US5764770A — Image authentication patterning

Claim 1

Independent Claim 195 words

Apparatus for producing a self-authenticating image, the apparatus comprising: a digital image camera that forms a digitally expressed image of a selected view as an array of pixel values, with each pixel value corresponding to a pixel in an array of pixels; position determination means, including a digital computer, for determining position information that includes at least one of the location of the digital camera, the angular orientation of the digital camera and the time at which the digital image camera forms a digitally expressed image; and digital image storage means for receiving a digital image from the digital image camera, for receiving the position information from the position determination means, for combining the digital image with the position information to form a modified digital image in which each pixel value in a chosen subset CS of the array of pixel values is reformed as a modified array to contain a portion of the position information, for storing this modified array of pixel values, and for providing an authentication key that indicates the chosen subset CS of the array of pixels for which the pixel values have been modified to form the modified digital image.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 195 words

Apparatus for producing a self-authenticating image, the apparatus comprising: a digital image camera that forms a digitally expressed image of a selected view as an array of pixel values, with each pixel value corresponding to a pixel in an array of pixels; position determination means, including a digital computer, for determining position information that includes at least one of the location of the digital camera, the angular orientation of the digital camera and the time at which the digital image camera forms a digitally expressed image; and digital image storage means for receiving a digital image from the digital image camera, for receiving the position information from the position determination means, for combining the digital image with the position information to form a modified digital image in which each pixel value in a chosen subset CS of the array of pixel values is reformed as a modified array to contain a portion of the position information, for storing this modified array of pixel values, and for providing an authentication key that indicates the chosen subset CS of the array of pixels for which the pixel values have been modified to form the modified digital image.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 116 words

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: authentication means, connected to said digital image storage means, for receiving a putative authentication key and putative position information for a selected digital image, for retrieving from said digital image storage means said position information that was combined with said selected digital image by using said putative authentication key, for comparing the putative position information with said retrieved position information that was combined with said selected digital image, for authenticating said selected digital image if the putative position information substantially agrees with said retrieved position information, and for withholding authentication of said selected digital image if the putative position information does not substantially agree with said retrieved position information.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 40 words

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising display means, connected to said digital image storage means, for providing information contained in a modified digital image in at least one of electronically perceptible form, visually perceptible form and audibly perceptible form.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 54 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said position determination means comprises: a Satellite Positioning System ("SATPS") signal antenna that receives SATPS signals transmitted from at least three SATPS signal sources; and an SATPS signal receiver/processor to receive and process SATPS signals from the SATPS antenna and to determine the location of the SATPS antenna.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 96 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said position determination means comprises: at least three SATPS signal antennas, arranged non-collinearly to each receive SATPS signals transmitted from at least three SATPS signal sources; and an SATPS signal receiver/processor to receive and process SATPS signals from the SATPS antennas and to determine the location of each of the SATPS antennas and the angular orientation of a plane containing at least three of the SATPS antennas and of a selected line lying in this plane, where this selected line has a known angular orientation relative to said digital camera.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 83 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said position determination means comprises: an SATPS signal antenna that receives SATPS signals transmitted from at least three SATPS signal sources; an SATPS signal receiver/processor to receive and process SATPS signals from the SATPS antenna and to determine the location of the SATPS antenna; and angular orientation determination means, attached to said digital camera, for determining the angular orientation of said digital camera at least partly independently of the SATPS signals received from the SATPS signal sources.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 57 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said position determination means comprises: an SATPS signal antenna that receives SATPS signals transmitted from at least three SATPS signal sources; and an SATPS signal receiver/processor to receive and process SATPS signals from the SATPS antennas and to determine the times of receipt of the SATPS signals at the SATPS antenna.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 103 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: (1) said pixel values in said array of pixel values are numbered m=1, 2, . . . , N; (2) said pixel value number m is assigned a unique prime number p(m) in a sequence of distinct prime numbers; (3) said pixel value number m is assigned a number q(m)=p(m) if said pixel value numbered m belongs to said chosen subset CS of pixel values and is assigned a number q(m)=1 if said pixel value numbered m does not belong to said chosen subset CS of pixel values; and (4) said key I is defined by ##EQU11##

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 123 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: (1) said pixel bit values in said array of pixel values are numbered m=1, 2, . . . , K·N, where K is the number of bits used to express a pixel value; (2) said pixel bit value number m is assigned a unique prime number p(m) in a sequence of distinct prime numbers; (3) said pixel bit value number n is assigned a number q'(m)=p(m) if said pixel bit value numbered m belongs to said chosen subset CS of pixel bit values and is assigned a number q(m)=1 if said pixel bit value numbered m does not belong to said chosen subset CS of pixel bit values; and (4) said key I is defined by ##EQU12##

