A secure document verification system is described, for verifying the authenticity of secure documents' The secure documents each comprise a paper document having a radio frequency tag, e.g. a NFC tag, and a document identification code. The system comprises a database storing data representing a plurality of signed secure documents, wherein each document is signed using a pairing of tag and document identification codes, received in a signing or calibration stage. The system is arranged responsive to receiving a verification request from a remote device, which request contains the tag identification data, to compare the tag identification data with the signed documents, and responsive to a match, to transmit back to the remote device a verification message.

A method for creating a secure document, registering the secure document and verifying the authenticity of the secure document includes receiving a print object that has content. A security feature, including an identifier, is created and is associated with the content. The identifier may be a barcode. The barcode may represent a character string. The security feature may include the identifier barcode and a decoy barcode that is not associated with the content. The identifier barcode (or the character string represented by the barcode) and the content are transmitted to a database for storage. Once stored, the identifier and the content are considered to be registered. A print object that includes the security feature and the content is then transmitted to a printer for printing.

A method for creating a secure document, registering the secure document and verifying the authenticity of the secure document includes receiving a print object that has content. A security feature, including an identifier, is created and is associated with the content. The identifier may be a barcode. The barcode may represent a character string. The security feature may include the identifier barcode and a decoy barcode that is not associated with the content. The identifier barcode (or the character string represented by the barcode) and the content are transmitted to a database for storage. Once stored, the identifier and the content are considered to be registered. A print object that includes the security feature and the content is then transmitted to a printer for printing.

Existing currency validation (CVAL) devices, systems, and methods are too slow, costly, intrusive, and/or bulky to be routinely used in common transaction locations (e.g., at checkout, at an automatic teller machine, etc.). Presented herein are devices, systems, and methods to facilitate optical validation of documents, merchandise, or currency at common transaction locations and to do so in an obtrusive and convenient way. More specifically, the present invention embraces a validation device that may be used alone or integrated within a larger system (e.g., point of sale system, kiosk, etc.). The present invention also embraces methods for currency validation using the validation device, as well as methods for improving the quality and consistency of data captured by the validation device for validation.

Existing currency validation (CVAL) devices, systems, and methods are too slow, costly, intrusive, and/or bulky to be routinely used in common transaction locations (e.g., at checkout, at an automatic teller machine, etc.). Presented herein are devices, systems, and methods to facilitate optical validation of documents, merchandise, or currency at common transaction locations and to do so in an obtrusive and convenient way. More specifically, the present invention embraces a validation device that may be used alone or integrated within a larger system (e.g., point of sale system, kiosk, etc.). The present invention also embraces methods for currency validation using the validation device, as well as methods for improving the quality and consistency of data captured by the validation device for validation.

A code is displayed on a screen with a first set of indicia, the code designed to be read only by a computer system. A second code is displayed only when it is determined that the code is being read. This determination is made by an optical sensor, such as a camera, detecting a particular wavelength of light above a threshold, the wavelength associated with an expected reader device. While the particular wavelength is detected the second code is displayed. Once the light is no longer detected, the display reverts back to the first code. In this manner, the second code, such as a barcode to be read is only displayed while the barcode is actually being read, but is otherwise hidden from view. The entire process can take place in under a second or in a fraction of a second, such as 1/10th of a second or less.

A code is displayed on a screen with a first set of indicia, the code designed to be read only by a computer system. A second code is displayed only when it is determined that the code is being read. This determination is made by an optical sensor, such as a camera, detecting a particular wavelength of light above a threshold, the wavelength associated with an expected reader device. While the particular wavelength is detected the second code is displayed. Once the light is no longer detected, the display reverts back to the first code. In this manner, the second code, such as a barcode to be read is only displayed while the barcode is actually being read, but is otherwise hidden from view. The entire process can take place in under a second or in a fraction of a second, such as 1/10th of a second or less.

An improved system and method for reading an upconversion response from nanoparticle inks is provided. A is adapted to direct a near-infrared excitation wavelength at a readable indicia, resulting in a near-infrared emission wavelength created by the upconverting nanoparticle inks. A short pass filter may filter the near-infrared excitation wavelength. A camera is in operable communication with the short pass filter and receives the near-infrared emission wavelength of the readable indicia. The system may further include an integrated circuit adapted to receive the near-infrared emission wavelength from the camera and generate a corresponding signal. A readable application may be in operable communication with the integrated circuit. The readable application receives the corresponding signal, manipulates the signal, decodes the signal into an output, and displays and/or stores the output.

A method of verifying an identity of a printed item includes capturing an image of the unverified printed item, wherein the unverified printed item includes artifacts and at least some of the artifacts were not controllably producible in producing the unverified printed item; extracting information associated with the artifacts of the unverified printed item; ranking the information associated with the artifacts of the unverified printed item; retrieving stored ranked information associated with artifacts of an original printed item from a storage device; and in each of a first and second range of magnitudes, comparing the ranked information associated with the artifacts of the unverified printed item with the ranked information associated with the artifacts of the original printed item.

A method of verifying an identity of a printed item includes capturing an image of the unverified printed item, wherein the unverified printed item includes artifacts and at least some of the artifacts were not controllably producible in producing the unverified printed item; extracting information associated with the artifacts of the unverified printed item; ranking the information associated with the artifacts of the unverified printed item; retrieving stored ranked information associated with artifacts of an original printed item from a storage device; and in each of a first and second range of magnitudes, comparing the ranked information associated with the artifacts of the unverified printed item with the ranked information associated with the artifacts of the original printed item.