GB2533908A - Method, system and computer program for enhanced identity document validation - Google Patents
Method, system and computer program for enhanced identity document validation Download PDFInfo
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- GB2533908A GB2533908A GB1418647.2A GB201418647A GB2533908A GB 2533908 A GB2533908 A GB 2533908A GB 201418647 A GB201418647 A GB 201418647A GB 2533908 A GB2533908 A GB 2533908A
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- 238000010200 validation analysis Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 79
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 32
- 238000004590 computer program Methods 0.000 title claims description 7
- 238000005286 illumination Methods 0.000 claims description 18
- 230000000977 initiatory effect Effects 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000012795 verification Methods 0.000 description 26
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 24
- 230000004913 activation Effects 0.000 description 17
- 238000007781 pre-processing Methods 0.000 description 9
- 238000004458 analytical method Methods 0.000 description 6
- 230000009849 deactivation Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000012015 optical character recognition Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000012790 confirmation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000002329 infrared spectrum Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000976 ink Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000002211 ultraviolet spectrum Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000001429 visible spectrum Methods 0.000 description 2
- 208000001613 Gambling Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 230000003213 activating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004075 alteration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011161 development Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000018109 developmental process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001815 facial effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
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Classifications
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- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07D—HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING
- G07D7/00—Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of valuable papers or for segregating those which are unacceptable, e.g. banknotes that are alien to a currency
- G07D7/06—Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of valuable papers or for segregating those which are unacceptable, e.g. banknotes that are alien to a currency using wave or particle radiation
- G07D7/12—Visible light, infrared or ultraviolet radiation
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- 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
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- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07D—HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING
- G07D7/00—Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of valuable papers or for segregating those which are unacceptable, e.g. banknotes that are alien to a currency
- G07D7/003—Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of valuable papers or for segregating those which are unacceptable, e.g. banknotes that are alien to a currency using security elements
- G07D7/0034—Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of valuable papers or for segregating those which are unacceptable, e.g. banknotes that are alien to a currency using security elements using watermarks
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- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07D—HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING
- G07D7/00—Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of valuable papers or for segregating those which are unacceptable, e.g. banknotes that are alien to a currency
- G07D7/005—Testing security markings invisible to the naked eye, e.g. verifying thickened lines or unobtrusive markings or alterations
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- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Toxicology (AREA)
- Collating Specific Patterns (AREA)
Abstract
A method of identity document validation comprises the steps of: requesting the user to present a biodata page of an identity document for scanning by a scanner module; acquiring an image of the biodata page by the scanner module and verifying the authenticity of the presented biodata page by comparing the acquired image thereof with an image of a biodata page from a genuine identity document; issuing an alert in the event the biodata page is found to lack authenticity. The method continues with selecting at random a page number from within a total number of pages in the identity document presented by the user; requesting the user to present the scanner module with the selected page from the identity document; acquiring an image of the page presented by the user; and verifying the authenticity of the selected page by comparing the acquired image with an image of a corresponding page in a genuine identity document and issuing an alert in the event the selected page is found to lack authenticity. The identity document is preferably a passport and the invention ensures that at least one visa page and the data page or personalisation page are verified.
Description
Method, System and Computer Program for Enhanced Identity Document Validation
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method, system and computer program for enhanced identity document validation.
Background to the Invention
The business of forged identity documents is booming and spreading across the globe. Once mainly the preserve of espionage and under-age drinkers, fake identity documents are used for increasingly diverse purposes from theft to human trafficking. At the same time in an increasingly digital world, It is common practice for banks, payment and money transfer providers, online gambling sites, and other types of businesses that engage in money transactions via the Internet to ask their customers for scanned copies of documents in order to prove their identities or verify their physical addresses, especially when their anti-fraud departments detect suspicious account activity. The overall international acceptance of scanned identification documents for various remote identification purposes opens doors to the systematic abuse of a vast number of legitimate services, and helps facilitate the generation of fake personalities, which can be abused in any way the fraudster desires.
Technology has given the fake identity document business a boost. Counterfeit techniques are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with the availability and use of a wide range of digital image processing tools (e.g. Adobe (trademark) Photoshop (trade mark)), so that good fakes are easier to make. Doctored images of identity documents can be of such good quality that it is difficult even for experienced professionals viewing the images to tell that the identity documents (or the images thereof) are fake. Similarly, counterfeiters no longer need to produce one document at a time; the latest hardware and software technologies allow for mass-production. Indeed, since orders can be taken over the internet, the producers of fake identity documents no longer need to be located close to their customers. These developments are viewed with increasing alarm by security services. "The increasing sophistication in the quality of counterfeit currency and travel documents poses a serious threat to national economies, financial institutions, consumers and national points of entries worldwide" Acting Assistant Director of the INTERPOL Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes Unit. Indeed, identity crimes are one of the fastest growing types of fraud in the UK. The UK's Fraud prevention service found that identity fraud accounted for roughly 50% of all frauds recorded in 2012; and that there had been a 9 per cent increase in identity frauds, compared with 2011 (CIFAS 2012 Fraud Trends, 17 Jan 2013).
