Image analysis – Applications – Personnel identification
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-22
2004-12-28
Werner, Brian (Department: 3621)
Image analysis
Applications
Personnel identification
C382S188000, C382S201000, C382S314000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06836555
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a payment product comprising at least one writing area which is intended to receive handwritten information from a user and which is provided with a first position-coding pattern which makes possible digital recording of the handwritten information. The invention also relates to a server unit, a system for information management, use of an absolute position-coding pattern and a hand-held electronic user unit.
BACKGROUND ART
Security in association with payment by means of cheques is a problem. There is always a risk that an unauthorized person will obtain another person's cheques, forge this person's signature and in this way obtain money that belongs to the owner of the cheque or buy goods that are charged to the owner of the cheque.
Many solutions have been proposed which aim to make it more difficult for unauthorized persons to forge signatures and use another person's cheques.
EP 0 276 109 describes a cheque which, in a writing area where the user is to write his signature, is provided with a shading which varies in intensity from the upper edge to the lower. The user signs the cheque with a pen which has a sensor which records the intensity at the pen point. The pen thus produces an output signal which has an intensity which varies with time, depending upon the position of the pen on the writing area.
As an alternative, the writing area can be provided with a large number of squares all of which have shading with different intensity. Also in this case, the pen produces an output signal which varies in intensity with time, depending upon the position of the pen on the writing area.
The output signal from the pen can be used to compare the user's signature with a previously-stored signature of the user, in order to check that it is actually the authorized user who is signing the cheque in question.
EP 0 132 241 discloses a similar method for verifying signatures, according to which a user whose signature is to be verified writes his signature using a reading pen on a bar code consisting of parallel dark lines separated by paler lines or areas. When the user writes his signature the reading pen emits light and records the reflected light, generating a pulse train. The pulse train is compared in a computer with one or more pulse trains which were generated earlier by the person and stored in the computer, in order to verify that the person is who he or she purports to be. In order to increase the security the bar code can contain information which is specific to that person, for example the person's date of birth, coded in the bar code.
There are also problems in connection with other payments, such as credit card payments. An unauthorized person who finds another person's credit card can forge the card holder's signature on a slip and in this way buy goods which are charged to the card holder.
The security problems are increased when credit card payments are made remotely via a computer network, as payments are normally drawn out of the credit card account on the basis of just the credit card number. No signature is required from the person who is ordering payment.
Payment by cheque remotely via computer networks does not occur at all.
There remains, however, the general problem of verifying remotely and by means of computers the identity of a person who sends information in a computer network.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is thus a general object of this invention to show a solution to the above problems.
It is also a special object to show a solution which makes possible increased security in association with payment orders which require the payer's signature on a payment product.
These objects are achieved completely or partially by means of a payment product according to claim
1
, a server unit according to claim
12
, a system for information management according to claim
19
, use according to claim
30
and a user unit according to claim
32
.
More specifically, according to a first aspect, the invention relates to a product comprising at least one writing area which is intended to receive handwritten information from a user and which is provided with a first position-coding pattern which makes possible digital recording of the handwritten information. The product is characterized in that the first position-coding pattern is a subset of a second position-coding pattern, which is an absolute position-coding pattern which codes coordinates of a plurality of points on an imaginary surface, the first position-coding pattern being intended both for the digital recording of the handwritten information and for authenticity checking.
An advantage of using a position-coding pattern which is a subset of a larger absolute position-coding pattern is thus that security can be increased by utilizing checks which are based on the knowledge that a particular product is provided with a specific subset of the larger position-coding pattern.
The first position-coding pattern on the product has thus a dual function. It makes possible digital recording of a position locally on the writing area on the product so that handwritten information can be recorded, and also makes possible the determination of a position globally in the second larger position-coding pattern, which position can be used for the authenticity check.
It should be pointed out that the authenticity check does not need to be carried out when the handwritten information is being written, but can be carried out afterwards, either by means of a check against the physical original or by means of a check against digitally-stored information.
The second position-coding pattern does not need to be stored in its entirety anywhere. By the fact that the first position-coding pattern is a subset of a second position-coding pattern is here meant that the coding is such that further unique first position-coding patterns can be created and that anywhere in a system where the product is used use can be made of the fact that the position of the first position-coding pattern within the second position-coding pattern can be determined.
The second position-coding pattern is, as mentioned, an absolute position-coding pattern which codes coordinates for a plurality of points on an imaginary surface. The advantage of this type of coding is that the second position-coding pattern does not need to be stored anywhere but can be described by coordinates. In addition it is simpler and quicker to determine the position of the first position-coding pattern in the second position-coding pattern. If an image which was unique in all its parts had been used instead of the second position-coding pattern, it would have required matching of the first position-coding pattern against different parts of the second position-coding pattern in order to determine the position of the first position-coding pattern in the second position-coding pattern. Instead coded coordinates provide a position directly.
In addition the absolute position-coding pattern makes it possible to determine the precise position in which the handwritten information was written on the product. This can be valuable if at a later date it is wished to check that the digital version actually originates from a particular physical product.
The resolution of the first position-coding pattern is suitably such that digital reproduction of the handwritten information is made possible. It is thus possible to show digitally an image of how the handwritten information appears on the physical product. In addition, with knowledge of the appearance of the physical product, it is possible to create a precise digital copy of the physical product with the handwritten information.
There are known absolute position-coding patterns, see for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,852,434, where each position is coded by means of a unique symbol. This has the disadvantage that each symbol becomes rather complex, at least if a large number of positions are to be coded, which in turn means that the symbols cannot be made too small, as they wou
Ericson Petter
Fahraeus Christer
Skantze Kristofer
Wiebe Linus
Anoto AB
Birch & Stewart Kolasch & Birch, LLP
Werner Brian
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