Patent Application
20100033739
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to customized credentials, but more specifically to customized credentials produced from variable data as well as a system and method to make such credentials.
2. Introduction
As access to more valuable assets, information, and facilities is granted to the bearer of a personal ID credential, the importance of validating the bearer and information carried as well as securing the physical carrier of this information is dramatically increased. There are two major security questions surrounding any given credential: 1) is the person the rightful bearer of this credential, and 2) is the credential authentic.
The generation of credentials that can meet security criteria such as those identified above is typically an intensive process. What is needed therefore is a credential production system and method that would enable the efficient use and creation of secure credentials that incorporate data that is unique to the credential or the object or person bearing the credential.
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of mass producing individualized credentials that comprises providing a template that identifies a specified type of data to be retrieved and a specified position to print an assigned image on a credential medium; sequentially retrieving from a data store the specified type of data where the retrieved data is unique to a respective individual person or object; for each retrieved data, assigning an image to the specified position on the credential medium based on a value/content/nature of said retrieved data; and for each retrieved data, printing the assigned image at the specified position on the credential medium to provide a view of the assigned image according to an angle of view of said medium, whereby to mass produce individualized credentials.
The assigned image may be a scalable vector graphics (SVG) and a postscript (ps) file, and may comprise a color, a frame of an animation, a background pattern, a picture, and text, or other visual manifestation including a scalable graphics file. Retrieved data may comprise biometric or biographic data of an individual person, text data, or other information. The data store may be a digital data stored in memory or a physical list of information (manually or automatically generated) from which data is obtained manually. The credential medium may comprise a composite of a lens layer, print, and/or coating(s); or simply a lens screen having print on a planar side thereof.
Another aspect of the invention comprises an apparatus to mass produce individualized credentials. Such an apparatus may comprise a data store that stores credential data for a plurality of unique credentials; a template that specifies an image and a position of printing the image on a credential medium; an image retrieval module in communication with the data store where the image retrieval module includes a processor responsive to the template to effect retrieval of the credential data from the data store and to assign an image to the credential based on a value/content/nature thereof, and a printer that, for each retrieved credential data, prints the assigned image at the specified position on the credential medium. A conventional processor programmed in a known manner to carryout data retrieval may be employed for this purpose.
A further aspect of the invention comprises a batch of customized credentials each comprising a credential medium embodying a print region and at least one polyoptic region overlying the print region; an encoded set of multiple images printed on the print region where at least one image of the encoded set is assigned to selective pixel positions on the credential medium according to information specified in a data store; and a series of respective lenses in the credential medium overlying the encoded set of images in the print region to enable viewing, according to view angle, of selective pixel positions that represent at least one image of the encoded set of images.
Selective pixel positions may comprise a series of pixel rows of an image or an interlaced or interleaved image. Encoding of the encoded set of image may take other forms including positioning, sizing, intensity, coloring, masking, interlacing, interleaving, scrambling, mixing, transformation, alteration, translation of pixels of images of the multiple images. The width of the pixel rows may range from one to a few pixels, or even a greater number, e.g., ten to even hundreds depending on the application (which may vary according to viewing distance, pixel density, printing constraints, etc.). The polyoptic region may comprise a series of convex or parabolic lenses aligned with respective pixels or pixel groups of interlaced images (e.g., slices of an image) printed on a medium underlying the lens elements to enable viewing of successive image frames of a view set of images according to view angle. The series of lenses may vary in frequency within or across a polyoptic region. Also, the polyoptic region may comprise a series of lenses registered with respective pixels of interlaced or interleaved images printed on a medium underlying the lenses to enable viewing of successive image frames of a view set of images according to view angle. An animation may thus be produced by sweeping the angle of view.
A system and method is disclosed for generating credentials using variable data, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, and as set forth in the claims.
In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features of the invention can be obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
Various embodiments of the invention are discussed in detail below. While specific implementations are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations may be used without parting from the spirit and scope of the invention.
In general, a credential can represent any printed item utilized to identify and/or authenticate an individual, item, or representation of an individual or item. Examples of a credential include identity cards, citizen cards, driver's licenses, passports, work permits, breeder documents (e.g., social security card, birth certificates, etc.), social/medical benefits cards (e.g., health, dental, prescription, vision, unemployment, etc), tickets to an event, labels, seals, tags, packaging, certificates of authenticity, container seals, etc. As would be appreciated, the principles of the present invention can be applied in various industries or markets such as advertising, promotions, software, pharmaceuticals, tobacco, spirits, replacement parts, luxury goods, banknotes, IDs, packaged entertainment, ticketing, etc.
