Two dimensional barcode and method of authentication of such barcode

Abstract

A method is disclosed for creating a 2D barcode. In an embodiment, the method includes: embedding primary information that can be read by a 2D-barcode-reader in a primary information pattern, and embedding secondary information that is made difficult to reproduce without alteration in a visible pattern. In an embodiment, the visible pattern is embedded within the barcode in at least one area that does not contain any primary information

1 .- 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A method for creating a 2D barcode, comprising:
 embedding primary information, readable by a 2D-barcode-reader, in a primary information pattern;   embedding secondary information in a visible pattern, visually perceptible to a human eye, in at least one area that does not contain any of the primary information such that the secondary information visible pattern is not mixed with the primary information pattern but kept physically separated from the primary information pattern, to thereby create the 2D barcode including the primary information pattern with the embedded primary information and the visible pattern with the embedded secondary information, wherein said secondary information embedded in the visible pattern is formed by light and dark elementary sub-cells smaller than 50 μm and is configured to be difficult to reproduce with at least one of an image capture device, a scanner, copying machine or printer without alteration, and wherein the secondary information is embedded in the secondary information visible pattern using a secret key such that the secondary information visible pattern including the embedded secondary information contains a secret.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein said secondary information visible pattern is embedded within said barcode in one sole area. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein said secondary information is formed by black and white elementary sub-cells and has an average black density different from 50%±5% of black elementary sub-cells. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein said secondary information is entirely located in at least two different portions of said secondary information visible pattern, at least one portion having an average black density different from 50%±5% of black elementary sub-cells. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said average black density is less than or equal to 45% or more than or equal to 55% of black elementary sub-cells. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein said secondary information visible pattern contains a signature, verifiable locally by a device connected to the barcode reader to check authenticity of the barcode. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the authenticity of said secret in said secondary information visible pattern is verifiable only by using a remote device. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein said secret key is randomly or pseudo-randomly generated. 
     
     
         47 . A product, comprising:
 a 2D barcode, the 2D barcode including,
 a primary information pattern representing primary information readable by a 2D-barcode-reader, and 
 a secondary information visible pattern, visually perceptible to a human eye, representing secondary information that is made difficult to reproduce with at least one of an image capture device, a scanner, copying machine or printer without alteration, said secondary information visible pattern being embedded within said 2D barcode in at least one area that does not contain any primary information such that the secondary information visible pattern is not mixed with the primary information pattern but kept physically separated from the primary information pattern, said secondary information visible pattern including light and dark elementary sub-cells smaller than 50 μm generated using a secret key such that the secondary information visible pattern including the embedded secondary information contains a secret. 
   
     
     
         48 . The product of  claim 47 , wherein said 2D barcode includes a symbol forming a data area comprising position detection patterns located at three corners of said symbol, primary information represented by a primary information pattern and secondary information represented by a secondary information visible pattern. 
     
     
         49 . The product of  claim 47 , wherein said secondary information visible pattern is wholly contained in a rectangle with only secondary information. 
     
     
         50 . The product of  claim 49 , wherein said secondary information visible pattern is formed in a 7×7 pixels or a 8×8 or a 9×9 elementary cell zone or in a 10×10 elementary cell zone. 
     
     
         51 . The product of  claim 48 , wherein said symbol is a 29×29 elementary cells type QR code or a 33×33 elementary cells type QR code. 
     
     
         52 . The product of  claim 47 , wherein said secondary information visible pattern is located inside the limit of said primary information pattern. 
     
     
         53 . The product of  claim 47 , wherein said secondary information visible pattern is surrounded by said primary information pattern. 
     
     
         54 . The product of  claim 47 , wherein said secondary information visible pattern is located outside a limit of said primary information pattern. 
     
     
         55 . The product of  claim 47 , wherein said secondary information visible pattern contains a signature that is locally verifiable by a device directly connected to the 2D-barcode reader to check the authenticity of the 2D barcode. 
     
     
         56 . The product of  claim 47 , wherein the authenticity of said secret in said secondary information visible pattern is only verifiable by using a remote device. 
     
     
         57 . The product of  claim 47 , wherein said secret key is randomly or pseudo-randomly generated. 
     
