Techniques for generating and using a fingerprint for an article
First Claim
1. A method of processing an article, the method comprising:
- determining a set of parameter values;
operating a scanner using the set of parameter values to obtain a set of data points for the article, the set of data points obtained when a light beam scatters from a surface of the article;
generating a fingerprint for the article based upon the set of data points; and
associating machine readable information with the article, wherein the set of parameter values are retrievable using the machine readable information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques for generating fingerprints for articles and using the fingerprints for various applications. Scan-related parameter values, including the area of an article scanned, may be specified and varied from one scan to another for collecting data points used for generating fingerprints for articles. A paper shredder is provided that is configured to, prior to shredding a paper sheet, scan the paper sheet and generate a fingerprint for the paper sheet. Fingerprints may also be generated for media keys that are used to access media data. The fingerprint generated for a media key may be used to authenticate the media key. Access to media data corresponding to the media key may be made contingent on successful authentication of the media key.
180 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of processing an article, the method comprising:
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determining a set of parameter values;
operating a scanner using the set of parameter values to obtain a set of data points for the article, the set of data points obtained when a light beam scatters from a surface of the article;
generating a fingerprint for the article based upon the set of data points; and
associating machine readable information with the article, wherein the set of parameter values are retrievable using the machine readable information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of processing an article, the method comprising:
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reading machine readable information associated with the article;
obtaining a set of parameter values using the machine readable information, wherein the set of parameter values comprises one or more parameter values used for generating a first fingerprint for the article;
operating a scanner using the set of parameter values to obtain a set of data points for the article, the set of data points obtained when a light beam scatters from a surface of the article; and
generating a second fingerprint for the article based upon the set of data points. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of shredding a paper sheet, the method comprising:
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receiving a paper sheet to be shredded;
generating a fingerprint for the paper sheet;
searching a database for an entry comprising a fingerprint that matches the fingerprint generated for the paper sheet; and
shredding the paper sheet. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A system for shredding paper sheets, the system comprising:
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a feeder adapted to receive a paper sheet for shredding;
a fingerprinting unit adapted to generate a fingerprint for the paper sheet; and
a shredding unit adapted to shred the paper sheet after the fingerprinting unit has generated a fingerprint for the paper sheet. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A method of using a media key, the method comprising:
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determining machine readable information from the media key;
determining a data identifier from the machine readable information;
generating a first fingerprint for the media key based upon data points collected from scanning the media key;
accessing a second fingerprint for the media key using the data identifier;
authenticating the media key using the first fingerprint and the second fingerprint; and
providing access to media data corresponding to the media key based upon the authentication of the media key. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A method of using a media key, the method comprising:
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determining machine readable information from the media key;
determining a data identifier from the machine readable information;
identifying a first set of scan sites, each scan site in the first set specifying a surface area;
for each scan site in the first set, collecting a set of data points for the scan site from scanning a surface area of the media key corresponding to the scan site;
authenticating the media key using the set of data points collected for the scan sites in the first set and data points collected for each of the scan sites in the first set when the media key was created; and
providing access to media data corresponding to the media key based upon the authentication of the media key. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification