Laminated Document Authentication Using Shininess Histogram Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems for computerized authentication of laminated documents face challenges in accurately deriving information and detecting reflections on surfaces, particularly due to the limitations of the Phong reflection model in handling 2D objects and the impact of lamination processes on color intensity and shininess.

Innovation Solution

The method involves generating a 256x256 RG Histogram and a Reflection LUT to quantify shininess and detect reflections by analyzing color component values, using a 45-degree diagonal approach to identify local maxima and calculate distances, thereby distinguishing between shiny and non-shiny pixels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If the Phong reflection model is used to analyze laminated documents, then reflection detection capability is improved, but the model's validity for 2D objects is limited causing measurement errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereflection detection capabilityVSAvoidaccuracy of deriving information
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the continuous color space into a discrete 256x256 histogram grid, converting the complex Phong model parameters into simplified histogram bin counts. This parameter transformation allows reflection detection without requiring the full complexity of the Phong model, thereby maintaining measurement precision while improving detection capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mathematical physics-based Phong reflection model with a computational histogram-based approach. Instead of using the complex illumination equations of the Phong model, the system uses histogram analysis of color components, substituting a mechanical/mathematical model with a computational statistics approach that is more suitable for 2D laminated documents.

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

2Reliability

If lamination process is applied to documents, then document protection and appearance are improved, but color intensity variation and shininess cause authentication errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedocument protection and appearanceVSAvoidcolor intensity accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the reflection component from the overall color signal by analyzing the relationship between original color values and histogram peak positions. By separating the reflection effect (shininess) from the base color information, the system can authenticate documents based on the extracted base color while ignoring the protective lamination's color intensity variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different processing strategies to different regions of the color histogram. By identifying local maxima in specific histogram bins and comparing them across different color channels, the system adapts to local color variations caused by lamination while maintaining overall authentication accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If histogram analysis is performed on color components, then reflection quantification is improved, but computational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshininess quantification accuracyVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the color space into discrete histogram bins (256x256 grid) and processes each bin independently to identify local maxima. This segmentation transforms a complex continuous optimization problem into simpler discrete comparisons, improving shininess quantification accuracy while reducing computational complexity through divide-and-conquer processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

This approach effectively reduces error rates in authentication by accurately quantifying shininess and detecting reflections, enhancing the reliability of laminated document authentication systems.

Implementation Method 1

The basic colors (of the actual object) may, in the image, be seen to vary in that the same value or proportion is added to each of the basic R,G,B of the image due to shininess of the image generated by the lamination process

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpecular reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3165018B1System and method for quantifying reflection when analyzing laminated documents
Publication Date: 2022.09.14 AU10TIX
  • EP3165018B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3165018B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3165018B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system for computerized authentication of a laminated object, the system comprising a digital medium storing a digital image of at least a portion of the laminated object in a computer- implemented memory; a shininess analyzer operative, using a processor, to generate shininess data quantifying shininess of the digital image; and a parameterized computerized authentication sub-system operative to differentially perform at least one laminated object authentication operation based on the shininess data.