Token Authentication Using Wavelength-Specific Phosphorescent Patterns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional authentication systems that rely on physical features of physical tokens, such as watermarks or color-changing ink, are vulnerable to copying by malicious actors, as these features can be visually assessed to create authentic-looking fake tokens.
Innovation Solution
The use of tailored-wavelength-range coded patterns, steganographic images, and overlapping codes, where invisible-ink-printed patterns corresponding to authentication codes are interweaved within steganographic images or printed within visible-ink portions, making it difficult for malicious actors to create authentic-looking fake tokens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional security features (watermarks, color-changing ink) are added to physical tokens, then the ability to detect fake tokens is improved, but the vulnerability to copying by malicious actors worsens because these features can be visually assessed and replicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces visual/mechanical security features with optical detection using specific wavelength light sources and sensors. Instead of relying on human visual inspection of watermarks or color-changing ink, the system uses electromagnetic radiation at specific wavelengths to excite phosphorescent materials and detect their emission characteristics, thereby substituting mechanical/visual detection with optical physics-based detection that is harder to replicate
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection parameter from visible light reflection to phosphorescent emission at specific wavelengths. By using light sources at particular wavelengths that excite phosphorescent materials to emit light at different wavelengths, the system creates a detection mechanism based on spectral characteristics that are difficult to copy with conventional photocopying or printing methods
2Ease of operation
If visible security features are made more prominent to help human detection, then the ease of operation for human verification is improved, but the ability of malicious actors to visually assess and replicate the features worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces human visual inspection with automated optical detection using sensors and light sources. The system uses specific wavelength light sources to excite phosphorescent materials and sensors to detect the emitted light characteristics, eliminating the need for human visual assessment while preventing malicious actors from replicating the security features through conventional means
3Ease of operation
If authentication codes are made visible on physical tokens, then the ease of operation for authentication is improved, but the reliability of authentication worsens because the codes can be copied to create fake tokens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces visible authentication codes with phosphorescent patterns that are detected using specific wavelength light sources and sensors. Instead of relying on visible codes that can be photographed and replicated, the system uses optical excitation and emission detection to verify authentication patterns, thereby maintaining ease of operation through automated detection while significantly improving reliability by making copying difficult
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the authentication mechanism from visible static codes to dynamic phosphorescent emission patterns detected at specific wavelengths. By using light sources that excite phosphorescent materials to emit light at characteristic wavelengths, the system creates authentication patterns that have spectral signatures difficult to replicate, thereby improving authentication reliability while maintaining operational simplicity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances the security of token authentication by making it difficult for malicious actors to visually assess or replicate the authentication codes, even when the tokens are photocopied, thereby ensuring the authenticity of the tokens.
Implementation Method 1
a token may include one or more invisible-ink-printed patterns printed using infrared ink corresponding to different tailored wavelength ranges within the infrared light spectrum
Implementation Method 2
determining a first wavelength range to use to scan the document; extracting, via one or more sensors a wavelength indicator from a first coded image printed on the document
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, an authentication system may be configured to process one or more tokens that incorporates one or more tailored-wavelength-range coded patterns, codes represented within a steganographic image, or “overlapping” codes. As an example, such a token may include (i) one or more invisible-ink-printed patterns printed using infrared ink corresponding to different tailored wavelength ranges within the infrared light spectrum, (ii) one or more steganographic images in which invisible-ink-printed patterns are interweaved within the steganographic images, (iii) visible-ink-printed patterns and invisible-ink-printed patterns printed substantially within the visible ink portions of the visible-ink-printed patterns, or (iv) other features, where the invisible-ink-printed patterns correspond to one or more authentication codes or other data for token authentication.