Abstract: Mitigation of processing artefacts caused by surfaces with high contrast printing or colouring transitions within a system to compare signatures derived from inherent physical surface properties of different articles to authenticate or validate articles and within a system to generate signatures from inherent physical surface properties of different articles.

Abstract: The present invention can provide an apparatus operable to determine a signature from an article arranged in a reading volume. The apparatus can comprise a generator operable to generate and sequentially direct a focussed noncoherent beam onto each of a plurality of different regions of the reading volume; a detector arrangement operable to collect a set comprising groups of data points from signals obtained when the beam scatters from the different regions of the reading volume, wherein different ones of the groups of data points relate to scatter from the respective different regions of the reading volume; and a data acquisition and processing module operable to determine a signature of the article from the set of groups of data points.

Abstract: The present invention can provide a magnetic memory structure comprising a column comprising a plurality of layers of magnetic material, each sized to adopt a single magnetic domain state, and a plurality of layers of non-magnetic material arranged as spacer layers between adjacent ones of the layers of magnetic material, such that successive magnetic layers in the column are magnetically antiparallel coupled. The column is arranged to maintain therein a plurality of stable transitions of an order parameter of the magnetisations between the magnetic layers, the transitions having a chirality. This enables a single magnetic column structure to store multiple data bits in such a way as to enable the bits to be propagated through the column to enable sequential reading and/or writing of data in the column.

Abstract: A data storage device comprises an array of parallel magnetic nanowires each having a uniaxial anisotropy with an easy axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the nanowire and which is rotated about the longitudinal axis along the length of the nanowire, and a magnetisation state that follows the easy axis, where each nanowire has a data input element for nucleating magnetic domains separated by domain walls in an end of the nanowire, the sequence of domains and walls representing binary data, and a data read-out element operable to detect the magnetisation at an end of the nanowire, the device also comprising a magnetic field source operable to generate a magnetic field rotating in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the nanowires so as to propagate domain walls along the at least one nanowire.

Abstract: A serial magnetic mass storage device and associated data storage method of the kind in which data is encoded in single magnetic domains in nanowires. In the invention, the nanowires are provided with a large number of notches along their length to form domain wall pinning sites. Moreover, the notches are addressed in groups (A, B, C) by heating electrodes. By alternately heating the notches hosting head-to-head and tail-to-tail domain walls in synchrony with alignment and anti-alignment of an operating field (H) along the nanowire the magnetic domains are moved along the nanowire by alternate movement of the head-to-head and tail-to-tail domain walls in caterpillar or worm-like motion in which the domains are incrementally lengthened and shortened by one inter-notch distance as they move along the nanowires under the joint coordinated action of the heating and alternating operating field.

Abstract: A serial magnetic mass storage device and associated data storage method is provided based on magnetic nanowires that support single magnetic domains separated by domain walls. Each data-storing nanowire has a plurality of crossing nanowires along its length, forming cross junctions that constitute domain wall pinning sites. Data is fed through each data-storing nanowire by moving the magnetic domains under the action of a field that alternates between alignment and anti-alignment with the crossing nanowires. The data is encoded in the chirality of the domain walls, with up and down chirality transverse domain walls being used to encode 0's and 1's. Data is clocked into each nanowire with suitable nucleation generators capable of nucleating domains with domain walls of pre-defined chirality. Data is clocked out of each nanowire with suitable magnetic field sensors that sense the chirality.

Abstract: A method of authenticating an article comprises generating a signature from intrinsic surface structure of an article, comparing the signature for the article to a stored signature for a mould used to produce articles, and determining an authentication result based upon a comparison result between the article signature and stored mould signature.

Abstract: A system for obtaining a signature from a scan area on the surface of an article comprises: a signature generator that generates the signature from scattered coherent radiation detected from a plurality of points on the surface and includes a scan head comprising a coherent radiation source and photodetectors; a camera for capturing an image of the surface; a comparator that compares the captured image with a reference image to determine the location and orientation of the scan area; and a drive assembly that positions the scan head appropriately for generating a signature from the scan area in response to the determination of the location and orientation of the scan area.

Abstract: A system for obtaining a signature a scan area on the surface of an article comprises: a signature generator that generates the signature from scattered coherent radiation detected from a plurality of regions on the surface by using relative motion between the article and a scan head comprising a coherent radiation source and photodetectors to obtain a set of data points comprising a group of data points from each region; an imaging detector that captures a sequence of images of the surface during the relative motion; and a processor that calculates the instantaneous velocity of the relative motion; whereby the signature generator uses the instantaneous velocity to linearise the groups of data point within the set of data points before generating the signature of the article from the set of data points.

Abstract: There can be provided a complete and flexible multi-tier article authentication system. A number of different authentication systems are applied to a given article in order to allow multiple levels of authentication to be performed by different persons throughout the supply chain, and using different levels of equipment to perform the authentication. By using such a flexible approach, authenticity can be verified to one or more different levels, depending upon the interest, capability and equipment of an individual. A corresponding method and apparatus can be provided. A tracking system based upon similar principles can additionally or alternatively be provided.

