Write accessibility for electronic paper

• US 20070143621A1
• Filed: 12/13/2006
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Jung, Edward, Malamud, Mark, Levien, Royce, Rinaldo, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,856,555 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/176
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/4076 printing on rewritable, bistable "electronic paper" by a focused electric or magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/64 Protecting data integrity, e.g. using checksums, certificates or signatures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/82 Protecting input, output or interconnection devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32144 embedded in the image data, i.e. enclosed or integrated in the image, e.g. watermark, super-imposed logo or stamp

Abstract

A system and method to control the writing on electronic paper (e-paper). An e-paper device may incorporate authentication indicia as part of informational data written on e-paper material. The informational data is protected by a security methodology that is accessible to authorized entities. A reader device may be used to help make a verification determination of whether encrypted or encoded data has been altered. In some instances an output alert operably coupled to the reader device serves as a verification status indicator.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A reader device for use with electronic paper material having label-type information thereon, the reader device comprising:

a sensor capable of being operably coupled to the electronic paper material in order to scan encrypted or encoded informational data incorporated on the electronic paper material; and

wherein said sensor detects authentication indicia on the electronic paper material, which authentication indicia establishes that the electronic paper material and/or the informational data and/or an associated item originated from a provider of the item or from another authorized entity.

18. The reader device of claim 17 wherein the sensor can detect the authentication indicia under one or more of the following conditions:

normal ambient light, infrared light, ultraviolet light, filtered light, specific environmental condition, specific time period, placement in electromagnetic field, and customized image processing.

19. The reader device of claim 17 wherein the sensor can detect authentication indicia included in one or more of the following categories:

alphanumeric symbol, geometric design, monochrome scheme, color scheme, background, repeated pattern, random pattern, boundary cross-over representation, legend, image, bar code, visible representation, and hidden representation.

20. The reader device of claim 17 further comprising:

a status indicator operatively coupled to said sensor to indicate verification confirmation with respect to the encrypted or encoded informational data.

67. The reader device of claim 17 further comprising:

a processor unit operatively coupled with the sensor and configured to determine verification of any alteration or deletion of the encrypted or encoded informational data in accordance with an appropriate security methodology.

68. The reader device of claim 67 wherein said processor unit is configured to include one or more of the following types of verification schemes to determine whether the encrypted or encoded informational data has been altered or deleted:

code, cipher, key, checksum, hash, algorithm, and digital signature.

69. The reader device of claim 67 wherein said sensor includes capability for determining a status of a coupling link with an original attached item or product or container or package, and wherein said processor unit is configured to provide confirmation that the electronic paper material has not been detached from its original item or product or container or package.

70. The reader device of claim 17 wherein said sensor includes capability for reading the encoded or encrypted data in one or more of the following formats:

alphanumeric symbol, geometric design, monochrome scheme, color scheme, background, repeated patterns, random patterns, boundary cross-over representations, legend, image, bar code, visible representation, and hidden representation.

71. The reader device of claim 17 further comprising:

a status indicator operatively coupled to said sensor to indicate verification confirmation with respect to the authentication indicia.

21. A system for protecting information incorporated on an electronic paper device, comprising:

electronic paper material with encoded or encrypted data relating to an associated item or product or service or container or package;

a sensing device capable of reading the encoded or encrypted data;

a processor unit operably coupled to said sensing device to determine verification of any alteration or deletion of the encoded or encrypted data; and

a status indicator that receives an input from the processor unit regarding a verification status for the encoded or encrypted data.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein said status indicator is incorporated with the electronic paper material.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein said status indicator is incorporated with said associated item or product or container or package.

24. The system of claim 21 wherein said status indicator is included with a unit separated from the electronic paper material.

25. The system of claim 21 wherein said status indicator is included with said processor unit or with said sensing device.

26. The system of claim 21 wherein said sensing device is incorporated with the electronic paper material.

27. The system of claim 21 wherein said sensing device includes a unit separated from the electronic paper material.

28. The system of claim 21 wherein said sensing device includes a scanner for reading the encoded or encrypted data in one or more of the following formats:

alphanumeric symbol, geometric design, monochrome scheme, color scheme, background, repeated patterns, random patterns, boundary cross-over representations, legend, image, bar code, visible representation, and hidden representation.

29. The system of claim 21 wherein said sensing device is capable of reading the encoded or encrypted data under one or more of the following conditions:

normal ambient light, infrared light, ultraviolet light, filtered light, specific environmental condition, specific time period, placement in electromagnetic field, and customized image processing.

