Method of authenticating products using hardware compatibility flag

• US 20060091209A1
• Filed: 05/31/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: He, Duanfeng
• Granted Patent: US 7,309,011 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/385
• 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 19/10 at least one kind of marking being used for authentication, e.g. of credit or identity cards verification of coded identity or credit cards in mechanisms actuated by them G07F7/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/14 the marking being sensed by radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10732 Light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10851 Circuits for pulse shaping, amplifying, eliminating noise signals, checking the function of the sensing device basic electronic circuitry H03
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/12 using a selected wavelength, e.g. to sense red marks and ignore blue marks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A method of identifying or authenticating a product by providing an analog identification indicium including a randomized pattern of identification features on a first part of the product wherein one or more attributes of the randomized pattern of identification features correspond to an item identifier. A digital identification record is provided on a second part of the product including an encoded digital version of the item identifier, the first and second parts being separable when the product is used. The randomized pattern of identification features of the analog identification indicium is read and decoded to generate an item identifier and the digital identification record is read and decoded to generate an item identifier. If a special light source is necessary to read the randomized pattern of identification feature, a flag is present in the analog identification indicium or the digital identification record that indicates one or more types of light sources that can be used to read the identification feature. The appropriate light source is activated to read the identification feature and if the appropriate light source is not available the user is alerted to this fact. The product is deemed authentic if the item identifier from the analog identification indicium substantially matches the item identifier from the digital identification record.

Claims

1. A method of identifying or authenticating a product comprising:

a) providing an analog identification indicium comprising a pattern of identification features, wherein the visual appearance of the identification features is altered when stimulated by a compatible stimulus mechanism, the identification features corresponding to an item identifier that can be determined when the identification features are stimulated by a compatible stimulus mechanism;

b) providing a digital identification record including an encoded digital version of the item identifier;

c) providing at least one stimulus mechanism;

d) providing a hardware compatibility flag on the product that indicates at least one compatible stimulus mechanism that alters the identification features on the product such that the item identifier can be determined;

e) analyzing the hardware compatibility flag and determining if a compatible stimulus mechanism has been provided;

f) if a compatible stimulus mechanism has been provided, activating the compatible stimulus mechanism to read the pattern of identification features of the analog identification indicium and decode an item identifier;

g) reading the digital identification record and decoding an item identifier; and

h) determining authenticity of the product by comparing the item identifier determined from the analog identification indicium to the item identifier determined from the digital identification record.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein if a compatible stimulus mechanism has not been provided, the method further includes alerting a user that a compatible stimulus mechanism has not been provided.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the user is alerted by lighting an LED.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the user is alerted by sounding an audible alert.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein a compatible stimulus mechanism is ultraviolet light having a wavelength falling within a specific range.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein a compatible stimulus is visible light.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the hardware compatibility flag is part of the digital identification record.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the hardware compatibility flag is part of the analog identification indicium.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the hardware compatibility flag is indicated by a finder pattern of the analog identification indicium.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the finder pattern includes at least one attribute that indicates a given hardware compatibility flag.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the analog identification indicium includes a finder pattern and wherein the appearance of the finder pattern is also altered by a compatible stimulus mechanism.

12. A system for authenticating a product comprising:

a) the product including;

1) an analog identification indicium comprising a pattern of identification features affixed to the product, the analog identification indicium including identifier features having an appearance that is altered when exposed to a compatible stimulus mechanism and wherein the identifier features can be decoded to represent an item identifier when the appearance of the identifier features is altered by a compatible stimulus mechanism;

2) a hardware compatibility flag that indicates at least one compatible stimulus mechanism that alters the identifier features such that the item identifier can be determined;

3) a digital identifier including an encoded version of the item identifier; and

b) an imaging device including one or more stimulus mechanisms and an imaging system for generating an image of the analog identification indicium and the digital identifier;

c) the imaging device further including circuitry for;

1) reading and analyzing the hardware compatibility flag to determine whether a compatible stimulus mechanism is present;

2) activating a compatible stimulus mechanism;

3) analyzing the image of the identification features and decoding an item identifier;

4) analyzing the image of the digital identifier and decoding an item identifier; and

5) comparing the item identifier determined from the analog identification indicium to the item identifier determined from the digital identifier to authenticate the product.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein a compatible stimulus mechanism is ultraviolet light having a wavelength within a particular range of wavelengths.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein a compatible stimulus mechanism is visible light.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the hardware compatibility flag is encoded in the digital identifier.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein the hardware compatibility flag is part of the analog identification indicium.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the hardware compatibility flag is one or more attributes of a finder pattern of the analog identification indicium.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the appearance of the finder pattern is altered such that it can be identified when exposed to a compatible stimulus.

19. The system of claim 12 including circuitry that alerts a user if a compatible stimulus mechanism is not included in the system.

20. Computer readable media having computer-executable instructions stored thereon for identifying or authenticating a product with a bar code scanner, the product being marked with a digital identification record and an analog identification indicium and wherein the analog identification indicium includes identification features having an appearance that is altered when exposed to a compatible stimulus mechanism, the identification features corresponding to an item identifier that can be determined when the identification features are stimulated by a compatible stimulus mechanism, the steps comprising:

a) analyzing a hardware compatibility flag on the product and determining if a compatible stimulus mechanism has been provided;

b) if a compatible stimulus mechanism has been provided, activating the compatible stimulus mechanism to read the pattern of identification features of the analog identification indicium and decode an item identifier;

c) reading a digital identification record and decoding an item identifier; and

d) determining authenticity of the product by comparing the item identifier determined from the analog identification indicium to the item identifier determined from the digital identification record.

21. The computer readable media of claim 20 wherein the computer-executable instructions include the step of alerting a user that a compatible stimulus mechanism has not been provided if a compatible stimulus mechanism has not been provided.

22. The computer-readable media of claim 20 wherein the hardware compatibility flag is part of the digital identification record.

23. The computer-readable media of claim 20 wherein the hardware compatibility flag is part of the analog identification indicium.

24. A system for authenticating a product comprising:

a) the product including;

1) analog identification means comprising a pattern of identification features affixed to the product, the analog identification means including identifier features having an appearance that is altered when exposed to a compatible stimulus mechanism and wherein the identifier features can be decoded to represent an item identifier when the appearance of the identifier features is altered by a compatible stimulus mechanism;

2) a hardware compatibility identifier means that indicates at least one compatible stimulus mechanism that alters the identifier features such that the item identifier can be determined;

3) a digital identifier means including an encoded version of the item identifier; and

b) an imaging device including one or more stimulus mechanisms and an imaging system for generating an image of the analog identification means and the digital identifier;

c) the imaging device further including means for;

1) reading and analyzing the hardware compatibility flag to determine whether a compatible stimulus mechanism is present;

2) activating a compatible stimulus mechanism;

3) analyzing the image of the identification features and decoding an item identifier;

4) analyzing the image of the digital identifier means and decoding an item identifier; and

5) comparing the item identifier determined from the analog identification means to the item identifier determined from the digital identifier means to authenticate the product.

25. The system of claim 24 including alerting means that alerts a user if a compatible stimulus mechanism is not included in the system.