Method and apparatus for the creation of a self-authenticating document
AssigneeAbathorn Limited
InventorsJohn Duffell, Laurence O'Toole, Thomas Martin
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Abstract
A self-authenticating printed document (101) comprises text and a symbol (102) printed on the document (101). The symbol (102) includes a verification value, which is representative of the entire data content of the text, and error correction codes for correcting the text. The verification value is used to check the integrity of the text after the document has been corrected using the error correction codes.
Claims28
A method of producing a document comprising:
- (i) providing text which is intended to be contained within the document;
- (ii) generating a text verification value, representative of the entire content of the said text;
- (iii) generating one or more error correction codes for the said text;
- and
- (iv) generating a machine-readable symbol, representative of the said text verification value and the said error correction code or codes;
- wherein the symbol is adapted for incorporation within the document when it is printed.
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the said verification value comprises a checksum.
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the said text is divided into a predetermined number of strings and an error correction code is determined for each respective string.
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each said error correction code is a Reed-Solomon code.
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the said symbol comprises security data.
A method of verifying a printed document, comprising:
- (i) machine-reading text and a symbol printed on the document;
- (ii) deriving one or more error correction codes from the said symbol;
- (iii) using the error correction code or codes to perform an error correction operation on the said text;
- (iv) deriving a verification value representative of the entire content of a predetermined body of text from the said symbol;
- (v) deriving a further verification value from the said text after it has been subjected to the correction operation;
- and
- (vi) comparing the said further verification value with the said verification value derived from the said symbol.
A self-authenticating printed document comprising a body of text and a machine-readable symbol, wherein the said symbol comprises a verification value and one or more error correction codes, the said verification value being representative of the entire data content of the said body of text and the error correction code or codes being adapted for correcting the said text after it has been read by a machine.
A device for producing a self-authenticating document, the said device being adapted to provide text to be recorded on the said document;
- to generate a text verification value representative of the entire content of the said text to generate one or more error correction codes for correcting the said text after it has been read by a machine;
- and to generate a machine-readable symbol representative of the said text verification value and the said error correction code or codes, which symbol is adapted to be incorporated in the document when it is printed.
A device for verifying a self-authenticating document, the said device being adapted to receive text and a symbol contained within the said document, to derive one or more error correction codes from the said symbol, to apply a correction operation to the said text using the said error correction code or codes, to derive a verification value representative of the entire content of a predetermined body of text from the said symbol, to derive a further verification value from the said received text after it has been subjected to the said error correction procedure;
- and to compare the said verification value with the said further verification value.
A method of producing a document substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
A method of verifying a printed document substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
A printed document substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
A device for producing a self-authenticating document substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
A device for verifying a self-authenticating document substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.