In accordance with the present invention, the credentials produced by the credential production process are created using polyoptically encoded images. Here, credential information is printed directly onto a controlled credential medium, film, or material including a series of lens element formed therewith or thereon. As the credential medium is dynamically matched to the encoding process in the credential processing engine, (e.g., the placement of pixels of respective image frames is aligned or registered with overlying polyoptic lenses) any attempt to print an image on any other medium would result in a distorted image that is easily recognized as a fake.
A polyoptically-encoded image is formed using a printed image and a credential medium through which the printed image is viewed.
As illustrated, the credentials move through six different stages of processing, starting with raw data and ending with a finished physical credential. The stages are illustrated as follows: retrieval stage 102, which includes data element retrieval from the data store; converting stage 106, which includes conversion of the raw data into graphical elements; encoding stage 110, which includes encoding of the graphical elements for viewing through the credential medium; a RIP'ing (raster image processing) stage 114 which includes converting the image to a print-ready format; tiling stage 118, which includes consolidation of multiple credentials onto a single sheet for printing, and printing stage 122, which includes physical printing of the credentials.
These six stages are processed, in order. In various scenarios, there may be dependencies between the different stages depending on the complexity of the credential, such as data characteristics, polyoptically based effects, printing hardware, etc. In certain cases, the order of processing may vary and certain steps may be omitted. Additional steps may also be incorporated.
As illustrated, stages produce artifacts that are described herein as products. These products represent partially finished components of the final credential. For example, the first product is produced by retrieval stage 102, which product is consumed by converting stage 106. Each stage may produce more than one of these products. In the embodiment of
Retrieval stage 102 is the first stage and includes basic setup and packaging of data. The input to retrieval stage 102 is the credential's ID, which is used to universally describe a single credential throughout its entire lifetime.
A primary purpose of retrieval stage 102 is to take a credential ID and retrieve all relevant data. In one embodiment, retrieval stage 102 would retrieve biographic text data, biometric graphic data, and template data that will be used in constructing the credential. In one embodiment, the template data defines what data is to be included in the credential, where data is to be placed (layout), and any dynamic data relationships. This retrieved data is packed into an element product, which would then be consumed by the subsequent converting stage 106.
As noted, retrieval stage 102 can be designed to retrieve personal information such as biometric text data (e.g., name, address, security level, seat number, etc.) and biometric graphic data (e.g., picture, fingerprint, or any other unique identifying formation such as a bar code, SKU number, etc.). In one embodiment, retrieval stage 102 can also be designed to determine and retrieve personalized data relationships. In general, the appearance of any element or set of elements may be modified based on information derived through dynamic data relationships defined in a credential template. For example, a dynamic data relationship can be defined that would generate a certain advertisement on an admission ticket based on a row number for the ticket. As would be appreciated, the dynamic data relationship can be driven by any piece of data that is associated with a given credential.
In one embodiment, defining a template involves two separate processes: 1) identifying the personal data elements and specifying where on the design surface these elements are to be placed, and 2) specifying any relationships between two or more data elements such that a specific value of a first element determines some characteristic of a second element. For example, the employee type (e.g., contractor, full-time, part-time) could determine the color of the frame around the employee's portrait, the border around the credential, or any other visual element on the credential. For example, a contractor status could dictate the use of a red border, a full-time status could dictate the use of a green border, while a part-time status could dictate the use of a blue border. While this example illustrates the use of a first element value to determine the color of a second element, other dynamic relationships can also be used between multiple elements. In various embodiments, a first element value can be used to determine such characteristics as the identity, size, location, etc. of a second set of elements.
At step 304, non-personal information is retrieved. This non-personal information can represent any piece of data that would be common to all of the credentials that are produced using the credential template. For example, the non-personal information can include a company logo, product information, background data, foreground data, etc. that would be printed on all credentials produced using the retrieved template.
Conventional production systems that produce credentials on credential medium are typically limited to the use of non-personal information. In other words, conventional production systems are typically geared towards generating an entire print run of identical credentials.
It is a feature of the present invention that individual credentials in a single production run can be customized for a particular person, product, event, etc. This customization enables each individual credential in a sheet of credentials to include image components that are distinct from the other credentials on the sheet. As will be described in greater detail below, this customization is facilitated by, for example, an external data store driven production process that integrates customized data on a credential-by-credential basis in an automated fashion.
One piece of customized data that is utilized is personal information. In the flowchart of
Personal information is retrieved from a data store using a credential identifier. This unique identifier is used to retrieve the variable data in the data store that is identified by the variable data names in the credential template. After all of the personal information is retrieved from the data store for a given credential identifier, the process then determines whether to dynamically alter the appearance of existing elements or inclusion of additional elements base again on the dynamic data relationships specified in a currently used template.
