METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMAGE-BASED VALIDATIONS OF PRINTED DOCUMENTS

Multiple validations of printed documents incorporating image information and authorizing data on a printed document assist in the printed document validation process. This technique requires the authorized document holder to have an image identification accompany the application or production of the document. Image information is converted to a storable image that is used in one of a plurality of validating schemes that assures that the presenter of the printed document is not a substitute. Such schemes included visual comparison of the printed document presenter and extracted image information and validation that the data has not been altered. Non-reversible encryption of the data, as it is read from the document at the document presentation site is used to formulate encoded authorization data that is then compared against like encoded authorized document holder data stored at a centrally located data base.