Indigenous authentication for sensor-recorders and other information capture devices

Abstract

A method and system of authentication for sensor-recorders and other information capture devices is disclosed. In accordance with aspects of the current invention, a digital sample of the environment is obtained. From this sample and at least one parameter representative of at least one condition under which the sample was generated, a digital signature is created. This signature is stored in memory with the sample to be checked at a later time for authenticity. The file is checked for authenticity by generating a second signature from the file and comparing that signature to the original signature. If the two signatures are identical, the sample is considered authentic and if the two signatures are different, the sample cannot be authenticated.

1 . An apparatus for allowing a data stream to be authenticated, comprising: 
 a memory; and    a circuit that is adapted to store a data stream in said memory, said circuit allowing it to be determined whether or not the data stream has been altered after it has been stored in said memory by: 
 storing at least one parameter in said memory with said data string, said at least one parameter being generally representative of at least one condition under which said data stream was generated,  
 utilizing said data stream and said at least one parameter to generate a first signature that is stored in said memory with said data stream,  
 generating a second signature from said data stream and said stored at least one parameter, and  
 determining whether said first and second signatures are the same.  
   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said circuit and said memory form a part of a digital camera.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said at least one parameter is selected from a group consisting of: a random number, GPS coordinates, zoom settings, AutoFocus status, focus quality sampling, roll, pitch and yaw values, compass headings, flash status, CamID, Seq, and a Security Value.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said data stream is a digital sample of an environment.  
   
   
       5 . A method for allowing a data stream to be authenticated comprising the steps of: 
 storing a data stream in a memory;    storing at least one parameter in said memory, said at least one parameter being generally representative of at least one condition under which said data stream was generated;    utilizing said data stream and said at least one parameter to generate a first signature that is stored in said memory with said data stream;    generating a second signature from said data stream and parameters at a point in time subsequent to computation of said first signature; and    comparing said first and second signature to see whether said first and second signatures are the same.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said circuit and said memory form a part of a digital camera.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said data stream is a digital sample of an environment.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said at least one parameter is selected from a group consisting of: a random number, GPS coordinates, zoom settings, AutoFocus status, focus quality sampling, roll, pitch and yaw values, compass headings, flash status, CamID, Seq, and a Security Value.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus for generating a data stream that can be authenticated, said apparatus comprising: 
 a circuit that is adapted to generate a data stream;    a memory in which said data stream is stored after it is generated;    a sensor that is tightly coupled to said memory and that generates at least one internal and unique parameter at substantially the same time as when said data stream is generated;    means for monitoring the integrity of the tight coupling between said memory and said sensor when said at least one internal and unique parameter is generated; and    wherein, if said integrity is compromised, said monitoring means also providing an indication of said compromised integrity to a user.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said memory form a part of a digital camera.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said at least one parameter comprises a random number.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said circuit is adapted to append at least one additional parameter to a data file in said memory which contains said data stream, said at least one additional parameter being generally representative of a condition under which said data stream was generated.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said at least one additional parameter is selected from a group consisting of: GPS coordinates, zoom settings, AutoFocus status, focus quality sampling, roll, pitch and yaw values, compass headings, flash status, CamID, Seq, and a Security Value.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said data stream is a digital sample of an environment.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising, 
 means for utilizing a signature protocol to generate a first signature based on said data stream and said at least one parameter, said first signature being generated without altering said data stream and being appended to a data file in said memory in which said data stream is stored;    means for utilizing said signature protocol to generate a second signature based on said image;    means for comparing said first signature to said second signature, 
 if said first and second signatures are not the same, then generating an error signal that is displayed to a user to indicate that said stored data stream is not authentic, and  
 if said first and second signatures are the same, then generating an ok signal that is displayed to a user to indicate that said stored data stream is authentic.  
   
   
   
       16 . An apparatus for generating a data stream that can be authenticated, said apparatus comprising: 
 a circuit that is adapted to generate a data stream;    a memory in which said data stream is stored after it is generated;    a sensor that is tightly coupled to said memory and that generates at least one internal and unique parameter at substantially the same time as when said data stream is generated; and    wherein said circuit includes a contact or terminal that receives a signal which is representative of the integrity of the tight coupling between said memory and said sensor at least when said at least one internal and unique parameter is generated; and    wherein, if said integrity is compromised, said circuit being adapted to provide an indication of said compromised integrity to a user.    
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said memory form a part of a digital camera.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said at least one parameter comprises a random number.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said circuit is adapted to append at least one additional parameter to a data file in said memory which contains said data stream, said at least one additional parameter being generally representative of a condition under which said data stream was generated.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said at least one additional parameter is selected from a group consisting of: GPS coordinates, zoom settings, AutoFocus status, focus quality sampling, roll, pitch and yaw values, compass headings, flash status, CamID, Seq, and a Security Value.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said data stream is a digital sample of an environment.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said circuit is adapted to use a signature protocol to generate a first signature based on said data stream and said at least one parameter, said first signature being generated without altering said data stream and being appended to a data file in said memory in which said data stream is stored; 
 wherein said circuit is adapted to use said signature protocol to generate a second signature based on said image; and    wherein said circuit is adapted to compare said first signature to said second signature, 
 if said first and second signatures are not the same, said circuit being adapted to generate an error signal that is displayed to a user to indicate that said stored data stream is not authentic, and  
 if said first and second signatures are the same, then said circuit being adapted to generate an ok signal that is displayed to a user to indicate that said stored data stream is authentic.  
   
   
   
       23 . A digital camera, comprising: 
 a lens which is operatively coupled to a memory;    a sensor that is tightly coupled to said memory;    a circuit that is operatively coupled to said memory and said sensor, said circuit causing the lens to capture an image and store the image in a data file in said memory, said circuit also causing said sensor to generally simultaneously generate at least one internal and unique parameter that also is stored in said memory; and    wherein said circuit includes a contact or terminal that receives a signal which is representative of whether or not an unauthorized user has breached the integrity of the tight coupling between said memory and said sensor.    
   
   
       24 . The digital camera of  claim 23 , wherein said circuit is adapted to provide an indication of whether the integrity of said tight coupling has been breached.  
   
   
       25 . The digital camera of  claim 23 , wherein said at least one parameter comprises a random number.  
   
   
       26 . The digital camera of  claim 23 , wherein said circuit is adapted to store in said memory append at least one additional parameter that is generally representative of a condition under which said lens was used to capture said image.  
   
   
       27 . The digital camera of  claim 23 , wherein said at least one additional parameter is selected from a group consisting of: GPS coordinates, zoom settings, AutoFocus status, focus quality sampling, roll, pitch and yaw values, compass headings, flash status, CamID, Seq, and a Security Value.