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EP1700248A2 - Procede pour identifier et authentifier des marchandises au moyen de codes, de codes-barres et d'identification par radiofrequence - Google Patents

Procede pour identifier et authentifier des marchandises au moyen de codes, de codes-barres et d'identification par radiofrequence

Info

Publication number
EP1700248A2
EP1700248A2 EP04813407A EP04813407A EP1700248A2 EP 1700248 A2 EP1700248 A2 EP 1700248A2 EP 04813407 A EP04813407 A EP 04813407A EP 04813407 A EP04813407 A EP 04813407A EP 1700248 A2 EP1700248 A2 EP 1700248A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
image
items
code
machine
readable symbol
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP04813407A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1700248A4 (fr
Inventor
Allen Lubow
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
International Barcode Corp
Original Assignee
International Barcode Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by International Barcode Corp filed Critical International Barcode Corp
Publication of EP1700248A2 publication Critical patent/EP1700248A2/fr
Publication of EP1700248A4 publication Critical patent/EP1700248A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/00127—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
    • H04N1/00326—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
    • G06K7/10—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
    • G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
    • G06K19/067—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components
    • G06K19/07—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
    • G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
    • G06K19/08—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code using markings of different kinds or more than one marking of the same kind in the same record carrier, e.g. one marking being sensed by optical and the other by magnetic means
    • G06K19/10—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code using markings of different kinds or more than one marking of the same kind in the same record carrier, e.g. one marking being sensed by optical and the other by magnetic means at least one kind of marking being used for authentication, e.g. of credit or identity cards
    • G06K19/14—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code using markings of different kinds or more than one marking of the same kind in the same record carrier, e.g. one marking being sensed by optical and the other by magnetic means at least one kind of marking being used for authentication, e.g. of credit or identity cards the marking being sensed by radiation
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06V—IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
    • G06V30/00—Character recognition; Recognising digital ink; Document-oriented image-based pattern recognition
    • G06V30/10—Character recognition
    • G06V30/22—Character recognition characterised by the type of writing
    • G06V30/224—Character recognition characterised by the type of writing of printed characters having additional code marks or containing code marks
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07D—HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING
    • G07D7/00—Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of valuable papers or for segregating those which are unacceptable, e.g. banknotes that are alien to a currency
    • G07D7/004—Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of valuable papers or for segregating those which are unacceptable, e.g. banknotes that are alien to a currency using digital security elements, e.g. information coded on a magnetic thread or strip
    • G07D7/0043—Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of valuable papers or for segregating those which are unacceptable, e.g. banknotes that are alien to a currency using digital security elements, e.g. information coded on a magnetic thread or strip using barcodes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07D—HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING
    • G07D7/00—Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of valuable papers or for segregating those which are unacceptable, e.g. banknotes that are alien to a currency
    • G07D7/004—Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of valuable papers or for segregating those which are unacceptable, e.g. banknotes that are alien to a currency using digital security elements, e.g. information coded on a magnetic thread or strip
    • G07D7/0047—Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of valuable papers or for segregating those which are unacceptable, e.g. banknotes that are alien to a currency using digital security elements, e.g. information coded on a magnetic thread or strip using checkcodes, e.g. coded numbers derived from serial number and denomination
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/00127—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
    • H04N1/00326—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus
    • H04N1/00342—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus with a radio frequency tag transmitter or receiver
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/32—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device
    • H04N1/32101—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
    • H04N1/32128—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image
    • H04N1/32133—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image on the same paper sheet, e.g. a facsimile page header
    • H04N1/32138—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image on the same paper sheet, e.g. a facsimile page header in an electronic device attached to the sheet, e.g. in an RFID tag
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
    • H04N2201/32—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device
    • H04N2201/3201—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
    • H04N2201/3225—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title of data relating to an image, a page or a document
    • H04N2201/3233—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title of data relating to an image, a page or a document of authentication information, e.g. digital signature, watermark
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
    • H04N2201/32—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device
    • H04N2201/3201—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
    • H04N2201/3269—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title of machine readable codes or marks, e.g. bar codes or glyphs

Definitions

  • Radio Frequency Data Communications is a technology that provides wireless interactive and real-time updates of inventory, shipments, or manufacturing applications over local-area and wide-area networked applications. Five frequently cited benefits to using RFDC are increased database accuracy at all times, reduced paperwork, real-time operations, higher productivity, and shorter order response times.
