Systems and methods for unforgeable document tagging

Details Systems and methods for unforgeable document tagging Systems and methods for unforgeable document tagging

2000-02-14

2001-11-27

Eickholt, Eugene (Department: 2854)

Printing

Embossing or penetrating

Processes

C101S401100, C101S023000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06321648

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to document creation that allows for tracing the origin of the document and verifying the authenticity of a document.
2. Description of Related Art
It is often desirable to be able to trace the origin and to verify the authenticity of a document. Documents, such as currency, bearer bonds, and stock certificates, may be forged by scanning an image of the document and producing a copy of the document from the scanned image. Current methods available for tracing the origin of a document or verifying its authenticity include pseudo-random iridescent spots applied to the document during printing, and data glyphs or digital watermarks formed in the document during printing. These methods rely on the secrecy of the underlying encoding algorithm used to encode the identifying marks. If the encoding algorithm is decoded, a forger can create copies of the documents that are indistinguishable from the authentic documents. The use of an encoding algorithm to apply identifying marks to a document also increases the complexity of the printer software.
Other methods of tracing the origin of a document or verifying its authenticity include water marks, iridescent planchettes, luminescent inks and fibers, and chemical reagents applied to the paper. All of these methods, however, require the use of special paper or treatments for the paper which increase the cost of creating the document.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides systems and methods that tag documents by applying a random pattern to the document during printing. In one exemplary embodiment of the systems and methods of the invention, a roller includes a random pattern on its outer surface. The roller applies at least a portion of the random pattern to the document as the document passes through a nip formed between the roller and another roller that does not have a random pattern on its outer surface. The roller with the random pattern on its outer surface is formed of a material having a random granular structure. The random pattern formed on the outer surface of the roller is unique and nearly impossible to duplicate. The pattern applied to the document is out-of-band, meaning the pattern is not visual and cannot be reproduced by conventional image reproduction systems. The random pattern applied to the document can be detected and its representation can be stored in a database.
In other exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods of the invention, first and second rollers, each including a unique random pattern on its outer surface, form a nip and apply the random patterns to both sides of the document as it passes through the nip.
In other exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods of the invention, a circumference of the roller or rollers that apply the random pattern or patterns is larger than a length of the sheet of recording material on which a page of the document is printed so that only a portion of the random pattern or patterns is applied to any single page of the document.
In other exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods of the invention, a circumference of the roller or rollers that apply the random pattern or patterns is smaller than a length of the sheet of recording material on which a page of the document is printed so that the random pattern or patterns are applied more than once to any single page of the document.
In other exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods of the invention, a series of rollers that each applies a unique random pattern to the document are provided, to apply the unique random patterns to the document in a phase-shifted relationship.
In other exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods of the invention, phase shifted random patterns may be applied to both sides of the document.
In other exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods of the invention, a non-random pattern may also be formed on the outer surface of the roller, in addition to the random pattern formed on the outer surface.
These and other features of the invention will be described in or are apparent from the following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of systems and methods according to this invention.


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