Importance

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Abstract

Method and apparatus for verification of documents belonging to selected groups of classes of such documents. The documents are verified to assure that information contained in the documents is authenticated and unchanged. In one embodiment of the subject invention the documents maybe identification cards including both text and an image of the bearer. Each document also includes encrypted information E.sub.i [M] derived from the document, and encrypted decryption key CE.sub.j [Di] for decrypting the encrypted information and information identifying the document as a member of the jth class C.sub.j of a group of classes of documents. Verifying apparatus validates the document by a scanning information from the document decrypting the encrypted decryption key an using the decryption key so obtained to decrypted the encrypted information and comparing the recovered encrypted information with information derived from the document directly. The verifying apparatus is responsive to enabling information from a data center to enable the verifying apparatus to decrypt the encrypted decryption key for any document in a selected group of classes.

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First Claim