Document Integrity Verification via Optical Image Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for verifying the integrity of documents, especially those without electronic components, are inadequate as they often rely on time-consuming and complex cryptographic procedures, and fail to reliably detect manipulations of optically detectable personal data such as facial images.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method using an optical sensor to capture a digital image of a document, applying irreversible information-loss computing functions to transform the image data into depersonalized reference data that is unique to the document, allowing for quick and reliable verification without storing sensitive personal data, and using a database to store and compare these reference data for integrity checks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cryptographic methods and electronic components are used for integrity verification, then security and reliability are improved, but time consumption and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a digital copy of the document's visual characteristics (image data) and stores it as reference data. During verification, the current document image is compared with the stored reference image, enabling fast visual comparison without complex cryptographic operations. This copying approach allows rapid integrity checking while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex cryptographic verification systems with a simpler optical comparison system. Instead of using cryptographic hashes and digital signatures that require complex computation, the system uses optical sensors to capture images and compares them visually, substituting mechanical/optical processes for electronic/cryptographic ones, thereby reducing verification time.
2Reliability
If electronic components and cryptographic methods are used for integrity verification, then security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a digital copy of the document's visual appearance and stores it as reference data. This copying approach simplifies the verification process by reducing it to a simple image comparison task, eliminating the need for complex cryptographic hardware and software components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the visually relevant information from the document (the image data representing personal characteristics) and uses this extracted data for verification. By taking out only the necessary visual features and ignoring complex electronic verification mechanisms, the system achieves simplicity while maintaining security through visual comparison.
3Measurement precision
If original document images are stored for verification purposes, then verification accuracy is improved, but data protection risks and data loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the visual characteristics of the document (image data representing personal traits) and stores this extracted information as reference data. By extracting only the necessary visual features for comparison and not storing the complete original documents or sensitive metadata, the system maintains verification accuracy while minimizing data protection risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified digital copy of the document's visual characteristics for storage and verification purposes. This copying approach allows the system to store only the essential visual information needed for comparison rather than the complete original documents, reducing the attack surface for data breaches while maintaining verification capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and secure verification of document integrity, preventing unauthorized manipulation of personal data while ensuring accurate detection of even minor changes, without violating data protection laws or risking data theft.
Implementation Method 1
Capturing a digital image of at least part of a document using an optical sensor
Data Source
Figure 1A~2
Figure 3A~3B
Figure 3C
AI summary
The invention relates to a computer-implemented method for verifying the integrity of a document. The method comprises: - capturing (110) a test image (918, 404, 504) by a camera (902), wherein the test image is a digital image of a document containing personal data (706); - calculating (112) image verification data (927) by applying an irreversible, lossy computational function (816) to intensity data of pixels of the test image; and - identifying (114) image reference data (822, 832) that are linked to the document and stored in a database (825); - calculating (116) a similarity indicator by comparing the image verification data and the identified image reference data; - using (118) the document and/or performing a function only if the similarity index exceeds a minimum value.