  • RFDC is a communications technology for automatic identification and data capture that is typically used in tracking commercial goods, for example, manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, and logistics management.
  • RFDC is often used with bar code scanning, or Radio Frequency Identification (“RFID”) to direct receiving, storage, retrieval, physical inventories, order picking, pickslot replenishment, shipping, tracking returns, labeling, and other applications.
  • RFID Radio Frequency Identification
  • RFDC radio frequency terminals are increasingly used for price verification, order entry at point of sale, and direct store delivery.
  • wireless terminals either handheld or vehicle-mounted
  • the terminals communicate with the master radio transceiver, also known as base station or wireless gateway, which receives and routes messages from the individual terminals to the radio frequency network controller, and also routes messages such as instructions and exceptions from the host system to the terminals.
  • the master radio transceiver also known as base station or wireless gateway, which receives and routes messages from the individual terminals to the radio frequency network controller, and also routes messages such as instructions and exceptions from the host system to the terminals.
  • Bar code technology is currently over thirty years old with various symbologies in use.
  • the various symbologies include different standards and guidelines for use which optimize various features of the different symbologies for use in different applications.
  • Examples of bar codes include: postal bar code which has tall and short bars, Interleaved Two of Five bar code which is typically used for printing on corrugated cartons, and Reduced Space Symbology ("RSS") bar code, which is a form of two- dimensional bar code.
  • RSS Reduced Space Symbology
  • the information may be related to the good, such as information generally used in manufacturing, tracking, shipping, receiving or selling goods, such as product information or product photographs, or other information.
  • the code is received, obtained or generated, for example, using methods including checksum algorithms, sum of known points, or other authentication methods.
  • the code is associated with a barcode, for example, the code is added to the barcode.
  • a label including the information on the barcode and associated code is associated with the good, for example, it is affixed thereto.
  • a recipient receiving goods having the associated label can read or scan the label and verify that the goods and information related to the goods on the label is accurate by comparing the code. The recipient scans the associated information to derive the code, and compares the code with the code included on the label to determine whether the codes match.
  • Another embodiment of the invention provides a method for generating scanable code based on an image.
  • the method includes distilling an image based on hue components of the image.
  • the image is distilled, or converted or reduced by setting a high-contrast on the image, such that the pixels of the image are reduced to all black, all white or all gray.
  • a grid is superimposed over the resulting black and white, or black, white and gray image, providing squares which make a pattern.
  • Each possible pattern is associated with a character. Guard bars are placed at a start and end point on the pattern, which indicates to a scanner which sections of the pattern to read.
  • a recipient can scan the image and obtain the data provided in the patterns.
  • Yet another embodiment of the invention provides a method for generating scanable code based on an image.
  • the method includes distilling an image based on hue components of the image, overlaying a grid over the distilled image to create a pattern, inserting guard bars to indicate a start and end point on the pattern, as described herein.
  • Each pattern has a corresponding character obtained in a look-up table which can be used to generate a corresponding code.
  • a scanner can read the code and reference the look-up table to obtain the corresponding character.
  • Another embodiment of the invention provides a method for identifying a good including encoding barcode information in a digital format and storing the digital barcode into an RFID tag.
  • the barcode information can be obtained to identify a good using an RFID scanner, or other reader.
  • Another embodiment of the invention provides authentication of the good, and includes obtaining a code, such as a checksum, based on information related to the good, and storing the code on the RFID tag.
