Method and system for validating a security marking
First Claim
1. A method of printing and authenticating a security marking on an item, the method comprising the steps of:
- printing the security marking using a single medium capable of absorbing light in a visible wavelength range to appear visibly black, the medium also producing a fluorescent emission under excitation illumination, wherein the fluorescent emission has a first wavelength and the excitation illumination has a second wavelength shorter than the first wavelength;
acquiring a first image of the security marking in the visible wavelength range under illumination of visible light, acquiring a second image of the security marking from the fluorescent emission under excitation illumination; and
verifying authenticity of the item using the first image and the second image.
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Abstract
A method and system for authenticating an item by using a security marking. The security marking is provided on the item with an OVD ink capable of absorbing light in a visible wavelength range to appear visibly black and producing a red fluorescent emission under ultraviolet excitation. Under visible light illumination and ultraviolet excitation, a visible image and a fluorescent image are obtained from the security marking using image scanners. The images are compared to find a substantial match with each other. The security marking can be a postage indicium, a barcode, a symbol, a message or an image. The item to be authenticated can be a mailpiece, a banknote, a tag, a ticket, a document, an identification card, or the like.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of printing and authenticating a security marking on an item, the method comprising the steps of:
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printing the security marking using a single medium capable of absorbing light in a visible wavelength range to appear visibly black, the medium also producing a fluorescent emission under excitation illumination, wherein the fluorescent emission has a first wavelength and the excitation illumination has a second wavelength shorter than the first wavelength; acquiring a first image of the security marking in the visible wavelength range under illumination of visible light, acquiring a second image of the security marking from the fluorescent emission under excitation illumination; and verifying authenticity of the item using the first image and the second image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of authenticating a security marking on an item, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving the item wherein the security marking is a single medium capable of absorbing light in a visible wavelength range to appear visibly black, the single medium also producing a fluorescent emission under excitation illumination, wherein the fluorescent emission has a first wavelength and the excitation illumination has a second wavelength shorter than the first wavelength and scanning the security marking under illumination of visible light to acquire a first image of the security marking in the visible wavelength; scanning the security marking under the excitation illumination to acquire a second image of the security marking from the fluorescent emission illumination, and verifying authenticity of the item using the first image and the second image. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification