Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
  • B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
  • B23K26/009—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring using a non-absorbing, e.g. transparent, reflective or refractive, layer on the workpiece
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
  • B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
  • B23K26/352—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring for surface treatment
  • B23K26/355—Texturing
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F21/00—Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
  • G06F21/60—Protecting data
  • G06F21/602—Providing cryptographic facilities or services
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F9/00—Arrangements for program control, e.g. control units
  • G06F9/06—Arrangements for program control, e.g. control units using stored programs, i.e. using an internal store of processing equipment to receive or retain programs
  • G06F9/46—Multiprogramming arrangements
  • G06F9/466—Transaction processing
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q30/00—Commerce
  • G06Q30/018—Certifying business or products
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q30/00—Commerce
  • G06Q30/018—Certifying business or products
  • G06Q30/0185—Product, service or business identity fraud
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L9/00—Cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols
  • H04L9/06—Cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols the encryption apparatus using shift registers or memories for block-wise or stream coding, e.g. DES systems or RC4; Hash functions; Pseudorandom sequence generators
  • H04L9/0643—Hash functions, e.g. MD5, SHA, HMAC or f9 MAC
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L9/00—Cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols
  • H04L9/30—Public key, i.e. encryption algorithm being computationally infeasible to invert or user's encryption keys not requiring secrecy
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L9/00—Cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols
  • H04L9/32—Cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials
  • H04L9/3236—Cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials using cryptographic hash functions
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L9/00—Cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols
  • H04L9/32—Cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials
  • H04L9/3236—Cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials using cryptographic hash functions
  • H04L9/3239—Cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials using cryptographic hash functions involving non-keyed hash functions, e.g. modification detection codes [MDCs], MD5, SHA or RIPEMD
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L9/00—Cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols
  • H04L9/32—Cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials
  • H04L9/3247—Cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials involving digital signatures
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L9/00—Cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols
  • H04L9/50—Cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols using hash chains, e.g. blockchains or hash trees
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
  • B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
  • B23K26/02—Positioning or observing the workpiece, e.g. with respect to the point of impact; Aligning, aiming or focusing the laser beam
  • B23K26/06—Shaping the laser beam, e.g. by masks or multi-focusing
  • B23K26/062—Shaping the laser beam, e.g. by masks or multi-focusing by direct control of the laser beam
  • B23K26/0622—Shaping the laser beam, e.g. by masks or multi-focusing by direct control of the laser beam by shaping pulses
  • B23K26/0624—Shaping the laser beam, e.g. by masks or multi-focusing by direct control of the laser beam by shaping pulses using ultrashort pulses, i.e. pulses of 1ns or less
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
  • B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
  • B23K26/02—Positioning or observing the workpiece, e.g. with respect to the point of impact; Aligning, aiming or focusing the laser beam
  • B23K26/06—Shaping the laser beam, e.g. by masks or multi-focusing
  • B23K26/062—Shaping the laser beam, e.g. by masks or multi-focusing by direct control of the laser beam
  • B23K26/0626—Energy control of the laser beam
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
  • B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
  • B23K26/36—Removing material
  • B23K26/362—Laser etching
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q2220/00—Business processing using cryptography

Definitions

• the present invention in some embodiments thereof, relates to asset management and utilization and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to management of assets such as precious stones.
• Laser direct writing for example with femtosecond duration laser pulses, define a methodology for generating various types of photonic devices internally m bulk transparent materials, with laser interactions confined in or near the laser focal volume. In this way, three-dimensional (3D) photonic devices may be fabricated.
• Various types of femtosecond lasers may be used to alter the refractive index of transparent materials, for example, to create buried optical waveguides.
• Such ultrashort laser writing of optical circuits is promising as a fabrication method for creating compact optical circuits by forming devices in multi-layers or other geometries exploiting the full 3D physical space in comparison to planar light circuits (2D) or fiber optics (ID).
• Various devices such as pow3 ⁇ 4r splitters, directional couplers, and multi-mode interference (MM1) power spliters are possible.
• MM1 multi-mode interference
• a method of tokenization and use of assets comprising: a) registering at least one asset on a distributed ledger; b) assigning the at least one asset a non-fungible token with a public key; c) reading information about the at least one asset using a reading device; d) verifying ownership of the at least one asset using a private key which matches the public key; e) performing a transaction with the at least one asset.
