Authentication method and system Number:7,089,420 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) owispatent The present invention provides a method and apparatus for the production and labeling of objects in a manner suitable for the prevention and detection of counterfeiting. Thus, the system incorporates a variety of features that make unauthorized reproduction difficult. In addition, the present invention provides an efficient means for the production of labels and verification of authenticity, whereby a recording apparatus which includes a recording medium, having anisotrophic optical domains, along with a means for transferring a portion of the recording medium to a carrier, wherein a bulk portion of the recording medium has macroscopically detectable anisotrophic optical properties and the detecting apparatus thereon.<H Authentication, system, Authentication, , 7089420.html, Patent, pto, 7089420

Title: Authentication method and system

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for the production and labeling of objects in a manner suitable for the prevention and detection of counterfeiting. Thus, the system incorporates a variety of features that make unauthorized reproduction difficult. In addition, the present invention provides an efficient means for the production of labels and verification of authenticity, whereby a recording apparatus which includes a recording medium, having anisotrophic optical domains, along with a means for transferring a portion of the recording medium to a carrier, wherein a bulk portion of the recording medium has macroscopically detectable anisotrophic optical properties and the detecting apparatus thereon.

Patent Number: 7,089,420 Issued on 08/08/2006 to Durst, et al.

Inventors: Durst; David I. (Syosset, NY), Kaish; Norman (Whitestone, NY), Fraser; Jay (Merrick, NY)
Assignee: Tracer Detection Technology Corp. (Syosset, NY)

Appl. No.: 09/577,961

Filed: May 24, 2000

Current U.S. Class: 713/176 ; 283/72; 283/73; 283/90; 380/51; 380/54; 713/170; 713/179

Current International Class: G09C 5/00 (20060101); H04L 9/32 (20060101)

Field of Search: 713/170,176,179,181 380/52,54,55,56,57,58,59,51 359/246,281 399/12 907/7 283/72,73,90,91 162/140

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Primary Examiner: Darrow; Justin T.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Milde & Hoffberg LLP

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A recording apparatus, comprising: (a) at least one recording medium, having a plurality of potential respective different dichroic optical properties; and (b) a physical transfer mechanism, adapted for selectively physically transferring portions of said recording medium to a carrier in a selective pattern defined by an input, said transferred portions having said respective different dichroic properties after being transferred, whereby a dichroic pattern of transferred recording medium material in a pattern defined by the input is provided on the carrier.

2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording medium comprises a polymer having crystalline properties, wherein a crystalline domain of said polymer recording medium has anisotrophic properties.

3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least two recording media are provided, each having distinct anisotrophic properties, wherein said transferring means selects from available recording media to control an anisotrophic recording pattern.

4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium is transferred in a pattern defined by a cipher.

5. The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a message is encoded on said carrier comprising a self-authenticating description of said pattern.

6. The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the pattern comprises a distribution on the carrier.

7. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium comprises a fluorescent dye composition.

8. A recording medium, comprising a polymer transfer portion having having a potential predefined dichroic optical property, the recording medium being adapted to selectively physically transfer portions thereof to a carrier with the predefined dichroic optical property.

9. A recording method, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a at least one recording medium, having a plurality of different potential predefined dichroic properties; and (b) transferring portions of the recording medium having at least two of the potential predefined dichroic properties to a carrier to obtain a carrier having transferred portions having at least two different dichroic properties thereon.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of accounting for said transferring step in an accounting database.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of: (a) defining a pattern of recording media on the carrier; (b) authenticating the carrier based on a correspondence of a subsequently detected pattern to the defined pattern; and (c) accounting for said authenticating step in an accounting database.

12. An imprinted carrier, produced by a method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a recording medium, having a plurality of different potential predefined dichroic properties; and (b) transferring a plurality of portions of the recording medium having respectively different of said potential predefined dichroic properties to a carrier to obtain a carrier having a plurality of portions having respectively different predefined dichroic properties.

13. The carrier according to claim 12, wherein said carrier is associated with an object, wherein a message identifying the object is imprinted on the carrier.

14. An authentication device, comprising: (a) at least one illumination system having an output adapted for exciting dichroic properties of an optically active material and differentiating between respectively different dichroic properties of the optically active material, having a plurality time-varying states; (b) a spatial imaging optical sensor, sensitive to light from said illumination system, but not directly sensitive to distinguish the dichroic properties under unpolarized white light illumination, operated to acquire images under a plurality of said plurality of time-varying states, to differentiate a spatial pattern of dichroic properties of the optically active material and further detect a non-dichroic image pattern; and (d) a processor, receiving an output of said spatial imaging optical sensor under said plurality of time-varying states, determining the non-dichroic image pattern, analyzing said output to selectively determine the spatial pattern of dichroic properties and for authenticating a medium having a predetermined pattern of dichroic elements based on a correspondence of a sensed dichroic element pattern and the predetermined dichroic element pattern.

15. An optically readable data storage medium, comprising an optically readable substrate having a data pattern and a set of optically readable characteristics formed by a process different than said data pattern, further comprising a recorded hash of descriptions of the optically readable characteristics associated with the data storage medium, the data pattern and the optically readable characteristics being adapted to be readable by a common imaging system.

