Personal document authentication system using watermarking
An identification document includes a unique identifier, and a picture of a person. Steganographically embedded in the picture is information corresponding to the identifier, by which the document can be authenticated. A verification apparatus reads the identifier from the document (e.g., by OCR or a machine-readable feature), and collects scan data corresponding to the picture. The scan data is processed to extract the embedded information. The embedded information is then compared for expected correspondence with the identifier. A remote database can store information related to the card, and can be queried in connection with the authentication.
1 . An authentication system comprising: a database for storing an identifier of a personal document and digital watermark information related to said identifier; a personal document containing said identifier; said personal document also containing a readable authentic image in which a digital watermark relative to said identifier is embedded; a read means for reading at least said authentic image from said personal document; a watermark information inquiring means for extracting digital watermark information corresponding to said identifier from said authentic image; and a watermark information comparing means for judging whether said digital watermark information extracted by said watermark information inquiring means from said personal document is identical to said watermark information stored in said database; if said watermark inquiring means finds identical watermark information in said watermark information from said authentic image and said database, said watermark inquiring means justifies said personal document; and if the watermark information from the two sources are not identical then the watermark inquiring means fails to justify said personal document.
2 . The authentication system of claim 1 , wherein said personal document includes: an information carrier for storing said authentic image; and said digital watermark is embedded in said authentic image stored in said information carrier.
3 . The authentication system of claim 2 , wherein said information carrier is at least one of a semiconductor memory and a magnetic recording material.
4 . The authentication system of claim 2 , wherein: said information carrier includes said authentic image being a printed authentic image affixed to said personal document; and said read means reads said printed image.
5 . The authentication system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said identifier and said digital watermark information includes an element that is randomly generated.
6 . The authentication system of claims 1 , further comprising: means for updating said digital watermark information stored in said database and said digital watermark information embedded in said authentic image in said personal document each time said watermark information inquiring means judges said digital watermark information to be justifiable.
7 . The authentication system of claim 1 , further comprising: a communication device for communicating said watermark information between said watermark information inquiring means and said database.
8 . A personal document issuing system comprising: an identifier generating means for generating an identifier unique to a personal document; a watermark information generating means for generating digital watermark information corresponding to said identifier; a database for storing said identifier of said personal document and said digital watermark information relative to said identifier in relation to each other; a watermark information registering means for storing said identifier generated by said identifier generating means and said digital watermark information generated by said watermark information generating means in said database; an image input means for inputting a raw authentic image; a watermark-embedded image forming means for forming a watermark-embedded authentic image in which said digital watermark is embedded on said authentic image input by said image input means; and a personal document that readably carries said authentic image generated by said watermark-embedded image forming means and said identifier generated by said identifier generating means.
9 . The personal document issuing system of claim 8 , wherein: said personal document includes an information carrier for storing said authentic image; and said authentic image includes a digital watermark embedded in said authentic image stored in said information carrier.
10 . The personal document issuing system of claim 9 , wherein said information carrier is at least one of a semiconductor memory and a magnetic material.
11 . The personal document issuing system of claim 9 wherein: said information carrier includes said authentic image being a printed authentic image affixed to said personal document; and said read means reads said printed authentic image.
12 . The personal document issuing system of claim 8 , wherein at least one of said identifier and said digital watermark information includes an element that is randomly generated.
13 . The personal document issuing system of claim 8 , wherein said digital watermark information stored in said database and embedded in said authentic image of said personal document are updated at a predetermined time.
14 . The personal document issuing system of claim 13 , wherein said predetermined time includes each time said system correctly justifies an authentic image.
15 . The personal document issuing system of claim 8 , further comprising: a communication device for communicating said watermark information between said watermark information inquiring means and said database.
16 . A personal document comprising: a unique identifier; an authentic image of an authorized user of said personal document; said authentic image being viewable by eye; said authentic image containing embedded therein digital watermark information corresponding to said identifier; and means for permitting communication of said identifier and said digital watermark information to a database remote from said personal document.