Identity Document Image Watermarking via Pre-Processed Blocks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic identity documents, such as passports, lack control over the dissemination of digital images once transmitted, posing a security risk as the owner cannot prevent unauthorized use or distribution.

Innovation Solution

A method is introduced where modified data blocks are created and stored during the personalization phase of the identity document, allowing for quick marking and tracking of digital images, enabling the identity document to mark and tag images before transmission, thereby controlling and tracing their use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If digital images are transmitted from electronic identity documents to terminals for processing and verification, then the utility and accessibility of the document is improved, but the owner loses control over subsequent dissemination and unauthorized use of the images

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility of digital imageVSAvoidcontrol over image dissemination
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by embedding watermarks and tracking data into digital images before they are transmitted from the electronic identity document to external terminals. This pre-marking process ensures that the image carries identification information from the moment of transmission, enabling subsequent tracking and control of its dissemination without interfering with the normal verification workflow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If watermarking and tracking data are calculated and processed during the marking phase within the identity document, then the security control over image distribution is improved, but the processing time and computational load increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity control over imageVSAvoidduration of marking phase
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing multiple modified blocks of image data during the personalization phase of the identity document. These pre-processed blocks are ready for rapid insertion during the marking phase, eliminating the need for time-consuming real-time image processing when watermarks need to be applied, thus resolving the contradiction between security control and processing time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the image into multiple blocks and pre-processing these blocks separately during personalization. The identity document stores multiple modified versions of these blocks, allowing the system to quickly assemble watermarked images by selecting and combining pre-processed blocks rather than processing the entire image in real-time, thereby reducing marking duration while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple modified blocks are stored in the identity document data structure for each original block, then the flexibility and quality of watermarking options are improved, but the memory requirements and data structure complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewatermarking optionsVSAvoiddata structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a data structure that stores multiple modified blocks for each original image block, where these blocks serve multiple functions: they can be used for different watermarking scenarios, accommodate various terminal requirements, and provide fallback options if certain watermarks fail. This multi-functional approach increases versatility while the structured organization keeps complexity manageable.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3298765B1Watermarking of the user picture of an id document during readout
Publication Date: 2021.02.17 IDEMIA FRANCE SAS
  • EP3298765B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3298765B1 patent drawingFigure 2~6
  • EP3298765B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates essentially to a method of creating an electronic identity document, said method comprising the following steps: - obtaining (S30) of the file of an original digital image, - obtaining (S32) of at least one block of data of said file, termed the original block, - for each original block: - creating (S34) of at least two modified blocks, - recording (S36) of each modified block in a data structure of said document, each modified block being indexed in said data structure by the location of said original block in the file of a digital image intended to be marked, and by a different input.