Digital anti-counterfeiting software method and apparatus
OwnerAlfred Alasiainventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention relates generally to a method and apparatus, as implemented by a software program on a computer system, for digitally producing counterfeit-deterring scrambled or coded indicia images, typically in a printed form. This method and system are capable of combining a source image with a latent image so the scrambled latent image is visible only when viewed through a special decoder lens. The digital processing allows different latent images to be encoded according to different parameters. Additionally, latent images might be encoded into single component colors of an original visible image, at various angles from each other.
Claims14
A method as implemented on a computer system for digitally producing counterfeit-deterring encrypted indicia for incorporation on printed matter, said method comprising the steps of:
- (i) scrambling of a input image, which has been digitized and divided into a first number of elemental input line segments, each line segment having an axis, said input line segments being scrambled as a function of a user specified factors including a lens density factor means for selecting the type of decoder lens to be used, a means for specifying the degree of scrambling to be applied to said input line segments, a doubling factor option means for doubling the number of elemental input line segments, and a flipping option means for rotating said input line segments about said axes, said scrambling operation resulting in said first number of scrambled elemental output segments;
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- (ii) digitization and rasterization a visible source image into segments equal in number to said first number of said resulting scrambled elemental output segments;
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- (iii) merging of said rasterized visible source image segments with said scrambled elemental output segments to form an encrypted output image so that the resulting encrypted output image is formed to show said visible image while retaining the underlying encrypted pattern of said scrambled input image;
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- (iv) printing said encrypted output image with sufficient resolution so that a decryption means reveals said scrambled input image.
A method as implemented on a computer system for digitally producing counterfeit-deterring encrypted indicia for incorporation on printed matter, said method comprising the steps of:
- (i) scrambling of a input image, which has been digitized and divided into a number of elemental input line segments, each line segment having an axis, said input line segments being scrambled as a function of a user specified factors including a lens density factor means for selecting the type of decoder lens to be used, a means for specifying the amount of scrambling to be applied to said input line segments, a doubling factor option means for doubling the number of elemental input line segments, and a flipping option means for rotating said input line segments about said axes, said scrambling operation resulting in said number of scrambled elemental output segments;
- (ii) digitization and rasterization a visible source image into segments equal in number to said number of said resulting scrambled elemental output segments;
- (iii) merging of said rasterized visible source image with said scrambled elemental output segments to form an encrypted output image so that the resulting encrypted output image is formed to show said visible image while retaining the underlying pattern of said scrambled input image;
- (iv) separating said encrypted output image into component colors and adjusting each component color so that when recombined, said component colors will produce a greyish tone;
- (v) recombining said component colors into a grey colored encrypted output image;
- (vi) printing said encrypted output image with sufficient resolution so that a decryption means reveals the scrambled, colored input image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.