An image of a food label affixed to a food item may be received. The food label may be encoded with an optical code that is associated with the food item. The code may be encoded into the food label via optical elements that are not visible to an unassisted human eye. The image may be of sufficient resolution to capture the optical elements present in the food label. The image may be analyzed to detect the optical elements and determine the code using the detected optical elements. A query including the code may then be generated and communicated to a database so that the database is queried for information regarding the food item that is associated with the code. The requested information may be received and provided to a display device.

A method and system for extracting information from a surface coated with a coating containing quantum dots are disclosed. In embodiments, the method comprises charging the quantum dots in the surface coating, scanning the surface to retrieve information from the quantum dots, and processing the retrieved information to identify data encoded in the quantum dots. In embodiments of the invention, the processing includes filtering the retrieved information to adjust the received information based on defined effects of the coating. In embodiments of the invention, the filtering includes filtering the retrieved information to account for chromatic deviation due to the color of the coated surface. In embodiments of the invention, the quantum dots include a plurality of different types of quantum dots, and the processing the retrieved information includes processing the retrieved information to distinguish between the information retrieved from the different types of quantum dots.

The invention relates to a valuable object (1) comprising a gold base body (2) surrounded by a protective layer (3). The protective layer (3) comprises at least one readable security code for identification and verification purposes. The invention also relates to a system and method for identifying and verifying a valuable object (1), having at least one readable security code (6) being assigned thereto. The security code (6) of the valuable object (1) is stored in a secure database (4) for identifying and verifying a valuable object (1)

Systems and methods are provided for decoding secure tags using an authentication server and secure tag reader. The system can include at least one processor and at least one non-transitory memory. The memory can contain instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the secure tag reader to perform operations. The operations can include detecting a potential secure tag in an image and generating a normalized secure tag image using the image and a stylesheet. The operations can further include providing an identification request to an authentication server, the identification request including the normalized secure tag image. The operations can additionally include receiving rules for decoding tag data encoded into the secure tag as tag feature options and decoding the tag data using the received rules.

In one embodiment, a printed security mark comprises a random arrangement of printed LEDs and a wavelength conversion layer. During fabrication of the mark, the LEDs are energized, and the resulting dot pattern is converted into a unique digital first code and stored in a database. The emitted spectrum vs. intensity and persistence of the wavelength conversion layer is also encoded in the first code. The mark may be on a credit card, casino chip, banknote, passport, etc. to be authenticated. For authenticating the mark, the LEDs are energized and the dot pattern, spectrum vs. intensity, and persistence are converted into a code and compared to the first code stored in the database. If there is a match, the mark is authenticated.

In one embodiment, a printed LED area comprises a random arrangement of printed LEDs and a wavelength conversion layer. The LED area is embedded in an object to be authenticated, such as a credit card or a casino chip. The object may include a light guide for enabling the generated light to be emitted from any portion of the object. In one embodiment, when the LEDs are energized during authentication of the object, the existence of light emitted by the object is sufficient authentication and/or provides feedback to the user that the object is being detected. For added security, the emitted spectrum vs. intensity and persistence of the wavelength conversion layer is detected and encoded in a first code, then compared to valid codes stored in the database. If there is a match, the object is authenticated.

Techniques for utilizing an unused space on a connector are disclosed, where the connector is commonly seen in a multi-wire cable. The connector itself includes at least one major surface. The surface includes a message, wherein the message gets gazed at by a user when the user slides the connector into a socket of a device. The message becomes invisible after the connector is fully positioned or inserted in the socket. A counter is provided to record a number of times the connector has been used in the socket. The counter may be used by a party to allocate a set of advertisements for the user in accordance with a profile thereof or as the number of times the message has been gazed by the user.

A method and system for extracting information from a surface coated with a coating containing quantum dots are disclosed. In embodiments, the method comprises charging the quantum dots in the surface coating, scanning the surface to retrieve information from the quantum dots, and processing the retrieved information to identify data encoded in the quantum dots. In embodiments of the invention, the processing includes filtering the retrieved information to adjust the received information based on defined effects of the coating. In embodiments of the invention, the filtering includes filtering the retrieved information to account for chromatic deviation due to the color of the coated surface. In embodiments of the invention, the quantum dots include a plurality of different types of quantum dots, and the processing the retrieved information includes processing the retrieved information to distinguish between the information retrieved from the different types of quantum dots.

A method including generating first images and/or text on a plurality of items, printing a plurality of unique identifiers, each unique identifier being printed over the images and/or text on a corresponding one of the plurality of items, capturing a plurality of second images, each second image including a corresponding one of the plurality of unique identifiers, and storing the captured plurality of second images in a computer readable memory.

A graphical indicator comprising a plurality of first header blocks, a plurality of second header blocks and a plurality of data blocks for forming an indicator matrix is provided. Each of the first and second header blocks has a header graphical micro-unit, and each of the data blocks has a data graphical micro-unit. An array area is formed by the second header blocks and the data blocks. A first virtual line and a second virtual line are respectively formed by virtual centers of the first and second header blocks, and an included angle between the first and second virtual lines is less than 90 degrees.