16. The storage medium according to claim 15, wherein the data storage medium comprises a medium selected from the group consisting of a compact disk and a digital video disk.

17. The storage medium according to claim 15, wherein the data pattern is molded into the data storage medium and the hash are formed as a pattern on a surface of the medium in a common plane with the molded data pattern.

18. A data storage disk, comprising a graphic-bearing surface, an ascertainable variable dichroic pattern generated during a physical manufacturing process formed on the disk, and a variable code representing the variable dichroic pattern stored on the data storage disk, wherein the variable code provides self authentication for the data storage disk based on the ascertainable variable dichroic pattern, the variable code and the ascertainable pattern being adapted to be readable by a common imaging system.

19. An encoded optical disk reader, comprising: (a) an optical sensor having a common optical path for reading deterministic authentication data on the disk, a non-deterministic characteristic comprising a pattern of dichroic properties formed during a manufacturing process of the disk, and data to be read from the disk, the data pattern being distinct and separate from said pattern of non-deterministic characteristics; (b) a processor for analyzing the pattern of non-deterministic characteristics; and authenticating the disk based on a correspondence of the non-deterministic characteristics and the deterministic authentication data.

20. The reader according to claim 19, wherein the optical sensor reads a time-varying signal.

21. The reader according to claim 19, wherein the optical sensor is distinct from an optical sensor which reads an optical encoding of the disk while sharing the common optical path.

22. The reader according to claim 19, wherein the non-deterministic characteristic comprises a random reading defect of the disk.

23. The reader according to claim 19, wherein the non-deterministic characteristic comprises a dye pattern on the disk.

24. The reader according to claim 19, wherein the non-deterministic characteristic comprises a random distribution of fibers disposed on the disk.

25. The reader according to claim 19, wherein the deterministic authentication data comprises a cryptographic self-authentication code.

26. Authenticating sealing tape, comprising an elongated carrier having an adhesive property, severable along its length, a seal tamper indicator providing indication of an attempted removal of said elongated carrier from a respective object to which it is adhered, a plurality of deterministic identification portions of the tape, disposed along said tape, and an ascertainable non-deterministic characteristic of the tape in proximity to an identification portion, wherein an authenticity of said tape may be verified by analyzing a correspondence of a deterministic identification portion with a proximate non-deterministic characteristic, and a tamper status of an object associated with said tape may be verified by analyzing said seal tamper indicator.

27. The authenticating sealing tape according to claim 26, wherein the ascertainable non-deterministic characteristic is a pattern selected from the group consisting of a random dye pattern and a random fiber pattern.

28. The authenticating sealing tape according to claim 26, wherein said elongated carrier is provided wound on a spool from which it may be dispensed.

29. The authenticating sealing tape according to claim 26, wherein said deterministic identification portions comprise a cryptographically-secure hash of a vector pattern of said proximate non-deterministic characteristic.

30. The authenticating sealing tape according to claim 29, wherein said hash further is dependent on an identification of the deterministic identification portion.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of object authentication and counterfeit detection, and more particularly to improved hardware devices and methods of use thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The issues of authentication and counterfeit deterrence can be important in many contexts. Bills of currency, stock and bond certificates, credit cards, passports, bills of lading, as well as many other legal documents (e.g., deeds, wills, etc.) all must be reliably authentic to be useful. Authentication and avoidance of counterfeiting can also be important in many less obvious contexts. For example, improved verification/counterfeiting prevention mechanisms would be very useful in, for example, verifying the contents of shipping containers, quickly identifying individuals with particular health or criminal histories, etc. Counterfeit products are, by definition, unauthorized copies of a product, its packaging, labeling, and/or its logo(s). Attractive targets for counterfeiters are items with significant brand equity or symbolic value, where the cost of production is below the market value.

In the commercial manufacturing world, it is not uncommon for counterfeit or otherwise unauthorized goods to be manufactured, distributed, and sold in direct competition with authentic goods. Counterfeiting has reached epidemic proportions worldwide, especially in the area of consumer goods including goods made from fabric, plastic, leather, metal, or combinations thereof such as clothing, handbags and wallets, perfumes, and other consumer goods. Electronics and software products are also particular targets of counterfeiters, who appropriate the value of trademarks or copyrights without license. Since costs savings based on decreased incremental cost of production (exclusive of license fees) is not a necessary element in the counterfeiting scheme, the counterfeit articles may be of apparently high quality and closely resemble authentic articles. Indeed, counterfeit articles can so closely resemble genuine goods that consumers readily confuse the counterfeit articles with the authentic articles. In other circumstances, the manufacturer segments the world market for different sales and distribution practices, so that the "counterfeit" goods may be essentially identical to authorized goods. Further, in many instances, a manufacturer produces goods under license from an intellectual property owner, and thus sales outside the terms of the license agreement are also "counterfeit".

Counterfeit deterrence and self-authentication issues are an integral component in the modern world, where information is transmitted with lightening-like speed. Stock and bond certificates, bills of currency, credit cards, bills of lading, passports, and other legal documents such as deeds and wills must all be determined to be reliably authentic if they are to serve any purpose. Authentication and the avoidance of counterfeiting can be of vital import in the contexts of improving product verification and counterfe