U.S. patent application number 13/018612 was filed with the patent office on 2012-05-10 for systems and methods for person's verification using portrait photographs taken by a verifier-controlled mobile device.
This patent application is currently assigned to THE GO DADDY GROUP, INC.. Invention is credited to James M. Bladel, Yong Lee, Noah D. Plumb, Wayne Thayer.
Application Number | 20120114193 13/018612 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46019664 |
Filed Date | 2012-05-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120114193 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bladel; James M. ; et
al. |
May 10, 2012 |
Systems and Methods for Person's Verification Using Portrait
Photographs Taken by a Verifier-Controlled Mobile Device
Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention envisions providing
requester with an application for a mobile device equipped with a
built-in digital photo camera. The application controls the camera
and prevents alterations to an image taken with the camera. The
unaltered image of a portrait photograph of the requester is
transmitted from the mobile device to the verifier's server
computer. The image of the portrait photograph of the requester may
further be used to verify the requester by comparing the image to
the photographs from other sources.
Inventors: |
Bladel; James M.; (Le
Claire, IA) ; Lee; Yong; (Chandler, AZ) ;
Plumb; Noah D.; (Phoenix, AZ) ; Thayer; Wayne;
(Phoenix, AZ) |
Assignee: |
THE GO DADDY GROUP, INC.
Scottsdale
AZ
|
Family ID: |
46019664 |
Appl. No.: |
13/018612 |
Filed: |
February 1, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12939917 |
Nov 4, 2010 |
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13018612 |
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12939925 |
Nov 4, 2010 |
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12939917 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
382/115 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K 9/00993 20130101;
G06K 9/00221 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
382/115 |
International
Class: |
G06K 9/00 20060101
G06K009/00 |
Claims
1. A method, comprising the steps of: a) providing a requester with
a computer-readable program for a digital mobile device equipped
with a built-in digital photo camera, wherein said
computer-readable program controls said digital photo camera and
prevents alterations to an image taken with said digital photo
camera on said digital mobile device, and b) transmitting from said
digital mobile device to a server computer a portrait photograph of
said requester, taken with said digital photo camera on said
digital mobile device, wherein said transmitting is achieved by a
first computer-readable code on said server computer and by a
second computer-readable code on said digital mobile device, and
wherein said server computer and said digital mobile device are
communicatively connected via a computer network.
2. A method, comprising the steps of: a) providing a requester with
a computer-readable program for a digital mobile device equipped
with a built-in digital photo camera, wherein said
computer-readable program controls said digital photo camera and
prevents alterations to an image taken with said digital photo
camera on said digital mobile device, b) collecting a personal
information from said requester via said computer-readable program
for said digital mobile device or via a web-based graphical user
interface, c) transmitting from said digital mobile device to a
server computer a portrait photograph of said requester, taken with
said digital photo camera on said digital mobile device, wherein
said transmitting is achieved by a first computer-readable code on
said server computer and by a second computer-readable code on said
digital mobile device, and wherein said server computer and said
digital mobile device are communicatively connected via a computer
network, d) obtaining one or more images from one or more computer
network information sources, wherein said one or more images are
selected from a plurality of all images in said one or more
computer network information sources as a function of said personal
information, e) comparing said portrait photograph of said
requester with said one or more images obtained from said one or
more computer network information sources using a predetermined
algorithm, and f) calculating a statistical rating of a likelihood
that said portrait photograph of said requester and said one or
more images obtained from said one or more computer network
information sources depict the same person.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein said personal information is
selected from the group consisting of a name of said requester, a
mailing address of said requester, a home address of said
requester, an electronic mail address of said requester, a
telephone number of said requester, a date of birth of said
requester, a login name of said requester to a social network
website, an account number of said requester to a social network
website, an account name of said requester to a social network
website, and a password of said requester to a social network
website.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein said computer network contains
the Internet.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein said one or more computer network
information sources is selected from the group consisting of a
website, a webpage, an online blog, a social network website, and
an image sharing website.
6. The method of claim 2, wherein said function for selecting said
one or more images from said plurality of all images in said one or
more computer network information sources comprises selecting an
image posted onto said one or more computer network information
sources from an account of said requester.
7. The method of claim 2, wherein said function for selecting said
one or more images from said plurality of all images in said one or
more computer network information sources comprises selecting an
image tagged with a name of said requester.
8. The method of claim 2, wherein said function for selecting said
one or more images from said plurality of all images in said one or
more computer network information sources comprises selecting an
image appearing in a social network account of said requester.
9. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of: g)
extracting a first set of facial features from said portrait
photograph of said requester.
10. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of: g)
extracting a second set of facial features from said one or more
images obtained from said one or more computer network information
sources.
11. The method of claim 2, wherein said predetermined algorithm for
comparing said portrait photograph of said requester with said one
or more images obtained from said one or more computer network
information sources comprises comparing a first set of facial
features extracted from said portrait photograph of said requester
with a second set of facial features extracted from said one or
more images obtained from said one or more computer network
information sources.
12. The method of claim 2, wherein said statistical rating is
calculated as a real number in a range from 0 to 1, wherein value 0
indicates the lowest likelihood and value 1 indicates the highest
likelihood that said portrait photograph of said requester and said
one or more images obtained from said one or more computer network
information sources depict the same person.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein said statistical rating of
value 0.5 and above indicates that said portrait photograph of said
requester and said one or more images obtained from said one or
more computer network information sources depict the same
person.
14. The method of claim 2, wherein said statistical rating is
calculated as an integer number of 0 or 1.
15. A system, comprising: a) means for providing a requester with a
computer-readable program for a digital mobile device equipped with
a built-in digital photo camera, wherein said computer-readable
program controls said digital photo camera and prevents alterations
to an image taken with said digital photo camera on said digital
mobile device, and b) means for transmitting from said digital
mobile device to a server computer a portrait photograph of said
requester, taken with said digital photo camera on said digital
mobile device, wherein transmitting is achieved by a first
computer-readable code on said server computer and by a second
computer-readable code on said digital mobile device, and wherein
said server computer and said digital mobile device are
communicatively connected via a computer network.
16. A system, comprising: a) means for providing a requester with a
computer-readable program for a digital mobile device equipped with
a built-in digital photo camera, wherein said computer-readable
program controls said digital photo camera and prevents alterations
to an image taken with said digital photo camera on said digital
mobile device, b) means for collecting a personal information from
said requester via said computer-readable program for said digital
mobile device or via a web-based graphical user interface, c) means
for transmitting from said digital mobile device to a server
computer a portrait photograph of said requester, taken with said
digital photo camera on said digital mobile device, wherein
transmitting is achieved by a first computer-readable code on said
server computer and by a second computer-readable code on said
digital mobile device, and wherein said server computer and said
digital mobile device are communicatively connected via a computer
network, d) means for obtaining one or more images from one or more
computer network information sources, wherein said one or more
images are selected from a plurality of all images in said one or
more computer network information sources as a function of said
personal information, e) means for comparing said portrait
photograph of said requester with said one or more images obtained
from said one or more computer network information sources using a
predetermined algorithm, and f) means for calculating a statistical
rating of a likelihood that said portrait photograph of said
requester and said one or more images obtained from said one or
more computer network information sources depict the same
person.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein said personal information is
selected from the group consisting of a name of said requester, a
mailing address of said requester, a home address of said
requester, an electronic mail address of said requester, a
telephone number of said requester, a date of birth of said
requester, a login name of said requester to a social network
website, an account number of said requester to a social network
website, an account name of said requester to a social network
website, and a password of said requester to a social network
website.
18. The system of claim 16, wherein said computer network contains
the Internet.
19. The system of claim 16, wherein said one or more computer
network information sources is selected from the group consisting
of a website, a webpage, an online blog, a social network website,
and an image sharing website.
20. The system of claim 16, wherein said function for selecting
said one or more images from said plurality of all images in said
one or more computer network information sources comprises
selecting an image posted onto said one or more computer network
information sources from an account of said requester.