• the one non-fungible token is associated with one asset or a group of assets.
• the method further comprises tagging the asset prior to the registering.
• the method further comprises rating an individual or entity responsible for tagging the asset based on at least one of trustworthiness, accuracy and honesty.
• the non-fungible token includes information related to at least one of the asset's characteristics, ownership, provenance, location and past transactions.
• the ownership information includes fractional ownership of the asset.
• a transaction includes primary purchases of the asset, secondary market trading of the asset, collateralized lending, insurance, law enforcement, verification of the asset and certification of the asset.
• a method for tagging comprising: a) positioning the asset with respect to the laser system; b) modifying the asset with a laser to create a gentle modification“voxel” which is invisible at I Ox optical magnification; c) detection of the modification using an optical reading device consisting of a more than lOx magnification, asset holder, positioning system, CCD and software interfaced to the blockchain.
• the modification of the asset consists of multi-photon absorption by the transparent material.
• the laser is operated with a wavelength such that the photon energy is less than the bandgap energy of the material to ensure nonlinear absorption
• the laser wavelength is in the range of
• the reading device objective used for laser tagging may have a numerical aperture between 0 25 and 1.5.
• a single laser pulse is used for the laser written of a voxel making up the identification tag.
• the pulse energy of the laser is more than
• the asset is a stone, a rare book, an antique, an automobile or a collectible.
• the step of modifying the asset may include the localized two dimensional modification of the asset below the surface.
• the method consists of forming a three- dimensional pattern of static laser exposures below' the surface of the asset.
• a method of identifying, registering and tracking an asset comprising: tagging the asset with at least one of an identification and related asset information using a tagging unit; and, reading at least one of the identification and the related asset information using a reading device, wherein at least one of the identification and related asset information is registered on a distributed ledger, being uploaded through a communication connection from the tagging unit and retrieved through a communication connection by the reading device, and, wherein at least one of the identification and related asset information is encrypted upon uploading to the distributed ledger and is decrypted upon retrieval from the distributed ledger.
• the method further comprises including in at least one of the identification and the related asset information, at least one of a brand, provenance, current physical location, past physical location, current owner(s), past owner(s), past transaciion(s) involving the asset, grading details, certification details, a numerical code, text, a graphic, a logo, a pattern, for example associated with a particular company.
• the reading the at least one of the identification and the asset related information is subjected to a filter, thereby selectively returning only partially at least one of the identification and the asset related information.
• the reading is performed in the performance of a transaction including primary and secondary sales, use as collateral, monetization, investment, insurance, finance, logistics, chain of custody, verification, validation, certification, grading, law' enforcement, brand enforcement, asset theft prevention, counterfeiting protection, asset recover, commoditization, and trading.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic depicting linear single photon absorption and nonlinear multi-photon absorption, demonstrating that multiphoton absorption can lead to smaller modified volumes than linear absorption;
• FIG. 2 is a schematic of a laser system which could be used for writing micrometric voxels within a gem using 3D computer-controlled motion stages to move the asset/sample with respect to the beam;
• FIG. 3 is a schematic of a laser system which could be used for writing micrometric voxels within a gem using a galvanometnc mirror to move the beam with respect to the asset/sample;
• FIG. 4 is a schematic of a single laser modified voxel within a gem
• FIG. 5 is a schematic of a 3D pattern of laser modified voxels, to be used as an identification tag during read out with an optical microscope;
• FIG. 6 is a schematic of an optical reader, with dedicated hardware and software for automatically locating and identifying the laser writen tag;
• FIG. 7 is a schematic of a system for asset identification, registration, tracking and/or commercialization
• FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a method of using a system for asset identification, registration, tracking and/or commercialization.
• FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an exemplary asset tokenization and use method.
• the present invention in some embodiments thereof, relates to asset management and utilization and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to management of assets such as precious stones.
• a method comprising: a) tagging an asset, such as a gem, transparent or translucent material, polymer, precious stone or crystal, or other assets such as rare books, automobiles, antiques, and other collectibles, with identifying information, where the tagging comprises modification of the asset ’ s structure at a desired location using a tagging unit; b) registering/recording the identifying information, for example using block chain technology; c) subsequent reading of the tag/identification using reading device, such as an automated optical reader like a zoom-capable camera, smartphone, mobile device or microscope; d) optionally updating the recorded information, for example by updating the blockchain, based on transactions and/or changes in information relevant to the asset; e) optionally leveraging the integrity/reliability /infallibility of the recorded identifying information of the asset to commercialize and/or otherwise derive benefit from the asset; and wherein many method action steps further include translation/encryption/decryption
• asset recorded blockchain registration information wall be read via a reading device (such as a smartphone or other portable reader), optionally utilizing a cloud-based or Internet-based process, and/or using artificial intelligence (AI), and/or image recognition methods.
