06-09
ATE338988T1 (de) 2006-09-15
CN1164306A (zh) 1997-11-05
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DE69535212D1 (de) 2006-10-19
EP0772929A4 (de) 1998-12-02
JP2006313534A (ja) 2006-11-16

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