  • the RFID scanner or other reader can identify the good and/or simultaneously authenticate the good by verifying that the code or checksum matches the information.
  • a method of facilitating the authentication of items comprises obtaining a code based on an image, and associating the image and a machine-readable symbol comprising the code with one or more items to be authenticated.
  • the machine- readable symbol is a bar code such as a Reduced Space Symbology (RSS) bar code.
  • RSS Reduced Space Symbology
  • the image is a photograph, and/or textual information.
  • a method of authenticating items comprises obtaining a first code based on an image associated with one or more items.
  • a second code is obtained based on a machine-readable symbol also associated with the one or more items.
  • the authenticity of the one or more items is determined based on the first and second codes, wherein determining the authenticity of the one or more items comprises determining whether the first code matches the second code.
  • a symbol for facilitating the authentication of one or more items.
  • the symbol comprises an image associated with the one or more items.
  • a machine-readable symbol is associated with the one or more items, whereby the machine-readable symbol includes a code that is based on the image.
  • the image comprises a first and a second guard bar for reading the first code associated with the image.
  • the image comprises a photograph, a portrait, textual information.
  • the machine- readable symbol comprises a Reduced Space Symbology (RSS) bar code.
  • RSS Reduced Space Symbology
  • the machine- readable symbol comprises data associated shipping information, inventory information, invoice information, product type information, purchase order information, and/or signature information.
  • the symbol further comprises a label including the machine-readable symbol and image formed thereon for application to the one or more items.
  • a method of facilitating the authentication of items comprises associating a machine-readable symbol with one or more items to be authenticated.
  • a memory and a transceiver are also associated with the one or more items, whereby the memory is coupled to the transceiver.
  • the memory stores an image of the machine- readable symbol.
  • a method of authenticating items comprises obtaining a first code based on a first machine-readable symbol associated with one or more items.
  • An image of a second machine readable-symbol is processed and stored in a memory to obtain a second code.
  • the memory is coupled to a transceiver and both are associated with the one or more items. The authenticity of the one or more items is determined based on the first and second codes.
  • determining the authenticity of the one or more items comprises determining whether the first code matches the second code.
  • a method of facilitating the authentication of items comprises associating a machine-readable symbol and an image with one or more items to be authenticated.
  • a memory and a transceiver are also associated with the one or more items, where the memory is coupled to the transceiver.
  • the memory stores the machine-readable symbol and the image.
  • the machine- readable symbol comprises machine-readable data.
  • the machine- readable symbol comprises a machine-readable symbol image.
  • the transceiver transmits the stored machine-readable symbol and image to a receiver for authentication.
  • a method of authenticating items comprises processing a machine-readable symbol stored in a memory to obtain a first code, whereby the memory is coupled to a transceiver.
  • the memory and transceiver are associated with the one or more items.
  • An image stored in the memory is processed in order to obtain a second code.
  • the authenticity of the one or more items is determined based on the first and second codes, whereby the authenticity of the one or more items is determined by whether the first code matches the second code.
  • obtaining the first code comprises reading the machine-readable symbol.
  • a method of facilitating the authentication of items comprises obtaining a code based on an image that comprises a plurality of regions, whereby the code is related to at least one of the plurality of regions.
  • the image and a machine-readable symbol comprising the code are associated with one or more items to be authenticated.
  • the code comprises a checksum.
  • the code comprises encoding one or more pixels associated with the plurality of regions.
  • a method of authenticating items comprises obtaining a first code based on an image associated with one or more items, where the image comprises a plurality of regions and the first code is related to at least one of the plurality of regions.
  • a second code is obtained based on a machine-readable symbol associated with the one or more items. The authenticity of the one or more items is determined based on the first and second codes.
  • determining the authenticity of the one or more items comprises determining whether the first code matches the second code.
  • a method of obtaining data from an image comprises processing color characteristics of one or more pixels of a first image to obtain a second image.
