3D Security Mark Incremental Workflow Tracking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing security features, such as 2D barcodes and static security marks, are limited in their ability to monitor the status of a document's workflow as they do not efficiently utilize space and cannot be incrementally updated without changing size or shape, making them inadequate for tracking document progression through various stages.
Innovation Solution
A system for generating an incrementally completed 3D security mark using color pathways and a carrier object with modules that can be incrementally written to throughout a workflow, allowing information to be added at each stage without increasing size or shape, utilizing a registry-based or independent incremental workflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If sequential barcodes are added at each workflow stage, then workflow status monitoring is enabled, but document real estate is consumed and layout complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from 2D barcodes to 3D security marks that utilize vertical dimension through varying print heights. This allows multiple workflow stages to be encoded within the same footprint area by creating a three-dimensional structure where different height levels represent different workflow stages, thereby monitoring workflow status without consuming additional document real estate
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of barcode representation from flat 2D patterns to 3D structures with variable heights. By encoding workflow information in the vertical dimension (height variations) rather than requiring additional horizontal or vertical space, the system enables workflow status tracking while maintaining compact document layout
2Stability of the object's composition
If a single static security feature is used throughout the workflow, then document identification is maintained, but workflow status monitoring capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic security mark where the 3D structure evolves through the workflow. While the base location and overall structure remain stable (maintaining document identification), the print heights of individual elements dynamically change at each workflow stage to encode status information, thus achieving both consistency for identification and variability for workflow tracking
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If 2D barcodes with borders and colors are used, then visual differentiation is improved, but the ability to incrementally update without size change is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds the vertical height dimension to the 2D barcode structure, creating 3D security marks. This additional dimension provides a new parameter for encoding information that can be incrementally updated. Different height levels represent different states or stages, allowing the security mark to evolve through workflow stages while maintaining the same horizontal footprint and visual distinguishability
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4A~5
AI summary
A system (10) for generating an incrementally completed 3D security mark (20''') includes a computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program. The computer program has computer readable code for selecting a color transformation process at each stage in a workflow associated with the 3D security mark (20'''); computer readable code for selecting a scrambling technique for data to be placed into a carrier object (20, 20', 20'', 20''') of the 3D security mark (20''') at each stage in the workflow; computer readable code for selecting a manner in which a state change of the carrier object (20, 20', 20'', 20''') at each stage in the workflow results in a predictable change in the 3D security mark (20'''); and computer readable code for weighting writing schemes at each stage in the workflow. The system (10) further includes further includes memory and a processor operatively coupled to the memory and to the computer-readable medium.