DE102011105407A1 - System for transmitting message with characters from transmitting-side unit to receiving-side unit e.g. mobile telephone, has transmitting-side unit transmitting image data to receiving-side unit, where text is integrated in image data - Google Patents

Abstract

The system (1) has a character generating unit (ZGEN) attached to a transmitting-side unit (TRA), and a message displaying unit (ZDPY) attached to a receiving-side unit (REC). A control program is assigned to the character generating unit for transmitting a message (N) with user data from the transmitting-side unit to the receiving-side unit. The characters generate randomly selected values of character shape-determined parameters, and a message text (Nt) is integrated in image data (BDat) that is transmitted from the transmitting-side unit to the receiving-side unit.

Description

The invention relates to a method for transmitting a message according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a system for transmitting a message according to the preamble of claim 10.

State of the art

The protection of privacy is regulated by law in different national legal systems. Thus, many of these legal systems contain legal regulations on data protection. Among other things, data protection is violated by automated procedures that access, for example, messages transmitted on the Internet and are designed to recognize the content of messages and then make the content of the message available to third parties who are not authorized to notice the message put. Confidential information, which is transmitted for example on the Internet, must therefore be secured against unauthorized access

It is known to encrypt e-mail communication and to verify the sender and also the authenticity of the communication content. An example of such a method is RSA encryption using an Aladdin E token. However, information encrypted at the transmitting end is to be decrypted at the receiving end, which fundamentally requires a security key, which must be present at the transmitting end as well as at the receiving end, the tuning of the sender and the recipient via the encryption method, the applications required for this and, if appropriate, corresponding hardware components.

Encryption and decryption of information require both the sender side and the receiver side computational effort, which is not available for other tasks and takes time.

Since 2007, Microsoft's e-mail program Outlook ^{© has} provided the option of exchanging contact data as automatically generated image files in the form of business cards. As a result, the contact data is not transmitted as text but as an image. However, for currently available automatic character recognition procedures, it is possible to restore from an image file a text contained therein, which is created in conventional characters.

Out US 7,139,916 B2 a method known by the name CAPTCHA (Completely Automated Public Turing test to Tell Computers and Humans Apart) is known. This method is to display a user on the monitor of his data processing system an image in a font that differs considerably in their typeface of commonly used fonts, in particular appears distorted. The viewer of this font, which is to identify itself to his data processing system, is requested to enter characters in the data processing system, which correspond to the displayed, distorted font. If the characters entered by the user actually match the displayed distorted font, the user is granted access. The method is thus an automated test to distinguish whether it interacts with a machine or with a human.

Such an automated test is also off US 7,139,916 B2 known. In the known method, the user is displayed on the monitor of his data processing system an image with digits. These numbers are shown in the usual font, but arranged obliquely in the image, the image may still be provided with a network.

task

Based on this prior art, the present invention seeks to provide an aforementioned method and system, wherein the method and the system complicate an automatic content acquisition of information or exclude.

This object is achieved by a method and by a system which are defined in the claims.

Advantages of the invention

The invention achieves a plurality of advantages. With the method according to the invention and the system according to the invention, a solution is provided which contributes to the protection of privacy and data protection. At the same time, it requires comparatively little computation because encryption and decryption procedures are not used.

In the context of the inventive method for transmitting a message containing characters, the message is supplied to a transmitting side device or generated in this. The message is transmitted from the transmitting side device to a receiving side device and is there visually displayed. The method according to the invention is characterized in that the characters are generated with respect to predeterminable, randomly selected values of character shape determination parameters and combined to form a message text. The message text is integrated into an image file which is transmitted from the transmitting side device to the receiving side device.

Recognition of the message content thus created by currently available automatic character recognition procedures is practically impossible, although encryption and decryption of the characters is not performed.

Thus, the method according to the invention is characterized by a comparatively low coordination and calculation effort. The transmitted message texts containing the characters are intuitively read by a human receiver at the receiving end, but not by an automated application on the transmission path. The method according to the invention thus enables the transmission of confidential information, immune to automatic character recognition procedures, without the use of encryption and decryption procedures.

A further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention is characterized in that the message text is integrated into a picture file by means of a screenshot. As a result, the information of the message text in the image file is only optically but not as digital text, which reduces the probability of automated recognition of the message content.

A further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention is characterized in that the image files (BDat) have different image data sizes (BDG) and / or image file types (BTyp) and the images stored in them have different widths and heights. This avoids automatic character recognition procedures using specific values for these properties as a distinguishing feature for potentially confidential information. If the image file is created manually by a human by means of a screenshot, it can be assumed that the individual image files are very likely to have variable widths, heights, image data sizes.

