FR2895112A1 - Products authenticating method for protecting products, involves marking each product for producing marks representative of content, and associating information medium to product, where medium has information different for each product - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves marking each product in a set of products for producing marks representative of content. An information medium e.g. bar code, alphanumeric characters or radiofrequency identification tag, is associated to the product. The information medium has information representative of the content and a key specifically allotted to the product in the set of products, where the information is different for each product. An independent claim is also included for a device for authenticating a set of products.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR AUTHENTICATION AND / OR IDENTIFICATION

  The present invention relates to a method and an authentication and / or identification device. Elie applies, in particular, to the protection, against the counterfeit, of the marks, the distinctive signs and the products bearing them. Coding systems using steganography techniques (in English watermarking) are known which make it possible to conceal, in an image, copyright verification information in order to detect illegal reproduction of the image. For economic reasons, the coded information is the same for all lawful copies of the image. These copies can not therefore be identified or individualized. Also known are on-line production marking systems, for example inkjet printers which make it possible to individualize and date products bearing the marks or distinctive signs to defend. In both cases, a copy of the image or mark makes it possible to reproduce the authentication elements and thus does not protect against a counterfeit by servile copy. The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks. For this purpose, the present invention aims, in a first aspect, a method of authenticating a set of products, characterized in that it comprises, for each product: -a marking step of said product to produce a brand representative of a first content, said mark being adapted to allow the detection of its copy and - an association step of an information carrier to said product, said information medium supporting a representative information, on the one hand, of the first content and, on the other hand, one of coding. Thanks to these provisions, if a servile copy of the mark, for example worn by the product itself, a label it carries or a product packaging, is made, the copy can be detected. In addition, the information medium makes information accessible even if the mark has been deteriorated by its copy, so an additional level of security is provided by the link, or the correlation, between the content of the mark and The information supported by the information carrier authenticating the mark and rendering them inseparable.

  According to particular characteristics, the method as briefly described above comprises a preliminary coding step at the marking step, a coding step during which a message representative of the product in said first content is coded.

  By virtue of these provisions, the representative mark of the first content may be read and information may be decoded by the legitimate owners of that mark in order to determine the origin or the path followed by the product (verification of authenticity and traceability) . According to particular characteristics, during the marking step, points or lines in contrast are formed on their bottom, said points being representative of the first content. Thanks to these provisions, the copy of the mark can be detected because, in the case of a copy, the dimension of the dots or lines or the contrast with the background is modified and the copy can thus be detected. According to particular characteristics, during the marking step, dots or lines are formed on a surface present on said product. Thanks to these provisions, one can access and read the brand by examining only that surface. According to particular characteristics, during the marking step, points are formed on a separation line of a graphic present on said product. Thanks to these provisions, the points do not need to be gathered in an area that could be disgraceful. According to particular characteristics, during the step of associating an information carrier, a bar code is associated with said product. Thanks to these provisions, the numerous barcode reading devices can be used to read the information medium.

  According to particular characteristics, during the association step of an information medium, alphanumeric characters are associated with said product. Thanks to these provisions, the reading of the information carrier can be carried out automatically, for example with an optical character recognition (OCR) device or with the naked eye.

  According to particular characteristics, during the association step of an information carrier, a barcode is associated in at least two dimensions to said product. Thanks to these provisions, the amount of information that can be entered in a given area is increased compared to the case of the conventional bar code in one dimension.

  According to particular characteristics, during the step of associating an information carrier, an electronic label is associated with said product. Thanks to these provisions, the reading of the information medium can be carried out remotely and when the medium is masked by other products or packaging. According to particular characteristics, during the association step, ink jet printing is performed. Thanks to these provisions, the information carriers can be individualized and unique for each product or group of products. According to particular characteristics, during the process of association, laser impact printing is carried out, which means that the information media can be individualized and unique for each product or group of products and, in addition, they can be of very small size, for example less than the millimeter map.

  According to particular characteristics, the association step comprises a reading step of the mark produced during the marking step, and a coding step of said mark read with said code mark. may be subject to information on the information medium of the information carried by the mark, even if it presents printing defects or difficulties in reading. According to particular characteristics, the step of association It includes a coding step of the first content with a unique product audit, each associated information in the course of an association and, as a result, different.For these provisions, each product can be identified and recognized.

  According to particular characteristics, during the marking step, the produced mark includes error correction codes. With these provisions, it is possible to measure the consumption of error correction codes necessary to read the mark, which is an indicator of the number of copies made, while being able to access the information originally contained by said mark.

  According to a second aspect, the present invention is directed to a method for authenticating a set of products, characterized in that it comprises: a reading step of an image of a mark, an extraction step of content of said image to provide a first content, an information reading step supported by an information medium associated with said product, - a decoding step of said information supported by (edit information support to provide a second content and an inconsistency detection step between the first content and the second content.

