KR100373443B1 - Apparatus and method for manufacturing and authenticating a card using watermarking technique - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for card production and authentication based on watermarking technology. According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the illegal acts that can be applied to the card, and to easily detect the case where the card is forged or tampered with, and to determine the authenticity of the card and the card holder.

According to the present invention, the card issuing information of the card issuing applicant and the card issuing information extracted from the means for storing the card authentication information is produced as a digital image, while generating a watermark using the card authentication information, After inserting a watermark into the image, a digital image containing the watermark is printed on the raw material of the card to produce a watermarking card. In addition, according to the present invention, a watermark is inserted in a digital image generated by scanning an image printed on a card of a card holder, and then a watermark is detected in a digital image in the watermarked region. After receiving the card authentication information from the card holder, generating the watermark using the card authentication information received from the card holder, the authentication is determined from the correlation between the detected watermark and the generated watermark.

Description

Apparatus and method for card making and authentication based on watermarking technology {APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING AND AUTHENTICATING A CARD USING WATERMARKING TECHNIQUE}

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for manufacturing a card based on a watermarking technology and authenticating the produced card. More specifically, when a card is inserted with a watermark that cannot be identified by the naked eye, which is generated using a key determined by the card applicant, the key input from the card holder is used when the card is authenticated. The present invention relates to a card making and authentication apparatus and method for determining card authenticity and card owner authenticity by comparing watermarks detected from a card.

ID cards such as resident registration cards, passports, student cards, and employee cards, and various cards for including identity information or verifying / verifying identity, such as driver's licenses, certificates, credit cards, and card keys, are widely used. However, since the importance of the information contained in such a card is so great, there are frequent cases in which the card is illegally forged or tampered with and used.

As a conventional method for solving such a problem, the first method is to attach a photograph to a printing paper on which identity information is printed. This is currently used in passports and the like. However, since this method simply authenticates both the card and the holder as long as the picture and the holder of the card match, there is a problem that can be simply changed by removing the coated paper, replacing the picture, and then closing it properly. The second method is a bar code method, which is a coding system that expresses information in an array pattern of various widths of black bars and white bars. When ID card is produced by attaching or printing a barcode, the information read from the barcode reader at the time of entry and exit confirms the authenticity of the ID card, the identity information and the authenticity of the holder. However, since barcodes are easy to duplicate, there is a possibility that barcodes of the same pattern are imitated and used illegally, and since changing barcodes results in completely different authentication materials, there is a high possibility of forgery and forgery. In addition, it is often necessary to have a keyboard in case the barcode cannot be read by the barcode reader and the barcode cannot be read. The third solution is a magnetic line in which predetermined information is recorded magnetically. When a magnetic object comes into contact with a strong object, the information recorded on the magnetic line is easily damaged, and the information recorded on the magnetic line is easy to read, thereby imitating and changing the magnetic line. There is a problem that this is easy.

On the other hand, there are two ways to determine the authenticity of the card holder, one of which is visually discriminated through a photograph, and the other is to discriminate using a password. However, the method of using a photograph is not meaningful as a discrimination method in a situation where forgery and forgery are easy as described above, and it is time-limited to discriminate between the cardholder and the photograph attached or printed on the card. Discrimination is bound to fall. The method of comparing the cardholder's password with the actual password is the most widely used discrimination method at present, but since the password is generally four-digit Arabic numerals, it is easy for an intentional person to find out. Although passwords can be updated frequently to maintain security from third parties, it has the disadvantage of having to go through the renewal process again or create and remember a new password. Of course, both the visual discrimination method and the password collation method may be used. However, even when the two methods are used in parallel, the above-mentioned problems cannot be solved clearly.

