INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

AssureTec Systems’ Intellectual Property portfolio highlights the depth of innovative talent and expertise in identity document authentication within the Company. This growing portfolio covers a broad range of comprehensive methodologies and apparatus for secure identity document authentication. Companies interested in licensing AssureTec technology may contact us to discuss the opportunities.

• VALIDATION AND VERIFICATION APPARATUS AND METHOD
  Apparatus and a method are disclosed for automatically identifying and validating a document, for validating the identity of a bearer of a document, for verifying that the bearer has authorization to participate in an activity represented by the document, and for comparing information on the document against information databases to determine if there are known concerns about the document or its bearer. A document type is narrowed by initially determining the size of the document, and is then identified from amongst a group of documents by looking for colors or other characteristics at specific locations on the document only until the document is identified. The order in which document locations are looked at is dependent upon a history of the types of documents that have been identified. An identified document is verified by first looking up reference information about the document type and using that information to read specific contents and check only specific security and other features utilized on the document. The contents of a document are checked against a database to verify its contents, and other databases are checked for stolen documents, known valid documents, and prohibited travel or entry. Biometrics in databases, on documents and directly from the document bearer are compared to verify the bearer.Filed November 2001; Issued September 19, 2006 as US Patent 7,110,573
• DOCUMENT AND BEARER VERIFICATION SYSTEM
  Apparatus and a method are disclosed for verifying the identity of applicants applying for documents, validating authenticity of issued documents, and the identity of bearers of documents by obtaining information including biometric information from the applicants, the documents and / or their bearers, identifying which of a plurality of secure, remote databases contain information needed to verify the obtained information, comparing the obtained information with information stored in the identified database(s) to verifying the obtained information without disclosing database information to any persons, and providing an indication whether or not the obtained information matches the information from the identified database(s). This is called “trust authority verification” which we believe will be the paradigm chosen as biometrics and authentication become routine because of the privacy protection afforded to the bearer and to the data in the trust authority database.Filed December 2001; Issued February 22, 2006 as US Patent 7,003,669
• APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DOCUMENT READING AND AUTHENTICATION
  Apparatus and a method are disclosed for reading and authenticating documents. These documents include passports, driver’s licenses, identity documents and documents of value, and they are read to obtain and verify information recorded thereon, and to test for and detect security features thereon to determine if such documents are genuine, counterfeit or have been altered. A first image is taken of a document under evaluation and, from the image, the size of the document is determined, and that defines the document as being part of a smaller class of documents having the same size. Reference documents for all documents types are segmented and a correlation number is determined for each segment. A correlation number is determined for each segment of the first document having fixed information, and these correlation numbers are compared with correlation numbers of corresponding segments of the reference documents that have the same size as the first document. The identity of the document is determined from the comparison of the correlation numbers. Using the document identity, a set of security attributes is retrieved and the identified document is tested using the attributes to determine if the document is genuine, counterfeit or has been altered.Filed October 2002, Issued August 31, 2004 as US Patent 6,785,405
• A METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR A PROCESSOR CONTROLLED ILLUMINATION SYSTEM FOR READING AND ANALYZING MATERIALS
  A method and system are described for illuminating a document, such as passports, identity documents or other types of documents, using illumination means under control of a processor to effectively control the angle and direction of light on such documents to expose optically variable devices such as holograms, intaglio printing and optically variable coating and inks contained in or on the documents and the material laminating the documents. Issued July 17, 2007 as U. S. Patent 7,244,043.
• REAL TIME PRIVILEGE MANAGEMENT
  In accordance with the teaching of the present invention more rigorous checking of document validity and identity verification of the persons presenting the documents is then performed. For example, if a document being checked and validated is determined to be a passport from a specific country the first step is to determine what type of additional validation checking should be performed for passports from the specific country. It is known that a specific group of countries very carefully perform identity and background checks before issuing passports or other documents, and there is no problem with corrupt officials wrongfully issuing otherwise valid passports or other documents. In addition, it may be known that, due to the stringent identity and background checks performed that very few if any passport or other document holder / bearers from these specific countries have any links with terrorist or other criminal organizations. Accordingly, it is not necessary to perform overly stringent validation checks on documents and identity checks on the persons carrying and submitting such documents from the specific countries. The pre-determined document validation and bearer identity verification checking steps are thus reduced and the checking and verification process is speeded up. This is particularly important at busy ports of entry to countries such as major international airports. Filed February 2004 as PCT / US2005 / 009439; pending.