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 93 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: (1) said pixel values in said array of pixel values are numbered m=1, 2, . . . , N; (2) said pixel value number m is assigned a number r(m)=1 if said pixel value numbered m belongs to said chosen subset CS of pixel values and is assigned a number r(m)=0 if said pixel value numbered m does not belong to said chosen subset CS of pixel values; and (3) said key I is defined by ##EQU13## where Z is a selected real number greater than 1.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 17 words

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said real number Z is selected to be equal to 2.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 112 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: (1) said pixel bit values in said array of pixel values are numbered m=1, 2, . . . , K·N, where K is the number of bits used to express a pixel value; (2) said pixel bit value number n is assigned a number r'(m)=1 if said pixel bit value numbered m belongs to said chosen subset CS of pixel bit values and is assigned a number r'(m)=0 if said pixel bit value numbered m does not belong to said chosen subset CS of pixel bit values; and (3) said key I is defined by ##EQU14## where Z is a selected real number greater than 1.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 17 words

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said real number Z is selected to be equal to 2.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 126 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said authentication means provides an overlay of polygons p g , numbered g=1, 2, . . . , G (G≧2), of substantially identical shape and size that overlays said array of pixel locations, assigns each pixel location in said array of pixel locations to one polygon in the overlay, assigns at least one pixel location in said chosen subset CS to each polygon in the overlay, computes a sub-key (g,I g ) for each polygon p g that indicates the members of said chosen subset CS that are assigned to the polygon p g , and determines said authentication key I from the collection of sub-key {(g, I g )} g determined for the polygons p g in the overlay.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 36 words

The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said polygons p g in said overlay are drawn from a class of polygons consisting of isoceles triangles, equilateral triangles, squares, rectangles, parallelograms, equilateral regular hexagons and non-equilateral regular hexagons.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 71 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said chosen subset CS of said array PA of pixel values is chosen so that, for any pixel in said pixel array PA a circle, centered at this pixel and having a diameter at least equal to a selected threshold number D, contains at least one pixel belonging to said chosen subset CS, where D is at least four times the pixel-to-pixel nearest neighbor distance.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 54 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said chosen subset CS of said array PA of pixel values includes at least one of the following patterns of pixels: a substantially straight line containing contiguous pixels, a substantially straight line containing non-contiguous pixels, a curved line containing contiguous pixels, and a curved line containing non-contiguous pixels.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 167 words

A method for producing a self-authenticating digital image, the method comprising the steps of: forming a digitally expressed image of a selected view as an array of pixel values, using a digital camera, with each pixel value corresponding to a pixel in an array of pixels; determining position information including at least one of the location of the digital camera, the angular orientation of the digital camera and the time at which a digital image was formed; receiving a digital image from the digital camera; receiving the position information for the digital image; combining the digital image with the position information to form a modified digital image in which each pixel value in a chosen subset CS of the array of pixels is reformed as a modified array to contain a portion of the position information, and storing the modified array of pixel values in a digital image storage module; and providing an authentication key that indicates the chosen subset CS of the modified array of pixels.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 167 words

A method for producing a self-authenticating digital image, the method comprising the steps of: forming a digitally expressed image of a selected view as an array of pixel values, using a digital camera, with each pixel value corresponding to a pixel in an array of pixels; determining position information including at least one of the location of the digital camera, the angular orientation of the digital camera and the time at which a digital image was formed; receiving a digital image from the digital camera; receiving the position information for the digital image; combining the digital image with the position information to form a modified digital image in which each pixel value in a chosen subset CS of the array of pixels is reformed as a modified array to contain a portion of the position information, and storing the modified array of pixel values in a digital image storage module; and providing an authentication key that indicates the chosen subset CS of the modified array of pixels.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 118 words

The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of: providing authentication means, connected to said digital image storage module, for receiving a putative authentication key and putative position information for a selected digital image, for retrieving from said digital image storage means said position information that was combined with said selected digital image by using the putative authentication key, for comparing the putative position information with said retrieved position information that was combined with the selected digital image; authenticating the selected digital image if the putative position information substantially agrees with said retrieved position information; and withholding authentication of the selected digital image if the putative position information does not substantially agree with said retrieved position information.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 44 words

The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising the step of providing display means, connected to said digital image storage module, for presenting information contained in a modified digital image in at least one of electronically perceptible form, visually perceptible form and audibly perceptible form.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 59 words

The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said step of determining said position information comprises: providing a Satellite Positioning System ("SATPS") signal antenna that receives SATPS signals transmitted from at least three SATPS signal sources; and providing an SATPS signal receiver/processor to receive and process SATPS signals from the SATPS antenna and to determine the location of the SATPS antenna.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 101 words

