Threat Intelligence System Using OCR for Image Text Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems lack an efficient method to extract and analyze textual data from images posted online, leading to missed security threats and delayed detection of potential or ongoing malicious activities, as manual review is time-consuming and impractical.

Innovation Solution

A threat intelligence system that downloads images from targeted websites, uses optical character recognition (OCR) to extract textual data, and stores it in an indexed and searchable database, generating a threat assessment score and security alerts when certain thresholds are met, enabling quick identification and mitigation of security threats.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual review of images is used, then accuracy of threat identification is maintained, but time consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of threat identificationVSAvoidtime consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical review of images with an automated optical character recognition (OCR) system that uses image processing and text extraction algorithms to identify threats, substituting human labor with automated technological processes

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service by automatically downloading images from targeted websites, extracting textual data through OCR, analyzing threats, and generating security alerts without requiring continuous human intervention, enabling the system to operate autonomously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If automated image analysis is implemented, then productivity increases, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethroughput of threat detectionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the threat detection system into distinct functional modules: image downloading component, OCR text extraction component, threat analysis component, and alert generation component, making each module independent and easier to manage while improving overall productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary OCR processing layer that converts images to textual data, serving as a mediator between image acquisition and threat analysis, which simplifies the overall system architecture by standardizing the data format

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If comprehensive image harvesting is performed, then quantity of threat data increases, but difficulty of analysis increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequantity of threat dataVSAvoiddifficulty of data analysis
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the relevant textual information from images using OCR technology, separating useful threat data from irrelevant visual content, and stores it in an indexed database that facilitates easy searching and analysis

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of data representation by converting images into textual format, making the data more suitable for automated analysis, searching, and processing while maintaining the original image information for reference

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

The system provides timely and accurate identification of security threats by automating the extraction and analysis of textual data from images, reducing the impact of malicious activities and enabling proactive countermeasures.

Implementation Method 1

extraction of textual data from the retrieved images (e.g., by an optical character recognition (OCR) process)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical character recognition:

Data Source

PatentUS11700267B2Threat intelligence system
Publication Date: 2023.07.11 PAYPAL INC
  • US11700267B2 patent drawing
  • US11700267B2 patent drawing
  • US11700267B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Systems and methods for providing a threat intelligence system include a system provider device that downloads, through communication over a network and from one or more targeted websites, a plurality of images of a first environment. Based on an OCR process, the system provider device may extract a set of textual data corresponding to a subset of images of the plurality of images, where the subset of images depict text. The system provider device stores the set of textual data in an indexed and searchable database. The system provider device assigns a threat assessment score to each image based on the set of textual data, and the threat assessment score may be updated based on comparison of the set of textual data with other sets of textual data. Based on the threat assessment score being greater than a threshold value, the system provider device may generate a security alert.