GB2399055A

GB2399055A - Documents made uniquely identifiable by a printed code having a check digit.

Info

Publication number: GB2399055A
Application number: GB0401360A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Moxon
Original assignee: William Sinclair & Sons
Current assignee: William Sinclair & Sons
Priority date: 2003-02-11
Filing date: 2004-01-22
Publication date: 2004-09-08
Anticipated expiration: 2024-01-22
Also published as: GB0303051D0; GB0401360D0; GB2399055B

Abstract

A book whose pages are uniquely identifiable has, printed onto each page, a code which comprises a representation of the date, a "book number" which increments when a new book is started, and a check digit. Each page also contains a page numbe<WC 1>r 10, typically 1-100. The code <WC 1><WC 1>may comprise nine characters, of which three 14 represent the date of the production run, the book number is a five character code 16, and there is a single check digit 12. The book number 16 may comprise alphabetical letters and numeric figures, and a five character code will thus have more than twenty million permutations, which represents several years production before a complete cycle has occurred. <WC 1>A further character 18 may be applied to each page in the book. This character may be unique, <WC 1>not part of a standard font, and be a <WC 1>random character <WC 1>of intricate design, which will not photocopy accurately so that its examination will reveal whether or not the document is <WC 1>a photocopy of the original.

Description

IDENTIFLABLE DOCUMENTS

This invention relates to a method of producing writing, printing, ticket and label paper in which each individual sheet is uniquely identifiable.

Documents which need to be uniquely identifiable, for example, tickets for an event, restricted circulation reports, and so on, are often each given a unique serial number. However, such a simple identification method is open to fraud by forging, altering, or even photocopying, the genuine document.

The invention seeks to provide a method of producing documents having a uniquely identifiable serial number or code with greatly improved resistance to fraud by alteration or copying.

In particular, the present invention relates to a method of printing in which a unique security code is generated by a computer program which controls the printing press. The press produces piles of cut sheets which are assembled to form books, pads, loose leafpads, tickets, labels etc. in a separate conversion process. For ease of understanding, any such item will be referred to herein as a "book".

According to the present invention, there is provided a method of providing a book whose pages are uniquely identifiable, which comprises printing onto each page a code which comprises a representation of the date, a "book number" which increments when a new book is started, and a check digit.

Preferably, in addition, each page contains a page number, typically 1100.

Preferably, the code in accordance with the method ofthe invention comprises nine characters, of which three represent the date of the production run, the book number is a five character code, and there is a single check digit. The book number in accordance with the invention preferably comprises alphabetical letters and numeric figures, and a five character code will thus have more than twenty million permutations, which represents several years production before a complete cycle has occurred.

Preferably, in addition to the above, a further character is applied to each page in the book.

This character may conveniently be unique, i.e. not part of a standard font. Preferably also, the random character is of intricate design, which will not photocopy accurately so that examination of the random character will reveal whether or not the document is in fact a photocopy of the original.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the paper used does not fluoresce under ultraviolet light (whereas most white papers do because of the type of chemicals they contain). A strip which does fluoresce under ultraviolet light may then be printed over the security code. Thus, any attempt to alter the code will damage the fluorescent strip and can be detected by looking at the document under ultraviolet light. In order to prevent an ultraviolet light sensitive strip being "painted" onto an altered document by a forger, the UV sensitive strip preferably contains a unique design.

In addition, each page preferably has a unique water mark.

Books of pages produced in accordance with the invention may be used in any situation where controlled documentation is required, for example, legal documents, restricted circulation reports, accountancy documents, certificates, and so forth. The documents can also be used as tickets for events, receipts, invitations, and so on.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure I illustrates a security code applied to a document in accordance with the invention; and Figures 2 to 4 illustrate, on an enlarged scale, samples of random characters.

Referring to the drawing, the first two digits 10 are the page number of the document within the book, for example, a pack of 100 A4 sheets of paper. The digit 12 is a check digit which is calculated using some, but not all, of the remaining digits in the code according to an algorithm known to the printer, but to no-one else. The next three digits 14 are a three character representation of the date of the production run when the book was produced.

The next five digits 16 represent the book number which increments every time a new book is started. As can be seen, the book number uses alphabetic letters as well as numbers, so that a five digit code has over twenty million permutations, representing several years production before a complete cycle has been completed. Finally, there is the random digit 18 which is chosen from a number of such digits at the beginning of the run for each book. There may, for example, be ten such random digits from which choice can be made. The random character is of a shape which does not photocopy well and photocopies can therefore be detected by minutely examining the random character 18. Further examples of the character 18 are illustrated in figures 2 to 4.

The security code may be verified in three stages. Firstly, the check digit can be verified using a computer program which can, for example, be available on the website of the paper printer or supplier. Secondly, the printer of the paper will maintain a log file which records, time, date, starting serial number and random character for each production run. Finally, the random character is unique, that is, not part of a standard font. Accordingly, detailed examination should detect any attempted forgery or alteration.

In addition to me above, each page of the book preferably has userverifiable security features as follows. The paper preferably has a unique watermark, and the paper does not fluoresce under ultraviolet light. However, an invisible stripe, printed over the security number, does fluoresce under ultraviolet light. This can be seen using an ultraviolet light source as is commonly used in shops etc. for verifying banknotes. Thus, the user can verify that the UV strip is present and has not been tampered with.

The method of the invention is a simple and effective way of producing paper with a unique identifiable code which is resistant to forgery and alteration.

Claims

1. A method of providing a book whose pages are uniquely identifiable, which comprises printing onto each page a code which comprises a representation of the date, a "book number" which increments when a new book is started, and a check digit.

2. A method as claimed in claim wherein in addition each page contains a page number.

3. A method as claimed in either of claims 1 or2 wherein the code comprises nine characters, of which three represent the date of the production run, the book number is a five character code, and there is a single check digit.

4. A method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the book number comprises alphabetical letters and numeric figures.

5. A method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein a further character is applied to each page in the book.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the further character is unique, i.e. not part of a standard font.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the random character is of intricate design, which will not photocopy accurately so that examination of the random character will reveal whether or not the document is in fact a photocopy of the original.

8. A method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7 wherein the paper used does not fluoresce under ultraviolet light and a strip which does fluoresce under ultraviolet light is printed over the security code.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the UV sensitive strip contains a unique design.

10. A method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9 wherein each page has a unique water mark.

11. A method of providing a book whose pages are uniquely identifiable substantially as hereinbefore described with reference and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings

12. Controlled documentation whenever coded bye method as claimed in anyprevious claim.