WO2003005310A2

WO2003005310A2 - Anti-counterfeiting measures

Info

Publication number: WO2003005310A2
Application number: PCT/GB2002/003040
Authority: WO
Inventors: George David Murlewski; William Nevil Heaton Johnson
Original assignee: Durand Technology Limited
Priority date: 2001-07-02
Filing date: 2002-07-02
Publication date: 2003-01-16
Also published as: WO2003005310A3; GB0116161D0

Abstract

An arrangement for use in detecting counterfeit items which carry code markings, comprises a unit incorporating reading means for reading such a code marking and producing a characteristic electrical signal corresponding to such code markings read. The unit is designed to interface with a computer, for example, a PC, running software which enables processing of the said electric signals and consequent verification of the authenticity of said code marking. The reading means may take the shape of a pen, or may be in the form of some other hand-held device, and may, for example, be incorporated in a computer mouse.

Description

"Anti-counterfeiting measures"

THIS INVENTION relates to measures for combating counterfeiting, particularly counterfeiting bank notes and like documents, but also counterfeiting of other items such as packaging for perfumes, drugs, spirits, wine, CD's, CD Rom discs, records, tapes, etc., and the packaging therefor.

Co-pending European Patent Application No. 98944136.5, derived from International Application PCT/GB98/02926, discloses various anti- counterfeiting markings which can effectively be camouflaged with respect to the article so marked, including fractal code markings, microscopic markings, . code markings visible only in a narrow band of wavelengths or in polarised or coherent light and code markings in the form of a computer-generated pseudo random array of spots or patches, preferably on a microscopic scale. European Patent Application No. 98944136.5 also discloses means for reading such code markings, which means include, in the case of microscopic bar code markings, or other code (or coded) markings, a reading device in the form of a "pen" or other hand-held device which is swiped along, or placed on the region occupied by the markings. The "pen" or other hand-held device, in one form, incorporates a source of collimated light, such as a low power laser, or a red, white or other LED, to direct a beam of collimated light onto the relevant microscopic bar code or other coded marking, a light receptor for receiving light reflected from such marking, electronic processing means for deriving from the electrical signal from said receptor a number representative of the particular code marking, means for storing a list of predetermined valid code markings, means for comparing a code marking read with the code markings on said list to determine whether the marking read is a valid marking or not, and indicator means, for example, light sources visible to the user, such as red and green LEDs, for indicating the results of such comparison, i.e. for indicating whether or not the marking which has been read is genuine or a forgery. The necessary electronic circuitry may be included within the body of the pen or other hand-held device or, alternatively, be connected by a cable with a separate casing incorporating the necessary circuitry.

The disadvantage of a reading pen or other hand-held device which incorporates all the necessary electronic circuitry within its body, is that, in order for the use of the reading pen or other device to be practical, it needs to be sufficiently small, and preferably small enough to be held within one hand by the user. Accordingly, the space available within the body of the pen or other hand-held device to accommodate the necessary electronic circuitry is small, and the process of manufacturing the pen or other hand-held device is likely to be complex and, as a result, the cost of manufacturing individual pens or other hand-held devices may be prohibitively expensive. Alternatively, although the second contemplated embodiment of the reading pen or other hand-held device, wherein the electronic circuitry is housed externally of the pen or other device and connects to the pen or other device by a cable, would be simpler and cheaper to manufacture on a large scale, the need for a separate casing may prove inconvenient under certain circumstances, particularly where it is required that the reading pen or other hand-held device be lightweight and portable. In addition, it would be advantageous in circumstances where the user has access to a computer or computer terminal, such as a PC or computerised checkout till, if the means for reading the code marking could be incorporated into the hardware normally associated with such a computer so that the code marking reading function is integrated with the alternative functions of the computer or terminal. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an anti- counterfeiting apparatus incorporating reading means for code markings such as those disclosed in co-pending European Application No. 98944136.5, which reading means is integrated into the hardware accompanying a standard computer, for example the mouse, and interfaces with the computer and suitable software to allow a user to determine whether a code marking is genuine or not.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide reading means adapted to be integrated within the hardware accompanying a computer and which is readily mass-producible cheaply enough to allow private individuals of average wealth to buy and use the apparatus accordingly.

According to the present invention, there is provided an arrangement for use in detecting counterfeit items which carry code markings, comprising a unit incorporating means for reading such a code marking and producing a characteristic electrical signal corresponding to such code markings read, the unit interfacing with a computer, for example, a PC, the computer being connected to an indicator (e.g. conventional monitor) and having software which enables processing of the said electric signals and consequent verification of the authenticity of said code marking, an indication of the authenticity of the code marking being communicated to the user by said indicator.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reading device for use in the arrangement of Claim 1 comprising means for reading a code marking on an item and outputting an electric signal corresponding to the configuration of said code marking. Embodiments of the invention are described below, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention, incorporating a reading device 1, adapted to read a microscopic code marking 5, such as disclosed in co-pending European Patent Application No. 98944136.5. The reading device 1 is housed in a "mouse" 2, and is electrically connected, via cable 7, to a computer 3, such as a PC or the like, incorporating a CPU 4 and running software 5. The computer 3 is also connected to a visual display unit 6, such as a standard computer monitor.

