EP1174280A2 - Method for realising a personalised document; the realised document and computerserver for the method - Google Patents

Abstract

Production of a personalized printing/writing support involves: (a) setting up an information system including a data store and a data processing unit, for recording the type of support wanted by the user, where the support is to receive a personalized mark (PM) (selected by the user or suggested by the system) serving as anauthentication element; recording PM; providing the user with a confidential code during a first command, the code also serving during a subsequent command; verifying (during a further command) that the confidential code has not been previously attributed (so that two different users cannot obtain the same support carrying the same PM); and (b) forming or delivering the requested support with the corresponding PM. Independent claims are included for: (i) a personalized support obtained by the process; and (ii) the information system as described in (a).

Description

The present invention relates to a method for the manufacture and sale of a custom print / write media.

There are many document issuers, including administrations and liberal professions, a need to have a support personalized with a specific mark making the medium authentic.

The invention aims in particular to simplify the manufacture of such a support custom print / write with at least one authentication element, all by preventing the same type of support bearing an identical brand from being distributed to different buyers, which would make it lose its specificity and facilitate the manufacture of false.

a) fournir un système informatique comportant des moyens de stockage de données et une unité de gestion des données, ce système informatique étant agencé pour :

• enregistrer le type de support souhaité par un acquéreur, ce support étant destiné à recevoir une marque personnalisée constituant un élément d'authentification, cette marque étant choisie et/ou fournie par l'acquéreur ou proposée par le système informatique,
• enregistrer la marque personnalisée,
• attribuer à l'acquéreur, lors d'une première commande, un code confidentiel destiné à servir lors d'une commande ultérieure,
• vérifier, lors d'une nouvelle commande dudit support portant la marque personnalisée, que le code confidentiel fourni par l'acquéreur correspond à celui qui lui a été précédemment attribué, afin d'empêcher que deux acquéreurs différents ne puissent obtenir un même support portant une marque personnalisée identique,

b) fabriquer et/ou livrer le support commandé avec la marque personnalisée correspondante.

The invention achieves this by a new process, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

a) providing a computer system comprising data storage means and a data management unit, this computer system being arranged for:

• record the type of medium desired by a purchaser, this medium being intended to receive a personalized mark constituting an authentication element, this mark being chosen and / or provided by the purchaser or proposed by the computer system,
• register the custom mark,
• assign to the purchaser, during a first order, a confidential code intended to be used during a subsequent order,
• check, when re-ordering said medium bearing the personalized mark, that the confidential code supplied by the purchaser corresponds to that previously assigned to it, in order to prevent two different purchasers from being able to obtain the same medium bearing a identical custom brand,

b) manufacture and / or deliver the support ordered with the corresponding personalized mark.

Thanks to the invention, it becomes easy for a large number of buyers of order the production of personalized supports without fearing that the same type of support, delivered to different buyers, does not include personalized marks identical.

Advantageously, the computer system is arranged to prevent two different purchasers do not order supports of different types comprising the same custom brand.

Thus, buyers are assured that the brand that is present on the support ordered is specific to them and does not exist on any other type of support delivered to other buyers.

Preferably, the computer system comprises a server connected to a network IT, which allows a buyer to place his order himself.

More preferably, this computer network is the Internet network.

Alternatively, it is possible to place an order by phone or by mail, the data being entered into the computer system by a different operator of the purchaser.

Advantageously, the computer system is arranged to allow a purchaser to place a renewal order in a limited number of stages, going after recognition of the confidential code given by the buyer automatically in the database the information concerning the characteristics of the support previously ordered, as well as those concerning the personalized brand corresponding.

Preferably, the personalized brand comprises at least one set of micro-perforations, which are advantageously produced by means of a laser.

The mark can thus include for example between 1 and 4 micro-perforations per mm ² .

The micro-perforations can alternatively be produced by means of micro-needles.

We can also make the personalized brand other than with micro-perforations, for example by means of a watermark and / or a pseudo watermark and / or printing with security ink and / or engraving and / or other marker visible or invisible by humans allowing individualized identification (rare earths, biological materials such as DNA for example).

In all cases, the personalized brand constitutes in itself an element authentication, being different from a simple printing using common ink and being difficult to perform for an audience without professional equipment expensive necessary.

The personalized brand preferably includes at least the representation an alphanumeric character, a logo or a photograph.

The support advantageously comprises, in addition to the personalized mark, at minus a security feature.

The personalized mark can at least partially overlap with this security element to make falsification even more difficult.

We can thus superimpose for example a watermark and a set of micro-perforations.

The support may include various security elements, in particular watermarks, optically variable security features, security features having magnetic properties, or security elements comprising reagents capable of forming a colored reaction in visible or invisible light, under the action of erasers ink or sodium hypochlorite and more generally bases, acids, redox or solvents.

The computer system advantageously comprises at least one engine for pattern recognition, to prevent two different buyers from order supports with visually close personalized marks, this which could create a risk of confusion.

Advantageously, the computer system is arranged to allow the purchaser to select the support he wishes from several types of support, in particular among supports of different formats and / or comprising different elements and / or safety elements positioned differently.

