Covert secure document registration system

• US 10,475,269 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2016
• Issued: 11/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TROY Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: TROY Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Lewis, Brian, Cai, Xiaorong, Riley, Michael R., Altfeder, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Prieto, Violeta A
• Application Number:
  US15/526,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20170309104A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,365 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/003 using security elements using digital security elements G07D7/004
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/0043 using barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/005 Testing security markings invisible to the naked eye, e.g. verifying thickened lines or unobtrusive markings or alterations

Abstract

A method for creating a secure document, registering the secure document and verifying the authenticity of the secure document includes receiving a print object that has content. A security feature, including an identifier, is created and is associated with the content. The identifier may be a barcode. The barcode may represent a character string. The security feature may include the identifier barcode and a decoy barcode that is not associated with the content. The identifier barcode (or the character string represented by the barcode) and the content are transmitted to a database for storage. Once stored, the identifier and the content are considered to be registered. A print object that includes the security feature and the content is then transmitted to a printer for printing.

Claims

1. A method for creating a secure document and verifying that the secure document is authentic, the method comprising:

receiving at a first processor, a print object having content to be printed;

the first processor generating a real identifier associating the real identifier with the content;

transmitting the content and associated real identifier to a database, for storage;

the first processor generating one or more decoy identifiers;

associating the one or more decoy identifiers with the content and real identifier;

printing the content and real and decoy identifiers as a secure document;

detecting the printed secure document with the real and decoy identifiers to verify authenticity of the secure document;

transmitting the detected content and real and decoy identifiers to a second processor associated with the database;

the second processor filtering the one or more decoy identifiers from the content;

the second processor comparing the real identifier on the content with the real identifiers stored in the database; and

outputting an indicator that the real identifier is in the database, thereby authenticating the printed secure document.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more decoy identifiers are a first two dimensional (2-D) barcode having a first color, and the real identifier is a second 2-D barcode having a second color.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the filtering step includes using a filter of the second color.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the real identifier and one or more decoy identifiers are barcodes, the real identifier having a first color and the one or more decoy identifiers having a second color.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein filtering the one or more decoy identifiers comprises, using a logical or physical filter to remove the one or more decoy identifiers from the security document leaving only the real identifier.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the real identifier is printed on the content using ultraviolet responsive ink or toner and wherein the filtering step further includes illuminating the real identifier using ultraviolet light.