System for retrospective identification and method of making articles for retrospective identification

• US 20010041214A1
• Filed: 07/02/2001
• Published: 11/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Brian Brogger, William J. Kerns
• Original Assignee: Brian Brogger, William J. Kerns
• Inventors: Brogger, Brian, Kerns, William J.
• Application Number:
  US09/897,553
• Publication Number:
  US 20010041214A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 427/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 45/02 Marking of balls
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06009 with optically detectable marking G06K19/063, G06K19/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06046 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/086 with markings consisting of randomly placed or oriented elements, the randomness of the elements being useable for generating a unique identifying signature of the record carrier, e.g. randomly placed magnetic fibers or magnetic particles in the body of a credit card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/06234 miniature-code
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/12 Card verification
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/00 Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means medals or badges A44C3/00; making labels B31D1/02; sheets temporarily attached together B42F; labelling B65C; labels on record carriers G11B23/38, G11B23/40; Seals; Postage or like stamps

Abstract

A system and method using microcoded marks provides retrospective identification of articles. An article is marked with microparticles having multiple layers. The particles form a unique spatial pattern on the article. An image is made of the mark as applied to the article. The digitized image is stored in a database with information about the article. The database can be accessed by users to verify the authenticity of an article.

Claims

1. An authentication system for retrospective authentication of an article comprising:

a) a unique mark associated with an article;

b) a database storing each said unique mark in a record in association with information relating to the article on which each said unique mark is located;

c) Internet web site in data communication with said database, said web site providing capability for a user to enter search criteria to access records matching said search criteria in said database, thereby allowing user to confirm authenticity of article over the internet.

2. An authentication system according to

claim 1

, wherein said database stores information regarding the current owner of article.

3. An authentication system for retrospective authentication of an article comprising:

a) a first unique mark affixed to the article;

b) a unique indice, with each said mark having a correlated unique indice;

c) certificate of authenticity bearing said indice;

d) database containing correlated list of said unique marks and indices matched with description of articles on which said marks are located;

e) Internet web site in communication with said database, said web site providing capability for user to enter search criteria to access records in said database that match said search criteria, thereby allowing user to confirm authenticity of article.

4. An authentication system according to

claim 3

, wherein said unique mark is a pattern of colored microparticles and said indice is a sequence of alpha-numeric characters.

5. An authentication system according to

claim 3

, wherein said system further comprises an enlarged image of said microparticles appearing on said certificate and wherein said database includes an image of said microparticles and wherein said web site shows the user the associated microparticle image in response to the user'"'"'s entry of said indice as a search term.

6. An authentication system according to

claim 3

, wherein said unique mark forms during application of said mark to said article.

7. An authentication system according to

claim 6

, wherein said unique mark includes microparticles dispersed in liquid adhesive material, said microparticles forming a pattern upon solidification of said adhesive.

8. A method for authenticating an article comprising the steps of:

a) applying a unique mark to the article, said mark including microparticles forming a unique spatial pattern;

b) making a digital image of said pattern;

c) storing said image in a database in correlation with information regarding the article.

9. A method for authenticating an article according to

claim 8

, further comprising the step of:

d) retrospectively scanning said mark on said article and comparing said scanned mark with said stored mark to determine whether the microparticle pattern in the scanned mark matches the microparticle pattern in the stored mark.

10. A method according to

claim 8

, wherein said microparticles are colored.

11. A method according to

claim 8

, wherein said microparticles have multiple colored layers, the sequence of the layers forming a code assigned to a meaning.

12. A method for authenticating an article according to

claim 8

, wherein said mark is formed by applying a droplet of liquid adhesive to said article, said adhesive having microparticles dispersed therein and allowing said adhesive to solidify with said microparticles forming a pattern therein.

13. A method of authenticating an article according to

claim 8

, wherein said image includes a portion of the article in the background of the microparticle pattern.

26. A method for authenticating an article according to

claim 8

, wherein said mark is formed by embedding a set of microparticles in a label that is later attached to an article.

14. A method of identifying an object for retrospective identification comprising the steps of:

a) distributing a set of microparticles on an external surface of an object, each said particle having a machine discernible feature;

b) proving a fiducial marking on said external surface;

c) positioning a scanner with respect to said fiducal marking;

d) scanning said surface to generate a unique signature that is a function of the unique spatial locations of said microparticles on said surface.

15. A method according to

claim 14

, wherein said surface is planar.

16. A method according to

claim 14

, wherein said surface is not planar.

17. A method according to

claim 14

, wherein said surface is spherical.

18. A method according to

claim 14

, wherein said scanner moves along a prearranged path to scan said surface.

19. A method according to

claim 14

, further comprising the step of reducing said signature to a number that is stored in a database.

20. A method of identifying an object for retrospective identification according to

claim 14

, wherein each said microparticle has a machine discernible optically readable feature.

21. A method of identifying an object for retrospective identification according to

claim 20

, wherein said particles include magnetic material and said scanner detects magnetic material.

22. A method of identifying an object for retrospective identification according to

claim 20

, wherein said microparticles are colored and said scanner detects color.

23. A method of identifying an object for retrospective identification according to

claim 20

, wherein said microparticles contain material that fluoresces upon exposure to ultra-violet light and wherein said method includes the step of exposing said microparticles to ultra-violet light in connection with said scanning step.

24. A method for retrospectively authenticating an article, comprising the steps of:

a) applying a visible locator mark to an article to be authenticated;

b) applying a unique mark in proximity to said locator mark, said unique mark being formed by a pattern of microparticles applied in a liquid adhesive, said pattern being formed during application and solidification of said adhesive;

c) autographing said uniquely marked article adjacent said mark;

d) capturing a digitized image of said unique mark and autograph;

e) providing a storage medium;

f) storing said digitized image in said storage medium;

g) providing a database;

h) making a record in said database with said record related to one marked article, said record listing a description of the marked article and said record being associated with the image of the mark;

i) providing a printer in data communication with said database;

j) printing a certificate of authenticity bearing an enlargement of said image and bearing said description of the marked article;

k) providing access to the database through an internet web site.

25. A method according to

claim 24

, further comprising the steps of:

l) hosting a web site that lists articles for sale;

m) soliciting information from a seller about the article for sale;

n) before posting articles on said sales web site, verifying the authenticity of the article by comparing information provided by the seller about an article with information in said database.