Secure photo carrying identification device, as well as means and method for authenticating such an identification device

1. An identification device comprising:

a photographic image of a person; and

a microprocessor,

the microprocessor comprising:

a processor,

a memory connected to the processor and comprising authentication data, and

interface means connected to said processor for communicating with an external device,

wherein said photographic image comprises stenanographically hidden information, the content of which together with said authentication data allows authentication of said photographic image, wherein the microprocessor is arranged to carry out at least part of the authentication.

2. The identification device according to claim 1 , wherein said memory includes credential data and the microprocessor is arranged to transmit the credential data to the external device only when the microprocessor has carried out at least part of the authentication successfully.

3. The identification device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein said processor is arranged to carry out at least part of said authentication.

4. The identification device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein said hidden information is provided with a cryptographic signature.

5. The identification device according to claim 1 , wherein said authentication data is at least partly related to a feature of the photographic image.

6. The identification device according to claim 1 , wherein said hidden information is related to a feature of the photographic image.

7. The identification device according to claim 5 or 6 , wherein said feature is at least one of gray level, intensity distribution, and image entropy.

8. A terminal arranged to communicate with an identification device, said identification device comprising:

a photographic image of a person; and

a microprocessor,

the microprocessor comprising:

a processor,

a memory connected to the processor and comprising authentication data, and

interface means connected to said processor for communication with a terminal,

wherein said photographic image comprises stenanographically hidden information, the content of which together with said authentication data allows authentication of said photographic image and the microprocessor is arranged to carry out at least part of the authentication of the photographic image,

said terminal including:

a picture scanner to scan the photographic image and to generate image data,

a terminal interface allowing communication with said processor of the identification device, and

an image processor arranged

to receive said image data

to analyze the image data in accordance with a predetermined image analysis procedure to derive said hidden information, and

to transmit at least the hidden information to the processor to allow the processor to carry out the at least part of the authentication of the photographic image.

9. The terminal according to claim 8 , wherein said authentication comprises a set of predetermined steps stored in a terminal memory, the way in which said steps are carried out depending on said authentication data received from said memory of said identification device.

10. A terminal according to claim 8 , wherein the image processor is arranged to carry out a further part of the authentication of the photographic image only when it has received credential data from the microprocessor.

11. The terminal according to claim 8 , 9 , or 10 , wherein said terminal has an opening for receiving said identification device, both said picture scanner and said terminal interface being located within said opening.

12. The terminal according to claim 8 or 10 , wherein said image processor is integrated within said picture scanner.

13. A method for authenticating a photographic image on an identification device, said identification device comprising:

a photographic image of a person; and

a microprocessor,

the microprocessor comprising:

a processor,

a memory connected to the processor and comprising authentication data, and

interface means connected to said processor for communicating with an external device,

wherein said photographic image comprises stenanographically hidden information, the content of which together with said authentication data allows authentication of said photographic image,

said method comprising the following steps:

scanning the photographic image and generating image data,

analyzing the image data in accordance with a predetermined image analysis procedure to derive said hidden information, and

carrying out said authentication of said photographic image based on said hidden information and said authentication data, wherein the microprocessor performs at least part of the authentication.

14. A data carrier provided with a computer readable program for a method for authenticating a photographic image on an identification device, said identification device comprising:

a photographic image of a person; and

a microprocessor,

the microprocessor comprising:

a processor,

a memory connected to the processor and comprising authentication data, and

interface means connected to said processor for communicating with an external device,

wherein said photographic image comprises stenanographically hidden information, the content of which together with said authentication data allows authentication of said photographic image,

said method comprising the following steps:

scanning the photographic image and generating image data,

analyzing the image data in accordance with a predetermined image analysis procedure to derive said hidden information, and

carrying out said authentication of said photographic image based on said hidden information and said authentication data, wherein the microprocessor performs at least Dart of the authentication.

15. A computer program product for a method for authenticating a photographic image on an identification device, said identification device comprising:

a photographic image of a person; and

a microprocessor,

the microprocessor comprising:

a processors,

a memory connected to the processor and comprising authentication data, and

interface means connected to said processor for communicating with an external device,

wherein said photographic image comprises stenanographically hidden information, the content of which together with said authentication data allows authentication of said photographic image,

said method comprising the following steps:

scanning the photographic image and generating image data,

analyzing the image data in accordance with a predetermined image analysis procedure to derive said hidden information, and

carrying out said authentication of said photographic image based on said hidden information and said authentication data, wherein the microprocessor performs at least part of the authentication.