Patent EP0730243A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0730243A2
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Identification card verification system and method
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1996-02-27
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2016-02-27
Abstract
Abstract A self-verifying identification card having an image area which may contain a portrait, a finger print, a retinal image, or all of these together with an image signature which is derived from scanned intensity measurements taken from the image area. In the verification process, the image is scanned and aligned with respect to reference points corresponding to the original printing process which created the card, and intensity values, their averages, or any other function are compared to information provided by the image signature. Mathematical transformations, such as a one-way hash, an encryption, a compression algorithm, or a truth table may be used to encode the image signature. Alignment markers aid in scanning the image and the image signature. The use of average values aids in reducing noise and the use of comparison functions makes the process less sensitive to variations among scanners. The verification may be done at the point of a transaction, for a standalone system, or may be referred to a centralized data base in a networked system for further inquiry. In a networked system the image signature may be stored in the database.
Inventors
- 👤 David M. Kristol
- 👤 Lawrence P. O'gorman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 19:46
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/20; G07C9/22; G07C9/25; G07C9/257; G07F7/12; G07F7/122
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A self-verifying identification card system comprising: an identification card having an image area and an image signature; means for scanning the identification card adapted to detect the optical values associated with at least one reference point in the image area and to read the information provided by the image signature; and means for computing, containing an algorithm and linked to the scanning means, being adapted to compare optical values determined by the scanning means from the image area to information from the image signature on the card and to indicate the result of the comparison.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
23 words
The identification card of claim 1 wherein the image area contains an image of a characteristic which is unique to each human being.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The identification card of claim 1 wherein the image signature is derived from an optical value associated with at least one reference point within the image area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The self-verifying identification card of claim 3 wherein the average of a group of optical values at points located near a reference point defines the optical value at that reference point which is used to derive the image signature.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The self-verifying identification card of claim 4 wherein the image signature is in a mathematically transformed format upon the identification card.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The self-verifying identification card of claim 5 wherein mathematical transformation function is determined from indicia on the card.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The self-verifying identification card of claim 1 further comprising means for indicating the result of the comparison of the image signature to optical values from the image area.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The self-verifying identification card of claim 1 further comprising a registration feature which is an edge of the image area.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The self-verifying identification card of claim 1 wherein the image signature comprises optical values from the image area and data selected by the issuer of the card.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The self-verifying identification card of claim I further comprising a data base adapted to exchange information with one or more computing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
184 words
An identification card verification system comprising: an identification card having an image area comprising a portrait of a human being, one or more reference points within the image area, and at least one registration feature which is adapted to determine the orientation, location and scale of the identification card; an image signature which contains information derived from optical values associated with each reference point, one or more means for scanning the identification card adapted to detect the optical values associated with at least one reference point in the image area; one or more means for computing, containing an algorithm and linked to the scanning means, being adapted to compare optical values determined by the scanning means from the image area on the card to information from the image signature; a data base adapted to store the image signature and exchange information with one or more computing means; and means for indicating the result of the comparison; whereby the scanning means feeds data into the computing means, which provides an indication as to whether optical value data match the image signature to the indicating means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
233 words
A self-verifying identification card system comprising: an identification card having an image area comprising a portrait of a human being, one or more reference points within the image area, and at least one registration feature which is adapted to determine the orientation, location and scale of the identification card, and a first image signature which contains information derived from optical values associated with each reference point, one or more means for scanning the identification card adapted to detect the optical values associated with at least one reference point in the image area and to read the first image signature; a data base containing a second image signature derived from optical values associated with at least one reference point in the image area, being adapted to exchange information with one or more computing means; one or more means for computing, containing an algorithm and linked to the scanning means, being adapted to compare optical values determined by the scanning means from the image area on the card to information from the first image signature and to compare said optical values to the second image signature; and means for indicating the result of the comparisons; whereby the scanning means feeds data into the computing means, which provides an indication as to whether optical value data match the information in first image signature, and whether optical value data match the information in the second image signature.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention of claim 11 or 12 wherein the image area contains a fingerprint.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention of claim 11 or 12 wherein the image area contains a signature.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention of claim 11 or 12 wherein the image area contains a retinal image.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention of claim 11 or 12 wherein the average of a group of optical values at points located near a reference point defines the optical value at that reference point which is used to derive the image signature.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention of claim 16 wherein the image signature is in a mathematically translated format.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 17 wherein the mathematically translated format is determined from indicia on the card.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of verifying an identification card comprising an image area having an image of a human characteristic, one or more reference points within the image area, at least one registration feature which is adapted to determine the orientation, location and scale of the identification card, and a first image signature which is derived from optical values associated with a reference point, the steps comprising: scanning the identification card for obtaining digital information; computing a second image signature from the digital information associated with at least one optical value about at least one reference point; comparing the computed second image signature to the first image signature which was scanned from the identification card; and indicating whether the first image signature matches the second image signature.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 19 further comprising the steps of: reading alphanumeric information from the identification card; comparing said information to information within the image signature; and indicating whether the alphanumeric information read from the card matches information from within the image signature.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of verifying an identification card comprising an image area having an image of a human characteristic, one or more reference points within the image area, and at least one registration feature which is adapted to determine the orientation, location and scale of the identification card, the steps comprising: scanning the identification card for obtaining digital information; computing a first image signature from an optical value associated with each reference point; comparing the first image signature to a second image signature which is stored in a data base; and indicating whether the first image signature matches the second image signature.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 21 further comprising the steps of: reading alphanumeric information from the identification card; comparing said information to information stored within the data base; and indicating whether the alphanumeric information read from the card matches information from within the data base.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 19 or 21 wherein an image signature is derived from the average of a group of optical values around a reference point.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of verifying an identification card comprising an image area having an image of a human characteristic, one or more reference points within the image area, at least one registration feature which is adapted to determine the orientation, location and scale of the identification card, and a first image signature derived from optical values associated with each reference point, the steps comprising: scanning the identification card for obtaining digital information; computing a second image signature from the digital information associated with at least one optical value about at least one reference point; comparing the computed second image signature to the first image signature which was scanned from the identification card; indicating whether the first image signature matches the second image signature; retrieving a third image signature associated with the identification card from a data base; comparing the first image signature to the third image signature; and indicating whether the first image signature matches the third image signature.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the image signatures are derived from the average of a group of optical values around a reference point.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention of claim 4, 11, 12, 19, 21 or 24 wherein the image signature is derived from a function relating the optical value at a reference point to other optical values within the image area.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
12 words
The invention of claim 26 wherein the function is a three-level function.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
11 words
The invention of claim 26 wherein the function is a ratio.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention of claim 26 wherein the function is derived from a truth table.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 24 further comprising the steps of: reading alphanumeric information from the identification card; comparing said information to information within the first image signature; comparing said information to a third image signature stored in a data base; and indicating whether the alphanumeric information read from the card matches information from within the first image signature and within the third image signature.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 24 further comprising recording information regarding attempts to verify the information card.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 24 further comprising recording transactions made after the identification card is verified.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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