FR2534712A1 - Method of certification of information placed on a medium, information medium and apparatus for certification of media such as identity cards. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to the certification of information media. It relates to a method of certification of information according to which information carried by cards are transformed into a code which is transmitted with arbitrary data also carried by a card, to a central file. The latter compares the code-arbitrary data pair to all of the pairs which it contains and indicates the presence or absence of such a pair. In the event of absence of such a pair, the information medium is either erroneous, or falsified, or counterfeit. Application to the certification of identity cards.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for certifying information placed on a support, an information support, as well as an apparatus for manufacturing such supports, by implementing the certification process.
More specifically, the invention relates to the problem posed by the use of identification cards such as identity cards. These cards are often the subject of attempted forgery or counterfeiting, and it is essential for security reasons that such forgery and counterfeiting be as unlikely as possible. However, the invention is not limited to identity cards only and also applies to numerous information carriers which must be protected against falsifications and counterfeits.

 The simplest method of determining the absence of falsification or counterfeiting of an identity card is to compare the information carried by the card with corresponding information contained in a file. Given the circulation of people, such certification requires the creation of a central file accessible from a large number of points. Since such a central file, where it exists, can allow misuse, it is generally considered that keeping such a file is not desirable.

 However, the absence of a central file also has drawbacks since, under these conditions, there may be several identical identity cards, listed in different files. In addition, certification by comparison to information stored in a file becomes impossible in many cases. Indeed it is often desirable that the certification of a card is carried out in a place which allows access only to a file not containing the information of the card considered. The absence of corresponding information in this file is not proof of falsification or counterfeit.

 The invention relates to the certification of identity card information and, more generally, of information media, having the advantages of a central file system, but not having the disadvantages.

 More precisely, according to the invention, the central file does not include the information to be certified, but only a degraded representation of this information, in the form of a code which is not sufficient for the reconstruction of the information from which it was formed. .

 In addition, according to the invention, the central file comprises, in addition to codes, arbitrary data which are also arranged on the information medium but which have no relation to the content of this information. In this way, the determination of the absence of an arbitrary code-data pair in the central file allows the certain determination of the falsification or counterfeiting of the information medium corresponding to this pair.

More specifically, the invention relates to a method for certifying information placed on a medium and associated with arbitrary data having no relation to the content of the information to be certified, this method comprising
- the formation of a code by application to the information or to at least part of it, of a function such that the application of the function to identical information always gives the same code, but that the reconstitution of the information from code is impossible because the application of a reverse function when it exists, gives several solutions,
- the conservation in a central file of the couple comprising the code and the arbitrary data corresponding to the information to be certified, with code-data pairs corresponding to other media, and
- the certification of the authenticity of the information carried by the medium by comparison of the code-data pair corresponding to this medium to all the pairs of the central file, the information of the medium being considered to be erroneous when the central file does not contain the code pair - data corresponding to this medium.

 It is advantageous that the method also includes the manufacture of the support in a manner which avoids falsifications and counterfeits.

 It is thus advantageous that the manufacture of the support includes the use of an information support material which has a watermark. It is also advantageous for the manufacture of the support to include the printing of a security background on the face of the support which is intended to carry arbitrary information and data. It is also advantageous that the manufacture of the card involves the application of information and data on at least one face of the support material, then the provision of a protective layer on the face or faces which carry the information. It is also advantageous for the manufacture of the support to include the provision of a protective layer which itself includes a watermark.

 When the central file has been set up, the certification of the authenticity of the information involves the initial formation of the code corresponding to the information, then the transmission of the code-data pair to the central file so that the information itself is never available in the file. central.

 The invention also relates to an information medium intended to allow a certificate ion by a method as described above, this medium comprising a support material on at least one side of which are printed arbitrary information and data, and a device intended to prevent counterfeiting.

 The device intended to prevent falsification is advantageously chosen from the group which comprises a security background printed on the support material on the side carrying the arbitrary information and data or on an emulsion intended to form this information and data, a coating of plastic material, and a watermark formed in a plastic coating disposed on the information and data.

 The device intended to prevent counterfeiting is advantageously chosen from the group which comprises a watermark formed in the support material, a security background printed on the support material on the side carrying the information and the data or on an emulsion intended to carry the information and data, a watermark formed in a plastic coating placed on the information and data, and particles with particular optical properties incorporated in a printing emulsion or in a plastic coating.

 The information carrier can also carry additional information to which the function is not applied, this information being for example a signature, a photograph, a fingerprint, etc.

 The invention also relates to an information certification apparatus intended for the implementation of the process considered. This device advantageously comprises a circuit for entering information and arbitrary data carried by a medium, a circuit for converting information into a code, a circuit for transmitting the code pair and arbitrary data to a central file, and a reception circuit. intended to indicate the presence or absence of the code-arbitrary data pair in the central file.

 The invention thus has the advantage of systems with a central file according to which certification can be carried out from any location linked to this single central file. On the other hand, the information in the central file cannot be used for other purposes because the codes contained in the central file cannot be used. In addition, all transmissions between a location to which an information medium must be certified and the central file are made in the form of an arbitrary code-data pair, that is to say in the form of information which cannot be used by third parties. . This characteristic gives optimum security to the certification carried out according to the invention.

 Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly from the description which follows of particular embodiments intended for the certification of identity cards issued by the authorities of the same country.

 An identity card produced in the context of the invention advantageously comprises, in addition to the information of the arbitrary data arranged according to the invention, a certain number of characteristics which, separately7 are already known, and are intended to ensure protection against falsifications and counterfeits. However, the combination produced according to the invention is itself new, even when the card does not include all the advantageous characteristics known and which are considered in the remainder of this specification.

 An identity card advantageously comprises a support material, for example a paper, a print, for example formed in an emulsion, and a protective coating 7 for example plasticized.

 The support material is advantageously a piece of paper which preferably comprises a watermark. It is desirable that the paper is available in the form of rolls or screens and that a security system is adopted so that blank formulas can be easily detected. For example, paper can be produced by continuous printing of serial numbers, the paper being cut only at the end of the manufacturing process.

 In addition, it is very desirable that the support material carries a security bottom, for example placed by conventional printing. Such security funds are well known and are commonly used for example on checks.

 The arbitrary information and data are then formed by printing or by transfer of dyes, preferably using an emulsion, for example of the photographic type but advantageously with thermal development. Indeed, if the emulsion is of the photographic type, the developer then the fixer of the baths used during development can have an action on the ink of the security background, when this has been applied before the coating of the emulsion, which is the most desirable method.

 On the contrary, thermal development allows the arrangement of various information without modification of the safety background. The coating is carried out in a conventional manner, and it is known that it does not hide the watermark of the support paper. The emulsion may contain particles having optical properties, for example fluorescent or phosphorescent particles, or giving a particular shade making counterfeiting of the card even more difficult.

 The information carried by the card advantageously comprises on the one hand the information to be certified, such as the identity of the holder of the identity card, his domicile, etc., as well as information which is not subject to coding and whose the content is however linked to the owner of the card.

This is for example a photograph, a signature or a fingerprint. The information also includes arbitrary data. This arbitrary data is for example a serial number of sheet of paper.

For example, it could be a simple number with ten decimal digits. The printing emulsion is preferably applied on only one side because the production is then simplified. However, in a variant, the information medium can be used on both sides.

 It is then advantageous for the support to undergo a plasticization, that is to say to receive a coating of a plastic material which protects the printed information. The falsification of other information therefore requires the deterioration of the coating material. This falsification can be made more difficult by using a coating of a particular type, for example itself having a watermark. We know, for example, a security film "Datagard" from 3M Corporation, which contains a watermark which is not normally apparent but which can be easily observed by reflection under special lighting conditions. This characteristic makes any falsification even more difficult. because the reconstruction of a damaged watermark is practically impossible without extremely important means.

 Although an advantageous multilayer type card has been described since it has many characteristics allowing a fight against falsifications and counterfeits, the card can be of a simpler type, for example a card entirely formed of plastic material, type commonly used for example as a credit card.

 We now consider an apparatus for manufacturing such identity cards. It is not described in detail because, apart from a few differences indicated in the remainder of the memorandum, the main elements are already incorporated into existing devices for manufacturing identity cards.

 In an advantageous embodiment, the entry of information and the production of the identity card are carried out by the same device, the production being simultaneous with the entry. The device includes a screen-keyboard console for entering an individual's civil status information, and a memory for storing this information. The device also includes a scanning device associated with a sensor which captures graphic information, in particular the signature and the photograph and possibly a fingerprint. The apparatus also includes a memory intended to store this graphic information.

 A processor incorporated into the device then composes an alpha-numeric and graphic image in memory, point by point, from the information that has been entered. The apparatus also includes a rendering device intended for printing the card and which receives the information from the processor. The apparatus further includes a plasticizing device which receives the cards whose printing has been carried out.

 Such a device is completely autonomous.

It does not require any compression of the image and thus allows a satisfactory restitution of the graphic information. The various elements of the device are well known and are commercially available from many suppliers.

 In addition, it should be noted that the identity card thus produced can be checked immediately after entry, by certification according to the invention, as indicated in the remainder of this specification.

 A device of this type allows the production of fifteen to thirty identity cards per hour. When this flow is insufficient, it is preferable that the device is no longer autonomous, the input being able to be carried out by several stations while the production is ensured by a station associated with several input stations. This configuration is advantageous insofar as the manufacturing apparatus itself has a high throughput and can therefore serve several input stations simultaneously.

Of course, a suitable electronic circuit manages the exchanges between the input devices and the manufacturing device.

 This latter solution, in which input and manufacturing are dissociated, however makes it more difficult to certify, or almost in real time, the information entered.

 We now consider more precisely the operations carried out at the time of manufacture of the card and which facilitate certification according to the invention. When the applicant for a card has provided his civil status, the chosen function is applied to this civil status, so that a code is formed. This is then transmitted to the central file. If the central file determines the absence of such a code, it indicates it in return and the identity card is produced. The code and number of the card, constituting the arbitrary data, are then transmitted to the central file which retains this pair, code-number.