To counter the growth in identity fraud, a number of methods have been developed to improve the security of identity documents. These include the use of materials which are visible only in the presence of ultraviolet (UV) light. These materials are added to inks used for security printing to print UV-visible indicia onto an identity document. For example, many passports include a UV safeguard which covers the holder's photograph to protect against photo substitution. Conversely, many identity documents include watermarks which should not react when placed under UV light sources. Similarly, high quality security paper is designed to have low base fluorescence (i.e. should not react brightly) under UV light sources.
The increased sophistication of identity documents has driven counterfeiters to invest more in technology to subvert the technological protections. This in turn has caused fraudsters to raise their prices for their forged or counterfeit goods. However, the cost of increasing technical sophistication is also borne by the lawful creators of legitimate identity documents. For this reason, current practice is to group biometrics and an identity document holder's photograph on one very secure page in a passport (typically known as a "biodata page"). The advantage of this approach is that the most expensive security safeguards can be concentrated in one place and don't have to be duplicated throughout the passport. However, the disadvantage of this approach is that fraudster has only to focus his attention on one page.
In an ironic parallel with the growth in identity fraud, heightened security concerns and associated security awareness has meant that individuals are required to present identity documents in an increasing number of situations. This has led to a growing need for new identity document equipment that can rapidly read, verify, and analyze many different types of passports, documents of value, identity and security documents which employ the above-mentioned new materials and printing techniques. However, in the absence of further information, automated systems are reliant on information provided thereto by the identity document holder and are consequently even more susceptible to the inherent flaw in the design of identity documents. This problem becomes more severe with the move towards identity verification based on images captured by mobile phones, wherein the conditions of image capture (e.g. illumination, distance from camera, image quality etc etc.) are unlikely to be under the control of entities requiring the identity verification.
Summary of the Invention
According to the invention there is provided a method of enhanced identity document validation comprising the steps of allowing an operator to establish a value for a first threshold and a value for a second threshold; allowing a user to initiate an identity Document Validation Session; requesting the user to present a biodata page of an identity document for scanning by a scanner module; acquiring an image of the biodata page by the scanner module; terminating the Identity Document Validation Session in the event the Elapsed Acquisition Time exceeds the first threshold; and otherwise verifying the authenticity of the presented biodata page by comparing the acquired image thereof with an image of a biodata page from a genuine identity 25 document of the same identity document category as the identity document presented by the user; issuing an alert in the event the biodata page is found to lack authenticity; and otherwise repeating the following steps until a total number of pages selected thereby exceeds the second threshold (a) selecting at random a page number from within a total number of pages in the identity document presented by the user; (b) requesting the user to present the scanner module with a page from the identity document whose page number matches the selected page number; (c) acquiring an image of the page presented by the user; and (d) terminating the Identity Document Validation Session in the event the Elapsed Acquisition Time exceeds the value of the first threshold; and otherwise verifying the authenticity of the selected page by comparing the acquired image thereof with an image of a corresponding page in a genuine identity document of the same identity document category as the identity document presented by the user; and issuing an alert in the event the selected page is found to lack authenticity.
Preferably, the step of allowing an operator to establish a value for a first threshold and a value for a second threshold comprises the step of allowing the operator to establish a value for a lockout period; and the step of terminating the Identity Document Validation Session in the event the Elapsed Acquisition Time exceeds the first threshold comprises the step of preventing the user from initiating another Identity Document Validation Session for the identity document for the duration of the lockout period Preferably, the step of acquiring an image of the biodata page by the scanner module comprises the steps of acquiring one or more images of the biodata page when separately illuminated under one or more of infra-red, visible and ultraviolet light.
Preferably, the steps of verifying the authenticity of the presented biodata page or the selected page by comparing the acquired image thereof with an image of the biodata page or the selected page from a genuine identity document of the same identity document category as the identity document presented by the user; comprises the steps of comparing the image acquired under ultraviolet illumination of the biodata page or selected page with an image acquired under ultraviolet illumination of the corresponding pages from a genuine identity document of the same identity document category as the identity document presented by the user.
Desirably, the steps of comparing the image acquired under ultraviolet illumination of the biodata page or selected page with an image acquired under ultraviolet illumination of the corresponding pages from a genuine identity document of the same identity document category as the identity document presented by the user comprises the step of comparing fluorescent security features visible in the images of the biodata page or selected page in the identity document presented by the user and the corresponding pages in the genuine identity document of the same identity document category as the identity document presented by the user.
