Authentication method and system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for authenticating an object, comprising:
- providing a set of elements, physically associated with the object, having an original physical random dispersion pattern, each element having a specific predetermined optical characteristic which is not representable as a CIE tristimulus value due to at least one of dichrosim, fluorescence, phosphorescence, refraction, diffraction, lasing, and hyperspectral color characteristics;
determining the original physical random dispersion pattern of the set of elements;
generating a cryptographically authenticated secure digital signature code from a cryptographic one-way trap door function, from which the original physical dispersion pattern cannot be ascertained, but the identity of a measured physical dispersion pattern and the original physical random dispersion represented in the digital signature code can be verified, being pre-encoded to provide a tolerance to a predefined variation between the original physical random dispersion pattern and the measured physical dispersion pattern;
associating the digital signature code with the object; and
authenticating the object by;
optically illuminating the set of elements;
reading the digital signature code;
optically reading the positions and characteristics of the set of elements associated with the object to obtain the measured physical dispersion pattern;
verifying that the set of optically read elements have the specific predetermined optical characteristic; and
verifying a correspondence of measured physical dispersion pattern and the original physical random dispersion pattern represented by the digital signature code,wherein a counterfeiting of the physical random dispersion pattern is impeded by a requirement for an accurate placement of the set of physical elements to correspond to the digital signature code and a requirement for the set of elements to accurately display the specific predetermined optical characteristic which is not representable as a CIE tristimulus value due to at least one of dichrosim, fluorescence, phosphorescence, refraction, diffraction, optical conduction, lasing, and hyperspectral color characteristics.
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Abstract
A method for authenticating an object, comprising determining a physical dispersion pattern of a set of elements, determining a physical characteristic of the set of elements which is distinct from a physical characteristic producible by a transfer printing technology, determining a digital code associated with the object defining the physical dispersion pattern, and authenticating the object by verifying a correspondence of the digital code with the physical dispersion pattern, and verifying the physical characteristic.
196 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for authenticating an object, comprising:
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providing a set of elements, physically associated with the object, having an original physical random dispersion pattern, each element having a specific predetermined optical characteristic which is not representable as a CIE tristimulus value due to at least one of dichrosim, fluorescence, phosphorescence, refraction, diffraction, lasing, and hyperspectral color characteristics; determining the original physical random dispersion pattern of the set of elements; generating a cryptographically authenticated secure digital signature code from a cryptographic one-way trap door function, from which the original physical dispersion pattern cannot be ascertained, but the identity of a measured physical dispersion pattern and the original physical random dispersion represented in the digital signature code can be verified, being pre-encoded to provide a tolerance to a predefined variation between the original physical random dispersion pattern and the measured physical dispersion pattern; associating the digital signature code with the object; and authenticating the object by; optically illuminating the set of elements; reading the digital signature code; optically reading the positions and characteristics of the set of elements associated with the object to obtain the measured physical dispersion pattern; verifying that the set of optically read elements have the specific predetermined optical characteristic; and verifying a correspondence of measured physical dispersion pattern and the original physical random dispersion pattern represented by the digital signature code, wherein a counterfeiting of the physical random dispersion pattern is impeded by a requirement for an accurate placement of the set of physical elements to correspond to the digital signature code and a requirement for the set of elements to accurately display the specific predetermined optical characteristic which is not representable as a CIE tristimulus value due to at least one of dichrosim, fluorescence, phosphorescence, refraction, diffraction, optical conduction, lasing, and hyperspectral color characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for authenticating an object comprising:
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a digital camera adapted to read an optical pattern formed by a set of elements, physically associated with the object, having a physical dispersion pattern, each element having a specific predetermined optical characteristic which is not representable as a CIE tristimulus value due to at least one of dichrosim, fluorescence, phosphorescence, refraction, diffraction, lasing, and hyperspectral color characteristics, the digital camera at least one of; acquires a plurality of images respectively differing in at least an optical filtering, relative position with respect to the set of elements, time with respect to a time-varying illumination; and measuring intensity of light if at least four different wavelengths; and an automated processor, adapted to; control the digital camera and receive an output of the digital camera to represent information not representable as a CIE tristimulus value due to at least one of dichrosim, fluorescence, phosphorescence, refraction, diffraction, lasing, and hyperspectral color characteristics; determine, from the output of the digital camera, a physical dispersion pattern of the set of elements, and the specific predetermined optical characteristic of the set of elements; receive a digital signature code representing at least an authentic physical dispersion pattern or representing a result of a cryptographically authenticated one-way trap door function having tolerance to a predefined variation between the authentic physical dispersion pattern and the physical dispersion pattern obtained from the digital camera, the cryptographically authenticated one-way trap door function producing the result such that the authentic physical dispersion pattern cannot be ascertained therefrom, but the identity of the authentic physical dispersion pattern represented in the digital signature code and the physical dispersion pattern obtained from the digital camera can be verified, and verify the authenticity of the object based on a possession by the set of elements of the specific predetermined optical characteristic and a correspondence between the physical dispersion pattern obtained from the digital camera and the authentic physical dispersion pattern. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for authenticating an object, comprising:
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an illuminator adapted to illuminate a field; a digital camera responding to illumination to an image of an optical pattern formed by a set of elements within the field, physically associated with the object, having a physical dispersion pattern, each element having a specific predetermined optical characteristic which is not representable as a CIE tristimulus value due to at least one of dichrosim, fluorescence, phosphorescence, refraction, diffraction, lasing, and hyperspectral color characteristics, the optical characteristic being obtained by acquiring a plurality of images respectively differing in at least one of an optical filtering, relative position with respect to the set of elements, and time with respect to a time-varying illumination; and an automated processor adapted to; control the illuminator and the digital camera, receive an image from the digital camera, to determine, from the image from the digital camera, a physical dispersion pattern of a set of elements in the plurality of images, verify a specific predetermined optical characteristic of the set of elements in the plurality of images, receive and authenticate a cryptographically authenticated digital signature code representing a one-way trap door function from which an authentic physical dispersion pattern cannot be ascertained, but the identity of the authentic physical dispersion pattern and the digital code can be verified, and verify the object based on a possession of the specific predetermined optical characteristic by the set of elements and a correspondence between the physical dispersion pattern determined from the plurality of images and the authentic physical dispersion pattern, wherein the verification is tolerant to a predefined variation between the authentic physical dispersion pattern and the physical dispersion pattern determined from the plurality of images.
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Specification