This additional customized data is referred to as personalized data, which is retrieved using defined dynamic data relationships. In general, a dynamic data relationship can specify a relationship between two or more data elements such that a specific value of a first element determines some characteristic (e.g., identity, size, location, etc.) of a second element. At step 308, it is determined whether any such dynamic data relationships have been defined by the credential template. If no dynamic data relationships have been defined, then the process continues to step 314 where an element product is prepared using the non-personal and personal information that were previously retrieved.
If it is determined at step 308 that a dynamic data relationship has been defined by the credential template, then the process continues to step 310 where a characteristic of an image component is determined using the dynamic data relationship. As would be appreciated, various dynamic data relationships can be defined that would influence a visual characteristic of that particular credential. One benefit of such dynamic data relationships is the creation of distinguishable classes that would be readily apparent from a visual inspection of an individual credential by changing an angle of view. For example, if the dynamic data relationship dictated a particular border color based on a security level, then a quick visual inspection of the border color on the credential would provide easy discernment at a checkpoint. In another example, a dynamic data relationship could be defined that would dictate the inclusion or exclusion of a particular logo based on a customer status. In these and various other examples, the creation of distinguishable credential classes can be rapidly accomplished through the definition of dynamic data relationship functions within a credential template.
As illustrated, image data based on the retrieved data is placed onto a print medium of credential medium 500 (see
In the example of
Converting stage 106 operates on element product 104 produced by retrieval stage 102. Here, all of the text data in element product 104 is extracted and rendered as graphical elements and all of the graphics data (including the rendered text) are scaled and processed to match the template's specifications.
The three layers 610, 620, and 630 are combined into a single composite image for a single credential 640 in a print-ready grid. Here, it should be noted that each credential in the print-ready grid would have data that is generated by its own respective dynamic layer. Accordingly, each credential in the print-ready grid would be distinct from each other since it is based on a unique set of personalized data. As noted, this aspect of the production process is in sharp contrast to conventional production processes that are used to generate a print-ready grid containing an identical set of credentials. It is therefore a feature of the present invention that the use of dynamic data relationships in the credential production process enables targeted marketing or awareness to the viewer of the credential. The flexibility and speed gained in the credential production process is a key factor in producing credentials with targeted characteristics on a large scale.
The print-ready grid that is ultimately generated is designed for application to a credential medium having a plurality of regions for each credential. Each of the plurality of regions has a lens orientation, shape, focal point, size, frequency or other characteristic that is designed to produce a different polyoptic effect for respective interlaced of source images printed on the underlying medium. Each individual source image of an interlaced view set is called a view, and a set of source images is called a view set. As the credential is moved relative to the eye, e.g., upon changing view angles, a different view in a view set becomes visible. In this way, a view is similar to a single frame of an animation. Rather than the views changing over time during sweeping of view angles, the views may change depending on the orientation of the credential. The views are grouped together in a view set based on the template specifications.
Each view in a view set is assigned to one or more frames. In the example of
For example, if an effect is desired wherein all the text images are to change from red to blue to green, then the following three template files are defined: one that specifies the text elements as red, one that specifies the text elements as blue, and one that specifies the text elements as green. Here, each template element defines a view of the data that will be encoded with all the other views to create the dynamic layer of the credential.
Each of these views is then assigned to some set of underlying frames. If eight frames exist and a smooth color change is desired, then the first view can be assigned to frames 1-3, the second view assigned to frames 4-6, and the third view assigned to frames 7-8. This view-to-frame assignment can be handled by credential medium mask parameters in the template. For example, each view element can have a plurality of values that specifies the view number and the number of frames on which that view will appear. In the above example the credential medium mask would look as follows: View(1,3); View(2,3); View(3,2). Here, there are three views. View 1 is placed on the first three frames, view 2 is placed on the next three frames and view 3 is placed on the last 2 frames. The result of looking at this encoded image would then be a transition of the font color from red to blue to green as the credential was moved relative to the eye.
As illustrated, view sets A, B, and C span single regions on credential medium 800. It should be noted, however, that it is possible for a single graphic (or text) to span more than one region. In this case, the source images may be altered, cropped, or combined to create the appropriate views for a particular region.
In encoding stage 110, views created by converting stage 106 are encoded to create a single image. An encoded image is designed to be viewed under a credential medium and is specially formatted to display a single view depending on the angle at which the image is viewed.
Different types of polyoptic material can create different effects. It therefore follows that for each polyoptic effect a different encoding process can be used to encode the views. In one embodiment, there is a library of encoders, each one containing a distinct encoding process.
Each view set for a particular region on the credential medium can be encoded by a single encoder to create a single layer. Since there can be multiple effect types per credential, there can be multiple encoders in use at a single time, each one processing a different view set and creating a different layer. For example, polyoptic effects such as appear/disappear, color switch, color wash, image switch, movement, moving pattern, parallax, size change, etc. can be implemented.