A further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention is characterized in that the size of the image file (BDat) is determined by a predefinable pixel density (BPD) and / or by a predefinable image file type (BTyp). Thus, the amount of data of a message text or the bandwidth of a wirelessly transmitted message can be specifically set. The communication by means of the method according to the invention can be optimized for different transmission forms, for example a small amount of data in the transmission of an MMS message (Multimedia Messaging Service) and a larger in the transmission by e-mail.

A further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention is characterized in that the characters are generated with respect to a predeterminable, restricted or unrestricted, number, randomly selected values of the predeterminable character form determination parameters and combined to form a message text. As the number of character shape determination parameters used increases, the probability of message content detection is reduced by automatic character recognition procedures.

A further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention is characterized in that the values of the character shape determination parameters, color of a character, inclination of a character, supplementary lines to a character, vertical distance of a character from the text baseline, width of a character, height of a character, rotation of a Character, with regard to a predefinable rotation axis, font of a character, outline drawing of a character, shading of a character, reflection of a character and / or Horizontal character spacing of a character can be used. With the use of a plurality of the aforementioned character shape determination parameters and a plurality of their possible values, the recognition of the message content by currently available automatic character recognition procedures can almost certainly be ruled out.

A further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention is characterized in that the same values for the different character shape determination parameters are used in a message text only after a predefinable number of consecutive characters. Also with this embodiment of the method according to the invention, the advantage is achieved of reducing the probability of recognition of the message content by automatic character recognition procedures.

This advantage is particularly pronounced in a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, which is characterized in that the number of identical forms of the characters of a message text is minimized when generating the characters.

A further advantage of the method according to the invention is that the generation of the random values of the character shape determination parameters can be implemented at least on two levels. On the one hand, at the system font level, by random parameters for a predefined random area in the font definition file (eg the TrueType or the PostScript file), on the other hand, the randomness can also be implemented at the level of the word processing application (eg an add-on to the Microsoft Office applications).

The system according to the invention for transmitting a message containing characters comprises a transmitting-side device and a receiving-side device, wherein the transmitting-side device is associated with a first device for generating characters, and wherein the receiving-side device is associated with a second device for displaying a message , The system according to the invention is characterized in that the first device is assigned a control program which controls the above-mentioned method.

The system according to the invention has the aforementioned advantages, which are also achieved with the execution of the method according to the invention.

Another advantage of the method and the system according to the invention is that the underlying functional mechanism is easy to understand for the user. Since the acceptance of a technology is highly dependent on its understanding by the user, it can be assumed that the method according to the invention and the system according to the invention are more widely accepted in comparison to conventional encryption methods.

Explanation of the drawings

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawing. It shows:

1 a block diagram of a system according to the invention;

2 an example of a message text in usual character representation; and an example of the same message text in a character representation according to the invention.

This in 1 in the form of a block diagram, schematically illustrated system 1 for transmitting a message N containing n characters Z1, ..., Zx, has a transmitting side device TRA and a receiving side device REC. For example, the transmitting side device TRA and the receiving side device REC are each a mobile data processing device and in particular a mobile phone.

The transmission takes place via a network NW, for example on the Internet; the transmission can be wired or wireless.

The transmission-side device TRA is assigned a first device ZGEN for generating the characters Z1,..., Zx, while the reception-side device REC is assigned a second device ZDPY for representing the message N.

The illustrated transmission-side device ZGEN for generating the characters comprises a controller CC1, a data input medium KB1, a memory MEM1 and an optical display device DPY1. The aforementioned components CC1, KB1, MEM1, DPY1 may be integrated in the transmitting side device TRA.

The illustrated receiving-side device ZDPY for displaying the message has a controller CC2, a data input medium KB2, a memory MEM2 and an optical display device DPY2. The aforementioned components CC2, KB2, MEM2, DPY2 may be integrated in the receiving side device REC.

Characters are for example characters of the Latin, Cyrillic, Chinese, Japanese (Kanji, Hiragana, Katagana), Korean, Aramaic, Hebrew and / or Arabic script. The method according to the invention is applicable not only to characters of the Latin script, but also to other typefaces such as the abovementioned publications. In addition, picture elements, such as smilies, can be inserted into a message.