Although the above-mentioned measures are currently applied to prevent illegal use due to the forgery and forgery of the card, it is easy to change or conceal the information which is visually identifiable or recorded, and the amount of information that can be concealed is very small. There are many problems, such as being prone to damage, prone to damage, or time constraints. Due to this limitation of the prior art, despite its importance, there is a risk that the card is used illegally.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method which can solve the above problems. In other words, if a watermark that cannot be visually identified is inserted to make the change difficult, and if a key determined by the true cardholder is generated as a watermark, the watermark detected from the card at the time of card authentication or at the time of authenticity of the cardholder is determined. By comparing the key input from the cardholder with the cardholder, it is determined whether the card is changed or operated or the cardholder is authentic according to the match. In addition, the contents of the concealable information can be varied, the position at which the information can be concealed can be arbitrarily selected, and the watermark itself is not likely to be damaged, and it is difficult to change it. In addition, computer-based watermarking detection and comparison allows for accurate inspections quickly.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an apparatus for manufacturing a watermarking card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a manufacturing process of a watermarking card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an apparatus for authenticating a watermarking card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating an authentication process of a watermarking card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

100: watermarking card production device

110, 340: card information database

120: watermark generator

130: watermark processing unit

140: watermarking digital image printing unit

300: watermarking card authentication device

310: card recognition unit

320: key input unit

330: database search information extraction unit

350: digital image data processing unit

360: watermark authentication server

361: watermark detection unit

363: key encryption and watermark generation unit

365: comparison operation unit

370 result output

In general, the process of issuing a card is as follows. The card issuer provides the card maker / issuer with information necessary for issuing the card, such as personal information (eg, name, social security number, address, bank account number, etc.) or photograph. At this time, the card issuing applicant sets a key value and provides it to the card maker / issuer. This key is character or numeric information such as a password, an employee number, or various IDs. The card maker / issuer stores the information provided from the card issuing applicant, including the key, in the database, and extracts only the information to be printed on the card raw materials from the database. Then, using a general card making graphics tool, a digital image containing information to be printed on the card raw material extracted from the database is produced. Card printing is completed by printing a digital image produced by a general card printer for card raw materials and issued to the card issuer.

In the present invention, the above-mentioned card making process further includes the step of generating a watermark using the key provided from the card issuing applicant, and then inserting the watermark in the digital image to be printed on the card raw material, thereby concealing the key. This can make copying or copying difficult, thereby preventing forgery and alteration of the card. In addition, by detecting the hidden key to determine whether the card holder matches the key input through the external input device, it is possible to authenticate the card or determine the authenticity of the card holder.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail the configuration of the present invention.

1 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a watermarking card manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The watermarking card producing apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 is composed of a card information database unit 110, a watermark generating unit 120, a watermark processing unit 130, and a watermark digital image printing unit 140.

The card information database 110, which stores information and key values necessary for issuing a card of the card issuing applicant, extracts a key value determined by the card issuing applicant and information to be printed on the card. Although not shown in the figure, a digital image to be printed on the card raw material is produced from the information extracted from the card information database unit 110 using a general card making graphic tool. The watermark generation unit 120 generates a watermark using the key extracted from the card information database unit 110. The watermark generated by the watermark generator 120 is inserted into the digital image by the watermark processor 130. When the watermark embedded digital image is printed on the surface of the card raw material by the watermarking digital image printing unit 140, a card on which the watermark embedded image is printed is obtained.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a manufacturing process 200 of a watermarking card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The information and key to be printed on the card raw material are extracted from the card issuing applicant information stored in the card information database 110 (step 210). Although omitted in the drawing, a digital image to be printed on the card raw material is produced from the information extracted from the card information database unit 110 using a general card making graphic tool. Next, a watermark is generated using the key (step 220), and the generated watermark is inserted into the digital image (step 230). Finally, by printing the watermarked digital image on the card stock (step 240), the manufacture of the watermarking card is completed.