• a reading device such as a smartphone or other portable reader
• AI artificial intelligence
• the tagging of the asset consists of a gentle and localized modification of the asset material through the absorption of a focused laser pulse.
• the modification is localized to within the focal volume of the lens used to focus the laser.
• Tins localized modification or“voxel” may have a width of less than 1 microns and a vertical extent of less than 2 microns.
• the method may include modification of the gem (or other asset) through nonlinear multiphoton absorption.
• the method may include using a pulsed laser, optionally using only a single (i.e. not repetitive) pulse of the laser.
• the method may include a laser with a nominal wavelength such that nonlinear absorption occurs instead of single photon linear absorption.
• the deposition of laser energy will therefore proceed by the simultaneous absorption of multiple photons, so that the summed energy' of the photonics is greater than or equal to the bandgap energy of the gem.
• the volume of the laser-induced modification is reduced since nonlinear absorption occurs only in a volume where the intensity of the laser is greater than the threshold intensity for nonlinear absorption.
• This laser wavelength may the range of 1020-1050 nm, compatible with low- cost and reliable Yb-based femtosecond laser technology. Additionally, alternatively and/or optionally, the second harmonic wavelength (wavelength in the range of 510 to 525 nm) may be applied for slightly higher patterning resolution.
• the microscope objective used for laser tagging may have a numerical aperture between 0.25 and 1.5.
• the repetition rate of the laser may be between 1 kHz and 10 MHz, although in some embodiments, only a single laser pulse will be used (obtained with a commercially available pulse picker) for the laser written of a voxel making up the identification tag.
• the pulse energy of the laser may be varied between 2 nJ and 1000 nJ to obtain a gentle modification of them gem that can only be visible with high optical magnification (>I0x ⁇ ! QQx) read out.
• the energy is between 2 nJ and 14 nJ.
• the energy is between I5nJ and 150nJ.
• the energy 7 is between 40nJ and 125nJ.
• the energy is between 50nJ and lOOnJ.
• the present description relates to micrometer-sized, optionally buried, identification tags laser written using moderate pulse energy (in some embodiments, between about 15nj to about 150 nJ) in diamonds, crystalline materials and other gems, or other assets, followed by their read-out using an optical reader.
• the optical reader is automatic.
• the optical reader is manually operated.
• the optical reader is partially automatic and partially manually operated.
• a micrometer-sized increase in the refractive index can be achieved compared with the unprocessed material.
• Selection of appropriate laser exposure parameters pulse energy, pulse repetition (could be just a single pulse), exposure time, depth, focusing objective, and/or wavelength
• magnification 10x magnification 10x
• GAA Gemological Institute of America
• such a modification would be designed to be visible to high magnification optical viewing methods (40 x), such as microscopy, used in the reader proposed in this disclosure.
• the method may include the step of modifying the gem or other asset by directing a focused laser at a specific depth below the surface, instead of on the surface.
• the step of modifying the gem may include the localized modification of the gem at a depth of between 10 microns and 200 microns.
• the modification depth will he in the range of 200 to 500 microns for added security.
• the method may include the choice of the pulse energy just above the damage threshold, so that the mark is visible under high magnification (for example, 40x) but invisible under GIA (or other agency) standard 1 Ox magnification, thus not degrading the value of the gem.
• high magnification for example, 40x
• GIA or other agency
• the laser modification volume may have a width of less than 1 microns and a vertical extent of less than 2 microns. Optionally, these distances are greater or less, for example depending on pulse duration and/or energy and/or material being modified.
• the modified volume of the gem will have a width of less than 500 nm and a vertical extent of less than 1 microns to enable the maximum density in laser tagging
• the pulse duration may be shorter than the characteristic time for heat diffusion of the material to avoid excessive heating.
• the duration of the laser pulse may be between 1 femtosecond and 10 picoseconds.