21. The system of claim 16, wherein said function for selecting
said one or more images from said plurality of all images in said
one or more computer network information sources comprises
selecting an image tagged with a name of said requester.
22. The system of claim 16, wherein said function for selecting
said one or more images from said plurality of all images in said
one or more computer network information sources comprises
selecting an image appearing in a social network account of said
requester.
23. The system of claim 16, further comprising: g) means for
extracting a first set of facial features from said portrait
photograph of said requester.
24. The system of claim 16, further comprising: g) means for
extracting a second set of facial features from said one or more
images obtained from said one or more computer network information
sources.
25. The system of claim 16, wherein said predetermined algorithm
for comparing said portrait photograph of said requester with said
one or more images obtained from said one or more computer network
information sources comprises comparing a first set of facial
features extracted from said portrait photograph of said requester
with a second set of facial features extracted from said one or
more images obtained from said one or more computer network
information sources.
26. The system of claim 16, wherein said statistical rating is
calculated as a real number in a range from 0 to 1, wherein value 0
indicates the lowest likelihood and value 1 indicates the highest
likelihood that said portrait photograph of said requester and said
one or more images obtained from said one or more computer network
information sources depict the same person.
27. The system of claim 26, wherein said statistical rating of
value 0.5 and above indicates that said portrait photograph of said
requester and said one or more images obtained from said one or
more computer network information sources depict the same
person.
28. The system of claim 16, wherein said statistical rating is
calculated as an integer number of 0 or 1.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application is continuation-in-part to the
following patent applications:
[0002] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/939,917, "Methods for
Person's Verification Using Photographs on Identification
Documents," filed Nov. 4, 2010.
[0003] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/939,925, "Systems for
Person's Verification Using Photographs on Identification
Documents," filed Nov. 4, 2010.
[0004] This patent application is further related to the following
concurrently-filed patent applications:
[0005] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, "Systems and
Methods for Person's Verification Using Photographs on
Identification Documents Taken by a Verifier-Controlled Mobile
Device."
[0006] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, "Systems and
Methods for Person's Verification Using Photographs on
Identification Documents Taken by a Verifier-Controlled Digital
Camera."
[0007] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, "Systems and
Methods for Person's Verification Using Scans of Identification
Documents Produced by a Verifier-Controlled Scanning Device."
[0008] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, "Systems and
Methods for Person's Verification Using Portrait Photographs Taken
by a Verifier-Controlled Digital Camera."
[0009] The subject matter of all patent applications is commonly
owned and assigned to The Go Daddy Group, Inc. All prior and
concurrent applications are incorporated herein in their entirety
by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention relates in general to person's
verification online using unaltered photographs obtained via
verifier-controlled devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0011] A network is a collection of links and nodes (e.g., multiple
computers and/or other devices connected together) arranged so that
information may be passed from one part of the network to another
over multiple links and through various nodes. Examples of networks
include the Internet, the public switched telephone network, the
global Telex network, computer networks (e.g., an intranet, an
extranet, a local-area network, or a wide-area network), wired
networks, and wireless networks.
[0012] The Internet is a worldwide network of computers and
computer networks arranged to allow the easy and robust exchange of
information between computer users. Hundreds of millions of people
around the world have access to computers connected to the Internet
via Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Content providers place
multimedia information (e.g., text, graphics, audio, video,
animation, and other forms of data) at specific locations on the
Internet referred to as webpages. Websites comprise a collection of
connected, or otherwise related, webpages. The combination of all
the websites and their corresponding webpages on the Internet is
generally known as the World Wide Web (WWW) or simply the Web.
[0013] For Internet users and businesses alike, the Internet
continues to be more and more valuable. People are increasingly
using the Web for everyday tasks such as social networking,
shopping, banking, paying bills, and consuming media and
entertainment. E-commerce is growing, with businesses delivering
more services and content across the Internet, communicating and
collaborating online, and inventing new ways to connect with each
other.
[0014] Some Internet users, typically those that are larger and
more sophisticated, may provide their own hardware, software, and
connections to the Internet. But many Internet users either do not
have the resources available or do not want to create and maintain
the infrastructure necessary to host their own websites. To assist
such individuals (or entities), hosting companies exist that offer
website hosting services. These hosting providers typically provide
the hardware, software, and electronic communication means
necessary to connect multiple websites to the Internet. A single
hosting provider may literally host thousands of websites on one or
more hosting servers.
[0015] Websites may be created using HyperText Markup Language
(HTML) to generate a standard set of tags that define how the
webpages for the website are to be displayed. Users of the Internet
may access content providers' websites using software known as an
Internet browser, such as MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER, MOZILLA
FIREFOX, or GOOGLE CHROME. After the browser has located the
desired webpage, it requests and receives information from the
webpage, typically in the form of an HTML document, and then
displays the webpage content for the user. The user then may view
other webpages at the same website or move to an entirely different
website using the browser.
[0016] Browsers are able to locate specific websites because each
website, resource, and computer on the Internet has a unique
Internet Protocol (IP) address. Presently, there are two standards
for IP addresses. The older IP address standard, often called IP
Version 4 (IPv4), is a 32-bit binary number, which is typically
shown in dotted decimal notation, where four 8-bit bytes are
separated by a dot from each other (e.g., 64.202.167.32). The
notation is used to improve human readability. The newer IP address
standard, often called IP Version 6 (IPv6) or Next Generation
Internet Protocol (IPng), is a 128-bit binary number. The standard
human readable notation for IPv6 addresses presents the address as
eight 16-bit hexadecimal words, each separated by a colon (e.g.,
2EDC:BA98:0332:0000:CF8A:000C:2154:7313).
[0017] IP addresses, however, even in human readable notation, are
difficult for people to remember and use. A Uniform Resource
Locator (URL) is much easier to remember and may be used to point
to any computer, directory, or file on the Internet. A browser is
able to access a website on the Internet through the use of a URL.
The URL may include a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request
combined with the website's Internet address, also known as the
website's domain name. An example of a URL with a HTTP request and
domain name is: http://www.companyname.com. In this example, the
"http" identifies the URL as a HTTP request and the
"companyname.com" is the domain name.
[0018] Domain names are much easier to remember and use than their
corresponding IP addresses. The Internet Corporation for Assigned
Names and Numbers (ICANN) approves some Generic Top-Level Domains
(gTLD) and delegates the responsibility to a particular
organization (a "registry") for maintaining an authoritative source
for the registered domain names within a TLD and their
corresponding IP addresses. For certain TLDs (e.g., .biz, .info,
.name, and .org) the registry is also the authoritative source for
contact information related to the domain name and is referred to
as a "thick" registry. For other TLDs (e.g., .com and .net) only
the domain name, registrar identification, and name server
information is stored within the registry, and a registrar is the
authoritative source for the contact information related to the
domain name. Such registries are referred to as "thin" registries.
Most gTLDs are organized through a central domain name Shared
Registration System (SRS) based on their TLD.
[0019] The process for registering a domain name with .com, .net,
.org, and some other TLDs allows an Internet user to use an
ICANN-accredited registrar to register their domain name. For
example, if an Internet user, John Doe, wishes to register the
domain name "mycompany.com," John Doe may initially determine
whether the desired domain name is available by contacting a domain
name registrar. The Internet user may make this contact using the
registrar's webpage and typing the desired domain name into a field
on the registrar's webpage created for this purpose. Upon receiving
the request from the Internet user, the registrar may ascertain
whether "mycompany.com" has already been registered by checking the
SRS database associated with the TLD of the domain name. The
results of the search then may be displayed on the webpage to
thereby notify the Internet user of the availability of the domain
name. If the domain name is available, the Internet user may
proceed with the registration process. Otherwise, the Internet user
may keep selecting alternative domain names until an available
domain name is found. Domain names are typically registered for a
period of one to ten years with first rights to continually
re-register the domain name.
