Token array and method employing authentication tokens bearing scent formulation information

• US 20040169071A1
• Filed: 02/28/2003
• Published: 09/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Appleton Papers Incorporated (Oldapco PDC Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Appleton Papers Incorporated (Oldapco PDC Corp.)
• Inventors: Goodwin, Ted Ernest, Vervacke, Steven Lawrence, Burgan, Raymond John
• Granted Patent: US 7,108,190 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/14 using chemical means

Abstract

Scent formulation information is imparted onto an authentication token. The scent formulation information may be used in numerous authentication applications, such as security badges, airline tickets, and so forth. Various methods and systems involving such tokens are disclosed.

Claims

1. A token array comprising a plurality of authentication tokens, each of said tokens bearing at least two scent components, said array comprising at least two fractions, each of said fractions comprising at least one token that includes scent formulation information, each of the tokens in each of said fractions have similar scent formulation information and each of said tokens in each of said fractions having dissimilar scent formulation information from tokens in other fractions.

2. A token array according to claim 1, at least some of said tokens comprising paper substrates containing scent components.

3. A token array according to claim 1, said scent components comprising microencapsulated scent components.

4. A token array according to claim 1, said scent components being carried in a relatively nonvolatile matrix.

5. A token array according to claim 4, said matrix comprising gelatin.

6. A token array according to claim 1, said tokens further including machine-readable information selected from among magnetic information and machine-readable visible indicia.

7. A token array according to claim 1, said array including at least five token fractions.

8. A token array according to claim 1, said fractions including at least first and second fractions, said scent formulation information in said first fraction differing from said scent formulation in said second fraction at least in that a first scent component is used in said first fraction and a second scent component is used said second fraction.

9. A token array according to claim 1, said fractions including at least first and second fractions, said scent formulation in said first fraction differing from said scent formulation in said second fraction at least in that first quantity of a scent component is used in said first fraction and a second quantity of said scent component is used in said second fraction.

10. A method for selectively executing a positive match procedure, comprising in any appropriate order:

providing an authentication token that is expected to contain scent formulation information;

retrieving scent formulation information from said token;

obtaining an expected scent formulation information;

determining whether said scent formulation information matches said expected scent formulation information; and

executing said positive match procedure only if said scent formulation information matches said expected scent formulation information.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said token is expected to be selected from a plurality of tokens in a token array, said token array comprising a plurality of authentication tokens, said array comprising at least two fractions, each of said fractions comprising at least one token that includes scent formulation information, each of the tokens in each of said fractions have similar scent formulation information and each of said tokens in each of said fractions having dissimilar scent formulation information from tokens in other fractions.

12. A method according to claim 11, said scent formulation information comprising information as to at least two scent components.

13. A method according to claim 11, said scent formulation comprising information as to whether a first scent component is detected.

14. A method according to claim 11, said scent formulation information comprising information as to the quantity of a first scent component detected.

15. A method according to claim 10, wherein said expected scent formulation information is obtained via querying a database for expected scent formulation information.

16. A method according to claim 14, said database being remote from the point of retrieval of said scent formulation information, said method comprising communicating with said database over a communications network.

17. A method for selectively executing a positive match procedure, comprising in any appropriate order:

providing a token expected to contain scent formulation information;

retrieving scent formulation information from said token;

retrieving additional token information from said token;

querying a database for a database record that correlates said scent formulation information and said additional token information;

determining whether said scent formulation information and said additional token information correlate with said database record;

executing said positive match procedure only if said scent formulation and said additional token information correlate with said database record.

18. A method according to claim 17, said database being remote from the point of retrieval of said scent formulation information, said method comprising communicating with said database over a communications network.

19. A method for selectively executing a positive match procedure, comprising in any appropriate order:

providing a token expected to contain scent formulation information;

retrieving scent formulation information from said token;

retrieving additional token information from said token;

algorithmically comparing said scent formulation information and said additional token information;

executing said positive match procedure only if said algorithm is satisfied.

20. A method according to claim 19, said database being remote from the point of retrieval of said scent formulation information, said method comprising communicating with said database over a communications network.