• the pulse duration may be about 300 femtoseconds. This pulse duration optionally depends on the material being processed/etched.
• the method may comprise forming a two-dimensional or three-dimensional pattern of static laser exposures below the surface of the gem.
• Such two-dimensional or three-dimensional patterns of isolated laser-formed voxels will make up the desired tagging pattern. These patterns can be generated by translating the laser focus with respect to the asset.
• the method may be a writing step in the fabrication of an embedded tag used to securely identify the gem, compatible for registration with bloekcham technology.
• the method may include the hardware/software interface for automatically reading out the laser-formed tag using an optical reader, such as a 40x magnification optical microscope, for integration with blockchain technology.
• an optical reader such as a 40x magnification optical microscope
• the asset may be a diamond, a crystalline structure, a transparent or translucent material, any precious gem, or any other material or substance referred to herein or conceivable to one of ordinary skill in the art, whether naturally occurring or man made. It should be understood that m some embodiments of the invention, the laser tagging imperceptibly alters the asset at certain magnifications, but is still perceptible at high magnifications.
• the method may include the step of modifying the gem by focusing pulsed laser below the surface of them gem at a specific region, as described above.
• the step of gently modifying the gem may include modifying it at a certain depth, as described above.
• the method may include the selecting a laser pulse energy just above the damage threshold, as described above.
• the laser-modified volume of the gem may have a transverse and vertical extent of 1 micrometers and 2 micrometers, respectively, as described above. It should be understood that the transverse and/or vertical extent could be larger or smaller than 1 micrometers and 2 micrometers, respectively. As examples only, as small as 0.25 micrometers and as large as 10 micrometers.
• the method may comprise forming a two-dimensional or three-dimensional pattern of laser whiten voxels, as described above.
• the method may ⁇ be a fabrication step or tag required for securely identifying a gem, to be read out using an optical reader, for example using high magnification optical microscopy with customized software and/or hardware, for integration with the blockchain for tracking transactions related to the specific identification and/or information assigned to the physical asset (gem, crystalline material, diamond, etc.) etched with an identification tag by the laser.
• an optical reader for example using high magnification optical microscopy with customized software and/or hardware
• the present invention may be seen to provide a method for modifying an asset which enables: (i) Creation of an identifying etching, for example faint laser written voxels, a bar code, a QR code, and/or the like, within the volume of a gem or on/in some other asset. Variation of the laser average power, pulse duration, and beam shape enables control over the morphology of these voxels, which are the basic elements used to form a security tag, in an embodiment of fte invention.
• FIG. 1 demonstrates the advantage of applying ultrashort laser pulses (1 fs to 10 ps) compared to longer (greater than 10 ps) or continuous wave lasers in terms of 3D patterning resolution in transparent materials (which in an embodiment of the invention, the material would be that of an asset).
• TWO different laser beams are focused by a microscope objective focusing lens into a dial containing a fluorescent dye.
• a continuous wave (not pulsed) laser 110 with 400-nm blue wavelength is focused, causing linear absorption in the liquid dye which absorbs at blue wavelength. The absorption can be seen by the subsequent fluorescence in the dye, occurring wherever the focused beam is, limiting the spatial resolution of the laser interaction.
• a longer wavelength 800 nrn near- infrared laser 120 with ultrashort laser pulses is focused into the same transparent dye.
• this wavelength is too long for linear absorption, a nonlinear effect known as multiphoton absorption occurs.
• twO photons combine their photon energy' to bridge the bandgap of the transparent material to cause nonlinear multiphoton absorption.
• the interaction may be confined to a volume (for example, ⁇ 1 micrometer) 3 smaller than the focal volume of the laser. This fact enables 3D high resolution patterning using focused ultrashort laser pulses.
• FIG. 2 shows a schematic of a laser system 200 which can be used for writing rnicrometric voxels within or on an asset 212 using 3D computer-controlled motion stages 202, controlled by a controller 216 or computer, to move the asset with respect to the beam 204.
• this is system configuration is by way of example only, and that any configuration which provides operational parameters such as described herein could be used.
• Several mirrors 206 are used to direct the laser beam 204 towards the final focusing lens 208, in an embodiment of the invention.
• the laser power may be varied using a half-wave plate and a polarizer.
• the laser power may be varied in an automated fashion for achieving the desired laser power at the asset.
