Unique Identification Information from Marked Features

Abstract

A system for verifying the authenticity of a printed mark includes an image acquisition device that acquires an image of a printed mark. In one implementation, the printed mark includes coded information associated with a verified original item. The system may also include one or more processors that carry out actions such as receiving the image from the image acquisition device; analyzing the image to identify imperfections in the printed mark, retrieving a genuine mark signature from a database of genuine mark signatures, comparing the identified imperfections with the genuine mark signature, and determining whether the unverified item is authentic based on the comparison.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system for verifying the authenticity of a printed mark, the system comprising:
 an image acquisition device that acquires an image of the printed mark; and   one or more processors that carry out actions comprising:
 receiving the image from the image acquisition device; 
 analyzing the image to identify imperfections in the printed mark; 
 retrieving a genuine mark signature from a database of genuine mark signatures, wherein the genuine mark signature is based on imperfections of an original verified printed mark; 
 comparing the identified imperfections with the genuine mark signature; and 
 determining whether the printed mark is authentic based on the comparison. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the printed mark includes coded information regarding a manufactured item. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the printed mark is a logo. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the coded information includes an item identifier, and   the one or more processors retrieve the genuine mark signature from the database using the item identifier.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the image acquisition device comprises a bar code reader. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the printed mark is a symbol comprising an array of printed cells, and   the identified imperfections comprise features of at least some of the printed cells that were produced when the symbol was produced.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the features comprise a deviation in the average color of one or more of the printed cells. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the features comprise a bias in the position of one or more of the printed cells. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the features comprise differences in the nominal color of one or more of the printed cells. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the features comprise voids within one or more of the printed cells. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the features extraneous marks near one or more of the printed cells. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the features comprise a deviation from a nominal shape of a continuous edge. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors compare the identified imperfections with the genuine mark signature by identifying imperfections that are present in the genuine mark signature but absent from the image of the printed mark. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors compare the identified imperfections with the genuine mark signature by identifying imperfections that are present in the image of the printed mark but absent from the genuine mark signature. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the one or more processors analyze the image to identify imperfections in the printed mark by analyzing the image to determine the presence of irregularities along one or more edges of features of the printed mark, and   the one or more processors compare the identified imperfections with the genuine mark signature by comparing the irregularities along one or more edges of features of the printed mark with irregularities along one or more edges of the genuine mark signature.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is a cell phone. 
     
     
         17 . A method for establishing a genuine mark signature for an item, the method comprising:
 receiving an image of a printed mark from an image acquisition device, wherein the printed mark includes imperfections resulting from a printing process that printed the mark;   forming a genuine mark signature based on the imperfections; and   storing the genuine mark signature in a database.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the printed mark includes coded information regarding the item. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the printed mark is a logo. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the genuine mark signature is based at least in part on irregularities along an edge of a feature of a barcode previously printed for a verified original item. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein
 the irregularities are among the imperfections on which the genuine mark signature is based, and   forming the genuine mark signature comprises giving the irregularities greater weight than the rest of the imperfections.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising storing, along with the genuine mark signature, information regarding a device involved in the printing process. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising storing, along with the genuine mark signature, information regarding the image acquisition device. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein
 the coded information comprises an item identifier, and   storing the genuine mark signature comprises using the item identifier to retrieve   the genuine mark signature from a database.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 printing the mark; and   applying the mark to the item.   
     
     
         26 . A method for verifying the authenticity of an unverified item, the method comprising:
 acquiring an image of a barcode that accompanies the unverified item, wherein the barcode includes coded information associated with a verified original item;   analyzing the image to identify irregularities along an edge of a feature of the barcode;   retrieving a signature of a genuine barcode from a database of genuine barcode signatures, wherein the signature is based at least in part on irregularities along an edge of a feature of a barcode previously printed for the verified original item;   comparing the identified irregularities of the barcode that accompanies the unverified item with the signature; and   determining whether the unverified item is authentic based on the comparison.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 ,
 wherein the barcode is a counterfeit barcode and the signature is a signature of a genuine barcode, and   wherein the counterfeit barcode contains the same coded information as the genuine mark.