System and method for authenticating the source of marked objects
First Claim
1. An authentication system for identifying the source of a marking formed from marking media, comprising:
- a source assignment system operable to receive source identification information for each of a plurality of sources, to store the source identification information in an assignment database and, for each source, to link the source identification information with at least one of a plurality of marking media batches, each batch being further associated with a set of stored physical property information representing one or more physical properties of that batch; and
a source identification system comprising at least one instrument operable to provide physical property information for the media in the marking, and an analysis system operable to enable a comparison of the physical property information for the media in the marking with the physical property information associated with batches in the plurality of batches and thereafter a determination of whether the physical property information for the media in the marking matches the physical property information associated with one or more batches in the plurality of batches.
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Abstract
An authentication system and method for identifying the source of a marking formed from marking media is disclosed. A registration system preferably tags batches of marking media with taggant material and, for each batch, stores physical property information representing one or more physical properties of that batch. A source assignment system receives source identification information for each of a plurality of sources, stores the source identification information in a database and, for each source, links the source identification information with at least one batch. A source identification system comprises at least one instrument operable to provide physical property information for the media in a marking. The identification system also includes an analysis system operable to compare the physical property information for the media in the marking with the physical property information associated with batches, and to then determine whether there one or more matches of physical property information exist.
41 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An authentication system for identifying the source of a marking formed from marking media, comprising:
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a source assignment system operable to receive source identification information for each of a plurality of sources, to store the source identification information in an assignment database and, for each source, to link the source identification information with at least one of a plurality of marking media batches, each batch being further associated with a set of stored physical property information representing one or more physical properties of that batch; and
a source identification system comprising at least one instrument operable to provide physical property information for the media in the marking, and an analysis system operable to enable a comparison of the physical property information for the media in the marking with the physical property information associated with batches in the plurality of batches and thereafter a determination of whether the physical property information for the media in the marking matches the physical property information associated with one or more batches in the plurality of batches. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of identifying the source of a marking formed from marking media, comprising:
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receiving and storing source identification information for each of a plurality of sources;
for each source, linking the source identification information with at least one of a plurality of marking media batches, each batch being further associated with a set of stored physical property information representing one or more physical properties of that batch;
comparing physical property information for the media in the marking with the physical property information associated with batches in the plurality of batches; and
determining whether the physical property information for the media in the marking matches the physical property information associated with one or more batches. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of selling writing instruments and marking media to customers comprising:
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offering writing instruments for sale, the writing instruments being operable to mark objects using marking media;
as a related service to the sale of writing instruments, offering for sale batches of tagged marking media, each batch exhibiting one or more physical properties; and
when a batch of tagged marking media is purchased by a customer, associating, in a database, physical property information relating to the one or more physical properties of the batch with identification information for the customer to enable retrospective identification of the customer based on an reading of at least one physical property in a marking formed from the tagged marking media. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. For use in an authentication system, a batch of tagged marking media that enables retrospective identification of a customer associated with the batch based on a reading of at least one physical property in a marking formed from the tagged marking media, the tagged marking media comprising:
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a first taggant material exhibiting one or more physical properties capable of being read when the marking is examined using a first type of instrument in the authentication system; and
a second taggant material exhibiting one or more other physical properties capable of being read when the marking is examined using a second type of instrument in the authentication system.
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Specification