Abstract: Apparatuses and methods associated with personal history in a track and trace system are disclosed herein. In embodiments, a method includes acquiring first information corresponding to a physical object; identifying first authentication data based on the first information; storing the first authentication data in a database system; subsequent to storing the first authentication data, acquiring second information corresponding to a target physical object and identifying second authentication data based on the second information; identifying third information corresponding to the target physical object, querying the database system to seek a matching record based on the second authentication data; in the case that a matching record is returned responsive to the querying, updating the matching record with an indication that the second authentication data was matched to it and updating history data or said matching record based on said third information. Other embodiments may be disclosed or claimed.

Abstract: A device includes a processor, a machine-readable memory, and an optical capture device coupled to the processor. The machine-readable memory, which is accessible to the processor, stores processor-executable instructions and data. The processor is configured to perform certain operations responsive to execution of the processor-executable instructions. The certain operations include capturing image data of a first region of a physical object using the optical capture device. The captured image data includes an anchor region. The certain operations also include determining whether the captured image data at least meets a predetermined level of image quality, and in a case that it does, locating an authentication region in the captured image data based on the anchor region. The certain operations also include authenticating the object based on the captured image data in the authentication region, generating a result of the authenticating, and outputting the result to a user interface of the mobile device.

Abstract: A system comprises a combination of digital fingerprint authentication techniques, processes, programs, and hardware to facilitate highly reliable authentication of a wide variety of composite physical objects. “Composite” in this case means that there are distinct regions of the object that must be authenticating individually and in tandem to authenticate the entire object. Preferably, a template is stored that defines for a class of objects what regions must be found, their locations, optionally semantic content of the regions, and other criteria. digital fingerprinting is utilized to locate and attempt to match candidate regions by querying a database of reference object records.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods associated with preserving authentication under item change are disclosed herein. In embodiments, acquiring digital image data of an image of at least a portion of a target physical object; extracting features from the image data to form a digital fingerprint; querying the database system to seek a matching record based on the digital fingerprint; based on an amount of difference between the digital fingerprint and a stored digital fingerprint of the database, update the database system to output a new indication of a new match to the physical object for any new samples that are not matchable to the stored digital fingerprint within a first predetermined similarity threshold provided the new samples are matchable to the digital fingerprint within a second predetermined similarity threshold. Other embodiments may be disclosed or claimed.

Abstract: A data store to store and access digital records is provided, and a key object record is initialized in the data store to store data associated with a physical key object. A digital fingerprint of the physical key object is stored in the key object record. Another digital record is created in the data store that is not the key object record. The digital record is linked to the digital fingerprint of the physical key object. The linking is arranged to provide secure control access to the linked digital record. A tendered access key is received via a programmatic interface or user interface, and the data store is queried based on the tendered access key to identify a matching digital fingerprint of a key object. In a case that the querying identifies the matching digital fingerprint of the key object within a prescribed level of confidence, access to the linked digital record secured by the key object is granted.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods associated with multi-level authentication are disclosed herein. In embodiments, a method includes authenticating a physical object of a plurality of physical objects that together form an aggregate physical object; storing in a database system relationship information reflecting a relationship between the aggregate physical object and the plurality of physical objects; attempting to authenticate a target physical object; responsive to matching the target physical object to the aggregate physical object based on the attempt to authenticate the physical target: identifying in the database system a database record corresponding to the aggregate physical object; storing in the database record authentication data reflecting the match between the target physical object and the aggregate physical object; and storing an indication of a re-authentication of the physical object in the database system based on the relationship information. Other embodiments may be disclosed or claimed.

Abstract: Digital fingerprinting systems, devices, and methods are arranged to acquire image data of a portion of a surface of a physical object, and further arranged to construct a model of the portion of the surface of the physical object from the image data. A digital fingerprint based on the model is extracted, and the physical object is inducted into a reference database system by storing a record in the reference database system that includes the digital fingerprint of the model.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods associated with personal history in a track and trace system are disclosed herein. In embodiments, a method includes acquiring first information corresponding to a physical object; identifying first authentication data based on the first information; storing the first authentication data in a database system; subsequent to storing the first authentication data, acquiring second information corresponding to a target physical object and identifying second authentication data based on the second information; identifying third information corresponding to the target physical object, querying the database system to seek a matching record based on the second authentication data, in the case that a matching record is returned responsive to the querying, updating the matching record with an indication that the second authentication data was matched to it and updating history data or said matching record based on said third information. Other embodiments may be disclosed or claimed.

Abstract: Improvements are disclosed for detecting counterfeit objects, based on comparison to digital fingerprints that describe features found in images of objects known to be counterfeit.

Abstract: The present disclosure teaches a method of utilizing image “match points” to measure and detect changes in a physical object. In some cases “degradation” or “wear and tear” of the physical object is assessed, while in other applications this disclosure is applicable to measuring intentional changes, such as changes made by additive or subtractive manufacturing processes, which may, for example, involve adding a layer or removing a layer by machining. A system may include a scanner, and a digital fingerprinting process, coupled to an object change computer server. The server is coupled to a datastore that stores class digital fingerprints, selected object digital fingerprints collected over time, match measurements, and deterioration metrics.