[0020] An individual or entity's domain name is increasingly the
anchor around which their online presence is maintained. For
example, a company's website (www.companyname.com) and email system
(john.doe@companyname.com) utilize the company's domain name as an
integral part of their architecture. Similarly, many Internet users
use their email address, and therefore their domain name, as a
means of identification on social websites, which have proliferated
in recent years. Social websites are social networking services
that focus on building and verifying online social networks for
communities of people who share interests and activities, or who
are interested in exploring the interests and activities of others,
and which necessitates the use of software. Most social websites
are Internet based and provide a collection of various ways for
users to interact, such as chat, messaging, email, video, voice
chat, personal information sharing, image sharing, video sharing,
file sharing, status updates, blogging, discussion groups,
commentary, etc. The main types of social networking services are
those which contain directories of some categories (such as former
classmates), means to connect with friends (usually with
self-description pages), and/or recommendation systems linked to
trust. Popular methods now combine many of these, with MYSPACE,
BEBO, FACEBOOK, TWITTER, YOUTUBE, LINKEDIN, PHOTOBUCKET, SNAPFISH,
WINDOWS LIVE PHOTOS, WEBSHOTS, and FLICKR being but a few
examples.
[0021] Such social websites often post their members' public
webpages for all Internet users to view, without authentication or
login. Conversely, members' private webpages may only be accessed
and viewed by the member. The private webpages generally require
member authentication and provide the member with tools to manage
his public webpage, communicate with other members, and/or
otherwise manage his social website membership.
[0022] Many social websites, typically those that receive or share
sensitive information (as well as websites associated with banks,
credit card companies, and online businesses), may require Internet
users to login to the website with a secure username and password
before accessing the website's content.
[0023] The username/password system is a common form of secret
authentication data used to control website access. The
username/password is kept secret from those not allowed access.
Those wishing to gain access are tested on whether or not they have
a valid (recognized) username and whether they know the associated
password. Internet users are granted or denied access to websites
accordingly.
[0024] Many social websites have different rules governing the
creation of usernames and passwords. Some require passwords that
include a complex combination of letters, numbers, and other
characters. Others have no restrictions whatsoever. With the
proliferation of login-access websites, Internet users often must
remember dozens (or more) different username/password combinations,
one for each secure website they wish to access. This has resulted
in what has come to be known as "password fatigue."
[0025] Partly in response to these issues, the concept of the
"digital identity" has evolved. A digital identity is a set of
characteristics by which a person or thing is recognizable or
distinguished in the digital realm. Digital identity allows for the
electronic recognition of an individual or thing without confusing
it for someone or something else.
[0026] There are many applications for an Internet user's digital
identity, including authenticating the user before permitting
access to a website. One method for such authentication includes
the use of a URL. URL-based digital identity systems (such as
OPENID) utilize a framework based on the concept that any
individual or entity can identify themselves on the Internet with a
URL provided by a Digital Identity Provider (e.g.,
johndoe.openid.com). The Digital Identity Provider maintains an
Identity Server on which a Digital Identity Database (a database of
provided digital identity URLs and the corresponding authentication
passwords) is stored.
[0027] Once obtained, the Internet user may utilize their digital
identity URL to access various websites. For example, to login to
an OpenID-enabled website, the user enters their OpenID (e.g.,
johndoe.openid.com) in the username box. The user is then
momentarily redirected to the user's Digital Identity Provider's
website (or an authentication window appears) to login using
whatever password they have set up with their Digital Identity
Provider. Once authenticated, the Digital Identity Provider sends
the participating website an encrypted message (a token) confirming
the identity of the person logging in. There are currently numerous
Digital Identity Providers offering URL-based (OpenID) digital
identity services, meaning they offer digital identity URLs and
servers to authenticate them.
[0028] One of the problems facing companies doing business online
is verifying that digital identity actually belongs to a real human
being (person) and that this particular real human being is not
impersonating somebody else. Most validation systems today do it by
sending an email message to person's email address. The email
message typically contains a unique link or code that person should
provide back to the verifier (often via a verifier's website).
These systems are not able to validate the real identity of a
person because the systems only check whether the requester has
control over the email account.
[0029] Applicant has noticed that presently-existing systems and
methods do not allow for efficient and robust matching of digital
identities with the actual human persons. For the foregoing reason,
there is a need for the systems and methods that would allow for
establishing and verifying identity of a human person.
[0030] Therefore, new systems and methods are needed to overcome
the limitations of the current systems and methods.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating high-level components
of an embodiment of a system of the present invention.
[0032] FIG. 2 is an interaction diagram illustrating interactions
between the high-level components of a system of the present
invention.
[0033] FIGS. 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 13, 14, 17, 18, 21, and 22 are
flowcharts illustrating embodiments of methods of the present
invention.
[0034] FIGS. 4, 7, 8, 11, 12, 15, 16, 19, 20, 23, and 24 are block
diagrams illustrating embodiments of means-plus-function systems of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0035] The present invention will now be discussed in detail with
regard to the attached drawing figures which were briefly described
above. In the following description, numerous specific details are
set forth illustrating the Applicant's best mode for practicing the
invention and enabling one of ordinary skill in the art of making
and using the invention. It will be obvious, however, to one
skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced
without many of these specific details. In other instances,
well-known machines and method steps have not been described in
particular detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the
present invention. Unless otherwise indicated, like parts and
method steps are referred to with like reference numerals.
[0036] For the purpose of this disclosure the term "Verifier"
refers a commercial company, a non-profit organization, a
governmental agency, a business operator, a business owner, a
person, an entity, a management of an entity. The term "Verifier"
also includes a person or entity acting on behalf of the above
mentioned parties. Further, the term "Verifier" includes a computer
system ran by above mentioned parties.
[0037] One of the objectives of the present invention is to find a
new way to validate a person if he/she is able to supply an
identification document that contains a photograph of a face of
that person (e.g., Photo ID). The approach used in the invention
for validating identify of the person includes comparing the
provided photograph on the photo ID against the images that are
available through various websites, including image sharing and
social networks websites. Among such websites may be mentioned
MYSPACE, BEBO, FACEBOOK, TWITTER, YOUTUBE, LINKEDIN, PHOTOBUCKET,
SNAPFISH, WINDOWS LIVE PHOTOS, WEBSHOTS, FLICKR, etc. Many users
upload pictures of themselves or other users to these websites. The
user's personal information may be used to find relevant images
displaying the person who needs to be verified.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of the system
of the present invention may include a Verifier 105 connectively
coupled to a Network 110 via a first Communication Link 125, a
Requester 115 connectively coupled to the Network 110 via a second
Communication Link 130, and one or more Sources 120 (i.e., computer
network information sources) connectively coupled to the Network
110 via a third Communication Link 135. The Verifier 105 is
typically a business interested in verifying identity of the
Requester 115 using the Sources 120. The Requester 115 is one or
more network users, who generally need to be verified with the
Verifier 105. The Sources 120 include for example a website, a
webpage, an online blog, a social network website, a picture/image
sharing webpage, etc.