In the above-described watermark generation and insertion step (step 220 and step 230), for example, the invention described in the applicant's patent application for watermarking [for example, "digital image using wavelet transform and discrete cosine transform". Watermarking Method of Image "(Korean Patent Application No. 1998-37273)," Watermarking Method of Digital Image Image Using Wavelet Transform and Discrete Cosine Transformation "(Korean Patent Application No. 1998-37274)," Digital Image Watermarking " Apparatus and Method "(Korean Patent Application No. 2000-53755)) may be used. In addition, various watermarking techniques may be used.

Among them, the application invention described in Korean Patent Application No. 2000-53755 is described in detail as follows. The present invention converts the brightness component of the digital image into frequency domain coefficients, encrypts the key input by the user, generates a watermark using the encrypted user key, and then the entire frequency domain of the brightness component of the digital image. A method of embedding a watermark in coefficients in a second frequency domain different from the first frequency domain using coefficients in the first frequency domain among the coefficients. According to the present invention, in the authentication, it is determined whether to authenticate by calculating the correlation between the watermark detected from the digital image and the watermark obtained by encrypting the input user key in the same manner as the insertion process. Since the present invention can insert a watermark in a color image and has a strong effect on printing, it is preferable as a watermarking technique used in the present invention. In addition, if the above-described invention is used as a watermark technology, the key input by the user is inserted through the encryption process instead of being inserted into the watermark as it is, so that the hidden watermark when a third party tries to find out the key from the card. In addition to detecting, the key can only be found by decrypting the encrypted key. The invention of the present invention is a "watermarking algorithm" + "encryption algorithm" is a double security is made difficult to access the third party to enhance the security, when used in the present invention it is possible to obtain the effect of such a double security Do.

According to one aspect of the invention, the watermark inserted into the card can be determined in various ways in terms of location or content. Whether the content of the watermark is a letter, number, or image, or whether the watermark is inserted in whole or in part, may be determined in various ways depending on the features of the watermarking technique selected by the card producer / issuancer. For example, in the above-described watermarking card production step, if the portion to which the watermark is to be inserted is a picture of the card issuing applicant, first, information to be printed on the card other than the picture is left without a predetermined place to be printed. After printing only the card raw material, the card issuer photo may be made into a digital image, the watermark may be inserted only in the digital image, and the digital image containing the watermark may be printed at a predetermined position of the card raw material. On the other hand, if the part to which the watermark is to be inserted is the whole card, the information to be printed on the card is made into a digital image of the same size as the total size of the card raw material, and then the watermark is inserted into the digital image and printed on the card raw material. You may. Alternatively, when the watermark is inserted in a specific portion of the image to be printed on the card, a method of displaying a specific identifier on the portion where the watermark is inserted may be used.

A method and apparatus for card authentication and authenticity determination of a card holder using a card having a watermark embedded therein and a key input from the card holder will be described. The authentication process and the device are configured to correspond to the above-described card production process and the device, and the watermark detection technique used in the process of authenticating the watermarking card is based on the watermark embedding technique used in the process of producing the watermarking card. Corresponds.

3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an apparatus for authenticating a watermarking card according to an embodiment of the present invention. The watermark authentication device 300 shown in FIG. 3 is structured to be linked with a database so that the card authenticator can check not only card authentication but also information such as personal identification information or card details, but in the case of a device for only card authentication. May not include a database portion.

As shown in FIG. 3, the watermarking card authentication apparatus 300 includes a card recognition unit 310, a key input unit 320, a database search information extraction unit 330, a card information database unit 340, and digital image data. A processing unit 350, a watermark authentication server 360, and a result output unit 370.

The card recognition unit 310 transmits various card information, such as a card serial number or a card user ID, read from the card inserted by the card holder to the database retrieval information extraction unit 330, and scans an image printed on the card. The image printed on the card is transmitted to the digital image data processing unit 350 in the format of digital image data. The database retrieval information extraction unit 330 extracts retrieval information for extracting information desired by the card authenticator, such as identity information and transaction details of the card holder, from various card information received from the card recognizing unit 310, and thereby the card information database. Send to section 340. The card information database unit 340 extracts predetermined information desired by the card authenticator using the search information from the database search information extraction unit 330, and transmits the extracted information to the result output unit 370.

