Patent ID: 12222299

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A surface to be assessed2, in the example of a painting1, is first aligned horizontally or vertically (FIG.1) and illuminated in an optimal and shadow-free manner by means of daylight and/or artificial light.

Subsequently, the auto-focusing of a camera5of a mobile device4, for example, a tablet or a smartphone, is activated and the mobile device is aligned at a distance of, for example, of 9-10 cm approximately parallel (horizontally or vertically) with relation to the surface2above a prominent image dot (direction6).

The camera5is focused if, for example, there is no re-focusing of the lens of the camera5within about 0.5 seconds. For this purpose, the physical position of the moveable lens of the lens is continuously monitored. The position of the moveable lens determines the focal length to the focal point of the optical system. As far as the average of the obtained lens positions of the lens of the camera5from the last approx. 0.5 seconds corresponds to the next obtained lens position, the camera5is classified and triggered as focused by the software of the mobile device4.

By means of the last determined physical lens position, the actual distance to the focused object (image dot3of the surface2) can be calculated by the aforementioned software, provided that the camera5is already measured.

Based on the measured reference distances and the corresponding lens positions, the control electronics of the mobile device4calculate the current distance to the focused object. If the distance corresponds to a defined specification, for example, five to eight, in the example preferably five, but at least two consecutive images/photographs of an area to be recognized are automatically created. In each image, high-contrast image dots3are identified. Colours, contrasts, distances and/or depths of structures are automatically determined.

These image dots3are surrounded by significantly stronger or weaker intense image dots. The distance6to the surface, for example, is 9-10 cm.

Geometric shapes are then projected on the basis of the identified high-contrast image dots3. These image dots3form the corners of the projected geometric figures. The number, positions, and sizes of the geometric figures are stored in a data set for each image. The number of projected geometric figures indicates the level of detail of an image. The image with the highest level of detail, i.e., the largest number of details, is selected for further processing (comparison of the recorded image data with previously created images) and stored as a reference (target image).

If the surface to be assessed mirrors2and/or is located behind a reflective, transparent cover, the mobile device4can be provided with a reversible glare protection7. This glare protection7is, in the example, a flat square frame with a cut-out8for the camera5.

The glare protection7can, for example, be magnetically mounted and positioned on the mobile device4by means of a guide rail or click connection (FIG.2).

In order to assess a surface for the first time, the aforementioned software/app must be installed on the mobile device4and this must be registered and authenticated.

Registration Procedure:

1. Collection of the personal data of the owner of the object to be recorded (artwork)2. Acquisition of the key data of the object, such as name, creator, year of creation, dimensions, e.g., in centimetres3. Photography of the front side of the entire object4. Optional photography of the back side/remaining sides of the object5. Selection of an area on the object that is to be used as a recognizable area (and/or fingerprint)6. Capture of the surface of the object using mobile device4according to the aforementioned description (creation of an image with the highest level of detail of the selected area).7. In order to further increase the quality of the selected reference image (target image), a live video stream can optionally be created with the same camera5and, if necessary, further individual images of the selected area are created8. The ultimately best image from steps5-7is saved9. To ensure that the stored image is suitable as a reference for a fingerprint, another image of the selected area is created according to the above description and stored as a secondary reference image.10. The reference image from step8, as well as the secondary reference image from step9, will be used for future comparisons of the selected area.
Authentication Process:

The user wants to determine whether a work of art/object in his possession corresponds to the object originally recorded during the registration process or is identical to it.1. The user selects the artwork/object to be authenticated from his collection2. The reference image from step8of the registration process is now used to create the best possible image of the same area (image dot3) from a distance6of, for example, 9-10 cm according to steps6and/or7of the registration4. The best image from step2is saved as an authentication image for further processing5. The stored authentication image is now compared with the reference image from the registration process by the control electronics/app of the mobile device4and/or with the help of a computer system6. On the basis of matches between the authentication image and the reference image, the user receives a statement as to whether the artwork/object is the same or whether it is not the artwork/object originally recorded during the registration process.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1painting2surface3image dot4mobile device5camera6direction7glare protection8cut-out