Patent ID: 6141438
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: G06Q,G07D,G07F

Abstract:
A method of scanning in a control device an identity document or valuable document which includes an image of the document owner, or an image of a pattern significant to the valuable document, wherein the control device is connected with at least one data base containing information concerning the documents, comprising:scanning with the aid of said control device at least a part of the document which includes a part of the image or the whole of the image by recording in pixels with the aid of an optical device which includes a light source, the intensity of the light reflected by raster points of the image together with the intensity of the light reflected from raster points of at least one reference on the document, wherein the reflected light is recorded simultaneously, and wherein the recorded image includes information for reference to an original document in a data base;dividing the recorded image into sub-areas which include at least two pixels wherein the scan is digitized and each of the pixels is given a bit sequence corresponding to the intensity of the light reflected for the pixels and coordinate-transforming the image such that the image will always have the same position in relation to said reference, this reference position also being the same for a corresponding document in at least one data base, wherein a document that is already stored in the data base is compared with a document whose authenticity is being checked or a non-registered document is newly registered in at least one data base automatically or manually via the control device, and wherein when scanning and comparing in a data base is relevant there is chosen prior to the comparison at least one sub-area or a limited number of sub-areas for verification with a corresponding sub-area or corresponding sub-areas related to the document in the relevant data base or data bases, whereafter non-selective sub-areas are sorted-out and, in the case of a new registration of the identity document or valuable document, the document is newly registered in at least one data base.