• Automated software interfaced with a vision system 214 (such as CCD) can be used to place the focused laser beam on the top surface of the transparent asset, which is used as a reference point for subsequent internal modification. Tagging/ etching is achieved by translating the asset with respect to the stationary incident laser beam.
• an internal or external mechanical shutter or high speed acousto-optic modulator may be applied, interfaced with the computer/controller 216.
• FIG. 3 shows a simplified schematic of a laser system 300 which could be used for writing micrometric voxels within a gem using a galvanometric mirror 302 to move the beam 304 with respect to the asset 306 (the '‘Sample”).
• the system is the same as that used in FIG. 2 except that the laser beam 304 (and optionally the focusing objective 310) is moved with respect to the asset instead of the other way around.
• the laser 308 and the asset 306 are moved in combination.
• FIG. 4 shows a schematic of a single laser 402 modified voxel within a gem 404 such as a diamond.
• This laser modification volume may have a width of less than
• FIG. 5 shows the top view schematic of a 3D pattern of laser modified voxels written below the surface of a gem.
• a simple pattern of digits‘8675” is fabricated, with each digit made up of laser-formed voxels spaced by 2.5 micrometers.
• the overall transverse size of each voxel is 1 micrometer x 1 micrometer.
• Each digit covers an overall area of 10 micrometers x 5 micrometers and there is a spacing of 5 micrometers between pixels. It should be understood that these dimensions are by way of example only, and could be larger or smaller.
• the laser written tag may be used as an identification tag during read out with an optical reader, such as a microscope or high-resolution camera.
• the modification is invisible using lOx magnification.
• other patterns could be etched by the laser for identifying the asset, for example graphics/logos, bar codes, QR codes, text, and the like.
• the tag is comprised of a number or is alphanumerical or and/or includes symbols.
• the dimensions of die etching given with respect to FIG. 5 are by way of example only, and virtually any height, spacing, length, width could be used.
• the numerical tag shown in FIG. 5 is largely two dimensional, three dimension tags (in x, y and z axes) could be used.
• FIG. 6 shows a schematic 600 of an exemplary optical reader 602, with dedicated hardware and/or software for automatically locating and identifying the laser written tag.
• the gem is optionally placed in an asset holder 606 configured to provide automated z-axis motion to bring the buried laser-written tag into focus for the magnification lens 604 and CCD camera.
• the lens magnifies greater than lOx.
• the lens magnifies 2Gx or greater.
• the optical reader 602 is moved closer or farther from the asset in order to perform the reading (i.e. in the z-axis).
• the asset and the reader both move to bring the tag into focus for reading.
• the holder 606 is also provided with motion, optionally automated by the holder 606 being controlled by a controller, in the x and y axes.
• the CCD image of the laser-written tag is interfaced with hardware and/or software for compatibility with blockchain technolog ⁇ ' .
• 40x magnification is by way of example only and the magnification level could be more or less.
• the reader could be of any of the device types described herein, such as a mobile device, smartphone, microscope or the like.
• the reading device is a smartphone which uses a physical magnification enhancer, such as conceived by the MicrobeScopeTM product offered by 4D Optical, LLC. While this device is intended to examine biological specimens, in embodiments of the invention, it can be used for reading asset tags such as described herein.
• Another physical augmentation solution is the Micro Phone Lens developed by Thomas Larson and offered by Micro Phone Lens on the Shopiiy platform.
• lighting sources are provided to the system in order to assist with reading, for example of varying wavelengths of light, at varying intensities, at varying locations with respect to the asset and/or which are moveable by the controller during reading to maximize readability of the tag.
• light shielding is used to enhance the reading efficiency (for example, to remove extraneous and/or unwanted light from the asset).
• software and/or AI is used to augment the inherent optical abilities of the mobile device/smartphone.
• FIG. 7 is a schematic of a system 700 for asset identification, registration, tracking and/or commercialization, m accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
• an asset is tagged with identifying information.
• this tagging is performed by a tagging unit 702 configured to modify the structure, or even surface, of the asset using a laser.
• the tagging unit comprises a laser, using operational parameters such as described herein or in related disclosures such as WO2017/006092, whose operation is directed by a controller and wherein the tagging unit also optionally uses a hardware based encryption/translation operationally linked to corresponding decryption/translation hardware in a reading device.
• Exemplary tagging unit 703 configurations are also described with respect to FIGS. 2-4 herein.