[0039] The Network 110 is a computer network. It may include a LAN
(Local Area Network), WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network), WAN (Wide
Area Network), MAN (Metropolitan Area Network), a global network,
etc. The Internet is a widely-used global computer network. The
Network 110 may support a variety of a network layer protocols,
such as, DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol), DVMRP
(Distance Vector Multicast Routing Protocol), ICMP/ICMPv6 (Internet
Control Message Protocol), IGMP (Internet Group Management
Protocol), IP (Internet Protocol version 4), IPv6 (Internet
Protocol version 6), MARS (Multicast Address Resolution Server),
PIM and PIM-SM (Protocol Independent Multicast-Sparse Mode), RIP2
(Routing Information Protocol), RIPng for IPv6 (Routing Information
Protocol for IPv6), RSVP (Resource ReSerVation setup Protocol),
VRRP (Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol), etc. Further, the
Network 110 may support a variety of a transport layer protocols,
such as, ISTP (Internet Signaling Transport Protocol), Mobile IP
(Mobile IP Protocol), RUDP (Reliable UDP), TALI (Transport Adapter
Layer Interface), TCP (Transmission Control Protocol), UDP (User
Datagram Protocol), Van Jacobson (compressed TCP), XOT (X.25 over
TCP), etc. In addition, the Network 110 may support a variety of an
application layer protocols, such as, COPS (Common Open Policy
Service), FANP (Flow Attribute Notification Protocol), Finger (User
Information Protocol), FTP (File Transfer Protocol), HTTP
(Hypertext Transfer Protocol), IMAP and IMAP4 (Internet Message
Access Protocol, rev 4), IMPPpre (Instant Messaging Presence
Protocol), IMPPmes (Instant Messaging Protocol), IPDC (IP Device
Control), IRC (Internet Relay Chat Protocol), ISAKMP (Internet
Message Access Protocol version 4rev1), ISP, NTP (Network Time
Protocol), POP and POP3 (Post Office Protocol, version 3), Radius
(Remote Authentication Dial In User Service), RLOGIN (Remote
Login), RTSP (Real-time Streaming Protocol), SCTP (Stream Control
Transmission Protocol), S-HTTP or HTTPS (Secure Hypertext Transfer
Protocol), SLP (Service Location Protocol), SMTP (Simple Mail
Transfer Protocol), SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol),
SOCKS (Socket Secure Server), TACACS+ (Terminal Access Controller
Access Control System), TELNET (TCP/IP Terminal Emulation
Protocol), TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol), WCCP (Web Cache
Coordination Protocol), X-Window (X Window), etc. The Network 110
supports digital interactions between the Verifier 105, the
Requester 115, and the Sources 120.
[0040] An exemplary embodiment of interactions between the system
components is shown in FIG. 2. The Verifier 105 collects personal
information from the Requester 115 (step 205). In a preferred
embodiment the Verifier 105 collects personal information from the
Requester 115 via a web-based graphical user interface. The
Verifier 105 obtains a digital copy of a photo ID from the
Requester 115 (step 210). The Verifier 105 isolates requester's
photograph from the photo ID (step 215). The Verifier 105 then
obtains images from the Sources 120 (step 220) and compares
requester's photograph with images obtained from the Sources 120
(step 225). The Verifier 105 then calculates a statistical rating
of likelihood that requester's photograph and images obtained from
the Sources 120 depict the same person based on the results of
comparison of requester's photograph and images obtained from the
Sources 120 (step 230). The value of statistical rating indicates
whether the Requester 115 was authenticated or not.
[0041] If the collection of personal information and obtaining a
digital copy of a photo ID from the Requester 115 is enabled via a
web-based graphical user interface, the web-based graphical user
interface is typically a website or a webpage. The web-based
graphical user interface is achieved by a first computer-readable
code on a server computer of the Verifier 105 and by a second
computer-readable code on a desktop/remote computer of the
Requester 115. The first computer-readable code may comprise, for
example, SGML, HTML, DHTML, XML, XHTML, CSS, server-side
programming languages and scripts, such as, Perl, PHP, ASP,
ASP.NET, Java, JavaScript, Visual J++, J#, C, C++, C#, Visual
Basic, VB.Net, VBScript, server-side databases, etc. The second
computer-readable code may comprise, for example, SGML (Standard
Generalized Markup Language), HTML (HyperText Markup Language),
DHTML (Dynamic HTML), XML (eXtensible Markup Language), XHTML
(eXtensible HTML), CSS (Cascading Style Sheet), client-side
programming scripts, such as, JavaScript and VBScript, client-side
databases, etc. Both the first computer-readable code and the
second computer-readable code can support embedded objects, such
as, audio and video elements, ActiveX controls, etc. Alternatively,
collection of personal information from the Requester 115 may be
enabled via other means, e.g., a desktop software or an application
on a mobile device.
[0042] The server computer of the Verifier 105 can be running a
variety of operating systems, such as, MICROSOFT WINDOWS, APPLE MAC
OS X, UNIX, LINUX, GNU, BSD, FreeBSD, SUN SOLARIS, NOVELL NETWARE,
OS/2, TPF, eCS (eComStation), VMS, Digital VMS, OpenVMS, AIX, z/OS,
HP-UX, OS-400, etc. The web-based graphical user interface may be
provided by a web-server software running on the server computer of
the Verifier 105. The web-server software may include MICROSOFT IIS
(Internet Information Services/Server), APACHE HTTP SERVER, APACHE
TOMCAT, nginx, GWS (GOOGLE WEB SERVER), SUN JAVA SYSTEM WEB SERVER,
etc.
[0043] The Verifier 105 computer systems can contain one or more
physical servers. The physical servers can play different roles in
the system of the invention, e.g., a Web Server, a Mail Server, an
Application Server, a Database Server, a DNS (Domain Name System)
Server, etc. The Verifier 105 computer systems can be based on a
variety of hardware platforms, such as, x86, x64, INTEL, ITANIUM,
IA64, AMD, SUN SPARC, IBM, HP, etc.
[0044] The Requester 115 computer systems are electronic devices
suitable for interaction over the Network 110. The Requester 115
computer systems may contain, for example, a personal computer, a
desktop computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a tablet
computer, a cell phone, a smart phone, a PDA, a palmtop computer, a
handheld computer, a pocket computer, a touch screen device, an IBM
PC-compatible electronic device, an APPLE MAC-compatible electronic
device, a computing device, a digital device, or another electronic
device or combination thereof.
[0045] The Verifier 105, the Requester 115, and the Sources 120 are
communicatively connected to the Network 110 via the Communication
Links 125, 130, and 135. The Communication Links 125, 130, and 135
are wired or wireless connections suitable for exchange of digital
information. The Communication Links 125, 130, and 135 may include
telephone line, copper twisted pair, power-line, fiber-optic,
cellular, satellite, dial-up, Ethernet, DSL, ISDN, T-1, DS-1,
Wi-Fi, etc.
[0046] The Verifier 105 computer systems may be located in a
physical datacenter, in a virtual datacenter, in a variety of
countries or territories, on a floating device, be connected to the
Internet backbone, be connected to a power grid, etc. The floating
device may be a marine or naval vessel or ship. Verifier 105
computer systems may be cooled by air or liquid, such as water,
including ocean or sea water.
[0047] An exemplary embodiment of a method of present invention is
shown in FIG. 3. The method comprises the steps of: collecting a
personal information from a requester via a web-based graphical
user interface, where the web-based graphical user interface is
achieved by a first computer-readable code on a server computer and
by a second computer-readable code on a remote computer, and where
the server computer and the remote computer are communicatively
connected via a computer network (step 305), obtaining a digital
copy of an identification document from the requester, where the
identification document contains a requester's photograph (step
310), isolating the requester's photograph from the digital copy of
the identification document (step 315), obtaining one or more
images from one or more computer network information sources, where
one or more images are selected from a plurality of all images in
one or more computer network information sources as a function of
the personal information (step 320), comparing the requester's
photograph with one or more images obtained from one or more
computer network information sources using a predetermined
algorithm (step 325), and calculating a statistical rating of a
likelihood that the requester's photograph and one or more images
obtained from one or more computer network information sources
depict the same person (step 330).
[0048] The personal information may include name, mailing address,
home address, electronic mail address, telephone number, date of
birth of the requester, login name to a website (e.g., social
network or image sharing website), an account number or an account
name of the requester to a website (e.g., social network or image
sharing website), a password of the requester to a website (e.g.,
social network or image sharing website), and a variety of other
information that may be associated with the requester.
[0049] The computer network may be the Internet.
