Customizing security features
AssigneeNCR Corporation
InventorJoseph D. Roth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A printer for printing customized security features on a medium, such as a sheet or roll of labels. The printer comprises: a first container storing a first security fluid having a first luminescence signature and a second container storing a second security fluid having a second luminescence signature different to the first luminescence signature. The printer also comprises a printer controller for receiving a printing request and for selectively controlling fluid application from the first and second containers to apply the first and second security fluids to the medium in a proportion required to produce a composite luminescence signature that fulfils the printing request.
Claims8
A printer for printing customized security features on a medium, the printer comprising:
- a first container storing a first security fluid having a first luminescence signature,
- a second container storing a second security fluid having a second luminescence signature different to the first luminescence signature,
- a printer controller for receiving a printing request for a composite luminescence signature and for selectively controlling fluid application from the first and second containers to apply the first and second security fluids to the medium in a proportion required to produce a composite luminescence signature that fulfils the printing request;
- wherein the composite luminescence signature comprises a luminescence spectrum composed of the first and second luminescence signatures in a ratio determined by code printing parameters directly related to quantities of each security fluid to be applied, and wherein the printer includes a security module to prevent access to the code printing parameters.
A method of printing customized security features on a medium, the method comprising:
- receiving a printing request for a composite luminescence signature;
- ascertaining a proportion of a first security fluid and a proportion of a second security fluid required to produce a composite luminescence signature that fulfils the printing request;
- and
- selectively controlling application of the first security fluid and application of the second security fluid in the ascertained proportions to fulfil the printing request,
- wherein the method includes the further step of printing a reference number indicating the proportions of the first and second security fluids used, respectively.
A method of printing customized security features on a medium, the method comprising:
- receiving a printing request;
- and
- selectively controlling fluid application from (i) a first container storing a first security fluid having a first luminescence signature and (ii) a second container storing a second security fluid having a second luminescence signature different to the first luminescence signature, to apply the first and second security fluids to the medium in a proportion required to produce a composite signature that fulfils the printing request,
- wherein the composite signature comprises a luminescence spectrum composed of the first and second luminescence signatures in a ratio determined by code printing parameters directly related to quantities of each security fluid to be applied,
- the method further comprising deleting the code printing parameters if a security module is tampered with.
A system for tagging items with a customized security feature, the system comprising:
- a reader for reading a unique code carried by an item;
- and
- a printer for printing a customized security feature associated with the unique code so that the customized security feature has a composite signature code or code printing parameters derived from the unique code.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.