US 8,576,049 B2 · Document authentication and identification

Abstract

Computer-implemented methods, systems, and computer program products for document authentication and identification using encoding and decoding are provided. A method includes receiving a digitized document and comparing the digitized document to a set of markers to determine whether the digitized document is an encoded document with one or more characters replaced. In response to determining that the digitized document is encoded, information is extracted from the set of markers using a decoder according to an encoding strategy. The extracted information and the set of markers are compared with data stored in encoding history to authenticate and identify the received digitized document. Markers in the encoded document may be hidden in plain sight, such that the encoding is not readily apparent to a casual observer.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A computer-implemented method for encoding identification information in a document, comprising:

receiving a digitized document;
creating a set of markers associated with identification information;
determining whether permission to modify semantic content of the digitized document is given;
selecting an encoding strategy to apply the set of markers to the digitized document as identifying tags to produce an encoded document based on the determination whether permission to modify the semantic content of the digitized document is given, wherein the encoding strategy includes retaining semantic content of the digitized document based on determining that permission to modify the semantic content of the digitized document is not given, and the encoding strategy includes modifying the semantic content of the digitized document based on determining that permission to modify the semantic content of the digitized document is given;
and
applying the set of markers to the digitized document according to the encoding strategy using an encoder to produce an encoded document with one or more characters added or replaced compared to the digitized document.

3 more elements

A system for document authentication and identification, comprising:

an encoder configured to execute on a processing unit and perform a method comprising:
receiving a digitized document;
creating a set of markers associated with identification information;
determining whether permission is given to modify semantic content of the digitized document;
selecting an encoding strategy to apply the set of markers to the digitized document as identifying tags to produce an encoded document based on the determination whether permission is given to modify the semantic content of the digitized document, wherein the encoding strategy includes retaining the semantic content of the digitized document based on determining that permission to modify the semantic content of the digitized document is not given, and the encoding strategy includes modifying the semantic content of the digitized document based on determining that permission to modify the semantic content of the digitized document is given;
applying the set of markers to the digitized document according to the encoding strategy to produce an encoded document with one or more characters replaced or rearranged;
and
storing a record of the set of markers and encoding strategy associated with the encoded document as encoding history;
and
a decoder configured to execute on the processing unit and perform a method comprising:
receiving a returned digitized document;
comparing the returned digitized document to the set of markers to determine whether the returned digitized document is the encoded document with one or more characters replaced or rearranged;
in response to determining that the returned digitized document is the encoded with one or more characters replaced or rearranged, extracting information from the set of markers according to the encoding strategy;
and
comparing the extracted information and the set of markers with data stored in the encoding history to authenticate and identify the returned digitized document.

12 more elements

A computer program product for document identification and authentication, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for implementing a method, the method comprising:
receiving a digitized document;
creating a set of markers associated with identification information;
determining whether permission is given to modify semantic content of the digitized document;
selecting an encoding strategy to apply the set of markers to the digitized document as identifying tags to produce an encoded document based on the determination whether permission is given to modify the semantic content of the digitized document, wherein the encoding strategy includes retaining the semantic content of the digitized document based on determining that permission to modify the semantic content of the digitized document is not given, and the encoding strategy includes modifying the semantic content of the digitized document based on determining that permission to modify the semantic content of the digitized document is given;
applying the set of markers to the digitized document according to the encoding strategy to produce an encoded document with one or more characters replaced;
and
storing a record of the set of markers and encoding strategy associated with the encoded document as encoding history.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Document authentication and identification

Life of this patent

Document authentication and identification

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20