• software is used instead of or in addition to hardware based encryptiondranslation.
• software is used to provide the various components of the system are programmed to cooperate through software (such as program code, web-based interfaces, mobile app and/or API).
• At least one component used in the tagging is not physically integrated with the tagging unit, for example the controller and/or encryption/translation processing could be located externally (but for the purposes of this description is still considered to be a part of the “tagging unit”).
• the controller and/or encryption/translation processing could be located externally (but for the purposes of this description is still considered to be a part of the “tagging unit”).
• software installed on an external device like a computer, is used for providing encryption/translation.
• the tagging unit is configured, for example using a hard-wired and/or wireless connection, for operative communication with a global communications network, such as the Internet or World Wide Web.
• Wireless communication includes, but is not limited to, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and/or IR.
• the communications connection is used, for example, to register the tagged identification and/or additional information relevant to the asset with a database, server, and/or distributed ledger system 704, such as block chain.
• a database, server, and/or distributed ledger system 704 such as block chain.
• at least a part of the database, server, and/or distributed ledger system 704 is local.
• database, server, and/or distributed ledger system 704 is remotely located and/or is located in a“cloud” type network.
• the reading device 706 is configured with hardware an dor software for decrypting/translating registered identification and/or related information retrieved from the distributed ledger about an asset read/scanned by the reading device.
• the reading device’s hardware and/or software is operationally corresponded to the tagging unit’s identification/information output registered with the distributed ledger such that the reading device’s hardware and/or software is required to successfully and/or usefully retrieve the asset’s identification/information from the distributed ledger.
• the reading device is optically based, for example comprising a microscope, a mobile device (such as the camera of a smartphone or even an optical reading device attached to a smartphone or tablet) and/or a zooming camera.
• the reading device could be a dedicated, specifically -purposed reader or could be multi-purpose hardware (such as a tablet, smartphone or mobile communication device) programmed with software which programs the multi-purpose hardware with operationally sensitive parameters, such as scanning depth and/or magnification and/or optical character recognition and/or bar/QR code-type reading, for reading the identification etched into the asset.
• the reading device is sized and/or shaped to be hand held.
• certain components and/or functions are performed externally to the reading device, but for the purposes of this description are still considered as a part of the“reading device”.
• the identification is optically and/or manually retrieved and entered into a user-interface, such as a website and/or through a web-based browser/interface, for verifying asset identification and/or retrieving related asset information.
• a user-interface such as a website and/or through a web-based browser/interface
• FIG. 8 is a flowchart 800 of a method of using a system for asset identification, registration, tracking and/or commercialization, such as described with respect to FIG. 7.
• an asset is tagged (802) by a tagging unit with identification and/or other information, optionally etching the identification/information into the structure of the asset using a laser.
• the process of tagging also includes encrypting and/or coding and/or translating the identification and/or information such that special decryption and/or decoding and'or translating the identification and/or information is required in order to acquire useful data from the retrieved identification and/or information.
• the encryption/deciyption is achieved using hardware or software or a combination thereof.
• the encryption occurs when communicating the newly etched tag for registration (804) with a distributed ledger, where the ledger uses technology such as blockchain.
• a component of encryption/deciyption and ' or the identification and/or relevant information includes identifiers/codes/internal tracking numbers attributable to different entities relevant to the asset (e.g. mining company, certification lab (such as GIA®, IGI®), verification lab (such as Gubelin®), identification assignment/registration/verification/ reading/tracking company (such as Scarselli Diamonds)).
• identification (806) can be achieved by etching it in a human readable (by using optical magnification devices) and/or machine readable form, such as a number, a bar code, a QR code, and/or the like.
• Information related to the asset such as provenance, current and/or past physical locations, current and'or past owners (even as an anonymous owner identified by a code or other similar device), past and/or most recent transactions, grading or certification details, could also be combined, or registered separately but linked, with the identification for registration with the ledger.
• the identification and/or information is contributed by a third party, such as a certification lab and'or a authenticity verification lab.
• one aspect of commercialization tied to the presently described systems and methods includes incorporating branding and/or a particular labeling of the asset into the identification and/or related asset information registered with the distributed ledger.
• the brand in the form of a numerical code, text, graphic, logo, pattern, etc.
• the brand could be etched into the asset, optionally forming a part of the identification and/or optionally forming a part of the asset related information.