The computer system is also advantageously arranged for allow the buyer to select the type of support, for example pure paper cellulose or pure cotton or with recycled fibers or a mixture of cellulose fibers and synthetic.

The support may consist, for example, of letterhead paper, A4 or US 8.5 x 11 "format.

The format can also be different, for example be of the check or third party type A4 format.

Advantageously, the computer system is arranged to allow the user himself to provide a digitized image corresponding to the brand personalized to make.

Thus, the production of a support with a mark corresponding to a photography is particularly easy and the risk of error between the ordered product and the delivered product can be reduced, by the possibility of absence of intermediary between the purchaser and the manufacturer and automation of the manufacturing process.

The invention also relates to a personalized support obtained by means of a process as defined above.

• enregistrer un type de support d'impression/écriture personnalisé souhaité par un acquéreur, ce support étant destiné à recevoir une marque personnalisée constituant un élément d'authentification, cette marque étant choisie et/ou fournie par l'acquéreur ou proposée par le système informatique,
• enregistrer la marque personnalisée,
• attribuer à l'acquéreur, lors d'une première commande, un code confidentiel destiné à servir lors d'une commande ultérieure,
• vérifier, lors d'une nouvelle commande dudit support comportant la marque personnalisée, que le code confidentiel fourni par l'acquéreur correspond à celui qui lui a été précédemment attribué, afin d'empêcher que deux acquéreurs différents ne puissent obtenir un même type de support portant une marque identique.

Another subject of the invention is a computer system designed to:

• register a type of personalized print / write medium desired by a purchaser, this medium being intended to receive a personalized mark constituting an authentication element, this mark being chosen and / or provided by the purchaser or proposed by the computer system ,
• register the custom mark,
• assign to the purchaser, during a first order, a confidential code intended to be used during a subsequent order,
• check, when re-ordering said medium with the personalized mark, that the confidential code provided by the purchaser corresponds to that previously assigned to it, in order to prevent two different purchasers from being able to obtain the same type of medium bearing an identical mark.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique représentant un ensemble de moyens pour la mise en oeuvre du procédé selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 représente un support obtenu par le procédé selon l'invention,
• la figure 3 est un schéma illustrant différentes étapes du procédé, et
• les figures 4 et 5 représentent d'autres supports obtenus conformément à l'invention.

The invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows, of nonlimiting examples of implementation, and on examining the appended drawing, in which:

• FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a set of means for implementing the method according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 represents a support obtained by the method according to the invention,
• FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating different stages of the process, and
• Figures 4 and 5 show other supports obtained according to the invention.

There is shown in Figure 1 a set 1 of means for the implementation of the invention, namely a computer system comprising a server 2 connected to a base data 3, manufacturing means 4 of a personalized support and a computer 5 which can be accessed by a purchaser U wishing to order personalized support.

The computer 5 is connected in the example described to the server 2 thanks to the network Internet.

Server 2 can be in the same factory as the one where the manufacturing means 4 or be connected to the latter by means of communication.

FIG. 2 shows an example of personalized support 10.

This support 10 is produced from a sheet of cellulosic paper by example.

The support 10 includes a personalized mark constituted in the example described by two sets 11a and 11b of laser micro-perforations.

The assembly 11a comprises for example a series of seven characters.

The support 10 also comprises two security elements constituted respectively by a watermark 12 for example specific to the manufacturer of the support 10 and by a strip 13 of iridescent patterns or other anti-copy elements.

The support 10 constitutes in the example described a letterhead paper and has received an impression 15.

We will now describe, with reference to FIG. 3, the different stages leading to the manufacture of the support 10.

First, in a first step 20, an acquirer U connects via computer 5 to server 2.

Then, in step 21, the acquirer U indicates the confidential code which has been given to him granted during a previous order or, if it is a first order, the address where the delivery of personalized support should take place and possibly provide other information such as bank details, payment method, etc.

We assume below that this is a first order.

The server 2 is arranged so that the computer 5 displays in menu 22 a menu allowing buyer U to select the type of support desired.

The purchaser U can thus choose the type of support desired from a set supports comprising for example several formats, and for each format several types of security features.

For example, server 2 can offer the buyer to choose paper with or without a strip of iridescent patterns 13 and a watermark 12, as well as the pattern watermark.

Server 2 can also offer other security elements, for example example of other types of optically variable security features, magnetic safety devices or safety features that produce a colored reaction when attempt to erase the information carried on the medium.

Once the choice of the type of support has been made, the personalized mark must be determined.

The manner of making the personalized mark on the support may be imposed by the server or the latter can let the acquirer choose from several opportunities.

In the example of embodiment described, the personalized brand is produced in by means of micro-perforations performed by a laser.

The pattern of the mark, as well as its location on the support, can be imposed by the server or, as in the example described, be chosen by the purchaser.

Preferably, the location of the mark is chosen near an edge, so as not to not interfere with printing or writing.

In the example described, the acquirer has the possibility of addressing to server 2 by the computer network a file containing a scanned image corresponding to the brand to achieve.

The mark may also contain only alphanumeric characters, as is the case for support 10.

