Abstract:
A method and system for authenticating an item by using a security marking. (12) The security marking (12) is provided on the item with an OVD ink capable of absorbing light in a visible wavelength range to appear visibly black and producing a red fluorescent emission under ultraviolet excitation. Under visible light illumination and ultraviolet excitation, a visible image (24) and a fluorescent image (22) are obtained from the security marking using image scanners (80). The images are compared to find a substantial match with each other. The security marking can be a postage indicium (12), a barcode (38), a symbol, a message or an image.
Abstract:
A mailing machine (10) that optimizes throughput by reducing the amount of time necessary for the PSD to generate the digital signature and indicium for each mail piece is provided. Mailing machine (10) includes a printer (16) adapted to print postage indicia on a mail piece. Printer (16) is coupled to processor (12), which controls operation of mailing machine (10).
Abstract:
A method and system for notifying users of a mail system that a mail piece has been quarantined is provided. A plurality of incoming mail mailboxes each include a sampler (300) to sample air from a letter (100) that is tested using a first sensor (232). Source information corresponding to hazard flagging mail pieces and other quarantined mail is utilized to notify the affected users of the mail system.
Abstract:
A method for assigning unique printer resolutions or signatures, i.e., a unique number of dots per inch, to a class, or models of printers or lines of postage meter (37). The number of dots per inch or resolution may be specified within an image on a document or within a postal indicia (33) and later checked to determine if the image on document or the postal indicia (40) has the correct resolution. The foregoing would be able to detect an image or postal indicia (33) that was scanned into a computer and printed with a printer that did not have the number of dots per inch specified in the image or postal indicia(40).
Abstract:
A closed loop postage metering system includes networked meters that provide mailers and/or recipients the capability to request additional or modified services during processing of a mail piece by a carrier. The networked meter allows the Post to charge the mailer, or even the recipient for these services or to provide them with a refund or credit. The services can include changing the processing of the mail piece. Further, the closed loop postage metering system enables more precise methods of paying for services when multiple carriers handle a mail piece. A special case of such multiple carriers handling is the handling of international mail.
Abstract:
The disclosure describes an authentication system and related methods for authenticating printed objects. The system uses an information-based metric along with one or more print quality metrics to provide accurate detection or classification of a counterfeit printed object. The print quality metric evaluates attributes of a subject image associated with the original printer, ink or paper to detect degradation of those operations due to copying operations like an image scanning and halftone printing subsequent to the original printing of the object. The information-based metric measures message symbol errors in an optically readable code, such as a digital watermark.
Abstract:
The number of dots per inch or resolution may be specified within an image on a document or within a postal indicia and later checked to determine if the image or document or the postal indicia has the correct resolution. The foregoing is accomplished by specifying that the image on the substrate (14) will be printed with n plus m dots per inch; rotating an ink jet head (11) having n nozzles per inch about an axis (13) parallel to a substrate by an angle theta so that the ink jet head will produce an image on the substrate having (n/cos theta) dots per inch; storing in a data center that the specified image will be printed with (n/cos theta) dots per inch; analyzing the image to determine if the image has (n/cos theta) dots per inch; and comparing the number of dots per inch in the analyzed image with the number of dots per inch stored for the specified image to determine if they have the same number of dots per inch.
Abstract:
A printed indicium including a first section and a second section is described. The first section includes a first ink having a first color under normal daylight. The second section includes a second different ink. The second ink includes a fluorescent ink which has a second color under normal daylight which is substantially the same as the first color. The fluorescent ink has a fluorescence when subjected to fluorescent-exciting radiation. The second section is imbedded with the first section such that the first and second sections are substantially visually indiscernible from each other in normal daylight.
Abstract:
A method that detects when an image is copied or scanned in order to reduce the production of fraudulent images. The invention allows an inspector to conduct an analysis of an image with a simple set of tools on site without the need to check a remote database through a network and look for duplicate images. This minimizes the infrastructure and cost required to implement the system. A local inspection can be made by scanning an image and decoding it with relatively inexpensive tools available on site. The invention accomplishes the foregoing by producing a fragile watermark image that produces a noticeable and measurable loss of invention when it is reproduced. The loss of information is due to effects associated with scanning and printing processes.
Abstract:
A method and system for authenticating an item by using a security marking. The security marking is provided on the item with an OVD ink capable of absorbing light in a visible wavelength range to appear visibly black and producing a red fluorescent emission under ultraviolet excitation. Under visible light illumination and ultraviolet excitation, a visible image and a fluorescent image are obtained from the security marking using image scanners. The images are compared to find a substantial match with each other. The security marking can be a postage indicium, a barcode, a symbol, a message or an image. The item to be authenticated can be a mailpiece, a banknote, a tag, a ticket, a document, an identification card, or the like.