The control program associated with the controller CC1 is configured in such a way that the characters Z1,..., Zx with respect to predefinable, randomly selected values W_ZB1.1,..., W_ZBy.zy of character shape determination parameters ZB1,..., ZBy generated and connected to a message text Nt. From the displayed message text Nt then an image file BDat is created. In particular, this is generated by means of a screenshot, for example, in the image file types * .bmp, * .dib, * .jpg, * .jpeg, * .jpe, * .jfif, * .gif, * .tif, * .tiff and * , png can be stored. This image file BDat is subsequently transmitted from the transmission side device TRA to the reception side device REC.

On the transmission path between the transmitting side device TRA and the receiving side device REC, third party automatic character recognition procedures can be used by unauthorized third parties. However, the procedures do not lead to the recognition of the message content when using the inventive method, since the representation of the characters according to the invention is randomly generated. Each individual character is formed according to different rules or due to different character shape determination parameters ZB. Randomly generated characters do not obey an algorithm and are therefore not detectable for character recognition procedures.

2a shows a sample text in ordinary character representation while 2 B shows this sample text in an exemplary representation, which is formed by the method according to the invention.

In the context of the method according to the invention, values W_ZB1.1,..., W_ZBy.zy of the character shape determination parameters ZB1,..., ZBy enumerated below are selected at random. The message text Nt the 2a is in 2 B in a form corresponding to the erfindungsmäßigem method form exemplified. In this case, example values W_ZB1.1, W_ZBy.zy of the character form determination parameters ZB1,..., ZBy listed below by way of example are used.

For the letter M of the word "pattern text" in 2 B the system values W_ZB1.1 W_ZB2.2, W_ZB3.1, W_ZB4.4, W_ZB5.1, W_ZB6.2, W_ZB7.1, W_ZB8.2, W_ZB9.4, W_ZB10.1, W_ZB11.2, W_ZB12. 1 and W_ZB13.1 have been selected at random.

The message N may contain, in addition to "alienated" characters according to the invention, also "unaltered" characters which are usually written, see in FIG 2 B , the second "t" of the word pattern text.

Each of the above-mentioned character shape determination parameters ZB1, ZB12 may take a predetermined limited or unlimited number of different values W.

An example of this is that the values W_ZB1.1, ..., W_ZBy.zy of the character shape determination parameters are not limited to discrete values. They can be defined continuously, thereby further increasing their variability. For example, ZB 8 "rotation of a character with respect to a predefinable rotation axis" defines the rotation of a character in the presentation plane and the values W_ZB7.1, W_ZB7.2 ... define arbitrary degrees of rotation of the character within a range of -45 ° and 45 ° °, for example also -9 ° and 44 °. Thus, the values W_ZB7.1, W_ZB7.2 ... define any value in this range of -45 ° and 45 °.

und somit in dem hier dargestellten Beispiel: # = 4·2·2·4·3·3·3·3·5·3·3·3·3 = 2099520 The lower limit of the number (#) of different representations of a character can be calculated as follows:

and thus in the example shown here: # = 4 · 2 · 2 · 4 · 3 · 3 · 3 · 3 · 5 · 3 · 3 · 3 · 3 = 2099520

In a message text Nt immediately consecutive characters Z1, ..., Zx can be generated in each case different representation form, as exemplified in 2 B shown. This additionally complicates automatic character recognition.

This also happens when the number of identical forms of the characters Z1,..., Zx of a message text Nt is minimized, in particular to zero, during the generation of the characters Z1,..., Zx. In the example presented, a message length of 2099520 characters results without a combination of values W of the character shape determination parameters ZB1,..., ZBy occurring more than once.

The aforementioned control program, which defines the method according to the invention, can be stored in the memory MEM1 of the device ZGEN. However, the invention is not limited thereto; The aforementioned program can also be stored elsewhere, system-internal or external to the system, or can be obtained from there.

Procedures for generation of characters, as in 2 B are triggered by data entries in KB1, the generated characters are displayed on the monitor of the optical display device DPY1.

At the receiving end, the transmitted messages are displayed on the monitor DPY2 of the device ZDPY. For the control of the receiving-side process, the controller CC2, and the input medium KB2 are available. The controller CC2 may be assigned a control program that defines the receive-side procedures. This is stored, for example, in memory MEM2.

The method according to the invention and the system according to the invention also make it possible for the recipient of the transmitted messages to transmit their own messages to the sender of the original message or to third message recipients. Preferably, system users have both a ZGEN device and a ZDPY device. This allows any unrestricted message exchange. Both ZGEN and ZDPY devices can be integrated into exactly one mobile phone.

