Authentication method and system

An optically readable data storage medium, comprising an optically readable substrate having a data pattern and a set of optically readable characteristics which are randomly determined by a non-deterministic physical manufacturing process, further comprising a cryptographically processed set of identifications of the random optically readable characteristics, and the data pattern, associated with the data storage medium, the data pattern and the optically readable characteristics being adapted to be readable by a common imaging system, wherein the data storage medium is resistant to reproduction and alteration of the data pattern can be detected, further comprising an authentication device, said authentication device comprising:

• (a) an illumination source having a narrowband output adapted for exciting fluorescence at a wavelength differing from said narrowband output, having a time-varying polarization axis;
• (b) an optical filter to exclude the narrowband output and pass the fluorescence at the wavelength differing from said narrowband output;
• (c) an optical imaging sensor directed toward an imaging region, for sensing dichroic elements and a recorded data pattern through said optical filter;
• and
• (d) a processor for extracting a pattern of dichroic elements from a background, based on changes in an output of said optical imaging sensor under a plurality of respective polarization axes, and for determining whether the extracted pattern corresponds to a predetermined pattern.

An optically readable data storage medium, comprising an optically readable substrate having a data pattern and a set of optically readable characteristics which are randomly determined by a non-deterministic physical manufacturing process, further comprising a cryptographically processed set of identifications of the random optically readable characteristics, and the data pattern, associated with the data storage medium, the data pattern and the optically readable characteristics being adapted to be readable by a common imaging system, wherein the data storage medium is resistant to reproduction and alteration of the data pattern can be detected,

• wherein said optically readable data storage medium comprises an optically readable substrate having a data pattern and a set of anisotropic optically readable fluorescent characteristics which are randomly determined by a non-deterministic physical manufacturing process;
• further comprising an authentication device, said authentication device comprising:
• (a) an illumination source adapted for exciting the fluorescent characteristics;
• (b) a polarizer;
• (c) an optical filter which filters an output of the illumination source and passes the fluorescence;
• (d) a common optical imaging sensor directed toward an imaging region, for sensing fluorescent characteristics and a recorded data pattern through said optical filter;
• and
• (e) a processor for extracting a pattern of the anisotropic optically readable fluorescent characteristics, and for authenticating the storage medium based on a correspondence of the extracted pattern and the recorded hash, whereby the data storage medium is resistant to reproduction and alteration of the data pattern can be detected.