 If the central file already contains this code and the applicant reports an old card effectively corresponding to the code-arbitrary data pair contained in the central file, the new card is manufactured, the old one preferably being destroyed.

 Otherwise, if the central file indicates the presence of the code without the applicant already having a card, an investigation is necessary. This investigation is carried out by request for information to the authority which issued the card corresponding to the code-arbitrary data pair having the code in question. Of course, this investigation requires the presence of a third party who performs identification based on the number of arbitrary data.

This survey therefore prevents real-time monitoring.

It should however be noted that, according to the invention, it is extremely rare. In fact, the function applied to civil status information is chosen so that the probability that two codes are identical is extremely low. For example, the code formed comprises at least ten decimal digits. The information used for the application of the function includes not only the surname and first name of the individual, but also his place of birth and date of birth.

Of course, the code cannot contain such a sum of information so that it is degraded and that the reconstitution of all these civil status data from the code is not possible.

 When the card has been manufactured, the code-data pair is entered into the central file.

 We now consider the certification of a card that was previously manufactured. For example, when an individual shows up at a border, his identity can be checked. The operator then has a console which allows him to enter civil status data. These data must obviously include all the data which are normally used for the reconstitution of the code. After entry, a conversion circuit incorporated into the console forms the code. This is directly transmitted to the central file, when the connection has been established with it. The central file then compares the pair of arbitrary coded data with the different pairs it contains.

When the central file contains the code and when the arbitrary data associated with this code corresponds to that found in the code of the file, the card is considered suitable. If the code is in the file but if the associated number does not correspond to that of the card considered or if the code does not exist in the file, the card is necessarily false, either falsified, or counterfeit.

 Thus, the invention does not require the existence of a central register of civil statuses. On the other hand, it implements a central file which is unusable other than for the certification of identity cards. This certification can be carried out at any time by remote interrogation.

 The cases at issue, that is to say those in which an investigation is necessary, are extremely reduced.

 In the example shown above, the number of different codes is at least ten billion, and the probability of two people having the same code is extremely low. On the other hand, in the opposite direction, the exploration of all combinations of civil status giving a known code is practically impossible, because it corresponds to several centuries of calculations executed by the most powerful current machines.

 It should be noted that for additional security, the date of manufacture of a card can be added to the arbitrary data which already contain the card number.

 Thus, according to the invention, when the central file does not contain a de-code, the civil status which is at the origin of this code is unknown. If on the contrary the code is present, there is a very strong presumption so that this civil status is known.

Claims (11)

1. Method for certifying information placed on a medium and associated with arbitrary data having no relation to the content of the information to be certified, characterized in that it comprises:  - the formation of a code by application to the information or at least part of it, of a function such that the application of the function to identical information always gives the same code, and the reconstruction of the information from the code is impossible in practice because the application of a reverse function when it exists, gives several solutions ;;  - the conservation in a central file of the couple comprising the code and the arbitrary data corresponding to the information to be certified, with code-data pairs corresponding to other media, and  - the certification of the information carried by the medium by comparison of the arbitrary code-data pair corresponding to this medium to all the pairs of the central file, the information of the medium being considered to be erroneous when the central file does not contain the corresponding code-data pair to this support.  2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises the manufacture of said support by using an information support material having a watermark. 3. Method according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it comprises the manufacture of the support by printing a security background on the face of a support material intended to carry information and arbitrary data . 4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises the manufacture of the support by application of information and arbitrary data on one side of the support material, and the provision of a protective layer on the side that carries the information. 5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises the manufacture of the card by the provision of a protective layer having a watermark on the information placed on a support material. 6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the certification of the information comprises the formation of the code corresponding to the information, then the transmission of the coded data couple thus formed to the central file. 7. Information carrier, intended to allow certification by implementing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises  - a support material on at least one side of which information and data are printed,  - a device intended to prevent falsification, and  - a device intended to prevent counterfeiting. 8. Support according to claim 7, characterized in that the device intended to prevent falsifications is included in the group which comprises a security background printed on the support material, on the side carrying the information and the data or on an emulsion intended carrying the information and data, a plastic coating, and a watermark formed in a plastic coating disposed on the arbitrary information and data. 9. Support according to one of claims 7 and 8, characterized in that the device intended to prevent counterfeiting is chosen from the group which comprises a watermark formed in the support material, a security background printed on the material support on the side carrying the information and data. arbitrary or on an emulsion intended to represent this information and these arbitrary data, a watermark formed in a plasticized coating placed on the information and the arbitrary data, and particles with particular properties incorporated in a printing emulsion. 10. Support according to any one of claims 7 and 9, characterized in that it also carries additional non-coded information chosen from the group which includes a signature, a photograph, a fingerprint. 11. Apparatus for certifying information by implementing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises  - a circuit for entering information and arbitrary data carried by an information medium,  - a circuit for converting information into a code,  - a circuit for transmitting the arbitrary coded data pair to a central file, and  - a reception circuit intended to indicate the presence or absence of the corresponding code-arbitrary data pair in the central file.