Method and device for product and document authentication

Abstract

Counterfeit articles are distinguished from genuine articles by a combination of a party-specific code and a product authentication code of the article. After authenticating a genuine article, a replacement authentication code is generated based on the original authentication code and party-specific code. Documents and currencies can be authenticated independently of any party-specific code by an addition to or alteration of their authentication code with each authentication event.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 accessing an object;   associating an authentication code with the object; and   storing the authentication code in a memory, the memory coupled to a processor configured to correlate a party-specific code with the authentication code in response to an authentication query, the party-specific code received with the authentication query.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein accessing includes at least one of manufacturing and acquiring. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein associating the authentication code with the object includes at least one of printing, etching, embedding, engraving, encoding and storing in a storage register of the object. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein associating the authentication code with the object includes at least one of marking a chemical storage container, marking a pharmaceutical product container, marking a medical device, marking a biological sample container, marking a mechanical component, marking an electronic component, marking an appliance, marking a gemstone, marking a fine art specimen, marking furniture, marking apparel, marking a shipping container, marking a box and marking an envelope. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein associating the authentication code with the object includes marking the object with a hidden character. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein marking the object with the hidden character includes obscuring the hidden character with at least one of a seal, a wrapper and a closure. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein storing the authentication code includes communicating the authentication code to a processor using a wide area network. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein communicating includes sending digital data using the interne. 
     
     
         19 . A method comprising:
 receiving an authentication code associated with an object;   receiving a user entered identity code at a processor;   executing an instruction set on the processor to classify authenticity of the object as a function of the authentication code, the identity code and a stored code, the stored code received from a verified supplier;   signaling an outcome based on the classifying   generating a new product authentication code by an authentication authority, and   associating the new product authentication code with the object.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further including adding a secondary code to the object. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  further including confirming addition of the secondary code. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  further including storing the secondary code in a memory coupled to the processor. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20  wherein receiving the authentication code includes reading the authentication code. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein reading includes at least one of optically detecting, magnetically detecting, wirelessly detecting and tactily detecting. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20  wherein receiving the authentication code includes receiving digital data transmitted using a wide area network.