The invention also relates to the respectively described above and in 1 illustrated transmission-side device ZGEN for generating the characters and the receiving-side device ZDPY for displaying a message. The device ZGEN is for example integrated into a mobile data processing device, in particular a mobile telephone, and also the device ZDPY is integrated, for example, in a mobile data processing device, in particular a mobile telephone.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

System for transmitting a message

TRA

Transmission side device

ZGEN

Device for generating characters

CC1

Control of ZGEN

KB1

Data input medium from ZGEN

MEM1

Memory of ZGEN

DPY1

Optical display of ZGEN

northwest

network

REC

Reception-side device

ZDPY

Device for displaying a message

CC2

Control of ZDPY

KB2

Data input medium from ZDPY

MEM2

Memory from ZDPY

DPY2

Optical display of ZDPY

N

message

nt

message Body

n

Message length, number of characters and other elements of a message

Z1, ..., Zx

character

x

Number of different characters of a font

#

Lower limit of the number of representation forms of characters

ZB1, ..., ZBy

Character shape-determining parameter

y

Number of different character shape determination parameters

W_ZB1.1, ..., W_ZBy.zy

Values of character shape determination parameters ZB1, ..., ZBy,

z_ZBy

Number of different values that can be assumed for one of the character shape determination parameters ZB1, ..., ZBy

m

Predeterminable number, consecutive characters Z1, ..., Zx, each having different combinations of the values W_ZB1.1, ..., W_ZBy.zy the character shape determination parameters ZB1, ..., ZBy

BDAT

image file

BTYP

Image file type

BDG

Image data size

BPD

Pixel density

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 7139916 B2 [0006, 0007]

Claims (13)

Method for transmitting a message (N) containing characters (Z1, ..., Zx), wherein the message (N) is supplied to or generated in a transmitting side device (TRA), the message (N) being from the transmitting side Device (TRA) is transmitted to a receiving device (REC) and there is visually representable, characterized in that the characters (Z1, ..., Zx) with respect to predetermined, randomly selected values (W_ZB1.1, ..., W_ZBy .) the character shape determination parameters (ZB1, ..., ZBy) are generated and combined into a message text (Nt) such that the message text (Nt) is integrated into an image file (BDat) and that the image file (BDat) of the transmitting side device (TRA) is transmitted to the receiving side device (REC). A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the message text (Nt) is integrated by means of a screenshot in an image file (BDat). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the image files (BDat) have different image data sizes (BDG) and / or image file types (BTyp) and the images stored in them have different widths and heights. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the size of the image file (BDat) is determined by a predefinable pixel density (BPD) and / or by a predefinable image file type (BTyp). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the characters (Z1, ..., Zx) with regard to a predeterminable, limited or unlimited number of randomly selected values (W_ZB1.1, ..., W_ZBy.zy) of the specifiable character form Determination parameters (ZB1, ..., ZBy) are generated and connected to a message text (Nt). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that as character shape determination parameters (ZB1, ..., ZBy) the color of a character (ZB1), the color intensity of a character (ZB2) the inclination of a character (ZB3), the supplementary lines to a character (ZB4), the vertical distance of a character from the text baseline (ZB5), the width of a character (ZB6), the height of a character (ZB7), the rotation of a character with respect to a predefinable axis of rotation (ZB8), the font of a character Character (ZB9), the outline drawing of a character (ZB10), the shading of a character (ZB11), the reflection of a character (ZB12) and / or the horizontal character spacing of a character (ZB13). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in a message text (Nt) only after a predetermined number m, 1 ≤ m ≤ # = i = y / i = 1 z _i following characters (Z1, ..., Zx), the same values for the different character shape determination parameters (ZB1, ..., ZBy) are respectively used. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that during the generation of the characters (Z1, ..., Zx) the number of identical representations of the characters (Z1, ..., Zx) of a message text (Nt) is minimized. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the characters belong to the Latin script or other writing. System ( 1 ) for transmitting a message (N) containing characters (Z1, ..., Zx), with a transmitting-side device (TRA) and a receiving-side device (REC), the transmitting-side device (TRA) having a first device (ZGEN) for generating characters (Z1, ..., Zx) is associated, and wherein the receiving side device (REC) is associated with a second device (ZDPY) for displaying a message (N), characterized in that the first device (ZGEN) a Assigned control program that controls the method according to any one of the preceding claims. System ( 1 ) according to claim 10, characterized in that the transmission-side device (TRA) and / or the reception-side device (REC) is in each case a mobile telephone. Device (ZGEN) for generating characters (Z1, ..., Zx) for a system ( 1 ) according to claim 10 or 11. Device (ZDPLY) for displaying a message (N) for a system according to claim 10 or 11.

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