30. The system of claim 21 wherein said sensing device includes a scanner for scanning authentication indicia on said electronic paper material to identify said electronic paper material and/or said encoded or encrypted data as having originated from a provider of the item or product or service or from another authorized entity.

31. The system of claim 21 wherein said electronic paper material is attached to said item or said product or said container or said package.

32. The system of claim 21 wherein said sensing device includes a scanner for determining a status of a coupling link with an original attached item or product or container or package, to provide confirmation that said electronic paper material has not been detached from its original item or product or container or package.

33. The system of claim 21 wherein said processor unit includes one or more of the following types of verification schemes to determine whether the encrypted or encoded data has been altered:

code, cipher, key, checksum, hash, algorithm, and digital signature.

34. The system of claim 21 wherein the encoded or encrypted data is written on said electronic paper material by or on behalf of a person or entity from one or more of the following categories:

item source, product maker, product manufacturer, product distributor, product wholesaler, product retailer, product dealer, service provider, service franchisee, service agency, and company subsidiary.

35. The system of claim 21 wherein the encoded or encrypted data written on said electronic paper material includes one or more of the following types of informational data:

document authentication, data authentication, item authentication, product authentication, packaging authentication, container authentication, item information, product information, services information, receipt acknowledgement, billing term, invoice data, usage instruction, product ingredient, product component, service requirement, certification, testing, endorsement, warranty, legal notification, government approval, destination, delivery, document origination date, item origination date, product origination date, tracking, history, tracking history, modification history, access history, verification history, validation, corporate approval, and ownership.

36. A data security method for an electronic paper material attachable to or associated with a particular item or product, the method comprising:

processing scanned informational data regarding the particular item or product, which informational data is incorporated in encrypted or encoded format on the electronic paper material;

providing a security methodology for detection of authentication indicia included as part of the scanned informational data, wherein the authentication indicia identifies the electronic paper material and/or the informational data as having originated from a provider of the particular item or product, or from an authorized third party; and

enabling verification confirmation with respect to the electronic paper material and/or the informational data.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein said providing the security methodology includes:

providing one or more of the following types of verification schemes to determine whether the informational data in encrypted or encoded format has been altered;

code, cipher, key, checksum, hash, algorithm, and digital signature.

38. The method of claim 36 further comprising:

generating a status output on the electronic paper material based on the verification confirmation.

39. The method of claim 36 further comprising:

generating a status output on the particular item or product, based on the verification confirmation.

40. The method of claim 36 further comprising:

generating a status output on a container or package for the particular item or product, based on the verification confirmation.

41. The method of claim 36 further comprising:

monitoring a coupling link between the electronic paper material and an original attached item or product or container or package;

in order to provide verification confirmation that the electronic paper material has not been detached from such original item or product or container or package.

42. The method of claim 36 further comprising:

generating a status output based on the verification confirmation for the particular item or product associated with one or more of the following categories;

equipment, apparatus, device, packaging, container, printed material, services, vehicle, machine, merchandise, clothing, food, chemical, medicine, raw material, article of manufacture, component, and tool.

43. The method of claim 36 further comprising:

scanning authentication indicia on the electronic paper material in accordance with the security methodology.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein said scanning authentication indicia includes:

scanning authentication indicia in one or more of the following formats;

alphanumeric symbol, geometric design, monochrome scheme, color scheme, background, repeated pattern, random pattern, boundary cross-over representation, legend, image, bar code, visible representation, and hidden representation.

61. The method of claim 36, wherein said processing scanned informational data regarding the particular item or product includes:

processing scanned informational data written by or on behalf of a person or entity included in one or more of the following categories;

source, maker, manufacturer, distributor, wholesaler, retailer, dealer, provider, franchisee, service agency, and company subsidiary.

62. The method of claim 36, wherein said processing scanned informational data regarding the particular item or product includes:

processing one or more of the following types of informational data;

document authentication, data authentication, item authentication, product authentication, packaging authentication, container authentication, item information, product information, services information, receipt acknowledgement, billing term, invoice data, usage instruction, product ingredient, product component, service requirement, certification, testing, endorsement, warranty, legal notification, government approval, destination, delivery, document origination date, item origination date, product origination date, tracking, history, tracking history, modification history, access history, verification history, validation, corporate approval, and ownership.

63. The method of claim 36 further comprising:

sensing informational data in order to detect authentication indicia under one or more of the following conditions;

normal ambient light, infrared light, ultraviolet light, filtered light, specific environmental condition, specific time period, placement in electromagnetic field, and customized image processing.