Desirably, the steps of comparing fluorescent security features visible in the images of the biodata page or selected page in the identity document presented by the user and the corresponding pages in the genuine identity document of the same identity document category as the identity document presented by the user. comprises the steps of checking for consistency between one or more of presence, appearance and disposition of one or more of fluorescent overprint, fluorescent planchettes, fluorescent security thread, fluorescent security number, fluorescent security thread Desirably, the steps of verifying the authenticity of the presented biodata page or the selected page by comparing the acquired image thereof with an image of a biodata page or selected page from a genuine identity document of the same identity document category as the identity document presented by the user; comprises the steps of comparing the image acquired under infra-red and visible light illumination of the biodata page or selected page with an image acquired under infra-red and visible light illumination of the corresponding pages from a genuine identity document of the same identity document category as the identity document presented by the user.
Preferably, the steps of comparing the image acquired under infra-red and visible light illumination of the biodata page or selected page with an image acquired under infra-red and visible light illumination of the corresponding pages from a genuine identity document of the same identity document category as the identity document presented by the user. comprises the step of comparing metameric security features visible in the images of the biodata page or selected page in the identity document presented by the user and corresponding pages in the genuine identity document of the same identity document category as the identity document presented by the user.
Preferably, the steps of verifying the authenticity of the presented biodata page or the selected page by comparing the acquired image thereof with an image of a biodata page or selected page from a genuine identity document of the same identity document category as the identity document presented by the user; comprises the steps of performing OCR on the acquired image of the biodata page or the selected page of the identity document presented by the user and comparing the consistency of textual elements identified by the OCR operations with each other and with corresponding textual elements in the corresponding pages from the genuine identity document of the same identity document category as the identity document presented by the user.
113 Preferably, the steps of verifying the authenticity of the presented biodata page or the selected page by comparing the acquired image thereof with an image of a biodata page or selected page from a genuine identity document of the same identity document category as the identity document presented by the user; comprises the steps of checking for consistency between machine readable zones in the biodata page of the identity document presented by the user and the biodata page in the genuine identity document of the same identity document category as the identity document presented by the user.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a system for enhanced identity document validation comprising elements adapted to perform the method of the first aspect.
According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided an enhanced identity document validation computer program, tangibly embodied on a computer readable medium, the computer program product including instructions for causing a computer to execute the method of the first aspect.
This method of enhanced identity document validation is acutely effective in challenging and frustrating the fraudster who has attempted to manipulate a biometric page via image processing software.
By increasing the numbers of pages scanned, it becomes less economically viable for fraudsters to produce a counterfeit identity document because they are required to produce all the pages of the identity document to be sure of capturing the pages that could be randomly selected by the system for enhanced identity document validation.
Detailed Description of the Invention
An embodiment of the invention is herein described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a block diagram of the system for enhanced identity document validation in accordance with the second aspect; and Figure 2 is flow chart of the method of enhanced identity document validation 113 in accordance with the first aspect.
For the sake of clarity, the term "identity document" will be used henceforth to mean documentation provided by a user to support their claim to a specified identity. The "identity document" will also be understood to comprise a pictorial representation (i.e. a photo or a digital image) of the face of the user, to support facial recognition of the user. For the sake of clarity, the term "face" will be used henceforth to refer to a human face. Similarly, the term "personal detail element" will be used henceforth to refer to a piece of information such as date of birth, first name, last name, first line of address, which when combined with other personal detail elements could be used to identify or prove the identity of a person.
The preferred embodiment is premised on the recognition that no document is unforgeable. If a man can make a document another one can forge it.
Consequently, to defeat forgers, one has to make the forgeing of a document so costly in time and money that the value gained by forgeing the document is less than the sum of the resources expended to forge it. Recognizing the costs to fraudsters of investing in ever-more sophisticated identity document reproduction or creation technologies, the preferred embodiment focuses on frustrating the economics of counterfeiting by increasing the cost of producing fake documents, without increasing the cost to lawful identity document producers of making those same genuine identity documents.
Referring to Figure 1, while certain specific features are illustrated, those skilled in the art will appreciate from the present disclosure that various other features have not been illustrated for the sake of brevity and so as not to obscure more pertinent aspects of the implementations disclosed herein. The identity document validation system 5 of the preferred embodiment may comprise an activation unit 10 communicably coupled to a clocking unit 12, an identity document scanner module 14 and a page selection unit 16. The activation module 10 may be adapted to be activated by a user (not shown) to commence an Identity Document Validation Session. On activation by the user (not shown), the activation module 10 may be adapted to transmit an activation signal (Activ) to the clocking unit 12, the scanner module 14 and the page selection unit 16. The issuance of the activation signal (Activ) indicates the commencement of the Identity Document Validation Session. During an Identity Document Validation Session a user (not shown) is requested to present a number of pages in an identity document for validation by the identity document validation system 5. For brevity, the number of pages to be presented during an Identity Document Validation Session will be referred to henceforth as the Maximum Presentations (Max_Pres). The clocking unit 12 may be adapted on receipt of the activation signal (Activ) to determine the date and time of receipt of the activation signal (Activ). For brevity, the date and time of receipt of the activation signal (Activ) will be referred to henceforth as the "Activation Time". The clocking unit 12 may also be communicably coupled to a time check unit 20 and may be adapted to transmit the Activation Time to the time check unit 20.