The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said step of determining said position information comprises: providing at least three SATPS signal antennas, arranged non-collinearly to each receive SATPS signals transmitted from at least three SATPS signal sources; and providing an SATPS signal receiver/processor to receive and process SATPS signals from the SATPS antennas and to determine the location of each of the SATPS antennas and the angular orientation of a plane containing at least three of the SATPS antennas and of a selected line lying in this plane, where this selected line has a known angular orientation relative to said digital camera.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 86 words

The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said step of determining said position information comprises: providing an SATPS signal antenna that receives SATPS signals transmitted from at least three SATPS signal sources; providing an SATPS signal receiver/processor to receive and process SATPS signals from the SATPS antenna and to determine the location of the SATPS antenna; and providing angular orientation determination means, attached to said digital camera, for determining the angular orientation of said digital camera independently of the SATPS signals received from the SATPS signal sources.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 62 words

The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said step of determining said position information comprises: providing an SATPS signal antenna that receives SATPS signals transmitted from at least three SATPS signal sources; and providing an SATPS signal receiver/processor to receive and process SATPS signals from the SATPS antennas and to determine the time of receipt of the SATPS signals at the SATPS antenna.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 90 words

The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said step of providing an authentication key I comprises the steps of: (1) numbering said pixel values in said array of pixel values m=1, 2, . . . , N; (2) assigning to said pixel value number m a unique prime number p(m) in a sequence of distinct prime numbers; (3) assigning to said pixel value number n a number q(m)=p(m) if said pixel value numbered m belongs to said chosen subset CS of pixel values and (4) defining said key I by ##EQU15##

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 118 words

The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said step of providing said authentication key I comprises the steps of: (1) numbering said pixel bit values in said array of pixel values m=1, 2, . . . , N; (2) assigning to said pixel bit value number a unique prime number p(m) in a sequence of distinct prime numbers; (3) assigning to said pixel bit value number m a number q'(m)=p(m) if said pixel bit value numbered m belongs to said chosen subset CS of pixel bit values and assigning a number q(m)=1 if said pixel bit value numbered m does not belong to said chosen subset CS of pixel bit values; and (4) defining said key I by ##EQU16##

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 99 words

The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said step of providing said authentication key I comprises the steps of: (1) numbering said pixel values in said array of pixel values m=1, 2, . . . , N; (2) assigning to said pixel value number m a number r(m)=1 if said pixel value numbered m belongs to said chosen subset CS of pixel values and r(m)=0 if said pixel value numbered m does not belong to said chosen subset CS of pixel values; and (3) defining said key I by ##EQU17## where Z is a selected real number greater than 1.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising the step of selecting said real number Z to be equal to 2.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 117 words

The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said step of providing said authentication key I comprises the steps of: (1) numbering said pixel bit values in said array of pixel values m=1, 2, . . . , K·N, where K is the number of bits used to express a pixel value; (2) assigning said pixel bit value number m a number r'(m)=1 if said pixel bit value numbered m belongs to said chosen subset CS of pixel bit values and r'(m)=0 if said pixel bit value numbered m does not belong to said chosen subset CS of pixel bit values; and (3) defining said key I by ##EQU18## where Z is a selected real number greater than 1.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising the step of selecting said real number Z to be equal to 2.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 134 words

The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said step of providing said authentication key I comprises the steps of: providing an overlay of polygons p g , numbered g=1, 2, . . . , G (G≧2), of substantially identical shape and size that overlays said array of pixel locations; assigning each pixel location in said array of pixel locations to one polygon in the overlay; assigning at least one pixel location in said chosen subset CS to each polygon in the overlay; computing a sub-key (g,I g ) for each polygon p g that indicates the members of said chosen subset CS that are assigned to the polygon p g ; and determining said authentication key I from the collection of sub-keys {(g,I g )} g determined for the polygons p g in the overlay.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of choosing said polygons p g in said overlay from a class of polygons consisting of isoceles triangles, equilateral triangles, squares, rectangles, parallelograms, equilateral regular hexagons and non-equilateral regular hexagons.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 73 words

The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising the step of choosing said chosen subset CS of said array PA of pixels so that, for any pixel in said pixel array PA a circle, centered at this pixel and having a diameter at least equal to a selected threshold number D, contains at least one pixel belonging to said chosen subset CS, where D is at least four times the pixel-to-pixel nearest neighbor distance.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 59 words

The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising the step of choosing said chosen subset CS of said array PA of pixels to include at least one of the following patterns of pixels: a substantially straight line containing contiguous pixels, a substantially straight line containing non-contiguous pixels, a curved line containing contiguous pixels, and a curved line containing non-contiguous pixels.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-06-08	2001-12-08	2002-06-09	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-06-08	2005-12-08	2006-06-09	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-06-08	2009-12-08	2010-06-09	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Image authentication patterning

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