Two part security code generation, printing and validation

摘要

A security code to be printed or marked on an article by a printer is generated by receiving at a printer a first data component, and creating at the printer a second data component, which two components are combined to generate the security code. The security code may be encrypted, and may be verified by a user who supplies the security code and a component to a verification database whereupon the security code is decrypted by reference to a stored security key associated with the supplied component. The second component may be derived from a clock or counter on the printer. Data stored in a database may be validated by comparing data external to the database with data internal to the database in conjunction with a predetermined relationship. Access to a database may be dependent on the identification of an accessing device. The security code may be printed on the article in accordance with an image template determining the layout of the first and second components of the security code.