Method and system for item authentication and customization

Abstract

A method of illumating an item is disclosed. The method includes applying adhesive to the item, interspersing a taggant in the adhesive, illuminating the item with an excitation signal, sensing luminescence emitted by the taggant in response to illumination by the excitation signal, and determining the authenticity of the item based on the sensed emitted luminescence. The item can include any item benefited by authentication, and can include a postage stamp. A method of customizing an item is disclosed. This can include the steps of preparing a substrate, applying a security feature to the substrate, printing non-customized information on the substrate, receiving image information, and printing the image information on the substrate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An authenticatable label, comprising:
 a label comprising:
 a substrate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side; 
 a printing on the first side of a substrate; 
 an adhesive on the second side of the substrate; and 
   a backing having a first side, a taggant on the first side of the backing;   wherein the taggant emits luminescence in response to illumination by an excitation signal,   wherein the first side of the backing contacts the label such that the taggant is combined with the adhesive such that at least a portion of the taggant migrates into the adhesive, and   wherein the label is configured to be removed from the backing.   
     
     
         2 . The authenticatable label of  claim 1 , wherein the taggant is configured to be carried off with the adhesive when the label is removed. 
     
     
         3 . The authenticatable label of  claim 1 , wherein the taggant is arranged to form a pattern or image. 
     
     
         4 . The authenticatable label of  claim 3 , wherein the pattern or image comprises a computer readable code. 
     
     
         5 . The authenticatable label of  claim 4 , wherein the computer readable code is a barcode. 
     
     
         6 . The authenticatable label of  claim 3 , wherein the image comprises one of a logo, a motto, and a trademark. 
     
     
         7 . The authenticatable label of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate and the printing have a high transmissivity to the emitted luminescence and the excitation signal. 
     
     
         8 . A method of making a label comprising:
 applying a printing to a first side of a substrate;   applying an adhesive to the second side of the substrate;   applying a taggant to a first side of the backing, wherein the taggant emits luminescence in response to illumination by an excitation signal; and   attaching the substrate to the first side of the backing, wherein following attaching the substrate to the first side of the backing, at least a portion of the taggant migrates into the adhesive.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the taggant is applied to the first side of the backing in a pattern comprising a pre-determined computer readable image which is readable upon excitation of the taggant from an excitation signal. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the pattern is a barcode. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the taggant is applied by printing the taggant onto the first side of the backing. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein applying the taggant to the first side of the backing comprises applying the taggant with a substance that dissolves the taggant into the adhesive during contact with the adhesive. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising receiving an image from a user, and wherein applying the taggant to the first side of the backing comprises applying the taggant in a pattern corresponding to at least a portion of the received image. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein applying a printing to a first side of the substrate comprises applying a printing having variable transmissivity to luminescence emitted by the taggant. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the variable transmissivity of the printing corresponds to a pre-determined computer readable image upon excitation of the taggant from an excitation signal. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the substrate comprises regions of variable transmissivity which correspond to a pre-determined computer readable image which is readable upon excitation of the taggant from an excitation signal. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein, when the substrate is removed from the backing following attaching the substrate to the backing, the at least a portion of the taggant which migrates into the adhesive is carried off in the adhesive. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the carried off portion of the taggant comprises a computer-readable image which is readable upon excitation by an excitation signal. 
     
     
         19 . An authenticatable label made by the method of  claim 8 . 
     
     
         20 . An authenticatable label comprising:
 a substrate having a first side and a second side;   a printing applied on the first side of the substrate;   an adhesive applied to the second side of the substrate;   a backing;   a taggant applied to a first side of the backing, wherein the taggant emits luminescence in response to illumination by an excitation signal; and   a second side of the substrate attached to the first side of the backing, such that at least a portion of the taggant has migrated into the adhesive.