  According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to a device for authenticating a set of products, characterized in that it comprises: a means of marking each product of said set, to produce a mark representative of a first content , said mark being adapted to allow the detection of its copy and - a means of association of an information medium to said product, (edit information support supporting information representative, on the one hand, of the first content and, On the other hand, according to a fourth aspect, the present invention aims at a device for authenticating a set of products, characterized in that it comprises: a means for reading an image a mark, - means for extracting content from said image to provide a first content, - information reading means supported by an information medium associated with said product, - means for decoding said information supported. by (edit support of inf ormation for providing a second content and - a means for detecting incoherence between the first content and the second content. Since the advantages, aims and features of the method and devices of the second to fourth aspects of the present invention are similar to those of the method of the first aspect, they are not repeated here.

  Other advantages, aims and features of the present invention will emerge from the description which follows, made for an explanatory purpose and in no way limiting with respect to the attached drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a first embodiment. An authentication device object of the present invention, Figure 2 schematically represents a product package obtained by the implementation of a particular embodiment of the method object of the present invention and - Figure 3 represents , in the form of a logic diagram, a particular embodiment of the method object of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 shows a code generation server 100, a computer network 105, a rights holder server 110, a local production server 115, a client production server 120 and an information reader device 125 The computer network 105 is a network for secure, long-distance communication between servers equipped with the necessary security tools. For example, the computer network 105 is the Internet network and the protocols implemented include the https protocol (acronym for hypertext transfer protocol secured for secure protocol of hypertext transfer), using cryptography.

  The generation server 100 is adapted to generate codes whose complexity makes them invulnerable to decoding. For example, these codes implement PKI compliant bi-keys (for public key infrastructure). These codes are provided, on demand, to the subscriber rights holders such as the server 110. The codes provided represent a first content, at least a portion of which is preferably provided by the server 110. For example, a code may represent the name of the owner of the rights, a product reference to mark and / or a code generation date. Preferentially, the product codes comprise error correction codes, for example of the type known as CRC D. The rights holder server 110 is adapted to generate, from the codes provided by the server 100, representative marks of these codes whose copy is detectable. For example, these marks are incorporated in a geometric form, for example a rectangle, in the form of dots or contrasting lines and of small reduced dimensions, for example white on a black background, whose position is representative of the first content. According to another example, these marks are points positioned at the edge of a separation line of a graphic, for example a logo, the positions of the points being representative of the first content. In another example, these marks are dots or streaks on the surface of the package or product label, where the positions of the dots or lines are representative of the first content. error correction codes, for example of type known as CRC D. The local production server 115 is adapted to receive the representative mark of the first content from the rights holder server 110. The production server 25 is adapted to integrate this mark in the model of manufacture of a product, a packaging or a label, for example, graphic designers implement the local production server or a computer system giving access to perform with a computer-assisted or computer-aided design software, the product model, a label or a product package 30 The local production server 115 is also suitable for providing variable information to be printed or marked on said products, packages or labels. This variable information is intended to identify a product or batch of products and associated with the product being manufactured. This variable information represents, on the one hand, the first content and, on the other hand, a coding code provided either by the server 100, 35 by the server 110, or by the server 115. The client production server 120 It is adapted to receive this model and to control a chain of production of labels and / or packages comprising a means of printing the representative mark of the first content and a means of association of an information carrier representative of the variable information. Preferentially, the server 120 implements additional information representative of the place of production, the order of manufacture and / or the date of production.

  The client production server 120 is thus adapted to perform, for each product of a set of products: a step of marking said product to produce a mark representative of a first content, said mark being adapted to allow the detection of its copy and - a step of associating an information carrier with said product, said information medium supporting information representative, on the one hand, of the first content and, on the other hand, of a coding element. It can be observed that the information medium can take several forms. According to a first example, the information medium is a barcode associated with the product. According to a second example, the information medium is a set of alphanumeric characters associated with the product. According to a third example, the information medium is a bar code in at least two dimensions or a data matrix, known as datamatrix, associated with the product. According to a fourth example, the information medium is an electronic label, for example of the RFID (acronym for Radio Frequency Identification) associated with the product. According to other examples, the information carrier supports biological tracers and / or nanometric tracers. The information medium may be printed by an inkjet printer or may be in the product or packaging, by impact of a pulse laser beam, for example a laser beam. In particular embodiments, the representative mark of the first content is read, for example by means of a camera, and, depending on the information read, is modified, for example by coding. information carried by the information carrier associated with the product Preferably, to generate information held by the information carrier associated with the product, the first content is coded with a unique product-specific, each information associated with the course The reader device 125 is adapted to read, on the one hand, the mark carried by a product and, on the other hand, the information carrier. it includes a camera and a lens making it possible to take an image of a portion of the product or its packaging bearing the mark considered, independently or in cooperation with the server 100, the reading device is adapted to extract the content image to provide a first content. The reading device 125 is also adapted to read the information supported by an information carrier associated with said product, through a camera and / or an electronic tag reader. Independently or in cooperation with the server 115, the reading device 125 decoding the information supported by the information medium to provide a second content Finally, the reading device 125 performs an inconsistency detection between the first content and the second content to determine whether the product is genuine, for authentication purposes, or to determine its path, for traceability purposes In Figure 2, there are three forms of marks 205, 225 and 245. In the mark 205, white dots 210 are positioned in a black rectangle 215 and their positions depend on the first content, including, possibly, error correction codes.In the mark 225, black dots 230 are positioned in border of a graphic 235, here a logo, in positions that depend on the first content, including possibly error correction codes.

