Mobile communication devices, especially mobile phones, have become a convenient means for information exchange. Recently, their function has been extended from a mere communicational tool to an information collection tool as well. One example is the mobile phone with a built-in digital camera. The pictures taken by the camera can be transmitted in real time via a wireless communication system and shared among a group of people.
More functions can be built into a mobile communication device by utilizing its information transmission capability.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,947,571 to Rhoads et al (hereinafter merely Rhoads), describes a cell phone equipped with a 2D optical sensor, which enables a variety of applications. For example, such a phone may also be provided with a digital watermark decoder, permitting decoding of steganographic data on imaged objects. Movement of a phone may be inferred by sensing movement of an imaged pattern across the optical sensor's field of view, allowing use of the phone as a gestural input device through which a user can signal instructions to a computer-based process. A variety of other arrangements by which electronic devices can interact with the physical world are also detailed, e.g., involving sensing and responding to digital watermarks, bar codes, RFIDs, etc.
In U.S. Patent Application No. 2003/0187742 to Junichi Yamagishi, (hereinafter merely Yamagishi), describes a program for personal authentication using a mobile phone that enables the mobile phone user to buy a commodity without cash and a card, and without entering a password. A personal authentication system includes a mobile phone, a reading adapter and an authentication server. The mobile phone can download a program for personal authentication from a web server. The mobile phone can, according to the downloaded program, output a train of serial optical pulses that represents personal information. The reading adapter can receive and read the output pulse train. The authentication server registers the personal information and performs personal authentication based on the read pulse train. In particular, Yamagishi describes a personal authentication system, in which a mobile phone is employed to download a personal authentication program and output a train of optical pulses according to the program to represent personal information.
In U.S. Patent Application No. 2003/0136837 to Amon et al (hereinafter merely Amon) describes a method and a system for the local or remote authentication of an item, in particular a security document, with the help of a authenticating device, comprised in, connected to, or linked to mobile communication equipment. Said item carries a marking exhibiting a characteristic physical behavior in response to interrogating energy, such as electromagnetic radiation and/or electric or magnetic fields. Said marking may comprise physical and logical security elements, e.g. a barcode, or a characteristic particle or flake pattern, exhibiting a characteristic physical response. In other words, a method is disclosed to use a mobile communication device for item authentication. The items, in particular security documents are authenticated through the methods of imaging, spectroscopy, barcode, radio-frequency resonance, etc. As can be seen, among various embodiments of the Amon patent application, only the imaging method utilizes a camera that integrated in the mobile phone. In other embodiments, the authentication devices are accessories that are linked to the mobile phone through wired or wireless connections.
In U.S. Patent Application No. 2005/0111723 to Hannigan et al, digital watermarking methods and systems are described. In one embodiment, a handheld device displays a digitally watermarked image at an event center. An optical scanner captures optical scan data representing the device display. A watermark decoder analyzes the captured optical scan data to obtain the watermark. The watermark is used to determine authorized entry. The handheld device may include a cell phone or other portable computing device. In other words, a handheld device, such as a cell phone, is used to display a digitally watermarked image for authorized entry.
In U.S. Patent Application No. 2006/0082760 to Lin describes an optical sensing module, an optical sensing and image capturing architecture, and a method for optically scanning fingerprints with a portable communications system associated with a mobile phone to capture a group of images of a fingerprint on a finger of the user of the mobile phone. The optical sensing module has a light permeable device, at least one light source, and a sensing device. The sensing device has a plurality of sensors that form a line array of sensors. The optical sensing and image capturing architecture has the above optical sensing module and an image output unit. The volume of the optical sensing module is reduced for facilitating installation in the portable communications system, for fragmentally capturing a group of images of the fingerprint, and for processing of identification of the fingerprint. In other words, an optical sensing and image capturing architecture is applied to a mobile phone to capture a group of images of a fingerprint for personal identification.
None of the above mentioned references disclosed a method of integrating an optical spectroscopic sensor with a mobile communication device and the numerous applications engendered thereof, which will be the main topic of the present invention.