64. The method of claim 36 further comprising:

sensing informational data in order to detect one or more of the following types of authentication indicia;

alphanumeric symbol, geometric design, monochrome scheme, color scheme, background, repeated pattern, random pattern, boundary cross-over representation, legend, image, bar code, visible representation, and hidden representation.

65. The method of claim 41, wherein said monitoring the coupling link includes:

monitoring a circuit link between the electronic paper material and such original attached item or product or container or package.

66. The method of claim 41, wherein said monitoring the coupling link includes:

monitoring correlated symbolic representations on the electronic paper material and on such original attached item or product or container or package.

45. A computer program product comprising:

(a) program instructions configured to perform a process that associates information in a computer system, the process including

processing an e-paper document having informational data regarding an item or product, wherein the informational data is written in encrypted or encoded format on electronic paper material attachable to or associated with the item or product,

providing a security methodology for detection of authentication indicia incorporated on the electronic paper material as part of the informational data, wherein the authentication indicia identifies the electronic paper material and/or the informational data as having originated from a provider or from another authorized entity, and

scanning the authentication indicia in accordance with a security methodology to enable verification confirmation with respect to the electronic paper material and/or the informational data; and

(b) a computer-readable signal-bearing media bearing the program instructions.

46. The computer program product of claim 45, wherein the signal-bearing media includes storage media and/or communication media.

47. The computer program product of claim 45, wherein the process further comprises:

generating an “

ok”

status output if the verification confirmation indicates that that electronic paper material and/or the informational data has not been altered.

48. The computer program product of claim 45, wherein the process further comprises:

generating a “

warning”

status output if the verification confirmation indicates that the electronic paper material and/or the information data has been altered.

49. The computer program product of claim 45, wherein the process further comprises:

monitoring a coupling link between the electronic paper material and an original attached item or product or container or package, to provide verification confirmation regarding such original item or product or container or package.

50. The computer program product of claim 49, wherein said monitoring the coupling link includes:

monitoring a circuit link between the electronic paper material and the original attached item or product or container or package.

51. The computer program product of claim 49, wherein said monitoring the coupling link includes:

scanning correlated symbolic representations on the electronic paper material and on the original attached item or product or container or package.

52. The computer program product of claim 49, wherein the process further comprises:

generating an “

ok”

status output based on verification confirmation with respect to the coupling link indicating the electronic paper material has not been detached from such original item or product or container or package.

53. The computer program product of claim 49, wherein the process further comprises:

generating a “

warning”

status output based on verification confirmation of a problem regarding the coupling link.

54. The computer program product of claim 45, wherein the process further comprises:

generating an “

ok”

status output based on verification confirmation indicating detection of the authentication indicia.

55. The computer program product of claim 45, wherein the process further comprises:

generating a “

warning”

status output based on verification confirmation of a problem regarding detection of the authentication indicia.

56. The computer program of claim 45, wherein the aforesaid feature processing an e-paper document having informational data includes:

processing an e-paper document having informational data from or on behalf of one or more of the following;

a provider or maker or manufacturer or distributor or seller of the item or product.

57. The computer program of claim 45, wherein the aforesaid feature processing an e-paper document having informational data includes:

processing an e-paper document having one or more of the following types of informational data related to the item or product;

document authentication, data authentication, item authentication, product authentication, packaging authentication, container authentication, item information, product information, service information, usage instruction, product ingredient, product component, service requirement, receipt acknowledgement, billing term, invoice data, certification, testing, endorsement, warranty, legal notification, government approval, destination, delivery, document origination date, item origination date, product origination date, tracking, history, tracking history, modification history, access history, verification history, validation, corporate approval, and ownership.

58. The computer program product of claim 45, wherein the aforesaid feature scanning the authentication indicia includes:

scanning one or more of the following types of authentication indicia;

alphanumeric symbol, geometric design, monochrome scheme, color scheme, background, repeated pattern, random pattern, boundary cross-over representation, legend, image, bar code, visible representation, and hidden representation.

59. The computer program product of claim 45, wherein the aforesaid feature scanning the authentication indicia includes:

scanning the authentication indicia under one or more of the following conditions;

normal ambient light, infrared light, ultraviolet light, filtered light, specific environmental condition, specific time period, placement in electromagnetic field, and customized image processing.

60. The computer program product of claim 45, wherein the aforesaid feature providing the security methodology includes:

implementing one or more of the following types of verification schemes to determine whether the informational data in encrypted or encoded format has been altered;

code, cipher, key, checksum, hash, algorithm, and digital signature.