Image Authenticity Verification via Encoded Contour Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing threat of manipulation in security documents, such as ID cards and driver's licenses, where photographs are altered to create false identities, poses a challenge in authenticating the originality of images printed on these documents.
Innovation Solution
A method that calculates image-specific results from digital photographs and encodes these results in a visible or invisible form within the printed image or layers above the photograph, allowing for authenticity verification by matching expected results with coded data, using algorithms like Canny Edge detection and luminescent inks or holograms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a photograph is printed on a security document using standard printing processes, then the document can be produced efficiently, but the photograph becomes vulnerable to manipulation and counterfeiting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by embedding image-specific results (such as contour data, colorimetric values, or feature point coordinates) into the document during the original printing process. These encoded results serve as a reference that can later be used to detect any manipulations of the photograph, thereby preventing counterfeiting while maintaining standard production efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary element - the encoded image-specific results - that acts as a mediator between the photograph and the verification process. These results are embedded in the document structure (in visible or invisible layers) and serve as a reference against which any altered photograph can be compared to detect manipulation
2Reliability
If security features are added to detect manipulation, then document authenticity can be verified, but the complexity of the document structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the security feature directly into the photograph structure by encoding image-specific results within the same image data or in closely associated layers. This integration approach allows authenticity verification without adding separate, complex security modules, thereby maintaining document structure simplicity while ensuring reliable manipulation detection
Solution Approach 2:
The encoded image-specific results serve multiple functions: they are part of the normal photograph structure for visual identification, simultaneously serve as security features for authenticity verification, and can be used for both visible and invisible encoding. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate security components, thereby reducing overall document structure complexity
3Reliability
If invisible coding is used to encode image-specific results, then manipulation detection becomes more reliable, but the coding is harder to detect and verify
Solution Approach 1:
For invisible coding, the patent uses specialized verification devices (such as UV lights, spectrometers, or image processing software) as intermediaries to detect and read the encoded image-specific results. These devices enable reliable manipulation detection while making the invisible coding verifiable, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and detectability
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 reliable and quick authentication of images by detecting any manipulation, ensuring the photograph is genuine by matching encoded and calculated image-specific results, thus preventing counterfeiting.
Implementation Method 1
The contour image is printed using a luminescent transparent ink which is invisible in the visible light range and only becomes visible upon irradiation with UV or blue light
Implementation Method 2
Image-specific results are calculated from the data of a digital photograph, and the visible, printed photograph or an area of at least one layer of the data carrier above the photograph is encoded with these results
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for verifying the authenticity of a visible image (15) printed on a data carrier (20) which is encoded with detectable image-specific results (12), wherein expected image-specific results (12e) are calculated from the visible image (15) and then their agreement with image-specific results (12) encoded in the image (15) or in the area (25) of the layer (27) above the image (15) is checked.