Miniature Security Marks for Counterfeit Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital watermarking technologies for counterfeit prevention are inefficient due to large footprint requirements, high detection costs, and computational complexity, making them unsuitable for widespread implementation in authenticating documents and images.
Innovation Solution
A system employing miniature security marks (MSMs) with data marks and anchor marks, ranging from 1 micron to 100 microns in diameter, which are virtually invisible and require less computational overhead for detection and extraction, utilizing algorithms to determine the location, size, and shape of the marks for data extraction and interpretation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If digital watermarking is used for counterfeit prevention, then identification capability is provided, but storage requirements and computational complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the security mark into multiple discrete elements: anchor marks that define a reference coordinate system and data marks that encode information. By segmenting the watermark into these distinct functional components, the system reduces the computational burden of detection while maintaining reliability. The anchor marks establish a stable reference frame that simplifies the search and alignment processes during verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses miniature security marks that are scaled-down versions of traditional watermarks, with dimensions reduced to 1-100 microns. This copying approach with reduced scale significantly decreases the storage requirements and computational resources needed for detection, while the core functionality for counterfeit prevention remains intact.
2Reliability
If digital watermarking is used for counterfeit prevention, then identification capability is provided, but storage requirements increase due to large footprint
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the scale parameter of the security mark, reducing dimensions from traditional large-scale watermarks to miniature marks measuring only 1-100 microns. This parameter change dramatically reduces the storage space required while preserving the essential identification and authentication capabilities needed for counterfeit prevention.
3Loss of information
If traditional watermark detection methods are used, then watermark extraction is achieved, but detection costs increase due to significant buffering storage requirements
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the watermark into anchor marks and data marks with distinct functions, the detection process can be optimized. The anchor marks provide a compact reference framework that requires minimal storage, while the data marks contain the essential information. This segmentation allows for efficient detection with reduced buffering storage requirements compared to traditional methods that must store and process entire large-scale watermarks.
Data Source
AI summary
A system applies a security mark to a recipient. A data reception component receives information from one or more sources. A security mark generation component generates at least one miniature security mark (MSM) configuration based at least in part upon the information from the data reception component. An application component applies the at least one MSM configuration to one or more recipients.