Methods and a computing device for determining whether a mark is genuine

On a computing device, a method for determining whether a mark is genuine, the method comprising:

• receiving a captured image of a candidate mark;
• measuring, using the captured image, a first characteristic of the candidate mark at a plurality of locations within the candidate mark, resulting in a first set of metrics for the candidate mark;
• measuring, using the captured image, a second characteristic of the candidate mark at the plurality of locations, resulting in a second set of metrics for the candidate mark,
• wherein the plurality of locations is associated with a plurality of location identifiers,
• generating, based on the first set of metrics and the second set of metrics, an electronic signature for the candidate mark,
• wherein a first waveform represents an ordered pair relationship between the first set of metrics and the plurality of locations and a second waveform represents an ordered pair relationship between the second set of metrics and the plurality of locations;
• filtering the first waveform and the second waveform;
• dividing the first filtered waveform into a first plurality of bands;
• to each band of the first plurality of bands, assigning a numerical value based on an attribute of the first filtered waveform within the band, resulting in a first set of numerical values;
• dividing the second waveform into a second plurality of bands;
• to each band of the second plurality of bands, assigning a numerical value based on an attribute of the second filtered waveform within the band, resulting in a second set of numerical values;
• forming a hash identifier for the candidate mark using the first set of numerical values and the second set of numerical values;
• determining, based on a comparison of the hash identifier of the candidate mark with a hash identifier of a genuine mark, whether the hash identifier of the candidate mark closely matches the hash identifier of the genuine mark;
• if the hash identifier of the candidate mark is determined to closely match the hash identifier of the genuine mark, then
• retrieving, from a media storage device, an electronic signature of the genuine mark, wherein the electronic signature of the genuine mark contains data regarding an artifact of the genuine mark;
• and
• determining, based on a comparison of the electronic signature of the candidate mark with the retrieved electronic signature of the genuine mark, whether the candidate mark is genuine;
• if the candidate mark is determined to be genuine, then indicating that the candidate mark is genuine.

On a computing device, a method for determining whether a mark is genuine, the method comprising:

• receiving a captured image of a genuine mark;
• generating an electronic signature for the genuine mark by carrying out steps comprising:
• measuring, using the captured image of the genuine mark, a first set of characteristics of the genuine mark at a plurality of locations within the genuine mark, resulting in a first set of metrics for the genuine mark;
• measuring, using the captured image of the genuine mark, a second set of characteristics of the genuine mark at a plurality of locations within the genuine mark, resulting in a second set of metrics for the genuine mark,
• wherein the plurality of locations is associated with a plurality of location identifiers;
• forming the electronic signature for the genuine mark based on the first set and second set of metrics;
• generating a hash identifier for the genuine mark by carrying out steps comprising:
• extracting a first waveform from the first set of metrics, wherein the first waveform is based on an ordered pair relationship between the first set of metrics and the plurality of locations;
• applying a moving average to the first waveform to derive a first filtered waveform;
• extracting attributes of the first filtered waveform;
• extracting a second waveform from the second set of metrics, wherein the second waveform is based on an ordered pair relationship between the second set of metrics and the plurality of locations;
• applying a moving average to the second waveform to derive a second filtered waveform;
• extracting attributes of the second filtered waveform;
• forming the hash identifier for the genuine mark from the attributes of the first filtered waveform and the attributes of the second filtered waveform;
• storing the hash identifier in a database in association with the electronic signature of the genuine mark,
• wherein the database
• includes a plurality of other electronic signatures and a plurality of other hash identifiers, each electronic signature being associated with its own hash identifier, and
• is maintained on one or more media storage devices;
• receiving, from a requestor, a captured image of a candidate mark with a request to determine whether the candidate mark is genuine;
• generating an electronic signature for the candidate mark by carrying out steps comprising:
• using the captured image of the candidate mark, measuring the first set of characteristics on the candidate mark at the plurality of locations within the candidate mark, resulting in a first set of metrics for the candidate mark;
• using the captured image of the candidate mark, measuring the second set of characteristics at the plurality of locations within the candidate mark, resulting in a second set of metrics for the candidate mark,
• forming the electronic signature for the candidate mark based on the first set and second set of metrics;
• generating a hash identifier for the candidate mark by carrying out steps comprising:
• extracting a first waveform from the first set of metrics of the candidate mark, wherein the first waveform is based on an ordered pair relationship between the first set of metrics of the candidate mark and the plurality of locations;
• applying a moving average to the first waveform to derive a first filtered waveform for the candidate mark;
• extracting attributes of the first filtered waveform;
• extracting a second waveform from the second set of metrics of the candidate mark, wherein the second waveform is based on an ordered pair relationship between the second set of metrics of the candidate mark and the plurality of locations;
• applying a moving average to the second waveform of the candidate mark to derive a second filtered waveform for the candidate mark;
• extracting attributes of the second filtered waveform of the candidate mark;
• forming the hash identifier for the candidate mark from the measured attributes of the candidate mark's first filtered waveform and the measured attributes the candidate mark's second filtered waveform;
• determining, based on a comparison of the hash identifier of the candidate mark with the hash identifier of the genuine mark, whether the hash identifier of the candidate mark closely matches the hash identifier of the genuine mark;
• if the hash identifier of the candidate mark is determined to closely match the hash identifier of the genuine mark, then
• retrieving, from a media storage device, the electronic signature of the genuine mark;
• and
• determining, based on a comparison of the electronic signature of the candidate mark with the retrieved electronic signature of the genuine mark, whether the candidate mark is genuine;
• if the candidate mark is determined to be genuine, then transmitting a message to the requestor indicating that the mark is determined to be genuine.