Analog and digital indicia authentication

摘要

An authentication-enabled indicium contains authentication information in a digital recording medium. The information may be a digital signature that verifies the manufacturer's data and/or an analog signature. The analog signature is generated by placing a randomized pattern on a product package or label and encoding information about the randomized pattern in the digital recording medium for verification. The randomized pattern may be made up of color-shifting features imbedded in the label that are visible when illuminated with UV or infrared light. Characteristics of the reflected light when the features are illuminated is used to generate an analog signature that is encoded in the recording medium. During processing the features are illuminated and a new analog signature is determined for comparison with the signature recorded in the digital recording medium.