Item authentication

• US 20050133594A1
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Live Nation Entertainment Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Neopost Industrie BV
• Inventors: Brookner, George M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,559,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/08 using markings of different kinds or more than one marking of the same kind in the same record carrier, e.g. one marking being sensed by optical and the other by magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/38215 Use of certificates or encrypted proofs of transaction rights
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00064 Virtual meter, online stamp; PSD functions or indicia creation not at user's location
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00443 Verification of mailpieces, e.g. by checking databases
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/004 using digital security elements, e.g. information coded on a magnetic thread or strip
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/0043 using barcodes
• 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 7/12 Card verification
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/122 Online card verification

Abstract

A system for authenticating items includes: a processing unit for generating indicia for imprints to be applied to items and authenticating imprints applied to items, each indicium including a cryptographically encoded component; at least one item printing station for printing imprints on items as generated by the processing unit; and at least one item presentation station to which items are presented in authenticating the same. The item presentation station is configured to transmit data relating to the indicium on an item presented thereto to the processing unit, and to receive an authentication message in dependence upon whether the indicium is determined to be valid or invalid.

Claims

1. An authentication system for authenticating items, comprising:

a processing unit for generating indicia for imprints to be applied to items and authenticating imprints applied to items, each indicium including a cryptographically-encoded component;

at least one item printing station for printing imprints on items as generated by the processing unit; and

at least one item presentation station to which items are presented in authenticating the same, wherein the at least one item presentation station is configured to transmit data relating to the indicium on an item presented thereto to the processing unit, and receive an authentication message in dependence upon whether the indicium is determined to be valid or invalid.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the indicium comprises a barcode.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the indicium comprises a two-dimensional barcode.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the cryptographically-encoded component is encoded by digital signature.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the cryptographically-encoded component is encoded by encryption.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the cryptographically-encoded component is encoded by encryption and digital signature.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one item printing station is operable by a user to print an imprint on an item.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one item printing station is configured to provide for a user to request an indicium for an imprint from the processing unit, with the processing unit being configured to transmit the indicium for the imprint to the at least one item printing station.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one item printing station is configured to receive an indicium for an imprint from the processing unit as requested by a third party on behalf of a user, with the processing unit being configured to transmit the indicium for the imprint to the at least one item printing station.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one item printing station is operable by a third party to print an imprint on an item for use by a user.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the indicium is assigned at least one security parameter which is not provided in human-readable form in the imprint and has to be satisfied in authenticating the indicium.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the security parameter includes an assigned personal security code, whereby the indicium is authenticated only when presented with the assigned security code.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the security parameter includes a time frame code, whereby the indicium is authenticated only when presented within a predefined time period.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the security parameter includes an assigned location code, whereby the indicium is authenticated only when presented at one or more predefined item presentation stations.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the security parameter includes an assigned merchant code, whereby the indicium is authenticated only when presented at one or more predefined merchants.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the items comprise documents.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the documents embody monetary value.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the documents comprise evidentiary documents.

19. A method of authenticating items, the method, for each item, comprising the steps of:

generating a transaction data stream at a remote center for an indicium to be applied to an item as an imprint, the indicium including a cryptographically-encoded component;

printing the imprint on an item;

presenting the item including the indicium at an item presentation station;

providing data relating to the indicium on the presented item to the remote center;

authenticating the indicium; and

providing an authentication message to the item presentation station in dependence upon whether the indicium is determined to be valid or invalid.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the indicium comprises a barcode.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the indicium comprises a two-dimensional barcode.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the cryptographically-encoded component is encoded by digital signature.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the cryptographically-encoded component is encoded by encryption.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the cryptographically-encoded component is encoded by encryption and digital signature.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the printing step is performed at the request of a user.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the transaction data generating step is performed at the request of the user.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the transaction data generating step is performed at the request of a third party on behalf of the user.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein the printing step is performed at the request of a third party to print the imprint on an item for use by a user.

29. The method of claim 19, wherein the indicium is assigned at least one security parameter which is not provided in human-readable form in the imprint, and, in the authentication step, a check is performed to determine that the at least one assigned security parameter is satisfied.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the security parameter includes an assigned personal security code, whereby the indicium is authenticated only when presented with the assigned security code.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the security parameter includes a time frame code, whereby the indicium is authenticated only when presented within a predefined time period.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the security parameter includes an assigned location code, whereby the indicium is authenticated only when presented at one or more predefined item presentation stations.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the security parameter includes an assigned merchant code, whereby the indicium is authenticated only when presented at one or more predefined merchants.

34. The method of claim 19, wherein the items comprise documents.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the documents embody monetary value.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the documents comprise evidentiary documents.

37. An authentication system for authenticating items, comprising:

a processing unit for authenticating imprints applied to items, each imprint comprising an indicium including a cryptographically-encoded component and having at least one security parameter assigned thereto which is not provided in human-readable form in the imprint; and

at least one item presentation station to which items are presented in authenticating the same, wherein the at least one item presentation station is configured to transmit data relating to the indicium on an item presented thereto to the processing unit and receive an authentication message in dependence upon whether the indicium is determined to be valid or invalid, with the assigned security parameter having to be satisfied in authenticating the indicium.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the security parameter includes an assigned personal security code, whereby the indicium is authenticated only when presented with the assigned security code.

39. The system of claim 37, wherein the security parameter includes a time frame code, whereby the indicium is authenticated only when presented within a predefined time period.

40. The system of claim 37, wherein the security parameter includes an assigned location code, whereby the indicium is authenticated only when presented at one or more predefined item presentation stations.

41. The system of claim 37, wherein the security parameter includes an assigned merchant code, whereby the indicium is authenticated only when presented at one or more predefined merchants.

42. A method of authenticating items, the method, for each item, comprising the steps of:

generating a transaction data stream at a remote center for an indicium to be applied to an item as an imprint, the indicium including a cryptographically-encoded component and having at least one security parameter assigned thereto which is not provided in human-readable form in the imprint;

printing the imprint on an item;

presenting the item including the indicium at an item presentation station;

providing data relating to the indicium on the presented item to the remote center;

authenticating the indicium, with the assigned security parameter having to be satisfied in authenticating the indicium; and

providing an authentication message to the item presentation station in dependence upon whether the indicium is determined to be valid or invalid.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the security parameter includes an assigned personal security code, whereby the indicium is authenticated only when presented with the assigned security code.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the security parameter includes a time frame code, whereby the indicium is authenticated only when presented within a predefined time period.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein the security parameter includes an assigned location code, whereby the indicium is authenticated only when presented at one or more predefined item presentation stations.

46. The method of claim 42, wherein the security parameter includes an assigned merchant code, whereby the indicium is authenticated only when presented at one or more predefined merchants.