Abstract: Digital fingerprints are used to authenticate a physical item. Authentication attempts, may automatically trigger various predetermined processes. Different processes may take place depending on whether the authentication was successful. The process(es) may be computer-implemented, for example, using executable scripts. The triggered process(es) may be immediate (“real-time”), or delayed, deferred, or batched, etc. At least one additional process is triggered or initiated, locally or remotely, by a least one affirmative authentication result or at least one additional process s triggered, by at least one unsuccessful authentication attempt. In one example, a combination of purchase and authentication of an item is combined into a single action.

Abstract: Methods and systems integrate digital fingerprint authentication-based identification and location tracking into a single, continuous process in which an authentication-integrated tracking system is simultaneously aware of both the identity and location of each physical object at all times as they move along a conveyance system. Insertion or removal of an object is quickly detected and reported. Rapid reestablishment and continuation of authentication-integrated tracking is enabled in the event of any temporary interruption or failure of tracking in the system. An exemplary system comprises plural tracking units networked together, each tracking unit including a camera or scanner to observe a corresponding field of view, the tracking units arrange to realize a continuous field of view of a physical conveyance system.

Abstract: A forgery detection system includes a computer server and a database system of digital fingerprint records corresponding to forged or altered objects of a given object type. Using the computer server, a digital image of a suspect object of the given object type is accessed, an authentication region is selected, and a native feature within the authentication region is extracted. The native feature describes physical characteristics of the authentication region without recognizing content that appears in the authentication region. The computer server forms a feature vector to represent the native feature in a compact form and queries the database system to obtain a result responsive to digital fingerprint records that match the feature vector. Each matching digital fingerprint record is counted, and if the count of fraud indicator matches crosses a predetermined threshold indicating a confidence level that the suspect object is forged or altered, a report based is generated and communicated to a user interface.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods associated with authenticated production are disclosed herein. In embodiments, a digital fingerprint processor may be configured to: identify an activation of at least one of the one or more machines to attempt to produce or manufacture at least one of physical product or physical manufacture; responsive to completion of one or more operations associated with the activation by the one or more machines, acquire digital image data of a portion of a physical object on or inside the one or more machines; analyze the digital image data to form a digital fingerprint of the physical object, wherein the digital fingerprint is responsive to structure of the physical object; and store the digital fingerprint in a database record of the database system. Other embodiments may be disclosed or claimed.

Abstract: A system may include an event trigger processor (ETP) configured to receive signals from sensors or another system (FIG. 11). Output signals from the sensor(s), local or remotely located, may be utilized by the ETP as trigger inputs to initiate a process or response, namely authentication actions, which also may be local or remote from the ETP. Events from external systems also may serve as trigger inputs to the ETP. In some embodiments, as a triggered response, the ETP may direct a local field imaging system to acquire an image of an object, generate a digital fingerprint from the image, and query a database using the generated digital fingerprint to identify or authenticate the object. The ETP may initiate or direct various actions by sending a message to another entity or system, for example, using known network communication protocols.

Abstract: Improvements are disclosed for detecting counterfeit objects, based on comparison to digital fingerprints that describe features found in images of objects known to be counterfeit.

Abstract: Digital fingerprints are used to authenticate a physical item. Authentication attempts may automatically trigger various predetermined processes. Different processes may take place depending on whether the authentication was successful. The process(es) may be computer-implemented, for example, using executable scripts. The triggered process(es) may be immediate (“real-time”), or delayed, deferred, or batched, etc. At least one additional process is triggered or initiated, locally or remotely, by at least one affirmative authentication result or at least one additional process is triggered by a least one unsuccessful authentication attempt. In one example, a combination of purchase and authentication of an item is combined into a single action.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods associated with personal history in a track and trace system are disclosed herein. In embodiments, a method includes acquiring first information corresponding to a physical object; identifying first authentication data based on the first information; storing the first authentication data in a database system; subsequent to storing the first authentication data, acquiring second information corresponding to a target physical object and identifying second authentication data based on the second information; identifying third information corresponding to the target physical object; querying the database system to seek a matching record based on the second authentication data; in the case that a matching record is returned responsive to the querying, updating the matching record with an indication that the second authentication data was matched to it and updating history data of said matching record based on said third information. Other embodiments may be disclosed or claimed.

Abstract: Methods and systems integrate digital fingerprint authentication-based identification and location tracking into a single, continuous process in which an authentication-integrated tracking system is simultaneously aware of both the identity and location of each physical object at all times as they move along a conveyance system. Insertion or removal of an object is quickly detected and reported. Rapid reestablishment and continuation of authentication-integrated tracking is enabled in the event of any temporary interruption or failure of tracking in the system. An exemplary system comprises plural tracking units networked together, each tracking unit including a camera or scanner to observe a corresponding field of view, the tracking units arrange to realize a continuous field of view of a physical conveyance system.

Abstract: Databases storing digital fingerprints of physical objects enable enhanced security and collaborative authentication. Digital fingerprints enable reliable identification of an object without the need for attaching or associating physical tags, labels or other identifying materials with the object; and serialization for identification also is obviated. By combining digital fingerprinting and data collaboration in one process, parties to the data collaboration can gain a level of certainty that data attributed to an object by different parties or at different times is attributed to only that object and not erroneously attributed to an incorrect or counterfeit object. Collaborative authentication platforms and processes, combining digital fingerprint databases with associated incentive databases, contribute enhanced information to the authentication databases, and provide unparalleled reliability and enriched metadata to supply chain tracking, detecting counterfeit objects, and other applications.