US 6,606,396 B1 · Method and apparatus for detecting forgery

Abstract

A two-dimensional code and a predetermined figure pattern are printed on a medium. An error in the two-dimensional code is correctable during decoding of the two-dimensional code. A cell position corresponding to a position of the error is detectable. The predetermined figure pattern is made of special ink. The two-dimensional code and the predetermined figure pattern overlap each other at a specified place in the medium. The two-dimensional code is optically read from the medium. The two-dimensional code which has been optically read is decoded. In cases where error correction is executed during the decoding of the two-dimensional code, detection is given of an error correction position corresponding to a cell position having a related error. A determination is made as to whether or not the detected error correction position is in the specified place. Judging whether or not the medium is counterfeit is executed in response to a result of the determination.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A method of determining whether or not a medium on which a two-dimensional code and a predetermined figure pattern are printed is counterfeit, wherein an error in the two-dimensional code is correctable during decoding of the two-dimensional code, and a cell position corresponding to a position of the error is detectable, the predetermined figure pattern being made of special ink, the two-dimensional code and the predetermined figure pattern overlapping each other at a specified place in the medium, the method comprising:

optically reading the two-dimensional code from the medium;
decoding the two-dimensional code which has been optically read for obtaining decoding results, wherein the decoding of the two-dimensional code includes performing an error correction process on the decoding results and detecting an error correction position that is the position of the error and the cell position corresponding to the position of the error when an error is detected in the decoding results;
determining whether or not the detected error correction position is in the specified place;
and
judging whether or not the medium is counterfeit in response to a result of the determining of whether or not the detected error correction position is in the specified place.

2 more elements

An apparatus for determining whether or not a medium on which a two-dimensional code and a predetermined figure pattern are printed is counterfeit, wherein an error in the two-dimensional code is correctable during decoding of the two-dimensional code, and a cell position corresponding to a position of the error is detectable, the predetermined figure pattern being made of special ink, the two-dimensional code and the predetermined figure pattern overlapping each other at a specified place in the medium, the apparatus comprising:

reading means for optically reading bright-dark conditions of respective cells composing the two-dimensional code on the medium;
decoding means for decoding the two-dimensional code on the basis of the optically-read bright-dark conditions of the cells;
error-correction-position detecting means for, in cases where error correction is executed during the decoding of the two-dimensional code, detecting an error correction position corresponding to a the cell position having the error;
determining means for determining whether or not the detected error correction position is in the specified place;
and
judging means for judging whether or not the medium is counterfeit in response to a result of the determining by the determining means.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for detecting forgery

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for detecting forgery

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11