The page selection unit 16 may be pre-configured by the operator (not shown) with the value of the Maximum Presentations (Max_Pres). The page selection unit 16 may comprise a random number generator (not shown) adapted to randomly select a page number (whose maximum value is constrained to match the maximum number of pages in an identity document). The page selection unit 16 may be adapted on receipt of the activation signal (Activ) to select the page number of the biodata page of the identity document. Thereafter within the Identity Document Validation Session, the page selection unit 16 may be adapted to activate the random number generator (not shown) to randomly select page numbers until the Maximum Presentations (Max Pres) is exceeded (or until the Identity Document Validation Session is terminated (as an incomplete Identity Document Validation Session) by the time check unit 20, (as will be discussed later). For brevity, the page number selected by the page selection unit 16 will be referred to henceforth as the "Selected Number (PG_NUM)". The page selection unit 16 may be communicably coupled with a display unit 18 and a verification unit 30 (discussed below), to transmit the Selected Number (PG_NUM) thereto. The display unit 18 may be adapted on receipt of the Selected Number (PG_NUM) to display a message to the user (not shown) requesting them to place into the scanner module 14 the passport page whose page number matches the Selected Number (PG NUM).
The scanner module 14 may be adapted on receipt of the activation signal (Activ) to scan the identity document page provided to the scanner module 14 by the user (not shown). The scanner module 14 may comprise ultraviolet, visible and infra-red spectra light sources (not shown) adapted to individually and separately illuminate the identity document page provided by the user (not shown). The scanner module 14 may be adapted to acquire one or more images (henceforth known as "Acquired Images" [Acq I rn]) of the presented identity document page when separately illuminated by the ultraviolet, visible and infra-red spectra light sources (not shown). The scanner module 14 may also comprise a timing unit (not shown) which may be synchronised with the clocking unit 12. The timing unit (not shown) may be adapted to detect the date and time (henceforth known as the "Image Acquisition Time") at which the earliest of the Acquired Images were acquired by the scanner module 14.
The scanner module 14 may be communicably coupled with the time check unit 20 and an image processing unit 22. The scanner module 14 may be adapted to transmit to the time check unit 20 and the image processing unit 22 the Image Acquisition Time and the Acquired Images [Acq_Irn] respectively. The time check unit 20 may be adapted to receive the Acquisition Time and the Activation Time from the scanner module 14 and the clocking unit 12 respectively. The time check unit 20 may be adapted to compare the Image Acquisition Time with the Activation Time, to calculate the amount of time elapsed therebetween. For the sake of brevity, the time elapsed between the Activation Time of the ID validation system 5 and the Image Acquisition Time will be referred to henceforth as the "Elapsed Acquisition Time".
The time check unit 20 may comprise a threshold value (Thold) whose value may be pre-configured by the operator (not shown) of the ID validation system 5. The threshold value (Thold) may establish an upper limit on the amount of time allowed to the user (not shown) to provide the scanner module 14 with the required Maximum Presentations number of identity document pages. A user may fail to provide the required Maximum Presentations number of identity document pages within the threshold value of time for a variety of reasons and may not of itself indicate that the presented identity document is fake. However, it does flag up some concerns about the identity document.
In the event the Elapsed Acquisition Time exceeds the threshold value (Thold) and the user has failed to provide the required Maximum Presentations number of identity document pages, the Identity Document Validation Session is deemed incomplete. The time check unit 20 may be communicably coupled with the image processing unit 22 and the display unit 18; and may be adapted to transmit an Alert signal (Alert) to the image processing unit 22 and the display unit 18 in the event of an incomplete Identity Document Validation Session.
The display unit 18 may be adapted to receive the Alert signal (Alert) from the time check unit 20; and may further be adapted on receipt of the Alert signal (Alert) to display a warning message advising the user (not shown) that (a) the presented identity document has not been validated because the required number of pages of the identity document has not been presented for validation by the identity document validation system 5; (b) the user will be required to subject the identity document to a further session of identity document validation; and (c) the user has been locked out of the ID validation system 5 for a pre-defined period of time (e.g. for 24 hours) and will not be allowed to commence another Identity Document Validation Session until the lockout time has passed.
For brevity, the pre-defined period of time for which a user may be locked out of the ID validation system 5 will be referred to henceforth as the "Lockout_Time".
The image processing unit 22 may be adapted to receive the Alert signal (Alert) from the time check unit 20 and the Acquired Images [Acq Im] from the scanner module 14. The image processing unit 22 may comprise a pre-processing unit 24 and an analysis unit 26. The pre-processing unit 24 may be adapted to perform optical character recognition (OCR) on the or each Acquired Images [Acq_lm] to detect textual characters in the Acquired Images [Acq lin]. The pre-processing unit may comprise a store unit (not shown) adapted to temporarily store for the duration of the Identity Document Validation Session textual details obtained from the biodata page of the presented identity document. It will be understood by the skilled person that the store unit (not shown) may also be adapted to store an image of the face of the identity document holder cropped by the pre-processing unit 24 from the acquired image of the biodata page of the relevant identity document.