On the other hand, the digital image data processing unit 350 captures only the image in the region corresponding to the digital image region into which the watermark is inserted when the watermarking card is manufactured, and transmits the image to the watermark authentication server 360. At this time, the watermark-embedded image data may be compressed for high speed transmission to the watermark authentication server 360.

3 uses the watermarking technique of Korean Patent Application No. 2000-53755 described above. The watermark detection method of the present invention converts the brightness component of the digital image into which the watermark is inserted into a coefficient of a frequency domain, and uses a coefficient of a first frequency domain and a second frequency domain among the coefficients of the frequency domain. While detecting the key, the user inputs an encrypted key and then generates a watermark using the encrypted key to determine whether to authenticate from the correlation between the detected watermark and the watermark generated using the key.

As shown in FIG. 3, the watermark authentication server 360 encrypts a watermark detection unit 361 that performs conversion into a frequency domain and detects a watermark using frequency domain coefficients, and a key input by a user. The key encryption and watermark generator 363 generates a watermark using the encrypted key, and the watermark and key encryption and watermark generator 363 detected by the watermark detection unit 361. And a comparison operation unit 365 that determines whether to authenticate according to the correlation between the generated watermarks.

The watermark detection unit 361 of the watermark authentication server 360 receives the watermark embedding image from the digital image data processing unit 350 and detects the watermark according to the detection method of the present invention. If the digital image data processing unit 350 compresses the image data, the watermark detection unit 361 detects the watermark after decompressing the image data correspondingly.

Meanwhile, the card holder inputs a key value into the key input unit 320 of the watermarking card authentication device 300. The key input unit 320 transmits the key value received from the card holder to the watermark authentication server 360 as digitized data. The key encryption and watermark generation unit 363 of the watermark authentication server 360 encrypts the key data received from the key input unit 320 in the same manner as when the watermark is inserted and uses the encrypted key data to generate the watermark. Create

Subsequently, the comparison operation unit 365 determines whether to authenticate from the correlation between the watermark detected by the watermark detection unit 361 and the watermark generated by the key encryption and watermark generation unit 363, and the authentication result. Is transmitted to the result output unit 370.

Finally, the result output unit 370 extracts the predetermined information extracted from the card information database unit 340 and the authentication result transmitted from the comparison operation unit 365 of the watermark authentication server 360. The output is in a form that the card authenticator can verify.

In the case of using a watermark technique different from the watermarking technique applied to the above-described embodiment, in another embodiment of the present invention, the watermark authentication server 360 uses only the watermark detection unit 360 and the comparison operation unit 365. Include. In this case, the watermark detection unit 360 detects the watermark, and also extracts key data from the detected watermark, and the comparison operation unit 365 stores the key data extracted from the watermark detection unit 360 and the key input unit. Authentication may be determined by checking whether the key data received from the 320 matches.

4 is a flowchart illustrating an authentication process 400 of a watermarking card according to an embodiment of the present invention. Similarly to Fig. 3, a description will be given of a process capable of simultaneously processing not only card authentication but also confirmation of cardholder information (e.g., personal identity information, card transaction details, etc.).

The card authenticator causes the card holder to insert the card into the card recognition unit of the watermarking card authentication apparatus and input a key value to the key input unit to check whether the card is forged or forged, and whether the card holder is authentic. ). If the card recognition unit confirms whether the card is inserted, the watermark detection and authentication process (steps 420 to 440) for determining the authenticity of the card and the authenticity of the card holder, and the card user information required by the card authenticator A process (step 450 to step 470) for searching and extracting the data from the database is performed. Since the two processes are independent of each other, it is preferable to proceed with the two processes in parallel to reduce the processing time.