To make falsification even more difficult, it may be advantageous to at least partially overlap the mark and a security element of the support.

By way of example, FIG. 4 shows a support 10 ′ in which the set 11b of micro-perforations is produced through the watermark 12.

Once all the information necessary to manufacture the support obtained from the acquirer, the server 2 delivers in step 23 to the acquirer a confidential code which will be used for a next order.

The server also checks that the same type of media, coated with the same personalized mark, has not already been issued to another purchaser.

Care should be taken to avoid unauthorized persons order, in order to manufacture fakes, a support coated with the same brand as that used by another person or company.

The IT system can simply avoid sending to two buyers different from strictly identical products.

It can also, which is preferable, carry out the comparison between the product newly ordered and those already manufactured, so as to avoid manufacturing for different purchasers of supports coated with personalized marks resembling each other, so to avoid any risk of confusion.

We can use to perform this comparison recognition of forms known in themselves.

When the purchaser places a renewal order, the recognition of the previously assigned confidential code ensures that who places the order is an authorized person.

In step 24, the support is manufactured by manufacturing means conventional, from information provided by server 2 and then delivered to the purchaser U directly from the manufacturer.

Advantageously, the server 2 is arranged, in the event of an order for renewal, to limit the number of steps required to place an order, in making maximum use of information already stored in the database 3.

This avoids the buyer U making a renewal from having to give information already provided during a previous order.

This also reduces the number of confidential information transiting through the network and we reduce the risks of interception of this information by unauthorized persons.

This finally saves the buyer time.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described, when the purchaser of a first product wants to acquire a second, different from the first, a new code confidential, specific to this second product, is attributed to it.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the example of implementation which has just been described.

We can in particular make supports other than letterhead papers, for example check letters, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the personalized mark can be the name of the bank itself.

Claims (18)

Method for manufacturing a personalized printing / writing medium, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a) providing a computer system comprising data storage means (3) and a data management unit (2), this computer system being arranged for: register the type of medium desired by a purchaser (U), this medium being intended to receive a personalized mark constituting an authentication element, this mark being chosen and / or provided by the purchaser or proposed by the computer system, register the custom mark, assign to the purchaser, during a first order, a confidential code intended to be used during a subsequent order, check when re-ordering said medium bearing the personalized mark, that the confidential code supplied by the purchaser corresponds to that previously assigned to it, in order to prevent two different purchasers from being able to obtain the same medium bearing a mark identical custom, b) manufacture and / or deliver the ordered support (10) with the corresponding personalized mark (11a, 11b). Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the computer system (2, 3) is arranged to prevent two different purchasers from ordering supports of different types comprising the same personalized mark. Method according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the computer system comprises a server (2) connected to a computer network, such as the Internet network. Method according to one of the preceding claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the acquirer orders by telephone or by mail, the data being entered into the computer system by an operator different from the acquirer. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the data are entered into the computer system only by the acquirer. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the computer system is arranged to allow an acquirer to place a renewal order in a limited number of steps, going after recognition of the confidential code given by the purchaser (U) automatically search in the database (3) for information relating to the characteristics of the support previously ordered, as well as that concerning the corresponding personalized mark. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the personalized mark comprises at least one set (11a, 11b) of micro-perforations, such as micro-perforations produced by means of a laser or by means of microneedles. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the mark comprises between 1 and 4 micro-perforations per mm ² . Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the personalized mark comprises at least one watermark and / or a pseudo watermark and / or an impression with a security ink and / or an engraving and / or a another marker visible or invisible by humans allowing individualized identification (rare earths, biological materials). Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the personalized mark includes at least the representation of an alphanumeric character, a logo or a photograph. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support comprises, in addition to the personalized mark, at least one security element (12, 13), such as a security element chosen from watermarks, the elements optically variable security elements, security elements having magnetic properties, or security elements comprising reagents capable of forming a colored reaction in visible or invisible light, under the action of ink erasers, of sodium hypochlorite or more generally bases, acids, redox agents or solvents. Method according to the immediately preceding claim, characterized in that the personalized mark is at least partially superimposed with at least one security element. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the computer system comprises at least one shape recognition engine. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the computer system is arranged to allow the purchaser (U) to select the medium he wishes from several types of medium, in particular from mediums of different formats and / or comprising different security elements and / or security elements positioned differently. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the computer system is arranged to allow the buyer to select the nature of the medium from a predetermined set of media. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the computer system is arranged to allow the user to provide himself a digitized image corresponding to the personalized mark to be produced. Personalized support, characterized in that it is obtained by means of a process according to one of the preceding claims. Computer system, characterized by the fact that it is arranged for: register a type of personalized print / write medium desired by a purchaser, this medium being intended to receive a personalized mark constituting an authentication element, this mark being chosen and / or provided by the purchaser or proposed by the computer system , register the custom mark, assign to a confidential code intended to be used during a subsequent order, check, when re-ordering said medium bearing the personalized mark, that the confidential code supplied by the purchaser corresponds to that previously assigned to it, in order to prevent two different purchasers from being able to obtain the same medium bearing a identical custom brand.

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