IBI Lite Barcode Authentication via Segmented Codes
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of IBI Lite barcodes in postal indicia printing reduces ink usage but lacks digital signatures, making traceability and fraud detection difficult, and they are not accepted in traditional USPS letter collection boxes due to the absence of Facing Identification Mark (FIM) orientation lines.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that incorporates a host computer system and a postal security device to generate and print IBI Lite barcodes with unique authentication codes, providing enhanced security and traceability by storing transaction data and using SHA-1 HMAC algorithms for authentication, while ensuring USPS letter box acceptability through image/text information and orientation lines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If IBI Lite barcode is used instead of full IBI barcode, then ink usage is reduced, but traceability and fraud detection capability are lost due to absence of digital signature
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication code is divided into multiple segments: a first portion is printed on the mailing item alongside the IBI Lite barcode, while a second portion is stored in a database. This segmentation allows the barcode to remain small (saving ink) while the complete authentication mechanism provides full traceability when segments are combined and verified.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary authentication system is introduced that bridges the IBI Lite barcode and the postal meter database. The authentication code acts as a mediator that links the printed indicia to transaction records, enabling traceability without requiring a digital signature on the barcode itself.
2Loss of substance
If IBI Lite barcode is used without Facing Identification Mark (FIM) orientation lines, then ink usage is reduced, but USPS letter box acceptability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
Orientation indicators are added locally at specific positions around the IBI Lite barcode rather than requiring complete FIM lines. This localized approach provides sufficient orientation information for postal sorting while minimizing additional ink consumption compared to full FIM implementation.
3Reliability
If authentication code is added to IBI Lite barcode to enable traceability, then security is improved, but barcode size increases requiring more ink
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication code is extracted from the barcode itself and placed in two locations: a truncated version on the mailing item and the complete version in the postal meter database. This extraction allows the barcode to remain compact while the external database provides the full authentication capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The authentication system transitions from a two-dimensional barcode-only approach to a multi-dimensional system that combines printed indicia with database storage. By adding the temporal dimension of database retrieval, the system provides complete authentication without increasing the physical size of the printed barcode.
Data Source
AI summary
System and method for printing indicia on mailing items, such as envelopes, cards, or label media, has a host computer system connected to a postal security device. The postal security device stores postage funds and, responsive to the host computer postage requests, provides data to the host computer representing an IBI Lite barcode having at least part of a unique authentication code. The host computer utilizes such data to produce print data representing postage indicia, and send such print data to one of a mailing machine, stand-alone printer, or printing system, for printing on a mailing item to be associated with the authentication code. A plurality of host computer systems each with their respective PSD may be provided. A reset computer system can communicate with each PSD, via their respective host computer, to provide additional postage funds and to receive information representing transaction data stored in the host computer.