• a reading device is used to scan the identification etched into the physical asset in order to gather verification of identification and/or related asset information from the ledger.
• the reading device is tied by hardware and/or software to the tagging unit, such that decryption of the asset identificationtinformation can only be achieved by a correspondingly linked (808) reading device.
• the reading device is a stationary system such as could be found in a gemological lab.
• the reading device is portable, for example being a specialiy- programmed, hand held dedicated reader or a mobile device (tablet, phone, etc.).
• the reading device automatically contacts the distributed ledger, for example through a wared or wireless communications connection, in order to retrieve the identification and/or related information of the asset (including optionally decrypting/translating the retrieved data).
• the identification is read by the reading device and then a user retrieves the identification verification and'or related information (including optionally decrypting/translating the retrieved data) by inputting the scanned/read identification into a user interface/system which is in operative communication with the distributed ledger.
• Such an enhancement enables the leveraging (810) of the asset for use in commercial transactions such as sales, use as collateral, monetization, investment, insurance, finance, logistics (e.g. chain of custody) and/or trading and/or for assisting law enforcement (e.g. counterfeiting protection, brand enforcement, asset theft prevention and recover ⁇ '), wherein any entity (e.g. bank, market, broker, lab, investment house, individual, manufacturer, mining company) within these industries is a potential user of the systems and methods described herein for verification of identification and/or information related to a specific asset.
• any entity e.g. bank, market, broker, lab, investment house, individual, manufacturer, mining company
• identification/information about a particular asset can be restricted/limited depending on the entity requesting the information. For example, some or all of these transactions are optionally conducted anonymously (i.e. the ownership information is anonymized or is left out of the information on the ledger or is filtered out of the information on the ledger at retrieval). Further, different entities related to the asset may have different reference numbers or different information for the same asset and therefore, m an embodiment of the invention, some or all of the identification/information related to a specific asset is provided or not provided depending on the entity requesting the information.
• use of the distributed ledger provides the additional advantage of allowing the tokemzation of tagged assets, to indicate and/or track at least ownership aspects. That is, rights to assets which have been tokenized can be stored and managed on a blockchain network.
• tangible assets such as diamonds and other assets described above, can be divided into small units and/or fractional ownership, increasing their liquidity and enabling more market participants to participate in ownership and/or commercialization of the asset.
• each single token will represent a unique asset, the value of each token wall be different.
• the value of each token if converted into fiat money or ciy ptocurrency will fluctuate, based on the value change of the asset, independently from fluctuations in fiat currencies or cryptocurrencies.
• an image of the asset or asset tag is used as a confirming verification and/or m lieu of tag verification using the distributed ledger.
• the reading device is used to acquire an identifying image of the asset or asset tag (e.g. actual image vs. code reading), additionally or alternatively to reading a tag on and/or within the asset.
• the image is super-high resolution and/or at a magnification sufficient for identification of the asset and/or asset tag.
• the acquired image is compared on a database, optionally remotely, to a verifying image of the asset and/or asset tag.
• .41 is used to assist with the processing and/or comparison of the acquired image.
• image identification information (which is used for the verifying comparison) is linked to the distributed ledger, for example on the blockchain that also includes the asset’s tagging information such as described elsewhere herein.
• the result achieved from verification/validation of the asset is communicated back to the reading device.
• FIG. 9 is a flowchart 900 of an asset tokenization and use method, in an embodiment of the invention.
• assets which are tagged (902), such as using methods described herein, or otherwise identified and then registered (904) on the distributed ledger/blockchain receive (906) a fungible or non- fungible token (“NFT”).
• NFT can represent any percentage of ownership, including full 100% ownership of the asset to a small fraction of the whole.
• NFTs with respect to tagged assets enables first-sale purchases, secondary' market trading, collateralized borrowing/lending, and insurance markets for the asset, as just some examples of commercialization scenarios.
• NFTs are already in use in combination with the Ethereum blockchain platform for blockchain games like CryptoKitties.
• a fungible token is used instead of a non-fungible token, especially in cases where the asset is one of any number of similar or identical assets.
• a NFT is a unique data entr' into a blockchain that is distinguishable from all other data entries.
• a NFT cannot be interchanged with other data in the same way that, for example, one Bitcoin can be exchanged for any another Bitcoin (as Bitcoins are fungible in nature).
• Each NFT is unique and identified using a public/private key pair.
