Write accessibility for electronic paper

• US 7,774,606 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2006
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Levien, Royce A., Jung, Edward K. Y., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, John D. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barron, Jr.; Gilberto
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nobahar; Abdulhakim
• Application Number:
  US11/638,095
• Publication Number:
  US 20070180252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,337 Days
• Field of Search: 713/176, 726/2, 726/4, 726/9, 726/17, 726/20, 726/21, 726/26, 726/27, 726/30, 235/375, 235/382, 235/383
• US Class Current: 713/176
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/4076 printing on rewritable, bistable "electronic paper" by a focused electric or magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/026 based on the rotation of particles under the influence of an external field, e.g. gyricons, twisting ball displays based on orientable dipolar particles G02F1/172; based on electrophoresis G02F1/167
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/64 Protecting data integrity, e.g. using checksums, certificates or signatures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/82 Protecting input, output or interconnection devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/372 the positions of the elements being controlled by the application of an electric field
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/02 Flexible displays
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/34 by control of light from an independent source
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• 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

Abstract

A system and method to control the writing on electronic paper (e-paper). An e-paper device may incorporate authentication indicia as part of informational data written on e-paper material. The informational data is protected by a security methodology that is accessible to authorized entities. A reader device may be used to help make a verification determination of whether encrypted or encoded data has been altered. In some instances an output alert operably coupled to the reader device serves as a verification status indicator.

Claims

1. An electronic paper device, comprising:

electronic paper material capable of storing informational data regarding at least one of a related item or a product or container or package associated with the electronic paper material,

wherein said electronic paper material is attachable to the at least one of the related item or said product or said container or said package,

wherein some informational data written onto a data portion of said electronic paper material, including encrypted or encoded informational data written by or on behalf of an authorized entity, wherein the encrypted or encoded informational data is intended to be non-alterable and to be readable only by an approved person or an approved entity that has access to an appropriate security methodology,

wherein said electronic paper material includes authentication indicia to identify the related item as having originated from a provider of the item or from another authorized entity,

wherein said electronic paper material includes a coupling link with an original related said item or said product or said container or said package, to provide confirmation that the electronic paper material has not been detached from its original related said item or said product or said container or said package, and

wherein the coupling link includes an encrypted or encoded symbolic representation on the electronic paper material that correlates with another symbolic representation on the related said item or said product or said container or said package;

a status indicator for providing an output based on a verification confirmation with respect to the coupling link; and

a generator for generating at least one of an “

ok”

status output based on the verification confirmation with respect to the coupling link indicating that the electronic paper material has not been detached from the at least one of the related item or product or container or package, or generating a “

warning”

status output based on the verification confirmation of a problem regarding the coupling link.

2. The electronic paper device of claim 1 wherein the encrypted or encoded informational data is written by or on behalf of one or more of the following:

a provider or maker or manufacturer or distributor or seller of the related item.

3. The electronic paper device of claim 1 wherein the informational data is written by or on behalf of the item provider or the another an authorized entity regarding one or more of the following types of informational data:

document authentication, data authentication, item authentication, product authentication, packaging authentication, container authentication, item information, product information, service information, usage instruction, product ingredient, product component, service requirement, receipt acknowledgement, billing term, invoice data, certification, testing, endorsement, warranty, legal notification, government approval, destination, delivery, document origination date, item origination date, product origination date, tracking, history, tracking history, modification history, access history, verification history, validation, corporate approval, and ownership.

4. The electronic paper device of claim 1 wherein said electronic paper material includes a label portion attachable to the related item or a related product or container or package.

5. The electronic paper device of claim 4 wherein the label portion includes the data portion of the electronic paper material.

6. The electronic paper device of claim 1 wherein the authentication indicia are included in one or more of the following categories:

alphanumeric symbol, geometric design, monochrome scheme, color scheme, background, repeated pattern, random pattern, boundary cross-over representation, legend, image, bar code, visible representation, and hidden representation.

7. The electronic paper device of claim 1 wherein the authentication indicia includes one or more of the following types:

authentication indicia at least partially included in the data portion;

authentication indicia separated from the data portion;

authentication indicia intermixed with the informational data;

authentication indicia separated from the information data;

authentication indicia detectable on one surface of the electronic paper material; and

authentication indicia on both surfaces of the electronic paper material.

8. The electronic paper device of claim 1 wherein the authentication indicia are incorporated in said electronic paper material for detectable scanning under one or more of the following conditions:

normal ambient light, infrared light, ultraviolet light, filtered light, specific environmental condition, specific time period, placement in electromagnetic field, and customized image processing.

9. The electronic paper device of claim 1 further comprising:

a status indicator for providing an output based on a verification confirmation with respect to the authentication indicia.

10. The electronic paper device of claim 1 wherein the coupling link includes a circuit link between said electronic paper material and the related item or product or container or package.