  In the mark 245, white dots 250 are positioned in a black rectangle 255 and their positions depend on the first content, including possibly error correction codes. Rectangle 255 is further surrounded by a matrix code 260, known as datamatrix. It is observed that, in the objective of Her the matrix code and an authenticator, it is interesting to have additional bytes (create an additional field) in the datamatrix code in order to store a control code generated from the content of the central mark and, if necessary, to add a variable code to individualize the product. It is observed that, in accordance with the present invention, it is possible to implement features or combinations of points and drafts to constitute the associated brand or information carrier. FIG. 3 shows a step 305 for generating a code whose complexity makes it invulnerable to decoding. For example, this code implements a public key infrastructure (PKI) -component framework, for example, a code may represent the name of the owner of the rights, a product reference. a code generation date and, preferably, the product codes comprise error correction codes, for example of the type known as CRC, during a step 310, one generates, from the code provided in step 305, a representative mark of this code, the copy of which is detectable Preferably, the generated mark includes error correction codes, for example of the type known as CRC D.

  In a step 315, this mark is incorporated in the manufacturing model of a package or a label. In step 320, variable information is provided for printing on said labels or packages. This variable information is intended to identify a product or batch of products and to be associated with the product being manufactured. This variable information represents, on the one hand, the first content and, on the other hand, a coding key. In step 325, additional information representative of the place of production, the order of manufacture and / or the date of production is determined.

  During a step 330, the production of the labels and / or packaging is carried out, by printing the representative mark of the first content and by associating an information medium representative of the variable information. Alternatively, the mark is made invisible by the choice of a particular manufacturing method, for example locally modifying the reflection coefficient of the label or packaging or using an invisible ink of known type. Alternatively, the mark is copied into several parts of the package.

Claims (9)

  1 - A method of authenticating a set of products, characterized in that it comprises, for each product of said set: - a step (330) of marking said product to produce a mark (205, 225, 245) representative of a first content, said mark being adapted to allow the detection of its copy and - a step (330) of association of an information medium to said product, said information medium supporting a representative information, on the one hand , the first content and, on the other hand, a coding. 2 - Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a step (305) of preliminary coding at the marking step coding step during which a message representative of the product in said first content. 3. Process according to any of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that, during the step (330) of marking, points (210, 230, 250) are formed or lines in contrast on their bottom, said points representing the first content. 4 - Process according to claim 3, characterized in that, during the step (330) of marking, one makes points (210, 250) or lines on a surface on said product. 5. Process according to any one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that, during the marking step (330), points (230) are formed on a separation line of a graphic present on said product. 6. Process according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, during the step (330) of association of an information carrier, a bar code 25 is associated with said product. 7. Process according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, during the step (330) of association of an information medium, aiphanumerical characters are associated with said product. 8. Process according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, during the step (330) of associating an information carrier, a barcode (260) is associated in at least two dimensions audit product. 9 - Process according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, during the step (330) of association of an information carrier, associates an electronic tag to said product. Process according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, during the step (330) of combination, ink jet printing is carried out. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 9. a 9, characterized in that during the step (330) of association, a laser impact printing is carried out. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the step (330) of association comprises a step of reading the mark produced during the marking step, and a step of coding said mark read with said coding. 13. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the association step (330) comprises a coding step of the first content with a unique key specific to said product, each associated information during a step. association is therefore different. 14. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that, during the marking step (330), the produced mark comprises error correction codes. - A method of authenticating a set of products, characterized in that it comprises: - a step of reading an image of a mark, - a content extraction step of said image to provide a first content, - an information reading step supported by an information medium associated with said product, - a step of decoding said information supported by said information medium to provide a second content and an inconsistency detection step between the first content and the second content. 16 - Device for authenticating a set of products, characterized in that it comprises: - a means of marking each product of said set, to produce a mark representative of a first content, said mark being adapted to allow the detecting its copy and a means for associating an information carrier with said product, said information medium supporting information representative, on the one hand, of the first content and, on the other hand, of one of coding. 17 -A device for authenticating a set of products, characterized in that it comprises: a means for reading an image of a mark; a means for extracting content from said image to provide a first content, - an information reading means supported by an information medium associated with said product, - a means for decoding said information supported by said information carrier to provide a second content and a means for detecting inconsistency between the first content and the second content.