Apparatus and method for identifying and authenticating an object

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, obtaining a first image of a random distribution of items overlaying an encoded region of an object identification tag affixed to an object, wherein the first image comprises a first pattern obtained according to a first image capture configuration. A second image of the random distribution of items is also obtained, wherein the second image comprises a second pattern obtained according to a second image capture configuration. First and second stored reference patterns are identified according to decoded information obtained from the encoded region of the object identification tag and the first and second patterns are compared to the first and second stored reference patterns to obtain a comparison result. An authenticity of the object is determined according to the comparison result. Other embodiments are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 capturing, by a processing system including a processor, a first image of a random distribution of reflective particles overlaying an encoded region of an object identification tag affixed to an object, wherein the first image comprises a first reflection pattern obtained according to a first image capture configuration;   capturing, by the processing system, a second image of the random distribution of reflective particles, wherein the second image comprises a second reflection pattern obtained according to a second image capture configuration;   decoding, by the processing system, the encoded region of the object identification tag to obtain decoded information;   identifying, by the processing system, first and second stored reference reflection patterns according to the decoded information;   comparing, by the processing system, the first and second reflection patterns to the first and second stored reference reflection patterns to obtain a comparison result; and   determining, by the processing system, an authenticity of the object according to the comparison result.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first image capture configuration comprises a tilting of an image capture device with respect to a surface of an object bearing the object identification tag. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the determining of the authenticity of the object further comprises:
 authenticating, by the processing system, the first and second stored reference reflection patterns to obtain authenticated reference reflection patterns, wherein the determining of the authenticity of the object is based on a comparison of the first and second reflection patterns to the authenticated reference reflection patterns; and   providing, by the processing system, an indication of the authenticity of the object responsive to the determining of the authenticity of the object.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein a block chain record of the object identification tag is updated responsive to the providing of the indication of the authenticity of the object. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 determining, by the processing system, a location reference of an authentication authority from the decoded information; and   forwarding, by the processing system, the comparison result to the authentication authority according to the location reference.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the location reference comprises a uniform resource locator. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second images are captured using a camera device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the camera device comprises a flash lamp, and wherein the first and second images are captured under illumination by the flash lamp. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first image capture configuration and the second image capture configuration differ according to one of an offset distance determined within an image plane parallel to an imaged surface of the object identification tag, an offset angle of the image plane with respect to the imaged surface of the object identification tag, an offset rotation of the camera device with respect to the object identification tag, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein shapes of reflective particles of the random distribution of reflective particles comprise one of spheres, rods, fibers, two-dimensional flakes, tetrahedrons, cubes, diamonds, random two-dimensional shapes, random three-dimensional shapes, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . A device, comprising:
 a processing system including a processor; and   a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
 obtaining a first image of a random distribution of particles overlaying an encoded region of an object identification tag affixed to an object, wherein the first image comprises a first pattern obtained according to a first image capture configuration; 
 obtaining a second image of the random distribution of particles, wherein the second image comprises a second pattern obtained according to a second image capture configuration; 
 decoding the encoded region of the object identification tag to obtain decoded information; 
 identifying first and second stored reference patterns according to the decoded information; 
 comparing the first and second patterns to the first and second stored reference patterns to obtain a comparison result; and 
 determining an authenticity of the object according to the comparison result. 
   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the first image capture configuration comprises a tilting of an image capture device with respect to a surface of the object bearing the object identification tag, and wherein the authenticity of the object is determined responsive to the comparison result indicating a first substantial correlation between the first pattern and the first stored reference pattern and a second substantial correlation between the second pattern and the second stored reference pattern. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 providing an indication of the authenticity of the object responsive to the comparison result.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 determining a location reference of an authentication authority from the decoded information; and   facilitating a forwarding of the comparison result to the authentication authority according to the location reference.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the first image capture configuration comprises a first directed illumination of the object identification tag and the second image capture configuration comprises a second directed illumination, and wherein the first directed illumination differs from the second directed illumination of the object identification tag according to an illumination property. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the illumination property comprises one of a wavelength, an intensity, a position, an angle, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory, machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
 obtaining a first image of a random distribution of items overlaying an encoded region of an object identification tag affixed to an object, wherein the first image comprises a first pattern obtained according to a first image capture configuration;   obtaining a second image of the random distribution of items, wherein the second image comprises a second pattern obtained according to a second image capture configuration;   identifying first and second stored reference patterns according to decoded information obtained from the encoded region of the object identification tag;   comparing the first and second patterns to the first and second stored reference patterns to obtain a comparison result; and   determining an authenticity of the object according to the comparison result.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 providing an indication of the authenticity of the object responsive to the comparison result indicating first substantial match between the first pattern and the first stored reference pattern and a second substantial match between the second pattern and the second stored reference pattern.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the random distribution of items substantially entirely overlaps the encoded region. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory, machine-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein a block chain record of the object identification tag is updated responsive to the determining of the authenticity of the object.