Method, system and computer program for comparing images

Abstract

A method of determining whether a user of a mobile device corresponds to a previously authenticated user. The method comprises: acquiring a first image from the identity document, the first image being a photographic image and or a digital image; causing a camera connected to or integral with the mobile device to capture a second image, the second image corresponding to a user of the mobile device; comparing data indicative of the first image and data indicative of the second image, whereby to determine whether the first image and the second image represent the same user; and responsive to determining that the first image and the second image represent the same user, forming an association between the previously authenticated user and the mobile device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of determining whether a user of a mobile device corresponds to a previously authenticated user using an identity document issued by a trusted authority, the identity document comprising: a photographic image of the previously authenticated user, the photographic image being visible on said identity document; and an integrated circuit component storing data representative of a digital image of the previously authenticated user, the method comprising:
 using a chip reader integral with the mobile device to access the integrated circuit component, whereby to retrieve said data representative of a digital image of the previously authenticated user;   using a camera integral with the mobile device to capture a first image, the first image corresponding to an image of a portion of the identity document containing said photographic image visible on the identity document;   using a camera integral with the mobile device to capture a second image, the second image corresponding to a user of the mobile device;   arranging for the second image to be checked, whereby to determine whether the second image is an image of a live person;   arranging for said retrieved data and data indicative of said first and second images to be compared, whereby to determine whether the first image, the second image, and the digital image represent the same user; and   responsive to determining (i) that the second image is an image of a live person and (ii) that the first image, the second image, and the digital image represent the same user, authenticating the user of the mobile device as the previously authenticated user.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising capturing, using a camera integral with the mobile device, a series of images of the user of the mobile device, and wherein the checking of the second image uses the series of images of the user of the mobile device. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the checking of the second image comprises comparing at least two images in the series of images for differences between the at least two images. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein at least part of the method is carried out by a processing system which is remote from the mobile device. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the arranging for said retrieved data and data indicative of said first and second images to be compared comprises sending the said retrieved data and data indicative of said first and second images to a remote processing system configured to carry out the comparison. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising, responsive to the determining (i) that the second image is an image of a live person; and (ii) that the first image, the second image, and the digital image represent the same user, sending an indication that the user of the mobile device is authenticated. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the arranging for said retrieved data and data indicative of said first and second images to be compared comprises sending the said retrieved data and data indicative of said first and second images to a remote processing system configured to carry out the comparison, and   the method further comprises, responsive to the determining (i) that the second image is an image of a live person and (ii) that the first image, the second image, and the digital image represent the same user, sending an indication that the user of the mobile device is authenticated.   
     
     
         28 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, comprising a set of computer-readable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processing system, cause a mobile device to perform a method of determining whether a user of the mobile device corresponds to a previously authenticated user using an identity document issued by a trusted authority, the identity document comprising: a photographic image of the previously authenticated user, the photographic image being visible on said identity document; and an integrated circuit component storing data representative of a digital image of the previously authenticated user, the method comprising:
 using a chip reader integral with the mobile device to access the integrated circuit component, whereby to retrieve said data representative of a digital image of the previously authenticated user;   using a camera integral with the mobile device to capture a first image, the first image corresponding to an image of a portion of the identity document containing said photographic image visible on the identity document;   using a camera integral with the mobile device to capture a second image, the second image corresponding to a user of the mobile device;   arranging for the second image to be checked, whereby to determine whether the second image is an image of a live person;   arranging for said retrieved data and data indicative of said first and second images to be compared, whereby to determine whether the first image, the second image, and the digital image represent the same user; and   responsive to determining (i) that the second image is an image of a live person and (ii) that the first image, the second image, and the digital image represent the same user, authenticating the user of the mobile device as the previously authenticated user.   
     
     
         29 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 28 , wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the mobile device to capture, using a camera integral with the mobile device, a series of images of the user of the mobile device, and wherein the checking of the second image uses the series of images of the user of the mobile device. 
     
     
         30 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 29 , wherein the checking of the second image comprises comparing at least two images in the series of images for differences between the at least two images. 
     
     
         31 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 28 , wherein the arranging for said retrieved data and data indicative of said first and second images to be compared comprises sending the said retrieved data and data indicative of said first and second images to a remote processing system configured to carry out the comparison. 
     
     
         32 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 29 , wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause, responsive to the determining (i) that the second image is an image of a live person; and (ii) that the first image, the second image, and the digital image represent the same user, an indication to be sent that the user of the mobile device is authenticated. 
     
     
         33 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 29 , wherein:
 the arranging for said retrieved data and data indicative of said first and second images to be compared comprises sending the said retrieved data and data indicative of said first and second images to a remote processing system configured to carry out the comparison, and   the computer-readable instructions further cause, responsive to the determining (i) that the second image is an image of a live person and (ii) that the first image, the second image, and the digital image represent the same user, an indication to be sent that the user of the mobile device is authenticated.   
     
     
         34 . A mobile device for use in determining whether a user of the mobile device corresponds to a previously authenticated user using an identity document issued by a trusted authority, the identity document comprising: a photographic image of the previously authenticated user, the photographic image being visible on said identity document; and an integrated circuit component storing data representative of a digital image of the previously authenticated user, the mobile device comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one memory including computer program code;   wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the mobile device at least to:   use a chip reader connected to or integral with the mobile device to access the integrated circuit component, whereby to retrieve said data representative of a digital image of the previously authenticated user;   use a camera connected to or integral with the mobile device to capture a first image, the first image corresponding to an image of a portion of the identity document containing said photographic image visible on the identity document;   use a camera connected to or integral with the mobile device to capture a second image, the second image corresponding to a user of the mobile device;   arrange for the second image to be checked, whereby to determine whether the second image is an image of a live person;   arrange for said retrieved data and data indicative of said first and second images to be compared, whereby to determine whether the first image, the second image, and the digital image represent the same user; and   responsive to determining (i) that the second image is an image of a live person and (ii) that the first image, the second image, and the digital image represent the same user, authenticate the user of the mobile device as the previously authenticated user.   
     
     
         35 . The mobile device of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the mobile device to capture, using a camera connected to or integral with the mobile device, a series of images of the user of the mobile device, wherein the series of images of the user of the mobile device are used in the checking of the second image. 
     
     
         36 . The mobile device of  claim 35 , wherein the checking of the second image comprises comparing at least two images in the series of images for differences between the at least two images. 
     
     
         37 . The mobile device of  claim 34 , wherein at least one of the checking of the second image and the comparing of the retrieved data and data indicative of the first and second images is carried out by a processing system which is remote from the mobile device. 
     
     
         38 . The mobile device of  claim 34 , wherein the arranging for said retrieved data and data indicative of said first and second images to be compared comprises sending the said retrieved data and data indicative of said first and second images to a remote processing system configured to carry out the comparison. 
     
     
         39 . The mobile device of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the mobile device to, responsive to the determining (i) that the second image is an image of a live person and (ii) that the first image, the second image, and the digital image represent the same user, cause an indication to be sent that the user of the mobile device is authenticated. 
     
     
         40 . The mobile device of  claim 34 , wherein:
 the arranging for said retrieved data and data indicative of said first and second images to be compared comprises sending the said retrieved data and data indicative of said first and second images to a remote processing system configured to carry out the comparison; and   the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause an indication to be sent that the user of the mobile device is authenticated, responsive to the determining (i) that the second image is an image of a live person and (ii) that the first image, the second image, and the digital image represent the same user.