[0050] Obtaining the digital copy of an identification document
from the requester may be performed in a variety of ways. For
example, the requester can scan the identification document on a
scanner, take a digital picture of the identification document with
a digital camera, take a digital picture of the identification
document with a mobile device equipped with a built-in camera (e.g.
smart phone, such as IPHONE, BLACKBERRY, DROID/ANDROID, HTC, PALM),
etc. The requester may email the digital copy (scan/digital
picture) of the identification document to the verifier, upload it
on a website, or use an application on a mobile device to transmit
the digital copy to the verifier.
[0051] The identification document may include a government issued
identification document, driver's license, passport, state or
province identification card, corporate identification card, and
variety of other documents issued to the requester and containing
requester's photograph.
[0052] The isolating the requester's photograph from the digital
copy of the identification document may include analyzing the
digital copy of the identification document using an optical face
detection algorithm and identifying an area of the digital copy of
the identification document containing facial features. Some types
of identification documents are pretty common, thus their formats
and the location of the photograph on them are known as well.
Therefore, an algorithm can be applied to the digital copy of the
identification document to determine the type of the document. The
photograph's location (predetermined area) corresponding with that
particular type of the document may be recalled from a database,
and requester's photograph may be extracted from the predetermined
area of the digital copy of the identification document.
[0053] The computer network information sources may include a
website, a webpage, an online blog, a social network website, an
image sharing website, and a variety of other digital sources.
[0054] The methods of the present invention may utilize a variety
of mechanisms to select the images from the computer network
information sources. For example, images posted onto the computer
network information sources from an account of the requester, or
images tagged with a name of the requester, or images appearing in
a social network account of the requester may be selected. A
variety of other mechanisms may be utilized that select the images
with some probability that a facial depiction of the requester is
appearing on the image.
[0055] The methods of the present invention further may extract a
first set of facial features from the requester's photograph and a
second set of facial features from the images obtained from the
computer network information sources.
[0056] The first set of facial features from the requester's
photograph and the second set of facial features from the images
obtained from the computer network information sources may be
compared utilizing a predetermined algorithm. The predetermined
algorithm may include the principal component analysis with
eigenface, the linear discriminate analysis, elastic bunch graph
matching fisherface, the Hidden Markov model, the neuronal
motivated dynamic link matching, skin texture analysis, face
hallucination (low-resolution images enhancement), and many
others.
[0057] The statistical rating of a likelihood that the requester's
photograph and the image obtained from the computer network
information sources depict the same person may be calculated in
various ranges. It may be a range of real numbers from 0 to 1,
where value 0 indicates the lowest likelihood and value 1 indicates
the highest likelihood that the requester's photograph and the
image obtained from the computer network information sources depict
the same person. In one embodiment, the statistical rating of value
0.5 and above indicates that the requester's photograph and the
image obtained from the computer network information sources depict
the same person. In an embodiment, the statistical rating is
calculated as an integer number of 0 or 1.
[0058] Referring to FIG. 4, an exemplary embodiment of the system
of the present invention may include: means for collecting a
personal information from a requester via a web-based graphical
user interface, where the web-based graphical user interface is
achieved by a first computer-readable code on a server computer and
by a second computer-readable code on a remote computer, and where
the server computer and the remote computer are communicatively
connected via a computer network (405), means for obtaining a
digital copy of an identification document from the requester,
where the identification document contains a requester's photograph
(410), means for isolating the requester's photograph from the
digital copy of the identification document (415), means for
obtaining one or more images from one or more computer network
information sources, where one or more images are selected from a
plurality of all images in one or more computer network information
sources as a function of the personal information (420), means for
comparing the requester's photograph with one or more images
obtained from one or more computer network information sources
using a predetermined algorithm (425), and means for calculating a
statistical rating of a likelihood that the requester's photograph
and one or more images obtained from one or more computer network
information sources depict the same person (430).
[0059] The personal information may include name, mailing address,
home address, electronic mail address, telephone number, date of
birth of the requester, login name to a website (e.g., social
network or image sharing website), an account number or an account
name of the requester to a website (e.g., social network or image
sharing website), a password of the requester to a website (e.g.,
social network or image sharing website), and a variety of other
information that may be associated with the requester.
[0060] The computer network may be the Internet.
[0061] The means for obtaining a digital copy of an identification
document from the requester may include an email server, a website,
an application on a mobile device, etc. The requester can scan the
identification document on a scanner, take a digital picture of the
identification document with a digital camera, take a digital
picture of the identification document with a mobile device
equipped with a built-in camera (e.g. smart phone, such as IPHONE,
BLACKBERRY, DROID/ANDROID, HTC, PALM), etc. The requester may email
the digital copy (scan/digital picture) of the identification
document to the verifier, upload it on the website, or use the
application on a mobile device to transmit the digital copy to the
verifier.
[0062] The identification document may include a government issued
identification document, driver's license, passport, state or
province identification card, corporate identification card, and
variety of other documents issued to the requester and containing
requester's photograph.
[0063] The means for isolating the requester's photograph from the
digital copy of the identification document may include means for
analyzing the digital copy of the identification document using an
optical face detection algorithm and means for identifying an area
of the digital copy of the identification document containing
facial features. Some types of identification documents are pretty
common, thus their formats and the location of the photograph on
them are known as well. Therefore, an algorithm can be applied to
the digital copy of the identification document to determine the
type of the document. The photograph's location (predetermined
area) corresponding with that particular type of the document may
be recalled from a database, and requester's photograph may be
extracted from the predetermined area of the digital copy of the
identification document.
[0064] The computer network information sources may include a
website, a webpage, an online blog, a social network website, an
image sharing website, and a variety of other digital sources.
[0065] The systems of the present invention may utilize a variety
of mechanisms to select the images from the computer network
information sources. For example, images posted onto the computer
network information sources from an account of the requester, or
images tagged with a name of the requester, or images appearing in
a social network account of the requester may be selected. A
variety of other mechanisms may be utilized that select the images
with some probability that a facial depiction of the requester is
appearing on the image.
[0066] The systems of the present invention further may extract a
first set of facial features from the requester's photograph and a
second set of facial features from the images obtained from the
computer network information sources.
[0067] The first set of facial features from the requester's
photograph and the second set of facial features from the images
obtained from the computer network information sources may be
compared utilizing a predetermined algorithm. The predetermined
algorithm may include the principal component analysis with
eigenface, the linear discriminate analysis, elastic bunch graph
matching fisherface, the Hidden Markov model, the neuronal
motivated dynamic link matching, skin texture analysis, face
hallucination (low-resolution images enhancement), and many
others.
[0068] The statistical rating of a likelihood that the requester's
photograph and the image obtained from the computer network
information sources depict the same person may be calculated in
various ranges. It may be a range of real numbers from 0 to 1,
where value 0 indicates the lowest likelihood and value 1 indicates
the highest likelihood that the requester's photograph and the
image obtained from the computer network information sources depict
the same person. In one embodiment, the statistical rating of value
0.5 and above indicates that the requester's photograph and the
image obtained from the computer network information sources depict
the same person. In an embodiment, the statistical rating is
calculated as an integer number of 0 or 1.
[0069] Another exemplary embodiment of a method of present
invention is shown in FIG. 5. The method comprises the steps of:
providing a requester with a computer-readable program
(application) for a digital mobile device equipped with a built-in
digital photo camera, where the computer-readable program controls
the digital photo camera and prevents alterations to an image taken
with the digital photo camera on the digital mobile device (step
505), and transmitting from the digital mobile device to a server
computer a digital copy of an identification document of the
requester, taken by the requester with the digital photo camera on
the digital mobile device, where the identification document
contains a requester's photograph, where the transmitting is
achieved by a first computer-readable code on the server computer
and by a second computer-readable code on the digital mobile
device, and where the server computer and the digital mobile device
are communicatively connected via a computer network (step
510).
[0070] The digital mobile device may include a cellular phone and
other devices. Providing the requester with a computer-readable
program for the digital mobile device may be accomplished via a
website or an application running on the digital mobile device
suitable for downloading and installing computer-readable programs.
