Counterfeit prevention using miniature security marks

• US 20070158434A1
• Filed: 12/23/2005
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Fan, Zhigang
• Granted Patent: US 9,033,371 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/487
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/14 Security printing securities B42D25/29
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/00 Printed matter of special format or style not otherwise provided for
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 Printing or stamping

Abstract

A system applies a security mark to a recipient. A data reception component receives information from one or more sources. A security mark generation component generates at least one miniature security mark (MSM) configuration based at least in part upon the information from the data reception component. An application component applies the at least one MSM configuration to one or more recipients.

Claims

1. A system that applies a security mark to a recipient, comprising:

a data reception component that receives information from one or more sources;

a security mark generation component that generates at least one miniature security mark (MSM) configuration based at least in part upon the information from the data reception component; and

an application component that applies the at least one MSM configuration to one or more recipients.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the MSM configuration includes:

at least two anchor marks that provide reference points that allow detection of the MSM configuration regardless of the size, shift and/or rotation of the MSM configuration; and

at least one data mark located within a proximity of the at least two anchor marks that is representative of the information from the data reception component.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the at least one data mark is different than the at least two anchor marks.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the MSM configuration is applied utilizing one or more of printing, engraving, embossing, discoloration and material removal of the recipient.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the security mark is generated based at least in part upon at least one of an algorithm, a formula, a method, a look up table, a database, and a process.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein security mark generation is based on at least one of a data source, a user preference, a time constraint, a footprint constraint, a data constraint, and a surface type.

7. The system according to claim 1, further including:

a memory component that stores at least one of an algorithm, a formula, a method, a look up table, a database, and a process that is at least one of stored, viewed, edited, organized, and retrieved.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the information received is representative of at least one of an origin of manufacture, a date, a time, a serial number, and an alphanumeric string.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the recipient is one of paper, velum, acetate, and glass.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the recipient is one of a document, a title, a license, a deed, a visa, a passport, a bill of currency, and a check.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one MSM configuration utilizes a plurality of data marks which are identical to each other.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one MSM configuration is comprised of a plurality of geometric shapes with a diameter between about 1 micrometer and about 100 micrometers.

13. A system that interprets data extracted from a security mark, comprising:

a detection component that detects one or more security marks applied to at least one recipient, the security mark is a MSM configuration that includes at least one data mark and at least two anchor marks;

an extraction component that extracts information from the one or more MSM configurations detected by the detection component; and

an interpretation component that determines the meaning of the information extracted from the one or more MSM configurations by the extraction component.

14. The system according to claim 13, further including:

an algorithm store that at least one of stores, organizes, edits, views, and retrieves one or more algorithms that are employed by the extraction component.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the detection component scans the surface of the at least one recipient to search for at least one of a predetermined configuration, a location, and an anchor mark size, shape, color and orientation.

16. The system according to claim 13, wherein the extraction component employs at least one of an algorithm, a formula, an equation, a method, and a process to extract data from the one or more MSM configurations.

17. The system according to claim 13, wherein data extracted from the MSM configuration is dependent on at least one of the size, shape, color, location and orientation of the at least one data mark.

18. The system according to claim 13, wherein the at least two anchor marks provide reference points to allow detection of the MSM configuration regardless of the size, shift and/or rotation of the MSM configuration.

19. The system according to claim 13, wherein the at least one data mark and the at least two anchor marks are different.

20. A method for interpreting information represented by a security mark, comprising:

generating a MSM security mark that includes at least one data mark and at least two anchor marks that are from about 1 micron to 100 microns in diameter, the at least one data mark is different from the at least two anchor marks;

applying the MSM security mark to at least one recipient;

analyzing the at least one recipient that contains the MSM security mark;

detecting the location of the MSM security mark applied to the at least one recipient;

extracting information from the detected MSM security mark; and

interpreting the information extracted from the MSM security mark.