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 . A method for brewing a beverage in a brewing machine comprising:
 a) inserting a dispensing cup into the brewing machine, wherein the cup comprises a machine readable feature comprised of a mixture of two or more excitable fluorescent taggants having different characteristic excitation patterns;   b) generating a signal response from the excitable fluorescent taggants, the signal response comprising a spectrum profile that results from the excitation of all of the excitable fluorescent taggants, wherein one excitable fluorescent taggant has a first emission spectrum that excites a second emission spectrum of another taggant;   c) detecting the signal response with a signal response detector that comprises a RGB sensor with an added filter that matches the signal response from the excitable fluorescent taggants; and   d) brewing the beverage in the brewing machine.   
     
     
         14 . The method for brewing a beverage of  claim 13 , wherein the machine-readable feature is affixed, attached, printed, or coated on the cup and/or incorporated therein. 
     
     
         15 . The method of brewing a beverage of  claim 13 , wherein the machine readable feature comprises a logo, text, design, or a combination thereof under intellectual property protection. 
     
     
         16 . The method of brewing a beverage of  claim 13 , wherein the machine-readable feature is entirely covert. 
     
     
         17 . The method of brewing a beverage of  claim 13 , wherein the machine-readable feature is entirely overt. 
     
     
         18 . The method of brewing a beverage of  claim 13 , wherein the machine-readable feature is partially covert and partially overt. 
     
     
         19 . The method of brewing a beverage of  claim 13 , wherein the mixture of two or more excitable fluorescent taggants form a secure glyph. 
     
     
         20 . A cup employed in the brewing of a beverage that is dispensed therefrom during a brewing operation occurring when the cup is in cooperative arrangement with a brewing machine, the cup comprising a machine readable feature comprised of a mixture of two or more excitable fluorescent taggants having different characteristic excitation patterns; wherein upon excitation of the excitable fluorescent taggants, a signal response comprising a spectrum profile is generated that includes a first emission spectrum of one excitable fluorescent taggant of the mixture exciting a second emission spectrum of another fluorescent taggant of the mixture. 
     
     
         21 . The cup according to  claim 20 , wherein the machine readable feature is formed from a covert and an overt taggant. 
     
     
         22 . The cup according to  claim 20 , wherein an image or design is formed at least in part from the machine readable feature. 
     
     
         23 . The cup according to  claim 22 , wherein the image or design is formed in part from a conventional ink. 
     
     
         24 . The cup according to  claim 22 , wherein the machine readable feature is in the form of a geometrical design. 
     
     
         25 . The cup according to  claim 24 , wherein the geometrical design has an n-fold rotational symmetry greater than 3. 
     
     
         26 . The cup according to  claim 20 , wherein the signal response obtained from the excitation of the excitable fluorescent taggants is detectable with a signal response detector that comprises a RGB sensor with an added filter that matches the signal response from the excitable fluorescent taggants.