Digital Fingerprinting for Object Change Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods are limited in reliably detecting and measuring changes in physical objects over time, particularly in assessing authenticity, provenance, quality, condition, and degradation, especially for objects undergoing additive or subtractive manufacturing processes, and require specialized and expensive equipment.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing digital fingerprint techniques, including image 'match points' to measure and detect changes in physical objects, which can be implemented with consumer-level electronics, such as smartphones, and a digital fingerprinting process coupled with an object change computer server to store and analyze digital fingerprints and deterioration metrics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If specialized equipment is used for object change detection, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a digital fingerprint (copy) of the physical object's surface characteristics, which can be stored and compared against future images. This digital replica allows for precise change detection without requiring complex specialized equipment at the detection stage, as the comparison is performed computationally rather than through complex physical measurement instruments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or optical measurement systems with a computational approach using standard imaging devices. By substituting specialized measurement hardware with algorithms that process images from conventional cameras or smartphones, the system achieves high measurement precision while eliminating the need for expensive, complex equipment.
2Device complexity
If digital fingerprinting is used for change detection, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the object surface into multiple characteristic points or features that are extracted to form the digital fingerprint. By dividing the complex task of overall image comparison into smaller feature-point matching operations, the system maintains high measurement precision even when using simple devices, as each feature point provides localized detailed information about surface characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the physical surface characteristics of the object into digital parameters that can be computationally compared. By changing the representation from physical dimensions to digital feature descriptors, the system enables precise change detection using standard computing devices rather than requiring specialized measurement instruments with high physical resolution.
3Reliability
If multiple digital fingerprints are stored over time, then reliability of change assessment is improved, but loss of storage space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential surface characteristic features from each object image to create a compact digital fingerprint representation. By taking out only the relevant feature points and their descriptors rather than storing entire high-resolution images, the system achieves reliable longitudinal change assessment while minimizing data storage requirements through efficient feature-based representation.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure teaches a method of utilizing image “match points” to measure and detect changes in a physical object. In some cases “degradation” or “wear and tear” of the physical object is assessed, while in other applications this disclosure is applicable to measuring intentional changes, such as changes made by additive or subtractive manufacturing processes, which may, for example, involve adding a layer or removing a layer by machining. A system may include a scanner, and a digital fingerprinting process, coupled to an object change computer server. The server is coupled to a datastore that stores class digital fingerprints, selected object digital fingerprints collected over time, match measurements, and deterioration metrics.