The image processing unit 22 may be communicably coupled with a locks database 28 and the display unit 18. The image processing unit 22 may be adapted on receipt of the Alert signal (Alert) to create and store a record of the event in the locks database 28. The record comprises details of the relevant identity document from the textual details contained in the store unit (e.g. the number of the identity document, the name of the identity document holder etc.) It will be understood by the skilled person that these details are provided for example only, and should in no way be construed as limiting the scope of the preferred embodiment to these specific details. In particular, the locks database 28 may be adapted to store any data as required by the operator (not shown) including an image of the face of the identity document holder (which may also be stored in the store unit as described above).
The image processing unit 22 may comprise a clocking unit (not shown) with which the image processing unit 22 may be adapted to determine the date and time at which it received the Alert signal (Alert). For the sake of brevity, the date and time at which the image processing unit 22 received the Alert signal (Alert) will be referred to henceforth as the "Alert_Time". The image processing unit 22 may also be adapted to add to the relevant record in the locks database 28 details of the Alert_Time. The image processing unit 22 may also be pre-configured by the Operator (not shown) with a value for the Lockout_Time. The image processing unit 22 may be adapted to calculate from the Alert Time and the Lockout_Time, the time and date at which user lockout expires. For the sake of brevity, the time and date of expiry of the user lockout will be referred to henceforth as the "Lockout_Expiry". The image processing unit 22 may also be adapted to add to the relevant record in the locks database 28 details of the Lockout_Expiry (after which the user may make another attempt at validating the relevant identity document). Thus, the relevant record in the locks database 28 comprises significant detail regarding a potentially suspect identity document and the incident in which the identity document was presented for validation. The image processing unit 22 may be communicably coupled with the scanner module 14 and may be adapted to issue a deactivation signal (Deactiv) to the scanner module 14 on creation of the record in the locks database 28. The image processing unit 22 may also be adapted to deactivate itself on issuing the deactivation signal (Deactiv) to the locks database 28, thereby effectively terminating the Identity Document Validation Session.
In the event the absence of an Alert signal (Alert) from the time check unit 20, the image processing unit 22 is adapted to compare: (a) the details obtained by the pre-processing unit 24 from the biodata page of the presented identity document; and (b) corresponding details stored in records in the locks database 28.
In the event of a match, the image processing unit 22 may be adapted to compare the current date and time (as determined by the clocking unit (not shown) in the image processing unit 22) with the Lockout_Expiry details from the matching record in the locks database 28. In the event the current date and time precedes the Lockout_Expiry, the image processing unit 22 may be adapted to (a) issue the deactivation signal (Deactiv) to the scanner module 14; (b) issue to the display unit 18 a lockout alert signal (Lockout Alert) comprising the details of the Lockout_Expiry; and (c) deactivate itself on issuing the deactivation signal (Deactiv) and the lockout alert signal (Lockout_Alert), thereby effectively terminating the Identity Document Validation Session.
The display unit 18 may be adapted to receive the lockout alert signal (Lockout Alert) from the image processing unit 22 and may further be adapted on receipt of the lockout alert signal (Lockout Alert) to display a warning message advising the user (not shown) that the user is still locked out of the identity document validation system and will not be able to make any further attempts to validate the relevant identity document until after the Lockout_Expiry.
The net effect of these processes is that the required pages from the identity document must be provided within one continuous session of fixed duration. Failure to do so will necessitate the initiation of another Identity Document Validation Session. The random number generator (not shown) in the page selection unit 16 is likely to select other pages in different Identity Document Validation Sessions accordingly, in the event a user fails to provide the required identity document pages in a given Identity Document Validation Session, the user is likely to be requested to provide other pages of the identity document in subsequent Identity Document Validation Sessions. This serves to prevent a user from repeatedly returning and providing remaining identity document pages requested in the first Identity Document Validation Session. As a result fraudsters must fake all of the pages in an identity document to ensure the identity document is validated by the identity document validation system 5 of the preferred embodiment.
In the absence of a match between (a) the details obtained from the biodata page of the presented identity zo document; and (b) corresponding details stored in records in the locks database 28. The analysis unit 26 may be adapted to detect the presence of additional security features in the Acquired Images [Acq_lm], wherein these additional security features may include fluorescent overprint, fluorescent planchettes, fluorescent security thread, fluorescent security number, fluorescent security thread etc.). Alternatively, the analysis unit 26 may also be adapted to detect metameric effects by comparing the Acquired Images [Acq Im] obtained under visible and infrared illumination conditions of the relevant pages from the presented identity document. The skilled person will understand that the above-mentioned security features are provided for explanatory purposes only and should in no way be construed as limiting the scope of the preferred embodiment to these specific additional security features. On the contrary, the identity document validation system 5 of the preferred embodiment is operable with any additional security features as may be used within an identity document and/or detected by identity document scanning devices.