  • the second image is inte ⁇ reted as a machine-readable symbol to thereby obtain a code from the second image.
  • inte ⁇ reting the second image as a machine-readable symbol comprises inte ⁇ reting the second image as a bar code.
  • inte ⁇ reting the second image as a bar code comprises inte ⁇ reting the second image as a bar code according to a bar code format comprising a plurality of patterns and co ⁇ esponding values where each of the plurality of patterns of the bar code format has a corresponding value.
  • inte ⁇ reting the second image as a bar code comprises inte ⁇ reting the second image as at least part of a two-dimensional bar code.
  • a method of facilitating the authentication of items comprises obtaining a machine-readable symbol based on an image by processing color characteristics of one or more pixels of the image.
  • the image and the machine-readable symbol are associated with one or more items to be authenticated.
  • obtaining a machine-readable symbol based on an image comprises obtaining a bar code based on an image.
  • obtaining a bar code based on an image comprises obtaining at least part of a two-dimensional bar code from an image.
  • the method further comprises generating a second bar code encoding data related to the two- dimensional bar code.
  • Associating the image and the machine-readable symbol with one or more items to be authenticated comprises associating the two-dimensional bar code and the second bar code with the one or more items so that the two-dimensional bar code and the second bar code form a composite bar code.
  • a method of authenticating of items comprises obtaining a first machine readable symbol based on an image associated with one or more items by processing color characteristics of one or more pixels of the image.
  • the authenticity of the one or more items is determined based on the first machine-readable symbol and a second machine-readable symbol associated with the one or more items.
  • Determining the authenticity of the one or more items comprises obtaining a first code from the first machine-readable symbol, obtaining a second code from the second machine-readable symbol, and determining the authenticity of the one or more items based on the first and second codes.
  • obtaining the first machine-readable symbol based on the image comprises obtaining a first bar code based on the image.
  • the second machine-readable symbol comprises a second bar code.
  • a method of facilitating the authentication of items comprises obtaining a machine-readable symbol based on an image by processing color characteristics of one or more pixels of the image. A code is obtained based on the machine-readable symbol, where the code is stored in a memory device coupled to a transceiver device. The image, the memory device, and the transceiver device are associated with one or more items to be authenticated.
  • a method of authenticating items comprises obtaining a machine readable symbol based on an image associated with one or more items by processing color characteristics of one or more pixels of the image.
  • a first code is obtained based on the machine-readable symbol.
  • a second code is obtained from a memory device associated with the one or more items, where the memory device is coupled to a transceiver device associated with the one or more items. The authenticity of the one or more items is determined based on the first and second codes.
  • determining the authenticity of the one or more items comprises determining whether the first code matches the second code.
  • a method of facilitating the authentication of items comprises obtaining a machine-readable symbol based on a first image by processing color characteristics of one or more pixels of the first image.
  • Am image of the machine-readable symbol stored in a memory device coupled to a transceiver device.
  • the image of the machine-readable symbol, the memory device, and the transceiver device are associated with one or more items to be authenticated.
  • a method of authenticating items comprises obtaining a first machine- readable symbol based on an image associated with one or more items by processing color characteristics of one or more pixels of the image.
  • a second machine-readable symbol is obtained from a memory device associated with the one or more items, where the memory device is coupled to a transceiver device associated with the one or more items.
  • the authenticity of the one or more items is determined based on the first and second machine-readable symbols.
  • determining the authenticity of the one or more items comprises: obtaining a first code from the first machine readable symbol; obtaining a second code from the second machine-readable symbol; and determining the authenticity of the one or more items based on the first and second codes.
  • a method of generating scanable code based on an image comprises processing color characteristics of one or more pixels associated with the image.
  • a first code is obtained for the one or more pixels, where the first code corresponds to a second code associated with a machine-readable symbol.
