Identity Document Face Image Screening Against Morphing Attacks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing identity document systems are vulnerable to image manipulation, such as morphing, which can compromise the reliability of automated access control systems and are difficult to prevent globally due to varying national standards and lack of digital signature verification.

Innovation Solution

Capture a high-quality digital reference facial image, analyze it for biometric features, and use manipulation indicators to detect image manipulation, converting the image to a lower resolution for storage in identity documents, with optional neural network evaluation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single digital reference facial image is created from multiple individuals using image manipulation, then the image can match all individuals during manual and automated inspection, but the reliability of automated access control systems deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage matching capabilityVSAvoidaccess control reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing manipulation detection on the digital reference facial image during the application process, before the image is stored in the identity document. This proactive approach prevents manipulated images from being accepted in the first place, rather than detecting them later during verification

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual inspection with automated manipulation detection systems that use technical analysis of the digital image itself. This substitution enables more consistent and reliable detection of manipulated images while maintaining efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If manipulation detection is implemented during the application process, then the reliability of identity documents improves, but the complexity of the personalization process increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveidentity document securityVSAvoidpersonalization process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The manipulation detection system analyzes the digital reference facial image automatically without requiring manual intervention. The system self-evaluates the image for manipulation artifacts, reducing the need for complex human review processes while maintaining high reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts only the necessary manipulation detection analysis from the overall personalization process. By focusing specifically on detecting manipulation in the digital reference facial image rather than reworking the entire personalization workflow, the added complexity is minimized while security is enhanced

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Measurement precision

If high-resolution digital reference facial images are used for manipulation detection, then the detection accuracy improves, but the storage requirements and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanipulation detection accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs manipulation detection on the high-resolution digital reference facial image during the application process, before the image is converted to lower resolution for storage. This ensures that the full-resolution image is available for accurate analysis, while the stored version in the identity document uses standard lower resolution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The manipulation detection system focuses analysis on specific local features and regions of the face image where manipulation artifacts are most likely to appear. This localized approach maintains high detection accuracy while reducing the overall computational burden and processing time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3651059B1Device for personalizing an identity document of a person
Publication Date: 2025.12.10 BUNDESDRUCKEREI GMBH
  • EP3651059B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3651059B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (100) for personalizing a person's identity document. The device (100) comprises an image acquisition device (101) configured to acquire a first digital reference facial image of the person, wherein the first digital reference facial image has a first reference image resolution. The device (100) further comprises a tamper detection device (103) configured to acquire a biometric reference feature in the first digital reference facial image, to compare the biometric reference feature with a biometric comparison reference feature in order to obtain a tamper indicator, and to detect image manipulation in the first digital reference facial image based on the tamper indicator.The device (100) further comprises an image generation unit (105) which is configured, if no image manipulation is detected, to generate a second digital reference face image based on the first digital reference face image, wherein the second digital reference face image has a second reference image resolution. The device (100) further comprises a personalization unit (107) which is configured to store the second digital reference face image in the person's identity document.