Abstract: A removable cartridge for a reprographics device, such as a printer, is described. The removable cartridge comprises a signature scanning unit for use in generating a signature based upon an intrinsic characteristic of an article. By providing a signature scanning unit in a replaceable cartridge, few or no modifications to the existing designs of various reprographics devices are needed. Additionally, the installation of the signature scanning unit in a reprographics device is made as easy as replacing a standard removable cartridge, such as, for example, an inkjet or toner cartridge. The addition of authorisation/identification functionality to various conventional reprographics devices can also be made by a non-technical user using various embodiments of the invention.

Abstract: There can be provided a complete and flexible multi-tier article authentication system. A number of implementation options are possible, and in one of which an article can include an applied code thereon, which applied code includes an identifier code for the article and a biometric type signature for the article, the biometric type signature having been generated from analysis of intrinsic surface or internal structure of a part of an article to which the applied code is applied.

Abstract: A method can be provided for performing encryption using a fuzzy key. The method can comprise generating a message, dividing a fuzzy key into a plurality of blocks; and generating an encrypted message by selecting a block from the fuzzy key corresponding to a bit position or bit pattern in the message.

Abstract: A serial magnetic mass storage device and associated data storage method is provided based on magnetic nanowires that support single magnetic domains separated by domain walls. Each data-storing nanowire has a plurality of crossing nanowires along its length, forming cross junctions that constitute domain wall pinning sites. Data is fed through each data-storing nanowire by moving the magnetic domains under the action of a field that alternates between alignment and anti-alignment with the crossing nanowires. The data is encoded in the chirality of the domain walls, with up and down chirality transverse domain walls being used to encode 0's and 1's. Data is clocked into each nanowire with suitable nucleation generators capable of nucleating domains with domain walls of pre-defined chirality. Data is clocked out of each nanowire with suitable magnetic field sensors that sense the chirality.

Abstract: A method of creating a signature for an article can be provided. The method can comprise illuminating regions of the article sequentially by light at non-normal incidence and detecting light reflected from the surface of each region of the article. The method can further comprise processing signals representative of the reflected light from each region, the signals being indicative of a surface roughness of the region, to determine a signature for the article.

Abstract: A serial magnetic mass storage device and associated data storage method of the kind in which data is encoded in single magnetic domains in nanowires. In the invention, the nanowires are provided with a large number of notches along their length to form domain wall pinning sites. Moreover, the notches are addressed in groups (A, B, C) by heating electrodes. By alternately heating the notches hosting head-to-head and tail-to-tail domain walls in synchrony with alignment and anti-alignment of an operating field (H) along the nanowire the magnetic domains are moved along the nanowire by alternate movement of the head-to-head and tail-to-tail domain walls in caterpillar or worm-like motion in which the domains are incrementally lengthened and shortened by one inter-notch distance as they move along the nanowires under the joint coordinated action of the heating and alternating operating field.

Abstract: Packaged integrated circuits (ICs) of some types, such as processors, are graded and sold according to a performance scale, such as maximum specified clock speed, set by the manufacturer as a result of testing. As a record of this grading some part of the package, usually the upper surface, is marked with the specified performance attribute. However, criminal activity has developed where the packaging is relabelled to show a higher specification so the ICs can be fraudulently resold at a higher price. To address this problem, the invention envisages that manufacturers maintaining a product database for each packaged IC which logs not only the performance specification, but also a digital signature derived from a speckle pattern obtained from the packaging. Subsequently, any packaged IC can be rescanned to interrogate its speckle pattern and recompute the signature. The signature is then used to find the product in the database, whereby the originally specified performance attribute is retrieved.

Abstract: A removable cartridge for a reprographics device, such as a printer, is described. The removable cartridge comprises a signature scanning unit for use in generating a signature based upon an intrinsic characteristic of an article, such as a paper sheet, determined by illuminating the article with a coherent beam. By providing a signature scanning unit in a replaceable cartridge, few or no modifications to the existing designs of various reprographics devices are needed. Additionally, the installation of the signature scanning unit in a reprographics device is made as easy as replacing a standard removable cartridge, such as, for example, an inkjet or toner cartridge. The addition of authorisation/identification functionality to various conventional reprographics devices can also be made by a non-technical user using various embodiments of the invention.

Abstract: A document management method and apparatus implemented in a network environment containing a document management system (DMS), at least one multi-function device (MFD) and a network connecting the document management system to the MFDs. The MFD activities of scan, fax, copy and print are integrated with a DMS using signatures obtained from an intrinsic natural characteristic of hard copies of documents, such as optical speckle from paper, as the hard copies are processed by the MFD. In this way the lifecycle of hard copies within an office can be automatically logged on the DMS, and optionally also the processes can be controlled according to rights over the documents held by different users.

Abstract: A key distribution system can comprise a key packaging unit operable to package a key using a signature based upon an intrinsic property of a security token, a channel operable to have the packaged key transmitted therethrough; and a key unpacking unit operable to unpack the key using a signature based upon the intrinsic property of the security token. Thereby the key can be transmitted via a non-secure channel to a recipient for use thereby, without it being possible for a third party to obtain a copy of the key by monitoring the channel.