Network-Based Object Authentication Using Digital Decoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for authenticating documents and objects using encoded images require hardware decoders, which are inflexible and impractical for on-site authentication, especially when dealing with variations or where inspectors should not access sensitive information.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for digitally capturing and decoding encoded images using a digital decoder, allowing authentication through a network-based process without the need for hardware decoders, where a digital image is captured, decoded, and compared to authentication criteria using an authentication server.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If hardware decoders are used for authentication, then authentication can be performed on-site, but the system lacks flexibility and cannot handle multiple variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces hardware-based optical decoders with software-based digital decoding algorithms. The encoded image is captured by a digital imaging device and processed using software decoders that can be updated to handle different variations, eliminating the need for multiple physical hardware decoders with specific optical characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The software decoder is designed to be universal and can decode multiple types of encoded images with different parameters and variations. A single software system can be configured to handle various encoding schemes, making the authentication system adaptable to multiple product lines and variations without requiring separate hardware decoders for each.
2Reliability
If hardware decoders are used, then authentication is possible, but the inspector must access sensitive authentication information
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication system separates the decoding function from the authentication verification function. The software decoder processes the encoded image and generates decoded information, which is then compared against authentication criteria stored in a database. This segmentation allows the inspector to interact only with the decoding process while the sensitive authentication data remains protected in the database, accessible only to authorized systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary authentication database that stores the reference authentication criteria. Instead of requiring inspectors to have direct access to sensitive authentication information, the system uses this database as an intermediary to perform the comparison between decoded images and authentic patterns, thereby protecting sensitive information while maintaining authentication reliability.
3Speed
If optical decoders are used, then encoded images can be decoded, but immediate on-site comparison is required which is impractical for multiple variations
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication criteria and reference patterns are pre-stored in a database before authentication is needed. When an encoded image is decoded, the system quickly retrieves the corresponding reference pattern from the pre-prepared database for comparison, eliminating the need for inspectors to manually compare against multiple variations and significantly improving authentication efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for determining whether an object is an authentic object to which an expected encoded image has been applied. The expected encoded image having been constructed by encoding an authentication image using a set of one or more encoding parameters. The method comprises receiving a digital image of at least a portion of the test object including a target area where the expected encoded image would be applied if the test object is an authentic object. The method further comprises determining the one or more encoding parameters and applying a digital decoding algorithm to the captured digital image to establish a decoding result. The decoding result may then be compared to object authentication criteria to establish an authentication result. In particular embodiments of the invention, the actions of receiving, determining, applying and comparing are carried out by an authentication server and the digital image is received from an inspection processor over a network.