The software for digital mobile devices is commonly distributed by
APPLE'S APP STORE, APPLE ITUNES, GOOGLE's ANDROID MARKET, PALM/HP's
APP CATALOG, PALM's SOFTWARE STORE, RIM's APP WORLD, NOKIA's OVI
STORE, MICROSOFT's WINDOWS PHONE MARKETPLACE, etc. The
computer-readable program may be downloaded on the digital mobile
device via a computer or cellular network, as well as via
detachable memory storage devices.
[0071] The computer-readable program provided to the requester is
designed to control the built-in digital photo camera of the
digital mobile device and prevents alterations to an image taken
with the digital photo camera. Thus, the verifier ensures that the
photographs of the documents or the portrait photographs of the
requester taken with the digital photo camera through the provided
computer-readable program were not tempered with.
[0072] After the requester took a picture of the identification
document with the digital photo camera of the digital mobile device
under control of the computer-readable program, the resulting image
is transmitted to the verifier's server.
[0073] Another exemplary embodiment of a method of present
invention is shown in FIG. 6. The method comprises the steps of:
providing a requester with a computer-readable program
(application) for a digital mobile device equipped with a built-in
digital photo camera, where the computer-readable program controls
the digital photo camera and prevents alterations to an image taken
with the digital photo camera on the digital mobile device (step
605), collecting a personal information from the requester via the
computer-readable program for the digital mobile device or via a
web-based graphical user interface (step 610), transmitting from
the digital mobile device to a server computer a digital copy of an
identification document of the requester, taken by the requester
with the digital photo camera on the digital mobile device, where
the identification document contains a requester's photograph,
where the transmitting is achieved by a first computer-readable
code on the server computer and by a second computer-readable code
on the digital mobile device, and where the server computer and the
digital mobile device are communicatively connected via a computer
network (step 615), isolating the requester's photograph from the
digital copy of the identification document (step 620), obtaining
one or more images from one or more computer network information
sources, where the one or more images are selected from a plurality
of all images in the one or more computer network information
sources as a function of the personal information (step 625),
comparing the requester's photograph with the one or more images
obtained from the one or more computer network information sources
using a predetermined algorithm (step 630), and calculating a
statistical rating of a likelihood that the requester's photograph
and the one or more images obtained from the one or more computer
network information sources depict the same person (step 635).
[0074] Another exemplary embodiment of a system of present
invention is shown in FIG. 7. The system comprises: means for
providing a requester with a computer-readable program
(application) for a digital mobile device equipped with a built-in
digital photo camera, where the computer-readable program controls
the digital photo camera and prevents alterations to an image taken
with the digital photo camera on the digital mobile device (705),
and means for transmitting from the digital mobile device to a
server computer a digital copy of an identification document of the
requester, taken by the requester with the digital photo camera on
the digital mobile device, where the identification document
contains a requester's photograph, where transmitting is achieved
by a first computer-readable code on the server computer and by a
second computer-readable code on the digital mobile device, and
where the server computer and the digital mobile device are
communicatively connected via a computer network (710).
[0075] The means for providing a requester with a computer-readable
program may include a computer server configured for downloading
software onto digital mobile devices, an operating system installed
on the digital mobile device and capable of downloading software
from a server, etc. The means for transmitting a digital copy of an
identification document may include a computer server configured
for downloading data from the digital mobile devices to the server,
a computer software installed on the digital mobile device and
programmed to upload data from the digital mobile device to the
server, etc.
[0076] Another exemplary embodiment of a system of present
invention is shown in FIG. 8. The system comprises: means for
providing a requester with a computer-readable program
(application) for a digital mobile device equipped with a built-in
digital photo camera, where the computer-readable program controls
the digital photo camera and prevents alterations to an image taken
with the digital photo camera on the digital mobile device (805),
means for collecting a personal information from the requester via
the computer-readable program for the digital mobile device or via
a web-based graphical user interface (810), means for transmitting
from the digital mobile device to a server computer a digital copy
of an identification document of the requester, taken by the
requester with the digital photo camera on the digital mobile
device, where the identification document contains a requester's
photograph, where transmitting is achieved by a first
computer-readable code on the server computer and by a second
computer-readable code on the digital mobile device, and where the
server computer and the digital mobile device are communicatively
connected via a computer network (815), means for isolating the
requester's photograph from the digital copy of the identification
document (820), means for obtaining one or more images from one or
more computer network information sources, where the one or more
images are selected from a plurality of all images in the one or
more computer network information sources as a function of the
personal information (825), means for comparing the requester's
photograph with the one or more images obtained from the one or
more computer network information sources using a predetermined
algorithm (830), and means for calculating a statistical rating of
a likelihood that the requester's photograph and the one or more
images obtained from the one or more computer network information
sources depict the same person (835).
[0077] Another exemplary embodiment of a method of present
invention is shown in FIG. 9. The method comprises the steps of:
providing a requester with a computer-readable program for a remote
computer equipped with a digital photo camera, where the
computer-readable program controls the digital photo camera and
prevents alterations to an image taken with the digital photo
camera on the remote computer (step 905), and transmitting from the
remote computer to a server computer a digital copy of an
identification document of the requester, taken by the requester
with the digital photo camera on the remote computer, where the
identification document contains a requester's photograph, where
the transmitting is achieved by a first computer-readable code on
the server computer and by a second computer-readable code on the
remote computer, and where the server computer and the remote
computer are communicatively connected via a computer network (step
910).
[0078] Providing the requester with a computer-readable program for
the remote computer equipped with a digital photo camera may be
accomplished via a website or an application running on the remote
computer suitable for downloading and installing computer-readable
programs. The computer-readable program may be downloaded on the
remote computer via a computer or cellular network, as well as via
detachable memory storage devices.
[0079] The computer-readable program provided to the requester is
designed to control the digital photo camera of the remote computer
and prevents alterations to an image taken with the digital photo
camera. Thus, the verifier ensures that the photographs of the
documents or the portrait photographs of the requester taken with
the digital photo camera through the provided computer-readable
program were not tempered with.
[0080] After the requester took a picture of the identification
document with the digital photo camera of the remote computer under
control of the computer-readable program, the resulting image is
transmitted to the verifier's server.
[0081] Another exemplary embodiment of a method of present
invention is shown in FIG. 10. The method comprises the steps of:
providing a requester with a computer-readable program for a remote
computer equipped with a digital photo camera, where the
computer-readable program controls the digital photo camera and
prevents alterations to an image taken with the digital photo
camera on the remote computer (step 1005), collecting a personal
information from the requester via the computer-readable program
for the remote computer or via a web-based graphical user interface
(step 1010), transmitting from the remote computer to a server
computer a digital copy of an identification document of the
requester, taken by the requester with the digital photo camera on
the remote computer, where the identification document contains a
requester's photograph, where the transmitting is achieved by a
first computer-readable code on the server computer and by a second
computer-readable code on the remote computer, and where the server
computer and the remote computer are communicatively connected via
a computer network (step 1015), isolating the requester's
photograph from the digital copy of the identification document
(step 1020), obtaining one or more images from one or more computer
network information sources, where the one or more images are
selected from a plurality of all images in the one or more computer
network information sources as a function of the personal
information (step 1025), comparing the requester's photograph with
the one or more images obtained from the one or more computer
network information sources using a predetermined algorithm (step
1030), and calculating a statistical rating of a likelihood that
the requester's photograph and the one or more images obtained from
the one or more computer network information sources depict the
same person (step 1035).
[0082] Another exemplary embodiment of a system of present
invention is shown in FIG. 11. The system comprises: means for
providing a requester with a computer-readable program for a remote
computer equipped with a digital photo camera, where the
computer-readable program controls the digital photo camera and
prevents alterations to an image taken with the digital photo
camera on the remote computer (1105), and means for transmitting
from the remote computer to a server computer a digital copy of an
identification document of the requester, taken by the requester
with the digital photo camera on the remote computer, where the
identification document contains a requester's photograph, where
transmitting is achieved by a first computer-readable code on the
server computer and by a second computer-readable code on the
remote computer, and where the server computer and the remote
computer are communicatively connected via a computer network
(1110).
