Pepper & Ink Technologies offers mobility based identity management with document verification and biometric authentication platform using enhanced secure 2D barcode. This scalable platform is built through high-end data compression for generating enhanced secure 2D barcode that stores Photos, Biometric and Demographic data – all offline. We successfully deliver over 10 million codes every month to several large scale institutional projects in India that have had tangible benefits to authorities as well as the citizens, thereby meeting demands and addressing security concerns of Governments and Institutions. The robust architecture of the overall solution has meant that we are able to effectively manage an extremely high transaction volume for our clients.

Business Case

Let us take the example of the benefits of having a Secure QR Code based document in the Education sector;

For the Educational sector, it is vital to have all primary stakeholders - students, universities, government and corporate employers - on a digital mobility platform. The very core utility and life cycle of a Mark sheet or Graduation Certificate demands it to be verified by multiple institutions at various timelines. Our solution eases this process right from issuance of the document, and throughout the existence of it, and unifies all relevant parties on a digital mobility platform within minutes. Since several students move on to higher education in other countries, it is prudent to have a security feature on their documents that can be easily & within minutes verified by overseas embassies, universities and even employers, years after the student has graduated.

This example for Education sector can be easily extrapolated for identity verification utility of National ID Cards, border control - for visas and passports, Driving License & Vehicle Registrations for Transport, agreements and deeds in Real Estate, Trade & Business Licenses etc.

With many of the developing nations having a burgeoning smart phone penetration, the conditions are apt for a solution that bridges document authenticity, identity management, security, and offline verification, on a mobile platform. The positive response received from the market and interested stakeholders to our innovative mobility based Secure QR Code solutions, has encouraged us to further evolve the core solution using FRS technology

Data security being the primary concern of all large scale institutions currently means that you do not have to expose your API's to any and all third-party verifiers for online verification integration, and being on an offline model, it drastically reduces the cost burden of infrastructure and maintenance, as all the verifier requires is a smart phone and mobile application.

With mobility and IoT based solutions playing a decisive role in the region and globally - now and in the foreseeable future - we are at the forefront of transforming document authenticity and identity management with our disruptive mobility based encrypted Secure QR Code application solutions, and finding a significant fitment within several industries.

About Enhanced 2D Barcode Technology

Enhanced 2D barcodes are next generation barcodes (QR Code, Data Matrix, PDF417 etc.) that store data locally in itself and can be verified or read using a Mobile Phone in an offline environment. The barcode represents data stored in it and is unique to every document. These non repudiable/non-alterable codes are created on the fly. Pepper & Ink Technologies has designed & developed a state-of-the-art system that compresses data including photograph and demographic data, all in one small 2D barcode.

Presently our enhanced 2D codes store data that can be used for one-on-one biometric verification, for eg. a photo stored in the code can be matched with the person in real time thus enabling an accurate and on the spot Face Recognition. Similarly, a fingerprint biometric stored in the 2D barcode can be matched with the persons biometric using fingerprint scanner connected to a mobile phone over Bluetooth/OTG cable.

Key Features

• The digital cryptogram to validate the Code is generated using Hardware Security Module with 128 bit or above cryptography strength.
• JPEG colored image can be stored along with Demographic and Biometric data (if required).
• Highly tamper proof.
• Digital cryptogram stored inside the code ensures the data stored inside the code cannot be altered or forged.
• Code shall be printed using standard InkJet/Laser Printer or embedded in any digital document such as PDF/Image file.
• Even Photocopy of the document containing Secure 2D barcode can be validated without need of original document.
• Seamlessly integrated into the existing documents printing process.
• The key used for generating Secure QR Code is different from the key used for verifying Secure QR Code (Dual key).

How it Works

Why Choose Enhanced 2D Barcode

Privacy & Security

• PKI enabled non-repudiable secure code.
• Hardware Security Module (HSM) based Digital Cryptogram generation.
• Code is generated by the issuer at their location using PITL Secure 2D Barcode platform. Verification of Code is completely offline and doesn't require access to issuer server/data.

Cost Efficiency

• Cost effective alternative to smart cards (no smart chip).
• Shall be issued in dual Print  & Digital formats.
• Only an offline device required to securely read, decode & validate data. Typically BYOD model, so no cost to issuer for verification.

Scalable

• Unifies issuer & verifier on a global scale within minutes.
• Integrated biometric modality like face, finger or iris.
• Robust volumes - system is primed to handle scale of issuance operations.

Applications

• National ID Cards & Resident ID Cards.
• Border control documents – Visas, Entry permits & Passports.
• Transport documents – Driver's License, Vehicle registration cards, Transport permits.
• Educational documents – Mark sheets & Graduations Certificates.
• Commercial documents – Trade Licenses, Land Records, Title Deeds, Rent Contracts, Legal Agreements, Trade Documents.
• Payment technology (virtual tokenized bill, temporary credit card or ID).
• Secure delivery of assets (Code printed on packages that delivery person can verify).
• Time and Attendance / Visitor Management.
• Healthcare and Service Industry.

Uniqueness

• Storage of  biometric template, demographic data and color photograph of the document holder in a small 2D barcode.
• Validation and rendering of data from Code in all leading platforms such as Android, iOS, Windows, .NET, Java.
• Uses highly accurate face recognition algorithm for verification.
• Inexpensive printing hardware, non special hardware for reading and verification makes it very cost effective and thus highly scalable.
• Can be easily integrated in platforms like MOSIP.

The benefits of our technology & solution are:

1. Provide citizens & the industry with a safe, secure, mobile documents & identity.
2. Empowering citizens, institutions, corporates & government authorities with a nimble mobile offline verification platform.
3. Reduce infrastructure cost at verifiers end - smart phone is the only device required.
4. Co exist with any existing security and verification technology already built in to the document.
5. Core Digital Identity - Secure QR Code can be sent as digital document, carried on smart phone, and still be authenticated & verified offline.
6. Unify issuer and verifier on a mobile platform, within a matter of minutes.
7. Environment Friendly - save paper & plastic by eliminating the need or use of a paper or plastic document.

Biometric Authentication

Integrated Platform using Enhanced Secure 2D Barcode & Biometrics

For effective utilization of a functional ID, the key is to have easy and secure access to the ID information which can be biometrically verified. This solution offers issuance of unique digital ID based on biometric deduplication. The ID information is then encrypted using PKI and stored in a 2D barcode which can be either printed on a surface or displayed on the screen.

We use our peerless compression technology to encode and store relevant information in 2D barcode. This information typically contains demographics, ID number, biometric template for verification and face image that can be used for additional visual verification. The information can only be decrypted by the application having access to appropriate keys.

High accuracy Face Recognition is ensured by a combination of convolutional neural networks that utilize the most up to date architecture and the most progressive methods of training.

• Option to store templates which National scale 1:N accuracy or 1:1 for midsize institutions.
• Verification on device or backend based.
• Multiple options for liveness
• Other biometric modalities along with face (fingerprint or iris) recognition can also be added

This additional verification step prevents the issue of unauthorized person carrying document. Our integrated Face Recognition Software (FRS) solution enables the verifier to take a live photo of the person carrying the document, and the FRS will match the live photo with the Colour Photograph of the document holder that is stored inside Enhanced Secure QR Code.

Clients

About Pepper & Ink Technologies

Management Team

CONTACT

Pepper & Ink Technologies LLP

• Phone
  +91 98209 46665
• E-mail
  info@pepperinktech.com
• Address
  2057, Spaces - Inspire Hub
  Western Heights, JP Road
  Four Bungalows, Andheri West
  Mumbai 400053
  Maharashtra, India