AssureTec HARDWARE

Document capture devices can be classified according to the document sizes they read and the kinds of data they are able to capture. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) specifies three standard ID sizes: ID-1 (used for credit cards, e.g.), ID-2 (slightly larger, but still wallet-sized), and ID-3 (used for passports, visas, and travel permits, e.g). Some cards have magnetic strips (also called magstripes). There are different lighting conditions under which different documents need to be examined for different document security attributes: visible, near-infrared, ultraviolet, coaxial, and directional. Depending on the application and factors such as size and cost, different document capture devices are available.

Unfortunately, we have found that the majority of commercially available document capture devices are either (i) not optimized for capturing images for forensic document examination through digital imaging techniques; or (ii) not optimized for speedy or easy processing to keep lines moving. Hence AssureTec currently produces its own line of document capture devices under the i-Dentify label. AssureTec is open to working with manufacturers of document capture devices to qualify more devices to run the AssureID software. If your company manufactures a document capture device and you are interested in supporting our software, please contact us; but be prepared to make engineering changes.

The i-Dentify™ Model ID-300, ID-400, and ID-450 Reader-Authenticator products utilize a proprietary imaging unit that captures full color, infrared, ultraviolet and coaxial images from all ISO-7501/ICAO-9303 compliant documents such as passports, visas, and national travel cards (ID-1, ID-2 and ID-3) as well as non-ICAO compliant documents including drivers’ licenses, IATA standard ATB1, ATB2, and TAT document types.

The Model ID-150 unit is designed to provide similar capability (but a reduced feature set to keep the price point low) for standard driver’s license size (ID-1/CR80) documents.

The ID-300 and ID-4xx units are top-of-the-line document reader-authenticators that can handle almost any type of ID document. However, when considering a large deployment, they could be expensive depending on the cost-benefit trade-offs and the documents presented by customers for your particular situation. In large environments, if it makes sense, we typically recommend considering a mix of equipment.

The ID-150 offering is great for particular situations — for example, when a large number of operators need individual stations with ID authentication capability where the vast majority of customers will be presenting only ID cards rather than passports or other non-ID-1 documents. However, it is always good to have the ID-4xx devices available nearby for those rare occasions when someone presents a non-ID-1 document or when an ID-1 document is somehow not able to be read by the ID-150 - perhaps the mechanical document feeder is unable to feed the document because it is too slippery, for example. Also, if the ID-150 shows a document to be suspect but the customer insists that it is good, you could double-check the results on the ID-4xx device instead.

A high-level feature comparison of AssureTec hardware can be found here.

The following table is a comparison of the functions and features of the i-Dentify hardware line. (Y=Yes, N=No, O=Optional, *=Potentially available in the future.)