  • the second code is generated by applying the first code to a look-up table associated with the machine-readable symbol.
  • the method further comprises adding a first indicator symbol for indicating a starting point for scanning the image, and adding a second indicator symbol for indicating an end point for scanning the image.
  • the method further comprises applying the generated scanable code to the one or more items.
  • processing the color characteristics of the one or more pixels comprises varying the hue values of the one or more pixels such that hue values comprising more than 50% gray black are converted to hue values representing black, and the hue values comprising more less than 50% gray white are converted to hue values representing white.
  • the one or more pixels converted to hue values representing black are encoded as a first code value and the one or more pixels converted to hue values representing white are encoded as a second code value.
  • Figure 1 depicts a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of the invention
  • Figure 2 depicts a label according to an embodiment of the invention
  • Figure 3 depicts a label according to an embodiment of the invention
  • Figure 4 depicts a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of the invention
  • Figure 5 depicts a converted image according to an embodiment of the invention
  • Figure 6 A depicts a blown up view of a section of the image of Fig. 5 according to an embodiment of the invention
  • Figure 6B depicts a blown up view of a section of the image of Fig. 5 according to an embodiment of the invention
  • Figure 7 depicts a converted image and superimposed grid according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 8 depicts a label according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 9 depicts a label according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 10A depicts a label according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 10B depicts a label according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 11 depicts a grid with pixel sprites according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 12 is a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
  • a shipment of goods is sent from a place of origin to its destination with accompanying paperwork and other information.
  • a limited amount of information is inco ⁇ orated into a barcode label placed on the goods, and other information is included in an attached packing slip.
  • Some of the types of information relating to goods includes: product type, origin and destination address, or other information such as identification numbers for an invoice, purchase order, shipment or lot number, date, shipment storage, use and tracking information.
  • Fig. 1 depicts a method for authenticating goods according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • a code is received, step 50.
  • the code is derived from associated information which may be related to the good, as described herein, such as the item number 120 or associated image 125 shown in Figs. 2 and 3.
  • Figs. 2 and 3 depict a label 100 according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • Other associated information may be information related to shipping, tracking, inventory, orders, invoices, tariffs, photographs, fmge ⁇ rints, product type, regulations, passport, legal documents, building pass, barcodes or other information in text, image or other digital format.
  • the item number 120 or associated image 125 as shown on the label 100 may be an alphanumeric combination, image or other identifier readable by humans, and/or identifier readable by a scanner or reader.
  • the code is based on all of the information associated with the goods that is printed on a label or otherwise accompanies the good, or a portion of the information associated with the goods. For example, when a code is derived from a signature or finge ⁇ rint, any or all portions of the signature or image may be used. When the code is derived from an image, such as a portrait, all of the image may be used to derive the code, or detail rich portions, such as the eyes, may be used to derive the code.
  • the code may be a checksum, sum of all known points, or other code representing information placed on a label. The checksum or code may be obtained by methods known in the art, such as checksum algorithms, hash algorithms, multipliers or other methods for obtaining codes representing information.
  • the code is associated with a barcode, step 60.
  • the code is associated with a barcode, for example, by converting the code into barcode format, as shown on the goods label 100 of Figs. 2 and 3.
  • Types of barcodes depicted on Figs. 2 and 3 include two-dimensional composite code 130 shown in Micro PDF417 format and RSS linear barcode 140.
  • the code may be associated with a barcode in human readable form 150, which provides the data indicated in the barcode in a human readable format.
  • a label is created including the code and associated barcode, step 70 and associated with the good, e.g. by affixing the label to the good.
  • the label includes the data depicted on label 100 of Figs. 2 and 3, including the information related to the good and the code associated with the information related to the good in barcode format.
  • a recipient of goods bearing label 100 authenticates the goods by scanning or reading the associated information on the label to derive the code, scanning the barcode including the code, and comparing the codes to authenticate the goods. Matching codes indicate that the label is unaltered. A mismatched code would indicate that the label had been altered. In preferred embodiments, the scanner or reader would provide a signal in the event of a mismatched code, for example, an audible beep.