11. A method of providing data security for an electronic paper material attachable to or associated with at least one of a particular item or product, the method comprising:

creating informational data from an authorized entity, which informational data regarding the at least one of the particular item or product is intended to be non-alterable;

writing the informational data in encrypted or encoded format on the electronic paper material, which informational data is intended to be readable only in accordance with an appropriate security methodology and to be readable only by at least one of an approved person or an approved entity;

incorporating authentication indicia as part of the informational data, wherein the authentication indicia identifies the at least one of the particular item or product as having originated from at least one of a provider or from an authorized third party;

providing a security methodology accessible only by the at least one of the approved person or the approved entity, to enable verification confirmation with respect to the at least one of the particular item or product;

incorporating a coupling link between the electronic paper material and the at least one of the particular item or product,

wherein the coupling link includes at least one of an encrypted or encoded symbolic representation on the electronic paper material that correlates with another symbolic representation on the at least one of the particular item or product; and

monitoring the coupling link between the electronic paper material and the at least one of the particular item or product to provide verification confirmation regarding at least one of the particular item or product, wherein the said monitoring the coupling link includes;

monitoring a circuit link between the electronic paper material and the at least one of the particular item or product;

scanning correlated symbolic representations on the electronic paper material and on the at least one of the particular item or product; and

generating at least one of an “

ok”

status output based on verification confirmation with respect to the coupling link indicating the electronic paper material has not been detached from at least one of the particular item or product, or generating a “

warning”

status output based on verification confirmation of a problem regarding the coupling link.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

providing one or more of the following types of verification schemes to determine whether the informational data in encrypted or encoded format has been altered;

code, cipher, key, checksum, hash, algorithm, and digital signature.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

generating a status output on the electronic paper material based on verification confirmation with respect to the authentication indicia.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

generating a status output on the particular item or product, based on verification confirmation with respect to the authentication indicia.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

generating a status output on a container or package for the particular item or product, based on verification confirmation with respect to the authentication indicia.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

generating a status output based on verification confirmation for the particular item or product associated with one or more of the following categories;

equipment, apparatus, device, packaging, container, printed material, services, vehicle, machine, merchandise, clothing, food, chemical, medicine, raw material, article of manufacture, component, and tool.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein said incorporating authentication indicia includes:

incorporating authentication indicia in one or more of the following formats;

alphanumeric symbol, geometric design, monochrome scheme, color scheme, background, repeated pattern, random pattern, boundary cross-over representation, legend, image, bar code, visible representation, and hidden representation.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein said creating informational data includes:

creating informational data from or on behalf of a person or entity included in one or more of the following categories related to the particular item or product;

source, maker, manufacturer, distributor, wholesaler, retailer, dealer, provider, franchisee, service agency, and company subsidiary.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein said creating informational data includes:

creating one or more of the following types of informational data;

document authentication, data authentication, item authentication, product authentication, packaging authentication, container authentication, item information, product information, services information, receipt acknowledgement, billing term, invoice data, usage instruction, product ingredient, product component, service requirement, certification, testing, endorsement, warranty, legal notification, government approval, destination, delivery, document origination date, item origination date, product origination date, tracking, history, tracking history, modification history, access history, verification history, validation, corporate approval, and ownership.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein said incorporating authentication indicia as part of the informational data includes:

incorporating authentication indicia that is capable of detection under one or more of the following conditions;

normal ambient light, infrared light, ultraviolet light, filtered light, specific environmental condition, specific time period, placement in electromagnetic field, and customized image processing.

21. The method of claim 11, wherein said incorporating authentication indicia as part of the informational data includes:

incorporating one or more of the following types of authentication indicia;

alphanumeric symbol, geometric design, monochrome scheme, color scheme, background, repeated pattern, random pattern, boundary cross-over representation, legend, image, bar code, visible representation, and hidden representation.

22. A computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable recordable medium bearing program instructions configured to perform a process that associates information in a computer system, the process including;

creating informational data regarding an item or product;

writing the informational data in encrypted or encoded format on electronic paper material attachable to or associated with the item or product, wherein the encrypted or encoded informational data is intended to be non-alterable and to be readable only by at least on of an approved person or an approved entity;

incorporating authentication indicia as part of the informational data, wherein the authentication indicia identifies the item or product as having originated from a provider or from another authorized entity; and

providing a security methodology accessible only by the at least on of the approved person or the approved entity, to enable verification confirmation with respect to the item and/or the product and/or the electronic paper material and/or the informational data;

incorporating a coupling link between the electronic paper material and at least on of an original attached item or product or container or package; and

monitoring the coupling link between the electronic paper material and the at least on of an original attached item or product or container or package, to provide verification confirmation regarding such original item or product or container or package,

wherein the coupling link includes at least on of an encrypted or encoded symbolic representation on the electronic paper material that correlates with another symbolic representation on the at least on of the related said item or said product or said container or said package; and

wherein the said monitoring the coupling link includes;

monitoring a circuit link between the electronic paper material and the at least one of the original attached item or product or container or package;

scanning correlated symbolic representations on the electronic paper material and on the at least on of the original attached item or product or container or package; and

generating at least one of an “

ok”

status output based on verification confirmation with respect to the coupling link indicating the electronic paper material has not been detached from such at least on of the original item or product or container or package or generating a “

warning”

status output based on verification confirmation of a problem regarding the coupling link.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the signal-bearing media includes storage media and/or communication media.

24. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the process feature providing the security methodology further comprises:

enabling an “

ok”

status output if the verification confirmation indicates that that electronic paper material and/or the informational data has not been altered.

25. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the process feature providing the security methodology further comprises:

enabling a “

warning”

status output if the verification confirmation indicates that the electronic paper material and/or the information data has been altered.

26. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the process further comprises:

generating an “

ok”

status output based on verification confirmation indicating detection of the authentication indicia.

27. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the process further comprises:

generating a “

warning”

status output based on verification confirmation of a problem regarding detection of the authentication indicia.

28. The computer program of claim 22, wherein the process feature creating informational data includes:

creating informational data from or on behalf of one or more of the following;

a provider or maker or manufacturer or distributor or seller of the item or product.

29. The computer program of claim 22, wherein the process feature creating informational data includes:

creating one or more of the following types of informational data related to the item or product;

document authentication, data authentication, item authentication, product authentication, packaging authentication, container authentication, item information, product information, service information, usage instruction, product ingredient, product component, service requirement, receipt acknowledgement, billing term, invoice data, certification, testing, endorsement, warranty, legal notification, government approval, destination, delivery, document origination date, item origination date, product origination date, tracking, history, tracking history, modification history, access history, verification history, validation, corporate approval, and ownership.

30. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the process feature incorporating authentication indicia includes:

incorporating one or more of the following types of authentication indicia;

alphanumeric symbol, geometric design, monochrome scheme, color scheme, background, repeated pattern, random pattern, boundary cross-over representation, legend, image, bar code, visible representation, and hidden representation.

31. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the process feature incorporating authentication indicia includes:

incorporating authentication indicia that is capable of detection under one or more of the following conditions;

normal ambient light, infrared light, ultraviolet light, filtered light, specific environmental condition, specific time period, placement in electromagnetic field, and customized image processing.

32. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the process feature providing the security methodology includes:

providing one or more of the following types of verification schemes to determine whether the informational data in encrypted or encoded format has been altered;

code, cipher, key, checksum, hash, algorithm, and digital signature.

33. A system for protecting information incorporated on an electronic paper device, comprising:

electronic paper material with informational data regarding an associated item or product or container or package, wherein the informational data written on the electronic paper material includes encoded or encrypted data intended to be non-alterable and to be readable only by least one of an approved person or an approved entity, wherein said electronic paper material with informational data includes a label portion attachable to at least one of an associated item or product or container or package;

a security methodology accessible only by the at least one of the approved person or the approved entity to enable verification confirmation with respect to the electronic paper material and/or the informational data;

authentication indicia to identify the associated item or product or container or package as having originated from at least one of a provider or from another authorized entity;

a coupling link between the electronic paper material and the at least one of the associated item or product or container or package, to provide confirmation that said electronic paper material has not been detached from said item or said product or said container or said package, wherein the coupling link includes at least one of an encrypted or encoded symbolic representation on the electronic paper material that correlates with another symbolic representation on the at least one of the associated item or product or container or package;

a status indicator for providing an output based on a verification confirmation with respect to the coupling link; and

a generator for generating at least one of an “

ok”

status output based on the verification confirmation with respect to the coupling link indicating that the electronic paper material has not been detached from the at least one of the associated item or product or container or package, or generating a “

warning”

status output based on the verification confirmation of a problem regarding the coupling link.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein said security methodology includes the encoded or encrypted data in one or more of the following formats:

alphanumeric symbol, geometric design, monochrome scheme, color scheme, background, repeated patterns, random patterns, boundary cross-over representations, legend, image, bar code, visible representation, and hidden representation.

35. The system of claim 33 wherein said authentication indicia is capable of detection under one or more of the following conditions:

normal ambient light, infrared light, ultraviolet light, filtered light, specific environmental condition, specific time period, placement in electromagnetic field, and customized image processing.

36. The system of claim 33 wherein said electronic paper material is attached to said item or said product or said container or said package.

37. The system of claim 33 wherein said security methodology includes one or more of the following types of verification schemes to determine whether the encrypted or encoded data has been altered:

code, cipher, key, checksum, hash, algorithm, and digital signature.

38. The system of claim 33 wherein the encoded or encrypted data is written on said electronic paper material by or on behalf of a person or entity from one or more of the following categories:

item source, product maker, product manufacturer, product distributor, product wholesaler, product retailer, product dealer, service provider, service franchisee, service agency, and company subsidiary.

39. The system of claim 33 wherein the encoded or encrypted data includes one or more of the following types of informational data:

document authentication, data authentication, item authentication, product authentication, packaging authentication, container authentication, item information, product information, services information, receipt acknowledgement, billing term, invoice data, usage instruction, product ingredient, product component, service requirement, certification, testing, endorsement, warranty, legal notification, government approval, destination, delivery, document origination date, item origination date, product origination date, tracking, history, tracking history, modification history, access history, verification history, validation, corporate approval, and ownership.

40. The system of claim 33 wherein said security methodology includes the authentication indicia in one or more of the following formats:

alphanumeric symbol, geometric design, monochrome scheme, color scheme, background, repeated patterns, random patterns, boundary cross-over representations, legend, image, bar code, visible representation, and hidden representation.