First, following the above-described step 410, the watermark detection and authentication process corresponding to the steps 420 to 440 of FIG. 4 will be described. If card insertion and key input are confirmed, a watermark hidden in a predetermined image area of the image printed on the card surface is detected (step 420). In order to detect the watermark from the image printed on the card surface, it is necessary to find out the position where the watermark is inserted. If the watermark embedding area is determined in advance during the watermark embedding process, the position corresponding to the watermark is detected when the watermark is detected. You just need to get an image of. Alternatively, if a separate identifier indicating the insertion region is inserted when the watermark is inserted, the identifier is searched for and found, and then only the image within the region defined by the identifier is captured. When the image of the watermark-embedded area is acquired, the watermark is detected from the image of the watermark-embedded area by using a detection method corresponding to the watermarking technique applied when the watermark is embedded. Next, the authentication result is obtained through correlation between the detected watermark and the watermark generated by the cardholder after encrypting the encrypted key, or the key is extracted from the detected watermark. An authentication result is obtained through a comparison between the key extracted from the watermark and the key input by the card holder (step 430). The authentication result is output in a predetermined format that can be confirmed by the card authenticator, thereby terminating the watermark detection and authentication process (step 440).

Similar to the watermark detection and authentication process described above, a process for searching for and extracting information of a card user required by a card authenticator corresponding to steps 450 to 470 of FIG. 4 following the step 410 will be described.

When it is confirmed that the card is inserted, information (such as a card serial number or a user ID) for retrieving the card user information from the database is extracted from the inserted card. (Step 450). Next, using the extracted database searching information, the card authenticator retrieves and extracts the card user's information to be obtained from the database (step 460). Finally, information about the card user is output in a predetermined format that can be checked by the card authenticator, and the process of obtaining the card user information is terminated (step 470).

As described above, according to the present invention for authenticating using a card with a watermark inserted therein, it is possible to prevent illegal acts that may be applied to cards such as credit cards, IC cards, smart cards, student ID cards, employee ID cards, card keys, and the like. At the same time, it has the effect of easily detecting the case where such a card is forged or tampered with, and the authentication effect of confirming / determining the authenticity of the card and the card holder. In particular, in conjunction with the database system, it is possible to simultaneously identify identity information in addition to authenticity of the card. In addition, it is useful for handling because it is not affected by contact with a magnetic substance or the like.

Up to now, although preferred embodiments of the watermarking card making and authentication apparatus and method thereof according to the present invention have been disclosed and described as examples, for those skilled in the art, this embodiment is for illustration only and is not limited thereto. It will be apparent that various modifications, changes, substitutions and substitutions can be made without departing from the scope of the spirit of the present invention. In addition, it is to be understood that the technical spirit of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but only by the appended claims and equivalent technical principles.

Claims (18)

