Authentication system

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an authenticating apparatus, system and a method for authentication of an object or product having a secure glyph thereon. The invention is also directed to the use of the object or product in a machine wherein the secure glyph has an intellectual property protected feature and a machine readable feature.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . An authentication method for determining the authenticity of a beverage dispenser cup and using the beverage dispenser cup with a brewing machine, the beverage dispenser cup comprising a shaped machine readable material affixed, attached, printed, coated thereon and/or incorporated therein, the method comprising
 a) generating a signal response from the machine readable material;   b) detecting the machine readable material using the signal response with a signal response detector;   c) acquiring information from the signal response and conducting an analysis between the acquired information and associated data in a database using a signal processing unit;   d) authenticating the beverage dispenser cup based upon the analysis using the signal processing unit;   e) displaying the machine readable material on a display unit; and;   f) using the beverage dispenser cup with a brewing machine to brew a beverage.   
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13  wherein the machine readable material is a taggant and the signal response is generated with an excitation source provided by a signal generator. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 13  wherein the machine readable material is shaped in the form of a geometrical design. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15  wherein the geometrical design has an n-fold rotational symmetry greater than 3. 
     
     
         17 . An authentication method for determining the authenticity of a beverage dispenser cup and using the beverage dispenser cup with a brewing machine, the beverage dispenser cup comprising a shaped machine readable material affixed, attached, printed, coated thereon and/or incorporated therein, the method comprising
 a) generating a signal response from the machine readable material;   b) detecting the machine readable material using the signal response with a signal response detector;   c) acquiring information from the signal response and conducting an analysis between the acquired information and associated data in a database using a signal processing unit;   d) authenticating the beverage dispenser cup based upon the analysis using the signal processing unit;   e) displaying the machine readable material on a display unit; and only upon displaying the machine readable material;   f) using the beverage dispenser cup with a brewing machine to brew a beverage.   
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein the machine readable material is a taggant and the signal response is generated with an excitation source provided by a signal generator. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 18  wherein the machine readable material is shaped in the form of a geometrical design. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19  wherein the geometrical design has an n-fold rotational symmetry greater than 3. 
     
     
         21 . An authentication method for determining the authenticity of a beverage dispenser cup and using the beverage dispenser cup with a brewing machine, the beverage dispenser cup having a shaped machine readable material affixed, attached, printed, coated thereon and/or incorporated therein, the method comprising
 a) generating a signal response from the machine readable material;   b) detecting the machine readable material using the signal response with a signal response detector;   c) acquiring information from the signal response and conducting an analysis between the acquired information and associated data in a database using a signal processing unit;   d) authenticating the beverage dispenser cup based upon the analysis using the signal processing unit;   e) displaying a display shape which differs from the shaped machine readable material on a display unit and only upon displaying the display shape;   f) using the beverage dispenser cup with a brewing machine to brew a beverage.   
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 21  wherein the machine readable material is a taggant and the signal response is generated with an excitation source provided by a signal generator. 
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 21  wherein the machine readable material is shaped in the form of a geometrical design. 
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 23  wherein the geometrical design has an n-fold rotational symmetry greater than 3.