METHOD AND MEANS FOR ASCERTAINING THE AUTHENTICITY OF SERIALLY NUMBERED OBJECTS

• US 3,833,795 A
• Filed: 07/26/1972
• Issued: 09/03/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avraham Shoshani, Benjamin Prosper Sabbah, Dan Ben Zeev, Dan Inbar, Dan Laor
• Original Assignee: Avraham Shoshani, Benjamin Prosper Sabbah, Dan Ben Zeev, Dan Inbar, Dan Laor
• Inventors: Inbar, Dan, Shoshani, Avraham, Laor, Dan, Ben Zeev, Dan, Sabbah, Benjamin Prosper
• Primary Examiner(s): Cook, Daryl W.
• Application Number:
  US05/275,310
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 235/61.7B,61.7R,61.12N 340/149A 101/106,110
• US Class Current: 101/72
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 33/009 Devices for controlling numbering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/347 Passive cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/004 using digital security elements, e.g. information coded on a magnetic thread or strip
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/0047 using checkcodes, e.g. coded numbers derived from serial number and denomination
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/125 Offline card verification

Abstract

Control over the authenticity of serially numbered objects is provided by applying an ordered pair of numbers (including alphanumeric characters as well as any other type of indicia, visible or not visible, used for identification purposes and readable by humans and/or machines) to each object, one of the pair being serially selected and constituting an identification number, and the other of the pair being ramdomly selected and constituting a control number. A master list is kept of the ordered pairs of numbers as they are applied to objects so that the authenticity of an object can be ascertained at a later date by comparing the control number of an object with the control number in the master list associated with the identification number of the object.

Claims

1. Apparatus for providing control over the authenticity of a set of objects comprising a. a settable identification number printer;

b. a settable control number printer;

c. a random number generator associated with and establishing the setting of the control number printer; and

d. control means for causing the printers to print an identification number and a control number on an object.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the identification number printer is set by incrementing it after each printing to establish a sequential relationship between the identification numbers of sequentially printed objects.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the random number generator establishes a random relationship between the control numbers of sequentially printed objects and between the control number of one object and the identification number associated therewith.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein each digit position of the control number printer has a rotatable disc containing indicia on the edge thereof selectively engageable with an object to be printed, and a driver associated with each disc and responsive to the output of the random number generator for establishing the angular position of the disc and hence the indicia to be printed on an object.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 including an identification number generator associated with and establishing the setting of the identification number printer.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 including comparator means for comparing the identification number and control number actually printed on an object as an ordered pair of numbers with the contents of the identification number and control number generators, and for responding to such a comparison by indicating when a discrepancy exists.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 including an auxiliary printer for printing out those ordered pairs of numbers indicated by the comparator means whereby a list is obtained of those objects whose ordered pair of numbers has been improperly selected.

8. Apparatus for applying an ordered pair of numbers to each object of a set comprising:

a. an identification number printer, and a control number printer;

b. a control number printer having at least one rotatable disc;

c. means for regularly incrementing the identification number printer in response to printing an identification number on an object; and

d. means for rotating the disc independently of the incrementing of the identification number printer including the disc in response to printing a control number on an object.