The image processing unit 22 may be communicably coupled with a verification unit 30 and may be adapted to transmit to the verification unit 30 the additional security features detected by the analysis unit 26 and the textual information (and cropped face image) acquired by the pre-processing unit 24. The verification unit 30 may be adapted to receive the detected additional security features detected and the textual information (and cropped face image). The verification unit 30 may be communicably coupled with the page selection unit 16 to receive therefrom the Selected Number (PG NUM) details.
The verification unit 30 may be communicably coupled with a rules database 32. The rules database 32 may comprise details of security features to be found on the biodata page of identity documents. The rules database 32 may also comprise a library of images of identity documents known to be genuine. The verification unit 30 may be adapted to retrieve from the rules database 32 details of the relevant security features. The verification unit may be adapted to compare the details contained in the store unit (not shown) of the pre-processing unit 24 with the details retrieved from the rules database 32 to identify the relevant identity document (e.g. Greek passport issue 2006). For the sake of brevity, the class (e.g. passport), issuing office (e.g. Greece) and issue (e.g. 2006) of an identity document will be referred to henceforth as an "Identity Document Category".
The verification unit 30 may further be adapted to retrieve from the rules database 32 details from a genuine version of the determined Identity Document Category of a page whose number matches the Selected Number (PG NUM). For the sake of brevity, the details retrieved from the rules database 32 will be referred to henceforth as the "Genuine ID Page Details". The Genuine ID Page Details may include details about the positioning (or relative positioning) of graphic and/or textual elements within the relevant page from the relevant Identity Document Category.
The Genuine ID Page Details may also include details regarding the coloration of the ink employed in the relevant page from the relevant Identity Document Category, or the presence and positioning of fluorescent security features or metameric effects etc. The skilled person will understand that the above-mentioned features are provided for example purposes and that they should in no way be construed as limiting the scope of the preferred embodiment to these specific features. On the contrary, the verification unit 30 in the identity document validation system 5 of the preferred embodiment is operable with any additional features as may be used within an identity document and/or detected by identity document scanning devices.
The verification unit 30 may be adapted to compare the Genuine ID Page Details with corresponding features in the additional security features detected by the analysis unit 26 and the textual information (and cropped face image) acquired by the pre-processing unit 24. In the event of a match, the verification unit 30 may be adapted to transmit a confirmation signal (Confirm) to the page selection unit 16.
The page selection unit 16 may be adapted on receipt of the confirmation signal (Confirm) to increment a count (not shown) of the number of pages selected within the Identity Document Validation Signal and in the event (a) the count exceeds the Maximum Presentations issue a success signal (Success) to the display unit 18; and (b) otherwise, activate the page selection unit 16 random number generator (not shown) to randomly select another page number.
The display unit 18 may be adapted to receive the success signal (Success) from the page selection unit 16 and may further be adapted on receipt of the success signal to display a message that the relevant identity document has been successfully validated.
In the event the Genuine ID Page Details fail to match the additional security features detected by the analysis unit 26 and the textual information (and cropped face image) acquired by the pre-processing unit 24, the verification unit 30 may be adapted to issue a warning notice to the authorities of a potential fraudulent document, wherein the warning notice comprises details from the biodata page of the presented identity document.
While the verification unit 30 is shown as a separate entity from the rules database 32, the skilled person will understand that the configuration was described in this fashion for explanation purposes only; and that the preferred embodiment should in no way be construed to this configuration. In particular, the verification unit 30 and the rules database 32 may alternatively be integral to each other.
Passport pages other than the biodata page typically include stamps from border control of countries to which the passport holder has travelled since the issuance of the passport. Thus, another embodiment of the identity document validation system 5 comprises a stamps database, wherein the stamps database forms part of the rules database 32 and comprises images of genuine stamps from different issuing states. The verification unit 30 may be adapted to compare the images from the stamps database with stamps on selected pages from the presented identity document to further enhance the identity document validation process. Similarly, the verification unit 30 may be communicably coupled with travel companies (e.g. airlines, ship companies etc.) to compare passenger manifests with countries identified in stamps in the passport to determine whether in fact the passport holder did in fact travel to any of the identified countries since the issuance of the passport.
Referring to Figure 1 in combination with Figure 2, the method 45 for enhanced identity document verification comprises the steps of allowing 50 a user (not shown) to initiate an Identity Document Validation Session (by activating the activation module 10); requesting 52 the user (not shown) to present the scanner module 14 with the biodata page of the relevant identity document; acquiring 54 an image of the biodata page; and determining 56 whether the time elapsed between the initiation of the Identity Document Validation Session and the acquisition of the image of the biodata page exceeds a pre-defined threshold value The method for enhanced identity document verification further comprises the steps of terminating 58 the Identity Document Validation Session and preventing the user (not shown) from initiating another Identity Document Validation Session for the relevant identity document for a pre-determined period of time in the event the Elapsed Acquisition Time of the biodata page exceeds the threshold value; and otherwise verifying 60 the authenticity of the presented biodata page (by comparison with details in the rules database 32).