  • an image is distilled, step 200, based on hue components of the image by, for example, a scanner programmed to perform this distillation or a computer that receives the image (e.g., from a scanner) and is programmed to perform this distillation.
  • the distilled image may be retained in the memory of a scanner or a computer for further processing, as described below.
  • an image is converted using a high contrast setting to obtain a black and white image, or a black white and gray image based on color or hue ratios contained in the image. More specifically, areas having color or hue values of more than 50% gray black become black and areas having color or hue values below 50% gray white are white. In another embodiment, areas having color or hue values of more than 33.3%o gray black become black, areas having color or hue values below 33.3% gray white are white, and areas having color or hue values below 33.3% gray black and above 33.3%) gray white are gray.
  • An example of a converted image is depicted in Figs. 5, 6A and 6B.
  • Fig. 5 is a converted image of the associated image 125 of Fig. 3 such that the image of Fig. 5 contains only black and white pixels, and not the grayscale of the associated image 125 as shown in Fig. 3.
  • a portion 250 of Fig. 5 is shown in a blown up view in Figs. 6 A and 6B.
  • the portion 250 shown in Fig. 6B contains key predefined pixels.
  • Key predefined pixels are elements of an image which are selected as representative elements of the image to be scanned. For example, detail-rich areas of the image, such as the eyes on a portrait, are pre-selected to be scanable by the scanner. Although it is preferable to convert an entire image into a scanable image, the resulting data may overwhelm conventional scanners.
  • key predefined pixels are provided. As shown in Fig. 6B, there are three key predefined pixels. It is understood that there can be greater than three key predefined pixels. Information related to identifying the key predefined pixels can be communicated to a recipient, or otherwise indicated on the label or other documentation.
  • a grid may be laid over the converted image of Fig. 5, step 210.
  • the grid is at least 32 X 32 as shown in Fig. 7. It is understood that the grid can be in the range of 6 X 6 to 1000 X 1000 to provide pattern variations sufficient to differentiate various images.
  • an image, using a 32 X 32 grid can be depicted as a string of zeroes and ones or other alphanumeric characters to represent the image.
  • Each square of the grid would represent a value based on the associated image (for example black equals one, white equals zero).
  • a select number of points on the grid would be scanned and their values used to construct a derivative that could be embedded in the bar code.
  • the first row has a pattern of a certain number of black squares, followed by several white squares followed by further black squares. This could be represented, for example, as "11111000000000000111.”
  • Each pattern variation refers to a character.
  • Guard bars or other start and end point indicators may be inserted, step
  • Guard bars 300 are shown at each side of the barcodes of Figs. 8, 9 and 10A.
  • the resulting converted image, overlaid grid and guard bars may be printed on a label where they would be readable by a scanner or reader.
  • the processing above could be performed in scanner or computer memory such that the resulting converted image, residing in scanner or computer memory, could be inte ⁇ reted as a bar code, e.g., by software that inte ⁇ rets images of patterns as bar code.
  • the guard bars are buried within the digital image and in Fig. 10A, the guard bars of RSS are included in a stacked framing image.
  • the converted image and guard bars may be included in a label, which is associated with a good, for example, by affixing the label to the good.
  • Fig. 10A which depicts guard bars of RSS stacked framing portrait
  • an image is converted into its black and white components, a grid is overlaid and it can be read as patterns of bar code in the two-dimensional composite portion of a bar code.
  • this conversion and inte ⁇ retation of the image as a bar code may be performed by a scanner or computer programmed to do so while the image resides in the memory of the scanner or computer, respectively.
  • the resulting barcode pattern can be any conventional barcode or the barcode of Fig. 10B which includes a linear barcode containing color variations based on the underlying image 370 and RSS barcode 380.
