US 6,212,638 B1 · Method for generating unpredictable authentication identification symbols

Abstract

A method for generating authentication identification symbols, such as numbers, letters, etc., generates sequences of unpredictable symbols which are employed by vendors of various types of goods to authenticate the goods. Using special mathematical functions, an agent generates a first unpredictable subset of symbols to be supplied to a vendor for marking the vendor's goods. The subset is unpredictable in that knowledge of one or more symbols in the subset cannot be employed to predict other symbols in the subset. Preferably, the vendor then selects another subset of symbols from the first subset, and the symbols in this sub-subset are employed for marking the vendor's goods. The unpredictability of the symbol sequences prevents a counterfeiter from being able to predict other symbols in the sequence. In addition, the vendor's use of a sub-subset of symbols prevents the agent from knowing which of the original subset of symbols the vendor is employing to mark the goods. Checking procedures are also employed to permit authentication of the identification symbols by a customer, for example.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A method for providing authentication identification symbols on a plurality of objects comprising the steps of:

a) providing a first sequence of symbols;
b) selecting a first and second subsets of symbols from said first sequence, said first and second subsets of symbols being selected to be unpredictable so that knowledge of one or more of said symbols in said subsets cannot be employed to predict other symbols in said subset;
c) providing said first and second subsets of symbols to an individual for use as authentication symbols on a plurality of objects;
d) marking each of said objects with an identification symbol pair comprising a first symbol from said first subset, and a second symbol from said second subset;
e) entering a symbol pair into a checking means to check whether it is valid, said checking means carrying out the steps of:
f) checking the first symbol in said pair to determine whether it is valid, and if not, generating an indication that the symbol pair is invalid;
g) if said first symbol in said pair is valid, checking said second symbol in said pair to determine whether it is valid, and if so, generating an indication that said symbol pair is valid, and if not, generating an indication that said symbol pair is invalid.

4 more elements

A method for providing authentication identification symbols on a plurality of objects comprising the steps of:

a) providing a first sequence of symbols by:
1) generating a nonlinear function in a multiple coordinate system having a plurality of axes, said function being represented try a first curve in said multiple coordinate system, and including a plurality of frequency components, the highest of which has a period of length T;
2) selecting a first plurality of points along said first curve, with the minimum spacing interval between any two of said points being greater than T/2, each of said points being denoted by a coordinate value for each of said axes;
and
3) defining a group of said coordinate values for one of said axes to be said sequence of identification symbols;
b) selecting a first subset of symbols from said first sequence, said sub set of symbols being selected to be unpredictable so that knowledge of one or more of said symbols in said subset cannot be employed to predict other symbols in said subset;
c) providing said subset of symbols to an individual for use as authentication symbol on a plurality of objects;
and
d) marking each of said objects wit a corresponding one of said symbols in said subset.

6 more elements

A method for providing authentication identification symbols on a plurality of objects comprising the steps of:

a) providing a first sequence of symbols;
b) selecting a first subset of symbols from said first sequence, said subset of symbols being selected to be unpredictable so that knowledge of one or more of said symbols in said subset cannot be employed to predict other symbols in said subset;
c) providing said subset of symbols to an individual for use as authentication symbols on a plurality of objects;
d) said individual selecting a sub-subset of symbols from said first subset, said sub-subset of symbols also being selected to be unpredictable;
e) marking each of said objects with a corresponding one of said symbols in said sub-subset;
whereby, an individual having knowledge of said first sequence cannot predict the identity of symbols in said subset and sub-subset, an individual having knowledge of said subset cannot predict the identity of symbols in said first sequence and said sub-subset, an individual having knowledge of said sub-subset cannot predict the identity of symbols in said first sequence and said subset;
and, an individual having knowledge of some, but not all, symbols in said sub-subset, cannot predict the identity of other symbols in said sub-subset.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method for generating unpredictable authentication identification symbols

Life of this patent

Method for generating unpredictable authentication identification symbols

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25