[0083] The means for providing a requester with a computer-readable
program may include a computer server configured for downloading
software onto remote computers, a software installed on the remote
computer and capable of downloading computer-readable programs from
a server, etc. The means for transmitting a digital copy of an
identification document may include a computer server configured
for downloading data from the remote computers to the server, a
computer software installed on the remote computer and programmed
to upload data from the remote computer to the server, etc.
[0084] Another exemplary embodiment of a system of present
invention is shown in FIG. 12. The system comprises: means for
providing a requester with a computer-readable program for a remote
computer equipped with a digital photo camera, where the
computer-readable program controls the digital photo camera and
prevents alterations to an image taken with the digital photo
camera on the remote computer (1205), means for collecting a
personal information from the requester via the computer-readable
program for the remote computer or via a web-based graphical user
interface (1210), means for transmitting from the remote computer
to a server computer a digital copy of an identification document
of the requester, taken by the requester with the digital photo
camera on the remote computer, where the identification document
contains a requester's photograph, where transmitting is achieved
by a first computer-readable code on the server computer and by a
second computer-readable code on the remote computer, and where the
server computer and the remote computer are communicatively
connected via a computer network (1215), means for isolating the
requester's photograph from the digital copy of the identification
document (1220), means for obtaining one or more images from one or
more computer network information sources, where the one or more
images are selected from a plurality of all images in the one or
more computer network information sources as a function of the
personal information (1225), means for comparing the requester's
photograph with the one or more images obtained from the one or
more computer network information sources using a predetermined
algorithm (1230), and means for calculating a statistical rating of
a likelihood that the requester's photograph and the one or more
images obtained from the one or more computer network information
sources depict the same person (1235).
[0085] Another exemplary embodiment of a method of present
invention is shown in FIG. 13. The method comprises the steps of:
providing a requester with a computer-readable program for a remote
computer equipped with a scanning device, where the
computer-readable program controls the scanning device and prevents
alterations to an image produced by the scanning device on the
remote computer (step 1305), and transmitting from the remote
computer to a server computer a digital copy of an identification
document of the requester, produced by the scanning device on the
remote computer, where the identification document contains a
requester's photograph, where the transmitting is achieved by a
first computer-readable code on the server computer and by a second
computer-readable code on the remote computer, and where the server
computer and the remote computer are communicatively connected via
a computer network (step 1310).
[0086] Another exemplary embodiment of a method of present
invention is shown in FIG. 14. The method comprises the steps of:
providing a requester with a computer-readable program for a remote
computer equipped with a scanning device, where the
computer-readable program controls the scanning device and prevents
alterations to an image produced by the scanning device on the
remote computer (step 1405), collecting a personal information from
the requester via the computer-readable program for the remote
computer or via a web-based graphical user interface (step 1410),
transmitting from the remote computer to a server computer a
digital copy of an identification document of the requester,
produced by the scanning device on the remote computer, where the
identification document contains a requester's photograph, where
the transmitting is achieved by a first computer-readable code on
the server computer and by a second computer-readable code on the
remote computer, and where the server computer and the remote
computer are communicatively connected via a computer network (step
1415), isolating the requester's photograph from the digital copy
of the identification document (step 1420), obtaining one or more
images from one or more computer network information sources, where
the one or more images are selected from a plurality of all images
in the one or more computer network information sources as a
function of the personal information (step 1425), comparing the
requester's photograph with the one or more images obtained from
the one or more computer network information sources using a
predetermined algorithm (step 1430), and calculating a statistical
rating of a likelihood that the requester's photograph and the one
or more images obtained from the one or more computer network
information sources depict the same person (step 1435).
[0087] The scanning device may include an image scanner, a digital
scanner, a stationary scanner, a flatbed scanner, a desktop
scanner, a printer-scanner, a slide scanner, a film scanner, a
photo scanner, a portable scanner, a handheld scanner, a sheet-fed
scanner, a digital camera scanner, a drum scanner, etc.
[0088] The computer-readable program provided to the requester is
designed to control the scanning device of the remote computer and
prevents alterations to an image produced by the scanning device.
Thus, the verifier ensures that the images of the requester's
documents scanned (produced) by the scanning device through the
provided computer-readable program were not tempered with.
[0089] After the requester scanned the identification document with
the scanning device attached to the remote computer under control
of the computer-readable program, the resulting image is
transmitted to the verifier's server.
[0090] Another exemplary embodiment of a system of present
invention is shown in FIG. 15. The system comprises: means for
providing a requester with a computer-readable program for a remote
computer equipped with a scanning device, where the
computer-readable program controls the scanning device and prevents
alterations to an image produced by the scanning device on the
remote computer (1505), and means for transmitting from the remote
computer to a server computer a digital copy of an identification
document of the requester, produced by the scanning device on the
remote computer, where the identification document contains a
requester's photograph, where transmitting is achieved by a first
computer-readable code on the server computer and by a second
computer-readable code on the remote computer, and where the server
computer and the remote computer are communicatively connected via
a computer network (1510).
[0091] Another exemplary embodiment of a system of present
invention is shown in FIG. 16. The system comprises: means for
providing a requester with a computer-readable program for a remote
computer equipped with a scanning device, where the
computer-readable program controls the scanning device and prevents
alterations to an image produced by the scanning device on the
remote computer (1605), means for collecting a personal information
from the requester via the computer-readable program for the remote
computer or via a web-based graphical user interface (1610), means
for transmitting from the remote computer to a server computer a
digital copy of an identification document of the requester,
produced by the scanning device on the remote computer, where the
identification document contains a requester's photograph, where
transmitting is achieved by a first computer-readable code on the
server computer and by a second computer-readable code on the
remote computer, and where the server computer and the remote
computer are communicatively connected via a computer network
(1615), means for isolating the requester's photograph from the
digital copy of the identification document (1620), means for
obtaining one or more images from one or more computer network
information sources, where the one or more images are selected from
a plurality of all images in the one or more computer network
information sources as a function of the personal information
(1625), means for comparing the requester's photograph with the one
or more images obtained from the one or more computer network
information sources using a predetermined algorithm (1630), and
means for calculating a statistical rating of a likelihood that the
requester's photograph and the one or more images obtained from the
one or more computer network information sources depict the same
person (1635).
[0092] Another exemplary embodiment of a method of present
invention is shown in FIG. 17. The method comprises the steps of:
providing a requester with a computer-readable program
(application) for a digital mobile device equipped with a built-in
digital photo camera, where the computer-readable program controls
the digital photo camera and prevents alterations to an image taken
with the digital photo camera on the digital mobile device (step
1705), and transmitting from the digital mobile device to a server
computer a portrait photograph of the requester, taken with the
digital photo camera on the digital mobile device, where the
transmitting is achieved by a first computer-readable code on the
server computer and by a second computer-readable code on the
digital mobile device, and where the server computer and the
digital mobile device are communicatively connected via a computer
network (step 1710).
[0093] The computer-readable program provided to the requester is
designed to control the built-in digital photo camera of the
digital mobile device and prevents alterations to an image taken
with the digital photo camera. Thus, the verifier ensures that the
photographs of the documents or the portrait photographs of the
requester taken with the digital photo camera through the provided
computer-readable program were not tempered with.
[0094] After the portrait photograph of the requester is taken with
the digital photo camera of the digital mobile device under control
of the computer-readable program, the resulting image is
transmitted to the verifier's server.
