Object Authentication Using Dual Feature Codebooks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for authenticating physical objects are inadequate as they often require modifications to the object, are not user-friendly for consumers, and struggle with robustness and backward compatibility, especially in detecting small or invisible differences.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing two sets of features and codebooks, with an identification database and authentication database organized differently, allowing for non-local image characterization and secure authentication without modifying the object, using multiple key points descriptors and cryptographic encoding to protect design features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If digital watermarking or data hiding is used to embed security marks in products, then product verification capability is improved, but the method requires modifying the content or object prior to manufacturing or reproduction, which complicates the manufacturing process and is not backward compatible with existing products
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by extracting and storing authentication features from the original product design before manufacturing or distribution. The authentication database is populated with reference features from genuine products during an enrollment phase, enabling verification without requiring any modification to the manufacturing process of existing products. This resolves the contradiction by establishing the verification system in advance rather than requiring post-manufacturing intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts authentication features directly from the visual appearance of genuine products without embedding any additional marks or modifications. The system takes out and stores only the essential visual features in an authentication database, leaving the product manufacturing process unchanged. This extraction approach enables verification capability while maintaining ease of manufacture and backward compatibility.
2Reliability
If specialized hardware devices are distributed for product verification, then authentication capability is improved, but device complexity and distribution cost increase, and end consumers show little interest or ability to use such specialized devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the authentication system to work with common mobile devices that consumers already possess. The verification application can run on standard smartphones using their existing cameras and processors, eliminating the need for specialized hardware. This multi-functional approach allows the same device to serve both general communication purposes and product authentication, resolving the contradiction between authentication capability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables self-service authentication where end consumers can independently verify product authenticity using their own mobile devices without requiring specialized equipment or expert knowledge. The system is designed to be user-friendly with automatic feature extraction and comparison, allowing consumers to perform verification themselves. This resolves the contradiction by making authentication accessible to ordinary consumers rather than requiring specialized devices.
3Reliability
If existing security mechanisms add extra features or materials such as holograms, RFIDs, or luminescent materials to products, then security protection is improved, but the product design and look are modified, and backward compatibility with previously produced products is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts authentication features directly from the existing visual appearance of products without adding any extra features, materials, or modifications. The system captures and stores visual features from genuine products as they are originally designed and manufactured, enabling verification of both new and existing products. This extraction approach maintains backward compatibility while providing security protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of verification from physical presence of security features to digital comparison of visual appearance parameters. Instead of requiring specific physical features like holograms or RFID tags, the system compares digital representations of product appearance against stored reference features. This parameter change enables verification of products regardless of when they were manufactured, achieving backward compatibility while maintaining security.
4Manufacturing precision
If counterfeited products are accurately duplicated, then counterfeit quality is improved making verification difficult, but small or invisible differences remain that can be recognized by trained experts but are imperceptible to casual consumers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/visual inspection system with a digital image processing and pattern recognition system. Instead of relying on human experts to visually detect differences, the system uses computational algorithms to extract, compare, and analyze visual features digitally. This substitution enables detection of subtle differences that are imperceptible to human consumers while maintaining ease of use. The digital system can identify minute variations in feature positions, shapes, or patterns that indicate counterfeiting.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention concerns a method for recognition and/or verification of authenticity of digital - and/or physical objects comprising the steps of codebook training, object enrollment, and object verification, the latter consisting in object recognition and/or object authentication. The method distinguishes due to the fact that it uses two types of features (xi(m), xa(m)), of codebooks (Ci, Ca), and of databases (Di, Da) which are specifically designed for identification, respectively authentication, the identification database (Di) and authentication database (Da) having different organizations. The invention is also directed to corresponding computer program means adapted to implement the proposed method, devices adapted for implementation of a method, as well as to applications which are particularly adapted for use of the proposed method.