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: 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: 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: 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: 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: An apparatus includes an input bin for receiving a stack of envelopes, a conveyor for conveying each envelope of the stack along an envelope path, and a cartridge retainer adapted for electrical connection to an inkjet cartridge defining a 1×M array of inkjet printing nozzles. The apparatus further includes a controller electrically coupled to the cartridge retainer and configured to activate the inkjet cartridge nozzles to deposit ink droplets according to a predetermined duty cycle able to cause printing, on an envelope conveyed at a first feed rate, a first indicium having a density of M×N dots per inch, where N is greater than M/2 and less than M. The conveyor, however, conveys envelopes faster than the first feed rate, whereby the first indicium is printed at a density of less than M×N dots per inch on a moving envelopes.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an input bin for receiving a stack of envelopes, a conveyor for conveying each envelope of the stack along an envelope path, and a cartridge retainer adapted for electrical connection to an inkjet cartridge defining a 1×M array of inkjet printing nozzles. The apparatus further includes a controller electrically coupled to the cartridge retainer and configured to activate the inkjet cartridge nozzles to deposit ink droplets according to a predetermined duty cycle able to cause printing, on an envelope conveyed at a first feed rate, a first indicium having a density of M×N dots per inch, where N is greater than M/2 and less than M. The conveyor, however, conveys envelopes faster than the first feed rate, whereby the first indicium is printed at a density of less than M×N dots per inch on a moving envelopes.

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: 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: Methods and systems for detecting changes, alterations and forgeries in documents utilize digital fingerprinting. A set of documents of a given type that are known to be altered or forgeries are scanned and “fingerprinted” to build a forgery database. Suspect documents are scanned and the resulting fingerprint data is used to query the forgery database to look for matching records, although a match need not be exact. Matches may be counted and compared to a threshold number to assess a confidence that a document is forged or not. The fingerprinting may be directed to at least one authentication region of a document, and one or more features in a region may be incorporated into a fingerprint of the document.

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: Methods and systems for tracking a physical object to identify or authenticate it utilizing digital fingerprints which are based on natural features extracted from a digital image of the object. Digital fingerprints do not require or rely on any labels, tags, integrated materials, unique identification characters, codes or other items that may be added to the object specifically for the purpose of identification. Consequently, the disclosed digital fingerprint techniques help to detect or prevent unauthorized alterations of documents, apparel, drugs and pharmaceuticals, etc. Further digital fingerprints can be used to better track and trace a wide variety of objects throughout the distribution chain to demonstrate their provenance and to detect counterfeit objects.

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: Improvements are disclosed for authentication of an object, verification of its provenance, and certification of the object as compliant with manufacturing standards. Or, an object may be reported as a suspected counterfeit. In one embodiment the system compares a digital fingerprint of the object, based in image capture, to digital fingerprints previously stored in a database and determines if the object has been registered before and is thus authentic. An object feature template may be created which has a list of features and attributes that are relevant for authenticating particular classes of objects. The object feature template can also be used to examine unregistered objects for signs of counterfeiting.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting changes, alterations and forgeries in documents utilize digital fingerprinting. A set of documents of a given type that are known to be altered or forgeries are scanned and “fingerprinted” to build a forgery database. Suspect documents are scanned and the resulting fingerprint data is used to query the forgery database to look for matching records, although a match need not be exact. Matches may be counted and compared to a threshold number to assess a confidence that a document is forged or not. The fingerprinting may be directed to at least one authentication region of a document, and one or more features in a region may be incorporated into a fingerprint of the document.

Abstract: Improvements are disclosed for authentication of an object, verification of its provenance, and certification of the object as compliant with manufacturing standards. Or, an object may be reported as a suspected counterfeit. In one embodiment the system compares a digital fingerprint of the object, based in image capture, to digital fingerprints previously stored in a database and determines if the object has been registered before and is thus authentic. An object feature template may be created which has a list of features and attributes that are relevant for authenticating particular classes of objects. The object feature template can also be used to examine unregistered objects for signs of counterfeiting.

Abstract: Methods and systems for tracking a physical object to identify or authenticate it utilizing digital fingerprints which are based on natural features extracted from a digital image of the object. Digital fingerprints do not require or rely on any labels, tags, integrated materials, unique identification characters, codes or other items that may be added to the object specifically for the purpose of identification. Consequently, the disclosed digital fingerprint techniques help to detect or prevent unauthorized alterations of documents, apparel, drugs and pharmaceuticals, etc. Further digital fingerprints can be used to better track and trace a wide variety of objects throughout the distribution chain to demonstrate their provenance and to detect counterfeit objects.

Abstract: A muffler may comprise a casing having an internal volume, an inlet and an outlet, and a diverter plate dividing the internal volume into a first chamber and a second chamber. The diverter plate may comprise a baffle wall portion and at least one diverter having a deflecting surface oriented at an angle to the baffle wall portion. The baffle wall includes at least one aperture allowing fluid communication between the first chamber and the second chamber. The diverter is preferably suspended with respect to the casing, wherein no portion of the diverter directly contacts the casing.