• the public key is a string of 40 characters is mathematically linked to a private key which is a different siring of 40 characters.
• public keys are expressed/tagged on the asset as QR codes or barcodes.
• any retail customer or anyone else in the supply/distribution/commercialization chain with a camera and internet connection can read (908) the inscribed public key and verify for themselves whatever data has been published to the blockchain (e.g. the diamond's characteristics, place-of-origin, and who attested to those characteristics initially). If the description on the blockchain matches the physical characteristics of the diamond in hand and the seller is able to sign a message proving (910) that they control the public key, then the buyer can know with certainty (at least m part because of information relayed back to the reading device) that the holder of the diamond is the legitimate owmer and some transaction can be conducted (912) with a certainty' of trust with respect to the asset.
• Tins method of on chain tracking gives everyone an ability' to see a history of transfer dates, sale prices, place-of-ongin, etc. It should be understood that diamonds are discussed in the example use above, however, any uniquely identifiable asset (e.g. rare books, automobiles, antiques, coins, stamps, digital/virtual assets like in-game objects, other collectibles) could be used with such a system.
• image recognition is used as an alternative or in addition to tag reading, such as described herein.
• This methodology' enables all sorts of commercialization scenarios like tagging a public key on a diamond and giving the private key to the owner of the diamond as a certificate-of-ownership. That is, commoditization of unique assets is enabled, which is almost a contradiction in terms.
• the certificate-of-ownership is what facilitates primary purchases, secondary' market trading, collateralized lending, and diamond insurance markets.
• a NFT is created so that additional data can be written into the blockchain that is associated with the asset (in this case a diamond) such as cut, clarity', color, piace-of-origin, etc.
• assets can be grouped together and/or tokemzed together as a group, for commercial activities.
• this additional data should be accurate and should come from a trusted entity , such as Scarse!i Diamonds.
• Embodiments for weighing and/or establishing“trust’' is described in more detail below.
• a user- accessible portal is created for conducting transactions involving tagged, registered and/or tokenized assets.
• Users can be, for example, laboratories, banks, insurance companies, governmental agencies, retailers, and end-consumers.
• the portal provides and/or receives information related to tagging and/or the assets and enables the verification/validation of this information.
• reputation of an asset tagger (the person or entity that initially tags and/or registers an asset on the blockchain) is tracked on the blockchain.
• Taggers which exhibit dishonesty, inaccuracy or other anomalous behavior can be rated (914) and/or stored on the blockchain. It is conceived that a mechanism can be implemented to financially punish a dishonest tagger by requiring all taggers to post a bond, which would be at least partially forfeit based on an unsatisfactory reputation rating.
• a model known as a Token Curated Registry (TCR) can be used, in an embodiment of the invention.
• a TCR is a decentral!y-curated list with intrinsic economic incentives for token holders to curate the list's contents judiciously.
• the“list” consists of “trusted taggers”.
• B2C Business to Consumer
• Implementation of the method and/or system of embodiments of the invention can involve performing or completing selected tasks manually, automatically, or a combination thereof. Moreover, according to actual instrumentation and equipment of embodiments of the method and/or system of the invention, several selected tasks could be implemented by hardware, by software or by firmware or by a combination thereof using an operating system.
• a data processor such as a computing platform for executing a plurality of instructions.
• the data processor includes a volatile memory for storing instructions and/or data and/or a non-volatile storage, for example, a magnetic hard-disk and/or removable media, for storing instructions and/or data.
• a network connection is provided as well.
• a display and/or a user input device such as a keyboard or mouse are optionally provided as well.
• compositions, methods or structure may include additional ingredients, steps and/or parts, but only if the additional ingredients, steps and/or parts do not materially alter the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed composition, method or structure.
• a compound or “at least one compound” may include a plurality of compounds, including mixtures thereof.
• a numerical range is indicated herein, it is meant to include any cited numeral (fractional or integral) within the indicated range.
• the phrases “ranging/ranges between” a first indicate number and a second indicate number and ‘ranging/ranges from” a first indicate number“to” a second indicate number are used herein interchangeably and are meant to include the first and second indicated numbers and all the fractional and integral numerals therebetween.
• the laser writing wavelengths in these examples is 515 nm, but it could be more or less in embodiments of the invention.
• Pulse number per dot 10000 to single pulse
• Pulse energies 100 - 300 nJ

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