The method for enhanced identity document verification further comprises the steps of issuing 62 an alert to the authorities in the event the biodata page is found (by the verification unit 30) to lack authenticity; and otherwise (a) selecting 64 at random a page number from within the total number of pages in the identity document; and (b) requesting 66 the user (not shown) to present the scanner module 14 with the relevant identity document page whose page number matches the selected page number; (c) acquiring 68 an image of the relevant identity document page presented by the user (not shown); and (d) determining 70 whether the time elapsed between the initiation of the Identity Document Validation Session and the acquisition of the image of the selected page exceeds the pre-defined threshold value.
The method for enhanced identity document verification further comprises the steps of terminating 72 the Identity Document Validation Session and preventing the user (not shown) from initiating another Identity Document Validation Session for the relevant identity document for a pre-determined period of time in the event the Elapsed Acquisition Time of the selected page exceeds the threshold value; and otherwise verifying 74 the authenticity of the selected page (by comparison with details in the rules database 32).
The method for enhanced identity document verification further comprises the steps of issuing 78 an alert to the authorities in the event the selected page is found (by the verification unit 30) to lack authenticity; and otherwise repeating the process of validating images of randomly selected pages from the relevant identity document until a pre-defined maximum number of page validations is achieved, at which point the identity document is deemed validated.
It will also be understood that while the preferred embodiment was described herein with reference to a presented passport (comprising multiple passport pages), the preferred embodiment is not limited to the authenticating passport documents. Instead it is also operable to authenticate identity cards, driving license etc, which typically comprises a front and back face elements. For the purpose of the preferred embodiment, identity documents of such types will be deemed to be identity documents comprising two pages only, wherein (a) the front face (which bears relevant personal data [e.g. name, date of birth etc.] of the holder) of the relevant identity document will be deemed to be the biodata page; and (b) the back face of the relevant identity document will be deemed to be the second page thereof. Consequently, the Page Selection Unit 16 will be limited to selecting either of the two above-mentioned pages (corresponding with the front and back face of the relevant identity document) Modifications and alterations may be made to the above invention without departing from the scope of the arranged.
Claims (12)
- CLAIMS1. A method of enhanced identity document validation comprising the steps of allowing an operator to establish a value for a first threshold and a value for a second threshold; allowing 50 a user to initiate an Identity Document Validation Session; requesting 52 the user to present a biodata page of an identity document for scanning by a scanner module 14; acquiring 54 an image of the biodata page by the scanner module 14; terminating 58 the Identity Document Validation Session in the event the Elapsed Acquisition Time exceeds the first threshold; and otherwise verifying 60 the authenticity of the presented biodata page by comparing the acquired image thereof with an image of a biodata page from a genuine identity document of the same identity document category as the identity document presented by the user; issuing 62 an alert in the event the biodata page is found to lack authenticity; and otherwise repeating the following steps until a total number of pages selected thereby exceeds the second threshold (a) selecting 64 at random a page number from within a total number of pages in the identity document presented by the user; (b) requesting 66 the user to present the scanner module 14 with a page from the identity document whose page number matches the selected page number; (c) acquiring 68 an image of the page presented by the user; and (d) terminating 72 the Identity Document Validation Session in the event the Elapsed Acquisition Time exceeds the value of the first threshold; and otherwise verifying 74 the authenticity of the selected page by comparing the acquired image thereof with an image of a corresponding page in a genuine identity document of the same identity document category as the identity document presented by the user; and issuing an alert in the event the selected page is found to lack authenticity.
- 2. The method of enhanced identity document validation as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the step of allowing an operator to establish a value for a first threshold and a value for a second threshold comprises the step of allowing the operator to establish a value for a lockout period; and the step of terminating 58, 72 the Identity Document Validation Session in the event the Elapsed Acquisition Time exceeds the first threshold comprises the step of preventing the user from initiating another Identity Document Validation Session for the identity document for the duration of the lockout period
- 3. The method of enhanced identity document validation as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the step of acquiring 54 an image of the biodata page by the scanner module 14 comprises the steps of acquiring one or more images of the biodata page when separately illuminated under one or more of infra-red, visible and ultraviolet light.
- 4. The method of enhanced identity document validation as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the step 60, 74 of verifying the authenticity of the presented biodata page or the selected page by comparing the acquired image thereof with an image of the biodata page or the selected page from a genuine identity document of the same identity document category as the identity document presented by the user; comprises the steps of comparing the image acquired under ultraviolet illumination of the biodata page or selected page with an image acquired under ultraviolet illumination of the corresponding pages from a genuine identity document of the same identity document category as the identity document presented by the user.
