Methods and a system for verifying the authenticity of a mark

Abstract

In one implantation, a processor: (1) receives an image of a candidate mark from an image acquisition device, (2) uses the image to measure one or more characteristics at a plurality of locations on the candidate mark, resulting in a first set of metrics, (3) removes, from the first set of metrics, a metric having a dominant amplitude, resulting in a trimmed first set of metrics, (4) retrieves, from a computer-readable memory, a second set of metrics that represents one or more characteristics measured at a plurality of locations on an original mark, (5) removes, from the second set of metrics, a metric corresponding to the metric removed from the first set of metrics, resulting in a trimmed second set of metrics, (6) compares the trimmed first set of metrics with the trimmed second set of metrics, and (7) determines whether the candidate mark is genuine based on the comparison.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for verifying the authenticity of a mark, the method comprising:
 receiving an image of a candidate mark from an image acquisition device;   using the image to measure one or more characteristics at a plurality of locations on the candidate mark, resulting in a first set of metrics;   removing, from the first set of metrics, a metric that indicates damage to the candidate mark, resulting in a trimmed first set of metrics;   retrieving, from a computer-readable memory, a second set of metrics that represents one or more characteristics measured at a plurality of locations on an original mark;   removing, from the second set of metrics, a metric corresponding to the metric removed from the first set of metrics, resulting in a trimmed second set of metrics;   comparing the trimmed first set of metrics with the trimmed second set of metrics; and   determining whether the candidate mark can be verified as genuine based on the comparison.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein removing the metric that indicates damage to the candidate mark comprises removing a metric having the dominant amplitude. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 identifying the metric that is highest in the first set of metrics as having the dominant amplitude.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 identifying the metric that is highest in the first set of metrics and exceeds a predetermined threshold as having the dominant amplitude.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 identifying the metric having the dominant amplitude based on whether the metric is above a predetermined threshold value.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 if, based on the comparison, the mark is determined not to be genuine, carrying out further actions comprising:   removing, from the trimmed first set of metrics, a metric that indicates damage to the candidate mark, resulting in a trimmed third set of metrics;   removing, from the second trimmed set of metrics, a metric corresponding to the metric removed from the first trimmed set of metrics, resulting in a trimmed fourth set of metrics;   comparing the trimmed third set of metrics with the trimmed fourth set of metrics; and   determining whether the mark can be verified to be genuine based on the comparison of the trimmed third set of metrics and the trimmed fourth set of metrics.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 repeating the removing, comparing, and determining steps for successive trimmed sets of metrics until the metrics remaining in the trimmed set of metrics for the candidate mark is less than a predetermined threshold amount.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising decoding an error correcting redundancy of the candidate mark to identify a damaged portion of the candidate mark,
 wherein removing the metric from the first set of metrics comprises removing a metric corresponding to the damaged portion from the first set of metrics.   
     
     
         9 . A method for verifying the authenticity of a mark, the method comprising:
 receiving an image of a candidate mark from an image acquisition device;   using the image to measure one or more characteristics at a plurality of locations on the candidate mark, resulting in a first set of metrics;   retrieving, from a computer-readable memory, a second set of metrics that represents one or more characteristics measured at a plurality of locations on an original mark;   comparing the first set of metrics with the second set of metrics;   determining whether the candidate mark is genuine based on the comparison of the first set of metrics with the second set of metrics;   if, based on the comparison between the first set of metrics and the second set of metrics, the candidate mark is not determined be genuine, carrying out further steps comprising:
 removing, from the first set of metrics, a metric having a dominant amplitude, resulting in a trimmed first set of metrics; 
 removing, from the second set of metrics, a metric corresponding to the metric removed from the first set of metrics, resulting in a trimmed second set of metrics; 
 comparing the trimmed first set of metrics with the trimmed second set of metrics; and 
 determining whether the mark can be verified to be genuine based on the comparison of the trimmed first set of metrics with the trimmed second set of metrics. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein removing the metric that indicates damage to the candidate mark comprises removing a metric having the dominant amplitude. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 identifying the metric that is highest in the first set of metrics as having the dominant amplitude.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 identifying the metric that is highest in the first set of metrics and exceeds a predetermined threshold as having the dominant amplitude.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 identifying the metric having the dominant amplitude based on whether the metric is above a predetermined threshold value.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 if, based on the comparison, the mark is determined not to be genuine, carrying out further actions comprising:
 removing, from the trimmed first set of metrics, a metric that indicates damage to the candidate mark, resulting in a trimmed third set of metrics; 
 removing, from the second trimmed set of metrics, a metric corresponding to the metric removed from the first trimmed set of metrics, resulting in a trimmed fourth set of metrics; 
 comparing the trimmed third set of metrics with the trimmed fourth set of metrics; and 
 determining whether the mark can be verified to be genuine based on the comparison of the trimmed third set of metrics and the trimmed fourth set of metrics. 
   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 repeating the removing, comparing, and determining steps for successive trimmed sets of metrics until the metrics remaining in the trimmed set of metrics for the candidate mark is less than a predetermined threshold amount.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 decoding an error correcting redundancy of the candidate mark to identify a damaged portion of the candidate mark,   wherein removing the metric from the first set of metrics comprises removing a metric corresponding to the damaged portion from the first set of metrics.   
     
     
         17 . A method for verifying the authenticity of a mark, the method comprising:
 receiving an image of a candidate mark from an image acquisition device;   using the image to measure one or more characteristics at a plurality of locations on the candidate mark, resulting in an overall set of metrics;   subdividing the overall set of metrics into a plurality of sets of metrics, including a first set of metrics;   retrieving, from a computer-readable memory, a second set of metrics that represents one or more characteristics measured at a plurality of locations on a genuine mark;   removing, from the first set of metrics, a metric having a dominant amplitude, resulting in a trimmed first set of metrics;   removing, from the second set of metrics, a metric corresponding to the metric removed from the first set of metrics, resulting in a trimmed second set of metrics;   comparing the trimmed first set of metrics with the trimmed second set of metrics; and   determining whether the mark can be verified to be genuine based on the comparison.   
     
     
         18 . A computer system comprising a processor that carries out actions comprising:
 receiving an image of a candidate mark from an image acquisition device;   using the image to measure one or more characteristics at a plurality of locations on the candidate mark, resulting in a first set of metrics;   removing, from the first set of metrics, a metric that indicates damage to the candidate mark, resulting in a trimmed first set of metrics;   retrieving, from a computer-readable memory, a second set of metrics that represents one or more characteristics measured at a plurality of locations on an original mark;   removing, from the second set of metrics, a metric corresponding to the metric removed from the first set of metrics, resulting in a trimmed second set of metrics;   comparing the trimmed first set of metrics with the trimmed second set of metrics; and   determining whether the candidate mark can be verified as genuine based on the comparison.   
     
     
         19 . The computer system of  claim 18 , wherein removing the metric that indicates damage to the candidate mark comprises removing a metric having the dominant amplitude. 
     
     
         20 . The computer system of  claim 19 , wherein the processor performs further actions comprising:
 identifying the metric that is highest in the first set of metrics as having the dominant amplitude.