Fabric Optical Feature Authentication to Prevent Counterfeit Tag Reuse

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional anti-counterfeiting techniques on fabrics are easily replicable, leading to incorrect verification of product authenticity, and existing methods struggle to differentiate between authorized and unauthorized fabrics when the quantity of genuine products exceeds authorized limits.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing an electronic device to analyze fabric images featuring yarn loops with randomly generated image optical feature distribution information, based on sub-yarns of different colors in the Natural Colour System, to verify product authenticity and establish authorized product data, preventing unauthorized fabrics from entering the market.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional anti-counterfeiting tags or labels with bar codes or laser stamps are attached to fabrics, then product authenticity verification is enabled, but these tags and labels can still be stealthily attached to counterfeit products, causing confusion between genuine and counterfeit products

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct authenticity verificationVSAvoidcounterfeit product production
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the anti-counterfeiting function directly into the fabric structure by incorporating unique optical feature distributions during the fabric manufacturing process itself. The anti-counterfeiting features are not separate attachments but are integrated into the fabric's yarn loops and optical properties, making it impossible to separate the authentication mechanism from the product itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameters of fabric authentication from macro-level visual elements (bar codes, laser stamps) to micro-level optical feature distributions. By analyzing the random optical properties of yarn loops at the fiber level, the system creates authentication parameters that are inherently tied to the fabric's physical structure and cannot be replicated by simply copying surface-level markings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If additional anti-counterfeiting tags or labels are attached to fabrics, then authenticity verification capability is provided, but unscrupulous manufacturers can imitate fabrics and attach recycled or forged tags, causing unauthorized fabrics to circulate and damaging brand goodwill

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthenticity verification capabilityVSAvoidbrand goodwill
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by embedding unique optical feature distributions into the fabric during the original manufacturing process. These optical fingerprints are created before the fabric enters the market and are recorded in an authorized database. This preliminary encoding ensures that any fabric lacking these specific optical features can be immediately identified as unauthorized, preventing forged tags from successfully authenticating counterfeit products.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by creating a verification system that compares the optical features of submitted fabric samples against the authorized database. The system provides immediate feedback on authentication status, and the database can be updated to reflect new authorized fabrics or revoke access for compromised products, creating a dynamic response mechanism that protects brand goodwill in real-time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If fabric authentication is based on stitches and textures, then authenticity identification is possible, but when genuine product quantity exceeds authorized quantity during production, unauthorized fabrics with identical stitches and textures produce erroneous authentication results

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthenticity identification accuracyVSAvoidauthentication result accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by focusing authentication on specific local optical features of yarn loops rather than overall fabric characteristics. Each fabric sample has unique optical feature distributions at the yarn level, creating localized authentication markers that are independent of the fabric's overall stitch pattern or texture. This allows the system to distinguish between authorized and unauthorized fabrics even when they share identical macro-level construction features.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3992356B1Method for verifying product authenticity and establishing authorized product data with fabric features
Publication Date: 2024.05.08 HENG SHENG INVESTMENT LTD
  • EP3992356B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3992356B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3992356B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention provides a method (10) for verifying a product authenticity with fabric features, comprising steps of receiving at least one fabric partial image (201) and performing image analysis to determine an image optical feature distribution information (211) of an anti-counterfeiting feature (32), receiving a fabric serial number (221) generated by operation of an input device (22), and determining whether a fabric is an authorized product by using the fabric serial number (221) or the information. The present invention provides a method (50) for establishing a authorized product data (212) with fabric features, comprising steps of generating at least one fabric image (202) waiting verifying by photographing a part of the fabric (30) with the anti-counterfeiting feature (32), performing image analysis to generate an image optical distribution feature (251), recording the image optical distribution feature (251) as an authentic anti-counterfeiting feature information (214), and storing the information correlated with an authentic fabric serial number (221) to generate an authorized product data (212).