Dynamic Handwriting Verification for Variable Signatures

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current electronic handwriting verification methods face challenges in accurately authenticating signatures with variability and compatibility across different input devices, particularly when using a single reference signature, and in preserving and processing handwriting data effectively.

Innovation Solution

A dynamic handwriting verification method that compares geometric and non-geometric features of test and reference samples using simulated annealing and adaptive encoding techniques, while generating and preserving handwriting data in a flexible, lossless, and lossy format for compatibility and authentication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single reference signature is used for verification, then the verification process is simple, but the accuracy decreases due to signature variability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveverification process complexityVSAvoidverification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the signature verification process into multiple independent feature extractions (geometric features, dynamic features, pressure features, timing features) that are compared separately. This allows the system to handle signature variability by analyzing multiple aspects rather than relying on a single reference comparison, thereby improving accuracy without significantly increasing overall process complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts multiple parameters from the signature including geometric parameters (coordinates, angles, curvature), dynamic parameters (speed, acceleration, jerk), pressure parameters, and timing parameters. By analyzing multiple parameters simultaneously rather than a single reference signature, the system achieves higher verification accuracy while maintaining reasonable process complexity through systematic parameter comparison.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If handwriting data is processed and stored in multiple formats, then compatibility across devices is improved, but data processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice compatibilityVSAvoiddata processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal handwriting data structure that can represent multiple types of handwriting data (geometric, dynamic, pressure, timing) in a single standardized format. This multi-functional data structure enables compatibility across different input devices without requiring separate processing pipelines for each device type, thereby achieving device compatibility while controlling processing complexity through a unified approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms raw handwriting data from various devices into a standardized parameter set including geometric parameters, dynamic parameters, pressure parameters, and timing parameters. By converting diverse input formats into a common parameter representation, the system achieves broad device compatibility while simplifying processing through consistent parameter handling across all device types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If original handwriting data is preserved in addition to processed data, then future analysis capability is improved, but storage requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuture analysis capabilityVSAvoidstorage requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and preserves only the essential feature parameters (geometric, dynamic, pressure, timing) from the original handwriting data while discarding redundant raw data. This selective extraction maintains the capability for future analysis of key handwriting characteristics while significantly reducing storage requirements by storing only the most relevant extracted features rather than complete raw data sets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent discards redundant raw handwriting data during processing but preserves the extracted feature parameters that can be recovered and re-analyzed for future verification needs. This approach maintains reliability for future analysis by preserving essential features while reducing storage requirements by eliminating redundant information that cannot be regenerated from the features alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

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

Improves the accuracy of handwriting verification by adapting to device-specific data and preserving original handwriting data for future use, ensuring compatibility and efficient processing across various devices and applications.

Implementation Method 1

The first feature matching can include a simulated annealing process. The simulated annealing process can include selecting a feature point in the reference sample; generating a pseudo-random value; comparing the pseudo-random value with a constant; and based on the comparing, determining whether to remove a link from a selected point in the reference sample or define a new link between the selected feature point in the reference sample and a selected feature point in the test sample.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSimulated annealing: Annealing

Data Source

PatentEP3061067B1Dynamic handwriting verification, handwriting-baseduser authentication, handwriting data generation, and handwriting data preservation
Publication Date: 2023.11.29 WACOM CO LTD
  • EP3061067B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3061067B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3061067B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B

AI summary

Handwriting verification methods and related computer systems, and handwriting-based user authentication methods and related computer systems are disclosed. A handwriting verification method comprises obtaining a handwriting test sample containing a plurality of available parameters, extracting geometric parameters, deriving geometric features comprising an x-position value and a y-position value for each of a plurality of feature points in the test sample, performing feature matching between geometric features of the test sample and a reference sample, determining a handwriting verification result based at least in part on the feature matching, and outputting the handwriting verification result. Techniques and tools for generating and preserving electronic handwriting data also are disclosed. Raw handwriting data is converted to a streamed format that preserves the original content of the raw handwriting data. Techniques and tools for inserting electronic handwriting data into a digital image also are disclosed.