Systems and methods subjecting a computer graphics object to a pseudo-random transformation to produce a surface-texture snapshot used to verify the authenticity of a host object. An example method includes generating a hash of a private manufacturer identifier, a product identifier, and a chain of ownership identifier and generating a three-dimensional surface using a first portion of the hash. The method also includes generating a texture pattern using a second portion of the hash and generating a surface-texture snapshot by mapping the texture pattern onto the three-dimensional surface. The surface-texture snapshot may be provided for imprinting on the host object. In some implementations, the surface-texture snapshot may be used as a first check in an authentication procedure.

Systems and methods for time and location based authentication of a number associated with an object. An example method includes receiving a verification request from a requestor that includes a time-location stamp and a number obtained from the object and verifying that the number exists in a data store of numbers generated for objects by a product owner. The method also includes determining whether the time-location stamp is outside a constraint set by the product owner. Responsive to the time-location stamp being outside the constraint the authentication probability is set to a value indicating inauthenticity. Responsive to the time-location stamp being within the constraint, the method includes calculating an authenticity probability based on a velocity determined using the time-location stamp and storing the authenticity probability with the time-location stamp in the data store. The method may also include providing the authenticity probability to the requestor.

A collation device includes a light source unit; a camera unit that receives light emitted from the light source unit and reflected in a collation area of an object to acquire a photographed image of the collation area; and a processor configured to, by executing a program: detect a positional relationship between the light source unit and the camera unit by using the photographed image, and notify of a collation result between the photographed image and a registered image prepared in advance by using the positional relationship.

The disclosure features dendritic tags, and methods and systems for fabricating and using such tags. The methods can include obtaining at least one image of a dendritic tag attached to an article, analyzing the at least one image to identify a set of features associated with the dendritic tag, and comparing the set of features to stored information to identify the article.

An IC card includes a first visible layer comprising a nonmetallic natural material having a physical structure including a unique visual pattern. The IC card further includes a storage device configured to store a reference image of the unique visual pattern. The reference image is a scan of the unique visual pattern. The reference image is configured to be visually compared with the unique visual pattern for authentication. A second layer is included on a bottom surface of the first visible layer. The first visible layer and the second layer are laminated together. Each of the second layer and the nonmetallic natural material of the first visible layer have a same size to define a shape of the IC card.

A method includes printing a first magnetic material onto a substrate. The first magnetic material has a first magnetic characteristic and encodes first information based on the first magnetic characteristic. The method further includes printing a second magnetic material onto the substrate. The second magnetic material encodes second information and has a second magnetic characteristic different from the first magnetic characteristic. The second information is encoded based on the second magnetic characteristic.

A method includes transmitting a first magnetic detection signal at a first magnetic frequency and transmitting a second magnetic detection signal at a second magnetic frequency. The method also includes detecting a first response from a first magnetic material to the first magnetic detection signal and detecting a second response from the second magnetic material to the second magnetic detection signal. Each of the first magnetic material and the second magnetic material is associated with a substrate of the coded tag. The method further includes determining that the coded tag encodes first information based on detecting the first response and determining that the coded tag encodes second information based on detecting the second response.

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.

An individual identifier extraction device has: an acquisition part configured to acquire an image of a layer formed on an object, containing fine particles, and having an irregular planar shape; and an extraction part configured to extract a feature quantity dependent on the planar shape of the layer and the distribution of the particles as an individual identifier of the object from the image.

The present invention provides a method for providing a random combination status code for a commodity, comprising parts A and B provided on a commodity and corresponding circuit components. The parts A and B have particular joint surfaces, and their respective joint surfaces have conductive geometric patterns made of a conductive material; the combination of these patterns reflects the on/off of a circuit, thereby generating potential signals which record and transmit information by means of other circuit components. In this coding method, different storage statuses of a commodity can be distinguished according to status bit information sent by the commodity. The method can be widely used in commodity packaging, and can achieve good effects in managing commodity circulation, quality and safety.