CUSAT Researchers Granted Patent for Digital Evidence Fingerprinting System

Kochi: Researchers from the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) have been granted an Indian patent for developing an advanced system aimed at improving the reliability and authenticity of digital evidence used in criminal investigations and forensic analysis, officials said on Saturday.

According to a statement issued by CUSAT, the patented innovation, titled “System and Method for Generating Digital Fingerprint of a Digital Evidence,” introduces an enhanced approach to digital evidence verification by going beyond conventional hashing techniques. The system integrates multiple security parameters to create a unique digital fingerprint for each piece of digital evidence.

The digital fingerprint is generated by combining cryptographic hash values with hardware-based device identifiers and geo-location data. The inclusion of geo-location details helps record the exact place where the fingerprinting process is carried out, strengthening the credibility of the evidence, the statement said.

The system also includes built-in write-block technology to ensure that the original digital evidence remains unchanged during processing, a key requirement in forensic investigations. Officials said this feature helps prevent any accidental or deliberate alteration of evidence.

Designed for practical use, the system can be operated directly at crime scenes by law enforcement officers and field investigators without the need for advanced technical expertise. This makes it suitable for real-time evidence collection and verification, CUSAT said.

The university said the invention is expected to strengthen digital forensic standards, improve chain-of-custody documentation and enhance the evidentiary value of digital records produced before courts.

The patent has been awarded to Vijith T K Thekke Koodathil, Senior Research Fellow (UGC-SRF) at the Cyber Intelligence Research Laboratory, Department of Computer Applications; Dr M B Santosh Kumar, Professor and Head of the Department of Information Technology, School of Engineering; Dr K V Pramod, Emeritus Professor, Department of Computer Applications; and Sukrith B, Research Scholar at the Cyber Intelligence Research Laboratory, the statement said.