21. A method for selectively executing a positive match procedure, comprising in any appropriate order:

providing a token excepted to contain scent formulation information;

retrieving scent formulation information from said token;

retrieving additional information;

querying a database for a database record that correlates said scent formulation information and said additional information;

determining whether said scent formulation information and said additional information correlate with said database record;

executing said positive match procedure only if said scent formulation information and said additional information correlate with said database record.

22. A method according to claim 21, said database being remote from the point of retrieval of said scent formulation information, said method comprising communicating with said database over a communications network.

23. A method according to claim 21, said additional information comprising a personal identification number.

24. A method for processing identification information in response to receipt of a token, comprising in any appropriate order:

providing a token expected to contain scent formulation information;

retrieving scent formulation information from said token;

querying a database for identification information associated with said scent formulation information; and

processing said identification information.

25. A method according to claim 24, said database being remote from the point of retrieval of said scent formulation information, said method comprising communicating with said database over a communications network.

26. A method according to claim 24, further comprising determining whether said scent formulation information is registered to an identified entity.

27. A method for storing information, comprising in any appropriate order:

receiving a token expected to contain scent formulation information;

retrieving scent formulation information from said token

receiving additional token information; and

storing said scent formulation information and said additional token information in a database record.

28. A method according to claim 27, said database being remote from the point of retrieval of said scent formulation information, said method comprising communicating with said database over a communications network.

29. A method for storing information, comprising in any appropriate order:

receiving a token expected to contain scent formulation information;

receiving additional information; and

storing said scent formulation information and said additional information in a database record.

30. A method according to claim 29, said database being remote from the point of retrieval of said scent formulation information, said method comprising communicating with said database over a communications network.

31. A method for storing information, comprising in any appropriate order:

receiving a token expected to contain scent formulation information;

retrieving scent formulation information from said token;

receiving identification information; and

storing said scent formulation information and said identification information in a database record.

32. A method according to claim 31, said database being remote from the point of retrieval of said scent formulation information, said method comprising communicating with said database over a communications network.

33. A method for storing information, comprising in any appropriate order:

receiving scent formulation information;

receiving additional token information, said additional token information and said scent formulation information being common to a token; and

storing said additional token information and said scent formulation information in a database record.

34. A method for storing information, comprising in any appropriate order:

receiving scent formulation information;

receiving additional information, said additional information and said scent formulation information being common to a token; and

storing said additional information and said scent formulation in a database record.

35. A method for storing information, comprising in any appropriate order:

receiving scent formulation information;

receiving additional token information, said scent formulation information and said additional token information being common to a token;

receiving additional information;

algorithmically computing a check value from said scent formulation information and said additional token information; and

storing said additional information and said check value in a database record.

36. A method for storing information, comprising in any appropriate order:

receiving scent formulation information;

receiving identifying information corresponding to an entity expected to be associated with said token; and

storing said scent formulation information and said identifying information in a database record.

37. A method for imparting information onto a token, comprising in any appropriate order:

providing scent formulation information;

providing additional token information, said additional token information being associated with said scent formulation information; and

placing said scent formulation information and said additional token information onto a token.

38. A method according to claim 37, said additional token information comprising machine-readable magnetic information.

39. A method according to claim 37, said additional token information comprising machine-readable visible indicia.

40. A method according to claim 37, said scent formulation information and said additional token information being associated by correlation in a database record.

41. A method according to claim 40, wherein said correlation is established after said scent formulation information has been placed onto said token.

42. A method according to claim 37, said scent formulation information and said additional token information being algorithmically associated.

43. A method according to claim 37, further comprising placing non-authentic information onto said token.

44. A system comprising:

a controller;

at least one detector retrieving scent formulation information from a token and communicating with said controller; and

at least one responder operating in response to a signal from said controller that represents said scent formulation information.

45. A method for processing token information comprising:

providing a token that contains scent formulation information and additional token information;

authenticating said token using said scent formulation information; and

if said token is thereby deemed authentic, processing said additional token information.

46. A method for processing token information comprising:

providing a token that contains scent formulation information and additional token information;

authenticating said token using said additional token information; and

if said token is thereby deemed authentic, processing said scent formulation information.