In order to read a code marking, the reading device 1 is moved or scanned across the code marking and may comprise a source of collimated light, for example, a low power laser, such as employed in CD players, or a red, white or other LED, for directing a beam of collimated light onto such markings, as it is moved across the markings, and a light receptor for receiving light reflected^' from such markings, the receptor converting the reflected light incident on its surface into a characteristic electrical signal. Such signals may be converted within the computer into appropriate electronic data form, (for example by a custom-made PC 'card' which may be adapted to separate the conventional mouse 'pointer signals' from the code reading signals, converting the code reading signals to data for decoding and applying the 'pointer signals' to a conventional internal 'serial port' for example). The data derived from code reading is processed by CPU 4 in accordance with software 5. Software 5 stores an encrypted list of predetermined valid bar code markings or other coded markings and allows a user to process the data derived from the code reading so as to derive, for example, a number representative of the particular code marking read, which number is then compared to the code markings contained in the predetermined lists to determine whether the marking read is a valid marking or not. Upon determination of the validity of the bar code marking, or other coded marking, an appropriate indication is outputted to visual display unit 6, informing the user whether or not a valid code marking is present, and possibly informing the user of the batch number or pressing station of the CD ROM, if genuine, or of the illicit source, if that source has previously been identified and its characteristics noted. Clearly other information may also, or alternatively be displayed.

The reading device of the present invention may be of a simpler construction than other known reading devices, and in particular those disclosed in co-pending European Application 98944136.5, because the processing of the electric signal is carried out externally of the reading device by the CPU of the computer or the like. As such, the reading device may be produced at a relatively low cost and made readily available to the private individual.

In addition, it will be appreciated that, because the information as to the possible genuine code markings is stored, in encrypted form, on the computer and processing of the electric signals and utilisation of the last-noted information takes place in the computer, the present invention has the further advantage that the reading device itself need not be made tamper-proof, as with the reading devices disclosed in co-pending European Application 98944136.5, the reading device simply performing the initial function of reading the code marking and converting it into a characteristic electric signal, as mentioned above. It will be appreciated that, although Figure 1 shows a computer in the form of a PC and a reading device incorporated into a mouse, the reading device 1 may be in the form of a pen or other hand-held device, to allow ease of use, and the computer system may be an electronic till (point of sale terminal) or the like. It is contemplated that the reading device may be adapted to read various different types of anti-counterfeiting markings, such as fractal code markings, of the type disclosed in co-pending European Application No. 98944136.5. Thus, for example, the reading device may incorporate apparatus for sensing the print density in a number of adjacent elements forming an imaginary window in a given fractal marking, and for deriving, from each such density value, a respective grey-scale signal. Such signals may then be supplied as input to the computer, running software adapted to carry out a predetermined algorithm, to derive, from the signals for all of the elements within the imaginary window, an end value which indicates authenticity or otherwise of the respective item.

The apparatus of the present invention may be used by private individuals to check for forgeries among currency notes in their possession or among high-value goods purchased, such as scent, wines or spirits, etc. or may be used, for example, by retailers to check cash taken at the point of sale for forgeries or to check the authenticity or otherwise of wholesale goods purchased or to be purchased and so on.

In another embodiment of the invention the code-reading device may be used to check the authenticity or otherwise of a CDROM or other data storage medium before software thereon is loaded into the associated computer, and the operating system of the computer may be arranged, in conjunction with the mouse/reading device to prevent such loading if the code reading device fails to read a valid code. In that event, the computer operating system may be arranged to cause the computer to display a message indicating that the CDROM or other data carrier is not authentic, ( eg. because it is an unauthorised copy ), and/or, if the computer is linked to a communication channel or network in some way, for example to the World Wide Web, to send a message to an appropriate recipient, for example the alleged (genuine) originator of the software, or to some policing or investigative body, to the effect that an unauthorised copy has been located. As noted above, additional information may also be displayed and/or transmitted.

In variants of the invention, instead of the reader being incorporated in a pen, computer mouse, or other hand -held device, the reader may take the form of a video camera, such as a so-called web-cam, conveniently mounted, for example on top of a VDU, or other image capture device.

In further variants, a high speed reading device may be incorporated in an automatic counting or sorting machine for counting or sorting bank notes or cheques provided with the coded markings concerned. Similarly devices embodying the invention may be integrated into turnstiles or other acces barriers for verification of tickets or ID cards provided with the coded markings concerned or may be integrated into checkouts of supermarkets or other retail outlets for verification of banknotes or vouchers.

In the present specification "comprise" means "includes or consists of and "comprising" means "including or consisting of.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. An arrangement for use in detecting counterfeit items which carry code markings, comprising a unit incorporating means for reading such a code marking and producing a characteristic electrical signal corresponding to such code markings read, the unit interfacing with a computer, for example, a PC, the computer being connected to an indicator and having software which enables processing of the said electric signals and consequent verification of the authenticity of said code marking, an indication of the authenticity of the code marking being communicated to the user by said indicator.

2. An arrangement according to Claim 1 wherein said unit is incorporated into a mouse for a computer.

3. A reading device for use in the arrangement of Claim 1 comprising means for reading a code marking on an item and outputting an electric signal corresponding to the configuration of said code marking.