A method of tracking a container closure used to seal liquid in a container is provided, comprising applying a trackable indicia to a container closure, wherein the trackable indicia is unique to the container closure; recording an associated data set comprising a plurality of parameters related to the liquid in the container; correlating the associated data set with the trackable indicia; applying the container closure to the container to seal the liquid within the container; maintaining a database of the trackable indicia corresponding to the associated data set; and scanning the trackable indicia to retrieve the associated data set from the database. The method of the invention also includes utilization of a container closure having inherent natural imperfections and/or patterns on the top and/or sides of the closure and obtaining scanned images and data thereof which are analyzed and utilized for closure and container identification and likewise serve as scannable trackable indicia.

A method for reading an identification tag is provided that includes detecting a content of particles having a first feature amount as a specific feature amount, where the particles are included in the identification tag; and distinguishing a type of the identification tag by information on the content of the particles having the first feature amount.

An authentication method involves comparing a 2D description of an authentication device, referred to as a subsequent description, with an original 2D description by choosing, from several previously established original 2D descriptions, a 2D description established from a point of view similar to the one used to establish the subsequent 2D description. Advantageously, the optical characteristics of the authentication device vary so little when it is viewed from neighboring points of view that the device can be recognized from most of the points of view, and the original 2D descriptions have been established from neighboring points of view, which form a substantially continuous domain. In an improved version, a three-dimensional description of the authentication device, referred to as a 3D description, is reconstructed from several original 2D descriptions, which makes it possible to predict the appearance thereof from a plurality of different points of view.

The invention adds a Physical Information Layer (“PIL”) to the magnetic particles within a matrix that creates an unclonable physical unclonable function “object.” The PIL assists in searching to find the combination that matches a pre-determined enrolled combination with additional information that includes a search index, which limits the range of data required to search in order to find a match in the enrolled database. The index could be a predetermined value that associates the random magnetic profile values to a list of enrolled values in a database. The additional information may include product or general information that needs to be easily communicated to a user of the PUF.

The invention relates to a label (30) for identifying an object, the label comprising a plurality of layers (L.sub.1, L.sub.2, L.sub.3), wherein each layer comprises a matrix material (15), and each layer comprises a plurality of identifier elements (10, 11); the plurality of identifier elements (10, 11) are dispersed in the matrix material (15), and the plurality of layers (L) are arranged so that at least two layers at least partially overlap each other. Further, the invention relates to a precursor of a label (30) for identifying an object and a method of manufacturing a label (30) for identifying an object.

A method of identifying an item includes: capturing by a camera an image of the item, searching in the image a predefined dot start and end codes, determining in the image directions of the predefined dot start and end codes, interpolating in the image a reading line to extend from the predefined dot start code to the predefined dot end code, where a direction of the reading line at the predefined dot start code corresponds to the direction of the predefined dot start code, where the direction of the reading line at the predefined dot end code corresponds to the direction of the predefined dot end code, reading along the reading line the dots from the image, and deriving the identification code from the dots as read along the reading line between the predefined dot start code and the predefined dot end code.

A structure of a multipurpose card having a semi-transparent or transparent stone is provided. The stone is a faceted precious stone, such as a diamond. The diamond is illuminated from only one side of the multipurpose card and light is passed through predetermined optical paths. An image of the diamond is acquired from the opposite side of the multipurpose card and compared to predetermined reference images of the diamond, to authenticate the multipurpose card.

A pill bottle for prescribed pills includes: a circular top portion having an aperture; a circular bottom portion; walls that form a cylinder and connect the circular top portion with the circular bottom portion; and a pattern of electrically conductive ink disposed on an exterior surface of the walls.

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.

A system for verifying the authenticity of a printed mark includes an image acquisition device that acquires an image of a printed mark. In one implementation, the printed mark includes an identifier that identifies the group or class of an item to which the printed mark is to be (or has been) attached. The system may also include one or more processors that carry out actions such as receiving the image from the image acquisition device; analyzing the image to identify artifacts in the printed mark, retrieving a genuine mark signature from a data storage containing genuine mark signatures, comparing the identified artifacts with the genuine mark signature, and determining whether the unverified item is authentic based on the comparison.