Method and system for verification and authentication using optically encoded QR codes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9785789-B2
Application number	US-201514681888-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 8, 2015
Priority date	Apr 9, 2014
Publication date	Oct 10, 2017
Grant date	Oct 10, 2017

Abstract

An optical security method for object authentication using photon-counting encryption implemented with phase encoded QR codes. By combining the full phase double-random-phase encryption with photon-counting imaging method and applying an iterative Huffman coding technique, encryption and compression of an image containing primary information about the object is achieved. This data can then be stored inside of an optically phase-encoded QR code for robust read out, decryption, and authentication. The optically encoded QR code is verified by examining the speckle signature of the optical masks using statistical analysis.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A method for optical security, tagging and authentication, the method comprising the steps of:
storing image data in an ID tag;
generating phase encoded image data by applying phase encoding to the image data;
generating encrypted image data by multiplying the phase encoded image data with a first type of phase mask that is calculated based on a predefined function;
producing photon-limited amplitude image data by applying photon-counting to amplitude data of the encrypted image data;
generating compressed image data by iteratively compressing the photon-limited amplitude image data;
inputting the compressed image data in an optically encoded object that comprises a QR code;
combining the QR code with a second type of phase mask, wherein the second type of phase mask is a physical phase mask that includes at least one of a thick phase mask or a 3D code; and
verifying authenticity of the QR code by examining the QR code with the second type of phase mask.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein photon-counting includes a technique that follows the Poisson distribution.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein a synthetic, natural or physical signature is stored in an identification tag associated with the image data.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein encrypting includes full-phase double-random-phase encryption.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein compressing includes Huffman coding.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
scanning the QR code;
verifying the QR code by examining the speckle signature generated by the second type of phase mask using statistical analysis;
decompressing the compressed image data stored in the QR code, wherein decompressing the compressed image data generates a resultant encrypted image data;
generating decrypted image data by decrypting the resultant encrypted image data; and
authenticating the decrypted image data using a classification algorithm by verifying the decrypted image data against a primary image for authentication.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising scanning the QR code by a QR code scanner.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the image data is encrypted, compressed and stored in the QR code without requiring the use of the world wide web.

9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising using one or more keys to decrypt the resultant encrypted image data.

10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising using a nonlinear correlation filter image recognition algorithm to verify the decrypted image data against a primary image for authentication.

11. An optical security, tagging and authentication system, the system comprising:
an integrated circuit configured to:
contain an ID tag storing image data;
generate a phase encoded image data by applying phase encoding to the image data;
generate encrypted image data by multiplying the phase encoded image data with a first
type of phase mask that is calculated based on a predefined function;
produce photon-limited amplitude image data by applying photon-counting to amplitude data of the encrypted image data;
generate compressed image data by iteratively compressing the photon-limited amplitude image data;
input the compressed image data in an optically encoded object that comprises a QR code;
combine the QR code with a second type of phase mask, wherein the second type of phase mask is a physical phase mask that includes at least one of a thick phase mask or a 3D code; and
verify authenticity of the QR code by examining the QR code with the second type of phase mask.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein Huffman coding is used to iteratively compress the photon-limited amplitude image data.

13. The system of claim 11 , further comprising a mobile device including a camera, configured to:
scan the compressed image data;
verify the QR code by examining the speckle signature generated by the second type of phase mask using statistical analysis;
decompress the compressed image data input in the QR code, wherein decompressing the compressed image data generates a resultant encrypted image data;
generate image data by decrypting the resultant encrypted image data; and
authenticate the image data using a classification algorithm by verifying the decrypted image data against a primary image for authentication.

14. The system in claim 13 , wherein a mobile device uses the camera to scan the QR code.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein at least one key is used to decrypt the resultant encrypted image data.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein a nonlinear correlation filter image recognition algorithm to is used to verify the image data against a primary image for authentication.

17. The method of claim 6 , wherein the speckle signature is associated with surface roughness of the object to be authenticated.

Assignees

• Univ Connecticut

Inventors

• Javidi Bahram
• Markman Adam
• Tehranipoor Mohammad (Mark)

Classifications

• H04K1/006

  by varying or inverting the phase, at periodic or random intervals · CPC title

• G09C5/00 Primary

  Ciphering apparatus or methods not provided for in the preceding groups, e.g. involving the concealment or deformation of graphic data such as designs, written or printed messages · CPC title

• G06F21/36

  by graphic or iconic representation · CPC title

• H04L9/3226

  using a predetermined code, e.g. password, passphrase or PIN (network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using passwords in a packet data network H04L63/083) · CPC title

• G06F21/6218 Primary

  to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database · CPC title