An apparatus for manufacturing a card in which information for authentication is inserted, A card information database in which card issuing applicant card issuing information and card authentication information are stored; A digital image data converting unit converting the card issuing information of the card information database into digital image data; A watermark generator for generating a watermark using the card authentication information of the card information database; A watermark processor to insert the watermark into the digital image data; And A watermarking digital image printing unit for printing the digital image data including the watermark on a card material; And the watermark generator encrypts the card authentication information and generates the watermark using the encrypted card authentication information. The method of claim 1, The card authentication information is a character or numeric information, characterized in that any one of a password, personal identification number, card user name. delete The method of claim 1, The watermark processing unit converts an intensity component of the digital image data into frequency domain coefficients and uses coefficients of a first frequency domain among all frequency domain coefficients of the brightness component of the digital image data. And inserting the watermark into a coefficient of a second frequency domain of the total frequency domain coefficients of the brightness component of the digital image data. In the method for manufacturing a card in which information for authentication is inserted, Converting the card issuing information of the means for storing card issuing information and card authentication information of the card issuing applicant into digital image data; Generating a watermark using the card authentication information of the storage means; Embedding the watermark in the digital image data; And Printing the digital image data including the watermark on a card material; And generating the watermark by encrypting the card authentication information and using the encrypted card authentication information. delete The method of claim 5, The watermark embedding step converts the brightness component of the digital image data into frequency domain coefficients, and uses the coefficient of the first frequency domain among the entire frequency domain coefficients of the brightness component of the digital image data, to thereby convert the digital image data. And embedding said watermark in a coefficient of a second frequency domain of said total frequency domain coefficients of said brightness component. The method of claim 5, The converting step may include providing first digital image data corresponding to a photographic image of the card issuing information, and using a card issuing information other than the photographic image, and inserting the photographic image into the card. Providing second digital image data corresponding to a portion other than an area; The embedding the watermark includes embedding the watermark in the first digital image data obtained from the photographic image, The printing step may include printing the second digital image data produced by card issuance information other than the photographic image on the remaining portion of the card raw material except for the predetermined area, and the first watermark embedded therein. And printing the digital image data in the predetermined area. The method of claim 5, The watermark embedding step includes displaying an identifier indicating an area where the watermark is to be inserted. An apparatus for authenticating a card produced by the card making apparatus of claim 1, A card recognition unit scanning the image printed on the card to generate digital image data; A digital image data processing unit for acquiring digital image data in an area where the watermark is inserted; A watermark detector for detecting a watermark from digital image data in the region into which the watermark is inserted; A key input unit for receiving card authentication information from a card holder; A watermark generator configured to generate a watermark using card authentication information received from the cardholder; And And a result output unit which determines whether to authenticate from the correlation between the detected watermark and the generated watermark, and outputs the determined result. The method of claim 10, And the watermark generation unit encrypts the card authentication information and generates a watermark using the encrypted card authentication information. The method of claim 10, The watermark detection unit converts a brightness component of the digital image data into which the watermark is inserted into a coefficient of a frequency domain, and converts the watermark using coefficients of a first frequency domain and a second frequency domain among the coefficients of the frequency domain. The card authentication apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. An apparatus for authenticating a card produced by the card making apparatus of claim 1, A card recognition unit scanning the image printed on the card to generate digital image data; A digital image data processor for acquiring digital image data of a region where a watermark is inserted from the digital image data; A watermark detection unit that detects a watermark from digital image data in an area where the watermark is inserted, and extracts card authentication information from the detected watermark; A key input unit for receiving card authentication information from a card holder; And And a result output unit which determines an authentication from a correlation between the extracted card authentication information and the received card authentication information and outputs the determined result. The method according to claim 10 or 13, A database storing information on the card user; A database search information extraction unit for extracting database search information from the card; And And a result output unit for searching the database using the database search information and outputting information on the card user. The method according to claim 10 or 13, And the digital image data processor acquires digital image data of a predetermined area. The method according to claim 10 or 13, And the digital image data processing unit searches the digital image data to find a predetermined identifier, and then obtains only the digital image data within a region determined by the identifier. In the method for authenticating a card produced by the card manufacturing method of claim 5, Generating digital image data by scanning an image printed on the card; Acquiring digital image data of a region where a watermark is inserted from the digital image data; Detecting a watermark from digital image data in the region into which the watermark is inserted; Receiving card authentication information from a card holder; Generating a watermark using card authentication information received from the cardholder; And Determining an authentication from a correlation between the detected watermark and the generated watermark, and outputting the determined result. In the method for authenticating a card produced by the card manufacturing method of claim 5, Generating digital image data by scanning an image printed on the card; Acquiring digital image data of a region where a watermark is inserted from the digital image data; Detecting a watermark from digital image data in the watermark-embedded area, and extracting card authentication information from the detected watermark; Receiving card authentication information from a card holder; And Determining an authentication from a correlation between the extracted card authentication information and the received card authentication information, and outputting the determined result.