     
         58 . A computer implemented method comprising:
 generating a 2D barcode, via a processor, the generating including embedding primary information, readable by a 2D-barcode-reader, in a primary information pattern,   embedding secondary information in a secondary information visible pattern, visually perceptible to a human eye, in at least one area that does not contain any of the primary information such that the secondary information visible pattern is not mixed with the primary information pattern but kept physically separated from the primary information pattern, to thereby generate the 2D barcode, including the primary information pattern with the embedded primary information and the secondary information visible pattern with the embedded secondary information, and thereby create a source 2D bar-code, wherein said secondary information embedded in the secondary information visible pattern is formed by light and dark elementary sub-cells smaller than 50 μm and is configured to be difficult to reproduce with at least one of an image capture device, a scanner, copying machine or printer without alteration, and wherein the secondary information is embedded in the secondary information visible pattern using a secret key such that the secondary information visible pattern including the embedded secondary information contains a secret.   
     
     
         59 . The computer implemented method of  claim 58 , wherein said secret key is at least partially generated with a true random number generator. 
     
     
         60 . The computer implemented method of  claim 59 , wherein said secret key is at least partially generated with a pseudo random number generator. 
     
     
         61 . A non-transient computer-readable medium comprising instructions tangibly stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, perform the method of  claim 58 . 
     
     
         62 . A computing apparatus comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by the processor, perform the method of  claim 58 .   
     
     
         63 . A method of creating a product with an original 2D bar-code, comprising:
 providing a product;   creating a 2D bar-code using the method of  claim 39 ; and   printing said 2D bar-code on said product, creating thereby a product with the original 2D bar-code.   
     
     
         64 . A method of manufacturing a product including a 2D barcode, the 2D barcode including a primary information pattern representing primary information readable by a 2D barcode-reader and a secondary information visible pattern, visually perceptible to a human eye, representing secondary information made difficult to reproduce with at least one of an image capture device, a scanner, copying machine or printer without alteration, the visible pattern being embedded within the 2D barcode in at least one area that does not contain any primary information such that the secondary information visible pattern is not mixed with the primary information pattern but kept physically separated from the primary information pattern and including light and dark elementary sub-cells smaller than 50 μm, the method comprising:
 printing said 2D barcode on said product, said printing including:
 using a first printer for printing said primary information pattern including the primary information; and 
 using a second printer for printing said secondary information visible pattern including the secondary information, creating thereby a product including the 2D barcode. 
 
 
     
     
         65 . A method of authenticating a 2D barcode created by embedding primary information, readable by a 2D-barcode-reader, in a primary information pattern; and embedding secondary information in a visible pattern, visually perceptible to a human eye, in at least one area that does not contain any of the primary information such that the secondary information visible pattern is not mixed with the primary information pattern but kept physically separated from the primary information pattern, to thereby create the 2D barcode including the primary information pattern with the embedded primary information and the visible pattern with the embedded secondary information, wherein said secondary information embedded in the visible pattern is formed by light and dark elementary sub-cells smaller than 50 μm configured to be difficult to reproduce with at least one of an image capture device, a scanner, copying machine or printer without alteration, and wherein the secondary information is embedded in the secondary information visible pattern using a secret key such that the secondary information visible pattern including the embedded secondary information contains a secret, the method of authenticating comprising:
 scanning said 2D barcode using a local device to generate at least one image frame; 
 reading, from the image, frame primary information in said local device; 
 extracting, from the image, frame secondary information in said local device; 
 generating a portion of the secondary information using a key stored in the local device, said portion comprising or forming a signature of the secondary information; and 
 
       comparing said signature of the secondary information with the extracted frame secondary information to verify authenticity at a first local level of the 2D barcode, the method further comprising:
 sending the primary information or an information correlated thereto, and an image of the extracted secondary information, to a remote server; and 
 authenticating the 2D barcode by comparing the image of the extracted secondary information with an original 2D barcode image stored or generated in the remote server. 
 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said average black density is less than or equal to 40% or more than or equal to 60% of black elementary sub-cells. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein said average black density is less than or equal to 30% or more than or equal to 70% of black elementary sub-cells. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein said average black density is less than or equal to 80% or more than or equal to 20% of black elementary sub-cells. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein said local device is a smartphone. 
     
     
         70 . Method of manufacturing a product, comprising a 2D barcode, the 2D barcode including a primary information pattern representing primary information readable by a 2D-barcode-reader, and a secondary information visible pattern, visually perceptible to a human eye, representing secondary information that is made difficult to reproduce with at least one of an image capture device, a scanner, copying machine or printer without alteration, said secondary information visible pattern being embedded within said 2D barcode in at least one area that does not contain any primary information such that the visible pattern is not mixed with the primary information pattern but kept physically separated from the primary information pattern, said secondary information visible pattern including light and dark elementary sub-cells smaller than 50 μm generated using a secret key such that the secondary information visible pattern including the embedded secondary information contains a secret, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
 using a first printing means for printing said primary information pattern, and 
 using a second printing means for printing said secondary information visible pattern containing secondary information, creating thereby a product with an original 2D barcode.