  • the linear barcode 370 is readable by conventional barcode scanners because of the contrast between the light and dark bars. Additionally, scanners specially programmed to read the color gradations within the barcode lines can read additional information contained therein.
  • the image is provided in a machine- readable format to allow for scanner to automate the authentication process.
  • a recipient receiving the good scans the label, more specifically, the patterns on the label between the guard bars and obtains the characters co ⁇ esponding to each pattern.
  • the scanable image generated based on the image according to the flow diagram of Fig. 4 is used together with the authentication method of Fig. 1 to provide the information related to a good from which a code is derived, such as a checksum or other data verification item.
  • the checksum can be obtained based on data contained in the entire image, or derived from the key predefined pixels described herein.
  • a scanner reads the image between the guard bars 300.
  • the guard bars 300 provide a start and end point for a scanner or reader.
  • RSS barcode 320 Within the image 310 is RSS barcode 320.
  • RSS is a complicated barcode containing narrow and wide bars and narrow and wide spaces. There are many combinations of patterns in RSS, more so than the number of characters generally sought to be represented by RSS code.
  • Code 39 At the other end of the spectrum of capacity to represent characters in codes, is Code 39 which represents characters 0 through 9, A through Z and several symbols.
  • Figs. 9 and 10A may depict different stages of processing.
  • Fig. 10A may depict an image framed by guard bars and a stacked linear bar code that may be printed on a label.
  • Fig. 9 may depict a bar code 320 that resides in the memory of a scanner or computer that processes the image of Fig. 10 A.
  • the image of Fig. 10A is scanned and while the scanned image resides in scanner or computer memory, it may be processed, as described above, so as to convert it to bar code 320.
  • Another embodiment of the invention includes generating a barcode based on patterns associated with an image, as described herein, according to a look-up table.
  • Each possible pattern variation created by converting an image into its black and white, or black, white and gray components and overlaying a grid over the image can be associated with a character.
  • the number of possible patterns is reduced, for example, by referring to a specified number of squares to obtain a single pattern which corresponds to a character.
  • a scanner reads the converted image, or the converted image residing in scanner or computer memory is analyzed, and based on the patterns contained in the image, look ups may be performed to find the associated codes in a table.
  • the present invention provides a barcode providing a reasonable number of characters, or a reduced set of characters, in an alphanumeric set based on correlating patterns obtained by converting an image to codes in a look-up table.
  • a prefe ⁇ ed number of characters are 2 5 , or 32, representing A through Z and 0 through 5.
  • the image is reduced to a short string of alphanumeric characters to allow easy comparison of two scans of two digital images.
  • the image should comprise encoded regions each having the same number of possible code variations than that of the co ⁇ esponding bar code characters (i.e., 32) associated with the bar code. Therefore, for each code associated with an encoded region of the image, based on the lookup table, there will be a corresponding bar code character (e.g., 0-5 and A-Z).
  • a truncated RSS-14 bar code may be associated with an image that has been divided into a grid (e.g., 7 X 2) having no more than 14 encoded regions. The encoded region is applied to a lookup table that in turn generates the corresponding bar code character.
  • each encoded region represents the character of the bar code. If, for example, 32 characters are used in the bar code generation, each encoded region must have a 5-bit code word (e.g., "11110") to represent the 32 entries in the lookup table. For example, each pixel having a black color may be assigned a code bit of "1.” Similarly, each pixel having a white color may be assigned to code bit "0.” Thus, each group of five pixels may represent a character of the bar code in the given example. [0091] Referring again to Fig. 6B, the image can be converted into a barcode using an image with a superimposed grid of a predefined number of squares.
  • a 5-bit code word e.g., "11110”
  • Each square of the grid represents a value based on the associated image (for example black equals one, white equals zero).
  • every element of the image is used in the conversion to a barcode. It is preferable to convert the entire image into machine- readable alphanumeric strings, however, the resulting data may overwhelm a conventional scanner.
