Methods and systems for signature verification

Abstract

A method and system of signature verification that includes receiving a signature-in-question, extracting at least one of an image of the signature-in-question and a trajectory of the signature-in-question from the received signature-in-question, accessing a reference signature, extracting at least one of a reference image and a reference trajectory from the accessed reference signature, comparing the at least one of the image of the signature-in-question and trajectory of the signature-in-question to the at least one of the reference image and reference trajectory, and determining whether signature-in-question is authentic based on the comparison.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of signature verification, the method comprising:
 receiving a signature-in-question;   extracting at least one of an image of the signature-in-question and a trajectory of the signature-in-question from the received signature-in-question;   accessing a reference signature from a reference signature storage, the reference signature storage including at least one of a reference image and a reference trajectory;   extracting at least one of the reference image and the reference trajectory from the accessed reference signature storage; and   comparing the at least one of the image of the signature-in-question and trajectory of the signature-in-question to the at least one of the reference image and reference trajectory.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining whether the signature-in-question is authentic based on the comparison. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of a signing velocity, a signing acceleration, a signing pressure, and a signature time of the signature-in-question and the reference signature are derived from at least one of the trajectory of the signature-in-question and the reference trajectory. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving of the signature-in-question comprises at least one of capturing the signature-in-question on a signing device, receiving a photograph of the signature-in-question, receiving a scan of the signature-in-question, receiving a drawing as the signature-in-question, and receiving a word or a password as the signature-in-question. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the accessing the reference signature storage comprises accessing the reference signature storage from the signing device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the accessing the reference signature storage of the reference signature comprises accessing at least one of a scan of an identity document, a photograph of the identity document, a scan of the reference signature, a photograph of the reference signature, a drawing as the reference signature, and a word or password as the reference signature. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the accessing the reference signature storage comprises accessing the reference signature storage from one of a data repository, a memory or magnetic strip of an identification document, and a memory or magnetic strip of a magnetic card. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the image of the signature-in-question is received with the signature-in-question;   the extracted reference trajectory is converted to the reference image; and   the image of the signature-in-question and the reference image are compared to determine whether the signature-in-question is authentic.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the trajectory of the signature-in-question is received with the signature-in-question; and   the trajectory of the signature-in-question and the reference image are compared to determine whether the signature-in-question is authentic.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the trajectory of the signature-in-question and the reference image are compared without converting the trajectory of the signature-in-question to an image thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the reference image is extracted from an identity document image. 
     
     
         12 . A signature verification system comprising:
 a data receiver;   an updatable data repository functionally coupled to the data receiver;   a display device functionally coupled to the data receiver;   a processor operatively coupled to the data receiver, to the updatable data repository and to the display device; and   a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, perform a set of operations comprising:
 receiving, at the data receiver, a signature-in-question; 
 extracting, via the processor, at least one of an image of the signature-in-question and a trajectory of the signature-in-question from the received signature-in-question; 
 accessing a reference signature storage of a reference signature, the reference signature storage including at least one of a reference image and a reference trajectory; 
 extracting, via the processor, at least one of the reference image and the reference trajectory from the accessed reference signature storage; and 
 comparing, via the processor, the at least one of the image of the signature-in-question and trajectory of the signature-in-question to the at least one of the reference image and reference trajectory. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the set of operations further comprise determining whether the signature-in-question is authentic based on the comparison. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the trajectory of the signature-in-question and the reference trajectory respectively comprise trajectory features including at least one of a sequence of coordinates representing locations of a writing member, a time stamp corresponding to each location, a pressure applied by the writing member, and a tilt of the writing member. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the writing member is one of a stylus, a pen, and a finger of a signing person. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , the signature-in-question is at least one of captured on a signing device, received as a photograph thereof, and received as a scan thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the signature-in-question is received at a kiosk, the kiosk including at least one of a video camera, a photo camera, a scanner, and a signature pad. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the reference signature is accessed via at least one of a scan of an identity document, a photograph of the identity document, a scan of the reference signature, a photograph of the reference signature, a drawing as the reference signature, and a word or password as the reference signature. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the trajectory of the signature-in-question is received with the signature-in-question; and   the set of operations comprises comparing the trajectory of the signature-in-question and the reference image to determine whether the signature-in-question is authentic.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the set of operations comprises comparing the trajectory of the signature-in-question and the reference image without converting the trajectory of the signature-in-question to an image thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the set of operations comprise extracting the reference image from an identity document image.