Authenticated Barcode Patterns

A document comprising:

• a substrate;
• and
• a pattern of printed indicia disposed on the substrate, wherein the pattern of printed indicia comprises:
• (i) a first set of multiple regions separated from one another by a second set of multiple regions that contrast with the first set, wherein boundaries between the first and second sets of multiple regions have a spatial relationship indicative of a product type and a product source associated with a particular item, (ii) multiple reproduction-variant latent symbols situated within at least one of the first set of multiple regions, wherein each of the multiple reproduction-variant latent symbols comprises a line-screen pattern, and (iii) a background area comprising a background line-screen pattern that surrounds each of the multiple latent symbols and fills the at least one of the first set of multiple regions.

A method comprising:

• while a point-of-sale system is used to complete a transaction for a particular item:
• obtaining, via an imaging system, image data of a product code associated with the particular item, wherein the product code comprises a pattern of printed indicia comprising a first set of multiple regions separated from one another by a second set of multiple regions that contrast with the first set, wherein the first and second sets of multiple regions have a spatial relationship indicative of a product type and a product source associated with the particular item;
• decoding, based on the spatial relationship of the first and second sets of multiple regions, product identification data comprising an indication of the product type and the product source;
• making a determination, based on the obtained image data, that the product code is either authentic or rather that the product code is unauthentic;
• and
• if the determination is made that the product code is unauthentic, cause a user interface display to render an indication of unauthenticity, or else, if the determination is made that the produce is authentic, proceed with the transaction for the particular item.