- 5. The method of enhanced identity document validation as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the step of comparing the image acquired under ultraviolet illumination of the biodata page or selected page with an image acquired under ultraviolet illumination of the corresponding pages from a genuine identity document of the same identity document category as the identity document presented by the user comprises the step of comparing fluorescent security features visible in the images of the biodata page or selected page in the identity document presented by the user and the corresponding pages in the genuine identity document of the same identity document category as the identity document presented by the user.
- 6. The method of enhanced identity document validation as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the step of comparing fluorescent security features visible in the images of the biodata page or selected page in the identity document presented by the user and the corresponding pages in the genuine identity document of the same identity document category as the identity document presented by the user. comprises the steps of checking for consistency between one or more of presence, appearance and disposition of one or more of fluorescent overprint, fluorescent planchettes, fluorescent security thread, fluorescent security number, fluorescent security thread
- 7. The method of enhanced identity document validation as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the step 60, 74 of verifying the authenticity of the presented biodata page or the selected page by comparing the acquired image thereof with an image of a biodata page or selected page from a genuine identity document of the same identity document category as the identity document presented by the user; comprises the steps of comparing the image acquired under infra-red and visible light illumination of the biodata page or selected page with an image acquired under infra-red and visible light illumination of the corresponding pages from a genuine identity document of the same identity document category as the identity document presented by the user.
- 8. The method of enhanced identity document validation as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the step of comparing the image acquired under infra-red and visible light illumination of the biodata page or selected page with an image acquired under infrared and visible light illumination of the corresponding pages from a genuine identity document of the same identity document category as the identity document presented by the user. comprises the step of comparing metameric security features visible in the images of the biodata page or selected page in the identity document presented by the user and corresponding pages in the genuine identity document of the same identity document category as the identity document presented by the user.
- 9. The method of enhanced identity document validation as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein step 60, 74 of verifying the authenticity of the presented biodata page or the selected page by comparing the acquired image thereof with an image of a biodata page or selected page from a genuine identity document of the same identity document category as the identity document presented by the user; comprises the steps of performing OCR on the acquired image of the biodata page or the selected page of the identity document presented by the user and comparing the consistency of textual elements identified by the OCR operations with each other and with corresponding textual elements in the corresponding pages from the genuine identity document of the same identity document category as the identity document presented by the user.
- 10. The method of enhanced identity document validation as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein step 60, 74 of verifying the authenticity of the presented biodata page or the selected page by comparing the acquired image thereof with an image of a biodata page or selected page from a genuine identity document of the same identity document category as the identity document presented by the user; comprises the steps of checking for consistency between machine readable zones in the biodata page of the identity document presented by the user and the biodata page in the genuine identity document of the same identity document category as the identity document presented by the user.
- 11. A system for enhanced identity document validation comprising elements 20 adapted to perform the method of enhanced identity document validation as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims.
- 12. An enhanced identity document validation computer program, tangibly embodied on a computer readable medium, the computer program product including instructions for causing a computer to execute the method of enhanced identity document validation as claimed in Claim 1.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1418647.2A GB2533908A (en) | 2014-10-20 | 2014-10-20 | Method, system and computer program for enhanced identity document validation |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1418647.2A GB2533908A (en) | 2014-10-20 | 2014-10-20 | Method, system and computer program for enhanced identity document validation |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB201418647D0 GB201418647D0 (en) | 2014-12-03 |
| GB2533908A true GB2533908A (en) | 2016-07-13 |
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| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1418647.2A Withdrawn GB2533908A (en) | 2014-10-20 | 2014-10-20 | Method, system and computer program for enhanced identity document validation |
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| Country | Link |
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| GB (1) | GB2533908A (en) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20030099379A1 (en) * | 2001-11-26 | 2003-05-29 | Monk Bruce C. | Validation and verification apparatus and method |
| US20080206018A1 (en) * | 2005-06-30 | 2008-08-28 | Datacard Xorporation | Leafing Mechanism |
| US20100308108A1 (en) * | 2009-06-04 | 2010-12-09 | Inchon International Airport Corporation | Apparatus and method of automating arrival and departure procedures in airport |
| WO2014180840A1 (en) * | 2013-05-06 | 2014-11-13 | Sicpa Holding Sa | Apparatus and method for reading a document and printing a mark thereon |
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2014
- 2014-10-20 GB GB1418647.2A patent/GB2533908A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20030099379A1 (en) * | 2001-11-26 | 2003-05-29 | Monk Bruce C. | Validation and verification apparatus and method |
| US20080206018A1 (en) * | 2005-06-30 | 2008-08-28 | Datacard Xorporation | Leafing Mechanism |
| US20100308108A1 (en) * | 2009-06-04 | 2010-12-09 | Inchon International Airport Corporation | Apparatus and method of automating arrival and departure procedures in airport |
| WO2014180840A1 (en) * | 2013-05-06 | 2014-11-13 | Sicpa Holding Sa | Apparatus and method for reading a document and printing a mark thereon |
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|---|---|
| GB201418647D0 (en) | 2014-12-03 |
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