  • a select number of points, or predefined pixels, on the grid such as the three key predefined pixels 350 are scanned and their values used to construct a code based on a look up table. It is understood that there can be more than three key predefined pixels.
  • the key predefined pixels may be obtained via communication between the sender and recipient, or other means.
  • the bar code scanner is programmed to read a two dimensional bar code where each row is equal to the height of a single sprite.
  • Fig. 11 includes six tiers of bar coded information. The image on the label would have an additional guard bar image that would help the scanner to define the tiers, start and end points, such as the guard bars shown in Fig. 8 on either side of the grid.
  • a recipient receiving the goods having the associate label can read or scan the code and refer to the look up table to obtain the characters referenced in the code.
  • RFID technology includes the use of RFLD tags and readers.
  • RFID tags generally include data storage, for example, a chip. Some RFID tags additionally include transceivers to communicate data stored on the tag. The data storage in RFID tags typically contains information related to the item on which the RFID tag is placed. Communication of data between RFID tags and a reader or scanner is typically by wireless communication.
  • barcode information is encoded into a digital format, step 400.
  • the barcode information can be information in a conventional barcode format, or barcode information generated, as described herein based on an image.
  • the barcode information can be obtained for example, from a label on a good or from a database, such as an inventory of goods.
  • the barcode information is encoded into a digital format, for example, by reducing the barcode to a series of zero's and one's, or other digital format.
  • the digital barcode information is stored on an RFID tag, step 410.
  • the digital barcode information can then be read by an RFID scanner.
  • the RFLD scanner reproduces the digital barcode information into a barcode, or communicates the data to a barcode based network or system.
  • the goods or information related to the goods can be identified and obtained from the tag.
  • a code derived from information associated with the goods, as described herein is received or otherwise obtained, for example, as a checksum or other verifier, step 420.
  • This code is substantially the same as the code described in reference to Fig. 1.
  • the code is stored to the RFID tag, step 430.
  • the resulting tag contains RFLD data, digital barcode data and an authenticating code, such as a check sum.
  • the RFLD data, digital barcode and authenticating code are compared to verify that the tag is authentic and none of the information was altered.

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Abstract

Cette invention se rapport à des procédés pour identifier et authentifier des marchandises. A cet effet, un code ou un total de contrôle basé sur des informations ou sur une image relatives à une marchandise est dérivé et associé à un code-barres destiné à figurer sur une étiquette. L'étiquette est lue par un destinataire, en vue de l'authentification des marchandises. Le code lisible est produit sur la base d'une image par distillation d'une image décomposée en ces composantes de teintes et par utilisation d'une grille destinée à créer un motif. Le motif est lisible par un lecteur, en vue d'obtenir un code directement ou par consultation d'une table de consultation. Le code, le code-barres, le code-barres numérique ou le code lisible peuvent être inclus sur un étiquette, par exemple une étiquette d'identification par radiofréquence (RFID).
EP04813407A 2003-12-08 2004-12-08 Procede pour identifier et authentifier des marchandises au moyen de codes, de codes-barres et d'identification par radiofrequence Withdrawn EP1700248A4 (fr)

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US52804603P 2003-12-08 2003-12-08
PCT/US2004/041084 WO2005029390A2 (fr) 2003-12-08 2004-12-08 Procede pour identifier et authentifier des marchandises au moyen de codes, de codes-barres et d'identification par radiofrequence

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WO2005029390A3 (fr) 2005-12-08
JP2007519095A (ja) 2007-07-12
EP1700248A4 (fr) 2008-06-04
CN1914621A (zh) 2007-02-14
WO2005029390A8 (fr) 2005-05-06
WO2005029390A2 (fr) 2005-03-31
BRPI0417392A (pt) 2007-04-17
KR20060124675A (ko) 2006-12-05
AU2004275395A1 (en) 2005-03-31

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