Digital camera with apparatus for authentication of images produced from an image file
US5499294A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 24, 1995 |
| Grant date | Mar 12, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 24, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N2201/3274
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A digital camera equipped with a processor for authentication of images produced from an image file taken by the digital camera is provided. The digital camera processor has embedded therein a private key unique to it, and the camera housing has a public key that is so uniquely related to the private key that digital data encrypted with the private key may be decrypted using the public key. The digital camera processor comprises means for calculating a hash of the image file using a predetermined algorithm, and second means for encrypting the image hash with the private key, thereby producing a digital signature. The image file and the digital signature are stored in suitable recording means so they will be available together. Apparatus for authenticating the image file as being free of any alteration uses the public key for decrypting the digital signature, thereby deriving a secure image hash identical to the image hash produced by the digital camera and used to produce the digital signature. The authenticating apparatus calculates from the image file an image hash using the same algorithm as before. By comparing this last image hash with the secure image hash, authenticity of th…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.