Forensic authentication in electronic workflows

A method for electronic workflow system operation, comprising:

• sensing information concerning one or more workflow-related tasks with a plurality of modular devices which include at least one digital microscope;
• receiving an indication through either a line or wireless connection that a first modular device with the digital microscope of the plurality of modular devices has been connected to a processor device for performing an authentication task related to a workflow using discrepancy detection;
• receiving forensic data from the first modular device through either the line or wireless connection concerning the authentication task at a software service executing on the processor device;
• and
• creating forensic metadata from the data received from the first modular device for use in an electronic workflow system coupled to the processor via a network connection,
• wherein at least one of the plurality of modular devices is connected to a multifunction printer and wherein the digital microscope facilitates the capture of both intentional printing shapes and unintentional printing artifacts caused by a printing process of the printer and interaction with the ink on a substrate of a workflow item to authenticate the workflow item based on the printing of the workflow item itself.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform the method of:

• receiving a workflow command from an electronic workflow system coupled to the processor via a network connection to perform an authentication task using discrepancy detection;
• mapping the received workflow command into a sequence of forensic data collection tasks to be performed using at least one module device comprising a sensing module with a digital microscope connected to the processor through either a line or wireless connection;
• controlling the operation of the at least one module device using a corresponding digital microscope control element through either the line, the wireless connection, or the network connection;
• and
• transmitting forensic data using the network connection concerning the task to the electronic workflow system,
• wherein the at least one modular device is connected to a multifunction printer and wherein the digital microscope facilitates the capture of both intentional printing shapes and unintentional printing artifacts caused by a printing process of the printer and interaction with the ink on a substrate of a workflow item to authenticate the workflow item based on the printing of the workflow item itself.