[0095] Another exemplary embodiment of a method of present
invention is shown in FIG. 18. The method comprises the steps of:
providing a requester with a computer-readable program
(application) for a digital mobile device equipped with a built-in
digital photo camera, where the computer-readable program controls
the digital photo camera and prevents alterations to an image taken
with the digital photo camera on the digital mobile device (step
1805), collecting a personal information from the requester via the
computer-readable program for the digital mobile device or via a
web-based graphical user interface (step 1810), transmitting from
the digital mobile device to a server computer a portrait
photograph of the requester, taken with the digital photo camera on
the digital mobile device, where the transmitting is achieved by a
first computer-readable code on the server computer and by a second
computer-readable code on the digital mobile device, and where the
server computer and the digital mobile device are communicatively
connected via a computer network (step 1815), obtaining one or more
images from one or more computer network information sources, where
the one or more images are selected from a plurality of all images
in the one or more computer network information sources as a
function of the personal information (step 1820), comparing the
portrait photograph of the requester with the one or more images
obtained from the one or more computer network information sources
using a predetermined algorithm (step 1825), and calculating a
statistical rating of a likelihood that the portrait photograph of
the requester and the one or more images obtained from the one or
more computer network information sources depict the same person
(step 1830).
[0096] The methods of the present invention further may extract a
first set of facial features from the portrait photograph of the
requester and a second set of facial features from the images
obtained from the computer network information sources.
[0097] The first set of facial features from the portrait
photograph of the requester and the second set of facial features
from the images obtained from the computer network information
sources may be compared utilizing a predetermined algorithm. The
predetermined algorithm may include the principal component
analysis with eigenface, the linear discriminate analysis, elastic
bunch graph matching fisherface, the Hidden Markov model, the
neuronal motivated dynamic link matching, skin texture analysis,
face hallucination (low-resolution images enhancement), and many
others.
[0098] Another exemplary embodiment of a system of present
invention is shown in FIG. 19. The system comprises: means for
providing a requester with a computer-readable program
(application) for a digital mobile device equipped with a built-in
digital photo camera, where the computer-readable program controls
the digital photo camera and prevents alterations to an image taken
with the digital photo camera on the digital mobile device (1905),
and means for transmitting from the digital mobile device to a
server computer a portrait photograph of the requester, taken with
the digital photo camera on the digital mobile device, where
transmitting is achieved by a first computer-readable code on the
server computer and by a second computer-readable code on the
digital mobile device, and where the server computer and the
digital mobile device are communicatively connected via a computer
network (1910).
[0099] Another exemplary embodiment of a system of present
invention is shown in FIG. 20. The system comprises: means for
providing a requester with a computer-readable program
(application) for a digital mobile device equipped with a built-in
digital photo camera, where the computer-readable program controls
the digital photo camera and prevents alterations to an image taken
with the digital photo camera on the digital mobile device (2005),
means for collecting a personal information from the requester via
the computer-readable program for the digital mobile device or via
a web-based graphical user interface (2010), means for transmitting
from the digital mobile device to a server computer a portrait
photograph of the requester, taken with the digital photo camera on
the digital mobile device, where transmitting is achieved by a
first computer-readable code on the server computer and by a second
computer-readable code on the digital mobile device, and where the
server computer and the digital mobile device are communicatively
connected via a computer network (2015), means for obtaining one or
more images from one or more computer network information sources,
where the one or more images are selected from a plurality of all
images in the one or more computer network information sources as a
function of the personal information (2020), means for comparing
the portrait photograph of the requester with the one or more
images obtained from the one or more computer network information
sources using a predetermined algorithm (2025), and means for
calculating a statistical rating of a likelihood that the portrait
photograph of the requester and the one or more images obtained
from the one or more computer network information sources depict
the same person (2030).
[0100] Another exemplary embodiment of a method of present
invention is shown in FIG. 21. The method comprises the steps of:
providing a requester with a computer-readable program for a remote
computer equipped with a digital photo camera, where the
computer-readable program controls the digital photo camera and
prevents alterations to an image taken with the digital photo
camera on the remote computer (step 2105), and transmitting from
the remote computer to a server computer a portrait photograph of
the requester, taken with the digital photo camera on the digital
remote computer, where the transmitting is achieved by a first
computer-readable code on the server computer and by a second
computer-readable code on the remote computer, and where the server
computer and the remote computer are communicatively connected via
a computer network (step 2110).
[0101] Another exemplary embodiment of a method of present
invention is shown in FIG. 22. The method comprises the steps of:
providing a requester with a computer-readable program for a remote
computer equipped with a digital photo camera, where the
computer-readable program controls the digital photo camera and
prevents alterations to an image taken with the digital photo
camera on the remote computer (step 2205), collecting a personal
information from the requester via the computer-readable program
for the remote computer or via a web-based graphical user interface
(step 2210), transmitting from the remote computer to a server
computer a portrait photograph of the requester, taken with the
digital photo camera on the remote computer, where the transmitting
is achieved by a first computer-readable code on the server
computer and by a second computer-readable code on the remote
computer, and where the server computer and the remote computer are
communicatively connected via a computer network (step 2215),
obtaining one or more images from one or more computer network
information sources, where the one or more images are selected from
a plurality of all images in the one or more computer network
information sources as a function of the personal information (step
2220), comparing the portrait photograph of the requester with the
one or more images obtained from the one or more computer network
information sources using a predetermined algorithm (step 2225),
and calculating a statistical rating of a likelihood that the
portrait photograph of the requester and the one or more images
obtained from the one or more computer network information sources
depict the same person (step 2230).
[0102] Another exemplary embodiment of a system of present
invention is shown in FIG. 23. The system comprises: means for
providing a requester with a computer-readable program for a remote
computer equipped with a digital photo camera, where the
computer-readable program controls the digital photo camera and
prevents alterations to an image taken with the digital photo
camera on the remote computer (2305), and means for transmitting
from the remote computer to a server computer a portrait photograph
of the requester, taken with the digital photo camera on the
digital remote computer, where transmitting is achieved by a first
computer-readable code on the server computer and by a second
computer-readable code on the remote computer, and where the server
computer and the remote computer are communicatively connected via
a computer network (2310).
[0103] Another exemplary embodiment of a system of present
invention is shown in FIG. 24. The system comprises: means for
providing a requester with a computer-readable program for a remote
computer equipped with a digital photo camera, where the
computer-readable program controls the digital photo camera and
prevents alterations to an image taken with the digital photo
camera on the remote computer (2405), means for collecting a
personal information from the requester via the computer-readable
program for the remote computer or via a web-based graphical user
interface (2410), means for transmitting from the remote computer
to a server computer a portrait photograph of the requester, taken
with the digital photo camera on the remote computer, where
transmitting is achieved by a first computer-readable code on the
server computer and by a second computer-readable code on the
remote computer, and where the server computer and the remote
computer are communicatively connected via a computer network
(2415), means for obtaining one or more images from one or more
computer network information sources, where the one or more images
are selected from a plurality of all images in the one or more
computer network information sources as a function of the personal
information (2420), means for comparing the portrait photograph of
the requester with the one or more images obtained from the one or
more computer network information sources using a predetermined
algorithm (2425), and means for calculating a statistical rating of
a likelihood that the portrait photograph of the requester and the
one or more images obtained from the one or more computer network
information sources depict the same person (2430).
[0104] The means of the embodiments disclosed in the present
specification can be substituted with machines, apparatuses, and
devices described or listed in this specification or equivalents
thereof. As a non-limiting example, the means of the embodiments
may be substituted with a computing device, a computer-readable
code, a computer-executable code, or any combination thereof.
[0105] All embodiments of the present invention may further be
limited and implemented with any and all limitations disclosed in
this specification or in the documents incorporated in this patent
application by reference.
[0106] Other embodiments and uses of this invention will be
apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon
consideration of the specification and practice of the invention
disclosed herein. The specification and examples given should be
considered exemplary only, and it is contemplated that the appended
claims will cover any other such embodiments or modifications as
fall within the true scope of the invention.
[0107] The Abstract accompanying this specification is provided to
enable the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the public
generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature
and gist of the technical disclosure and is in no way intended for
defining, determining, or limiting the present invention or any of
its embodiments.
* * * * *
References