For each input image, a bitmask is created that represents which pixels should, or should not be included at a particular position on the print medium in the final encoded image. Which pixels are filtered out is governed by the desired credential medium configuration. This configuration could relate to different lens sizes, occurrences, directions, orientations, frequencies, or shapes. In one embodiment, these bitmasks are represented as a series of high (white) and low (black) pixels that mean include-this-pixel and do-not-include-this-pixel, respectively. After creation, the bitmasks are cached in memory where they can be used again and again.
During processing, each input image has its corresponding bitmask applied to it using a bitwise AND operation (e.g., any pixel which is non-black in both the input image and the bitmask is kept). Once each of the input images has been filtered, they are combined into a final, encoded image using a bitwise OR operation (e.g., keep any pixel which is non-black in any of the images).
In the example of
The areas that were generated by encoding stage 110 are each pieces of the final credential, much like pieces of a puzzle.
Once a credential is completed it must be converted to a print-ready format through the RIP'ing stage. Depending on the printer hardware it may be possible to fit more than one credential on a single sheet of credential medium, thereby allowing multiple credentials 116 to be printed at once. Tiling stage 118 creates a blank canvas, called a sheet, and then arranges one or more credentials 116 on sheet 120. Once sheet 120 is full, or there are no more credentials 116 to print, sheet 120 is sent to printing stage 122.
Printing stage 122 is the final stage in creating a credential. Here, sheet 120, which contains a plurality of credentials, is printed to the credential medium. Printing stage 122 manages the printer hardware and delivers sheet 120 to the printer.
Depending on the printer hardware and configuration, this may be a direct request to the printer, the sheet file may be placed into some sort of “hot folder”, or some other mechanism may be used to print sheet 120. In one embodiment, printing stage 122 is hardware dependent to enable it to take full advantage of the hardware being used.
As sheet 120 includes a plurality of credentials, the image file produced by tiling stage 118 can be quite large. In one example, sheet 120 is embodied as a TIFF file that can be larger than 500 MB, though the system may be configured to write files with compressed formats specific to the individual printer used in the process.
In one embodiment, a streaming TIFF encoder is used to accommodate the large TIFF file sizes. This streaming TIFF encoder is a means by which exceptionally large TIFF files (e.g., 500 MB or higher) can be created and managed in such a way that only a fraction of the image remains in memory at any one time.
To create such an image, certain predefined data is known up front. These data include, but are not necessarily limited to: the final image dimensions, the color depth (e.g., 3-byte RGB, 4-byte CMYK, etc.), and individual tile dimensions. To construct the image, smaller “tiles” are created that represent smaller, isolated areas of the full image. Upon creation, a blank TIFF file is written piece-meal, wherein a standard TIFF header is written, followed by a section of small (1 to 4 bytes, generally), repeating picture elements representing a white (or some other solid color) field. Then, as each individual tile of the output image is generated, it is written to a specific section of the file so that it will appear in the correct location of the final, composite image.
These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art by a review of the preceding detailed description. Although a number of salient features of the present invention have been described above, the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways that would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after reading the disclosed invention, therefore the above description should not be considered to be exclusive of these other embodiments. For example, although the illustrated polyoptic material is characterized by rows of lenticular lenses, a matrix or other pattern of lens elements may also be provided to generate polyoptic effects. An encoded image that makes up a view set may be interlaced, interleaved, combined or mixed by other patterns. Phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting. A database or data store may be a digital data stored in a memory device or a physical list of information (manually or automatically generated) from which data is obtained or retrieved manually. A lens may comprise any light-bending, frequency-shifting, or focusing medium of any shape. A polyoptic effect includes a change in visual effect in response to a change in view angle, whether in color, picture, motion, animation, visual effect, or any other visual phenomenon. Retrieval may be accomplished manually or electronically by a computer device. A medium or sheet on which an image is printed may comprise any natural or synthetic material that carries a printing substance, e.g., ink. Thus, the invention defined by the appended claims is not limited by the specific illustrations described above. Different embodiments can be formed by different combinations of the features described herein. It is intended that polyoptic and non-polyoptic regions can be placed on one or both sides of the credential medium.
This application is the national phase of international application PCT/US2007/025934 filed Dec. 19, 2007 which designated the U.S. and that international application was published under PCT Article 21(2) in English. This application claims priority to provisional application No. 60/875,547, filed Dec. 19, 2006, which is incorporated by reference herein, in its entirety, for all purposes.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US07/25934 | 12/19/2007 | WO | 00 | 6/18/2009 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60875547 | Dec 2006 | US |
