Imaging Device Re-Signature for Authentic Edited Images

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic signatures on images become invalid when the captured image is edited, making it difficult to verify the authenticity of edited images.

Innovation Solution

A system that includes an imaging device, a certification authority, a distribution service, and a verification service, where an electronic signature is added to the image data using a user identification module (UIM) and re-applied after editing, ensuring authenticity verification through a public key encryption system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an electronic signature is added to captured image data, then the authenticity of the original image can be verified, but the signature becomes invalid when the image is edited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthenticity verificationVSAvoidimage editing capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by embedding the electronic signature directly into the pixel data of the image during the capture process. This preliminary embedding ensures the signature travels with the image through any editing operations. When verification is needed, the system extracts the signature from the current image state and compares it with the expected signature, allowing authenticity verification even after editing operations have been performed on the image.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If an electronic signature is re-added to edited images, then authenticity can be maintained, but it becomes difficult to distinguish between originally captured images and edited copies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthenticity verificationVSAvoidoriginal capture identification
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the authentication system into two distinct components: the electronic signature embedded in the image data and the separate verification process. The signature is segmented from the visual content of the image and stored as separate metadata or embedded data. During verification, the system segments the signature extraction and comparison as a distinct process, allowing the system to verify authenticity without confusing edited images with original captures, since the verification checks the signature against the expected value rather than comparing image content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If image data is edited to improve appearance, then viewing quality is enhanced, but the existing electronic signature becomes invalid

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage editing for viewingVSAvoidsignature validity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the electronic signature verification process adaptive to the current state of the image. Rather than requiring the image to remain static and unchanged from capture, the system dynamically extracts the signature from the current image state (whether original or edited) and verifies it against the expected signature. This dynamic verification approach allows users to freely edit images for viewing quality while maintaining the ability to verify authenticity, as the signature validation adapts to the edited state rather than requiring the original uncropped, unfiltered image.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4013032B1Imaging device, image data processing method, and program
Publication Date: 2025.07.30 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP4013032B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4013032B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4013032B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An object is to make it possible to add an electronic signature to an edited image under reliable environment. An imaging device includes a determination processing unit that executes determination processing for determining whether or not image data is an own device captured image captured by an own device on the basis of metadata corresponding to the image data input from outside of the own device and a signature processing unit that acquires re-signature data different from signature data at the time of imaging using the image data and metadata for the image data determined as an own device captured image by the determination processing unit.