Abstract: An authentication apparatus and a method to devise an authentication tool is provided for facilitating determination of authenticity or genuineness of an article with reference to a captured image or a purported primary image of an information bearing device on the article. The authenticity or genuineness of an article is determined with reference to whether a captured image is a primary image of an authentic information bearing device using a trained neural network. The neural network is trained using training images comprising imperfect images having varying degrees of image imperfections which are introduced under controlled conditions.

Abstract: A composite information bearing device comprising an image pattern and a human readable data device. The human readable data device includes a set of human readable data symbols representing a first set of data. The first set of data includes a first data portion and a second data portion. The image pattern represents a second set of data and comprises a third data portion. One of the first or said second data portions is to form an identification code upon combination or concatenation with said third data portion, and the other one of said first or said second data portions not forming part of said identification code is to form a verification code, the verification code being related to said identification code by a scheme of operation.

Abstract: An authentication apparatus and a method to devise an authentication tool is provided for facilitating determination of authenticity or genuineness of an article with reference to a captured image or a purported primary image of an information bearing device on the article. The authenticity or genuineness of an article is determined with reference to whether a captured image is a primary image of an authentic information bearing device using a trained neural network. The neural network is trained using training images comprising imperfect images having varying degrees of image imperfections which are introduced under controlled conditions.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises an image capturing device, a light emitting device for illuminating an object to be captured by the image capturing device, a visual guide to guide a user to aim the apparatus at a target authentication device, and a processor. The visual guide is devised such that when the apparatus is aimed at the target authentication device following guidance of the visual guide, the brightness levels on an image of the target authentication device captured by the image capturing device while under illumination of the light emitting device are within a predetermined range of brightness levels to facilitate verification of authenticity with reference to the captured image of the target authentication device.

Abstract: An information bearing device comprising a data bearing pattern, the data bearing pattern comprising M×N pattern defining elements which are arranged to define a set of characteristic spatial distribution properties (Îu,vM,N(x,y)), wherein the set of data comprises a plurality of discrete data and each said discrete data (ui,vi) has an associated data bearing pattern which is characteristic of said discrete data, and the set of characteristic spatial distribution properties is due to the associated data bearing patterns of said plurality of discrete data, wherein said discrete data and the associated data bearing pattern of said discrete data is related by a characteristic relation function (?k1,k2ui,vi(x,y), the characteristic relation function defining spatial distribution properties of said associated data bearing pattern according to said discrete data (ui,vi) and a characteristic parameter (k) that is independent of said discrete data.

Abstract: An authentication device comprising a woven authentication pattern, wherein the woven authentication pattern comprises a plurality of pattern forming woven elements each defining at least one pattern defining element or a plurality of pattern defining elements, and each pattern forming woven element is formed by a plurality of threads having contrasting optical or visual properties in twisted mutual engagement, wherein said pattern defining element has a spiralling outline or boundary and adjacent or abutting pattern defining elements of a pattern forming woven element are visually or optically distinguishable.

Abstract: An information bearing device comprising a data bearing pattern, the data bearing pattern comprising M×N pattern defining elements which are arranged to define a set of characteristic spatial distribution properties (Îu,vM,N(x,y)), wherein the set of data comprises a plurality of discrete data and each said discrete data (ui,vi) has an associated data bearing pattern which is characteristic of said discrete data, and the set of characteristic spatial distribution properties is due to the associated data bearing patterns of said plurality of discrete data, wherein said discrete data and the associated data bearing pattern of said discrete data is related by a characteristic relation function (?k1,k2ui,vi(x,y), the characteristic relation function defining spatial distribution properties of said associated data bearing pattern according to said discrete data (ui,vi) and a characteristic parameter (k) that is independent of said discrete data.

Abstract: A composite information bearing device comprising an image pattern and a human readable data device. The human readable data device includes a set of human readable data symbols representing a first set of data. The first set of data includes a first data portion and a second data portion. The image pattern represents a second set of data and comprises a third data portion. One of the first or said second data portions is to form an identification code upon combination or concatenation with said third data portion, and the other one of said first or said second data portions not forming part of said identification code is to form a verification code, the verification code being related to said identification code by a scheme of operation.

Abstract: An information bearing device comprising a data bearing pattern, wherein the data bearing pattern comprises a plurality of data defining elements, the data defining elements being spatially distributed to define a set of spatial frequency data, and the set of spatial frequency data comprising a plurality of frequency data elements (F1, F2, . . . , Fn); and wherein each frequency data (Fi) has a data frequency magnitude (fi) and a data frequency angle (?i), the data frequency magnitude being above a first characteristic spatial frequency (fA) which corresponds to a characteristic frequency of a staple or commonplace image reproduction apparatus, the characteristic frequency representing an image data frequency above which reproduction quality by the staple or commonplace image reproduction apparatus begins to drop substantially.

Abstract: A tamper or copy resistant information bearing device is disclosed. The information bearing device comprises a first data bearing pattern and a second data bearing pattern in overlap. At least a portion of the first data bearing pattern overlaps with at least a portion of the second data bearing pattern to form an overlapping region comprising an overlapped data bearing pattern. At least some information bearing elements of the first type and at least some information bearing elements of the second type in said overlapping data bearing pattern are joined or connected in abutment to form a plurality of overlapped information bearing elements. An overlapped information bearing element comprises a first portion due to said information bearing element of the first type, a second portion due to said information bearing element of the second type, and a third portion due to merging or overlapping of said information bearing element of the first type and said information bearing element of the second type.

Abstract: A composite information bearing device comprising a plurality of data units forming a data bearing device and an ensemble of pattern defining elements defining a data embedding spread pattern, wherein each data unit is in one of a plurality of digital states and at least some of the data units of a digital state are defined by the pattern defining elements, wherein the pattern defining elements are distributed following a spatial distribution rule, and the spatial distribution rule defines characteristic values of the spread pattern in spatial domain which are continuous values spread between a maximum value and a minimum value, and wherein the spatial distribution of the pattern defining elements of the ensemble follows the spatial distribution rule to the extent where the characteristic values are either above or below a selection threshold value which is a value between the maximum value and the minimum value.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises an image capturing device, a light emitting device for illuminating an object to be captured by the image capturing device, a visual guide to guide a user to aim the apparatus at a target authentication device, and a processor. The visual guide is devised such that when the apparatus is aimed at the target authentication device following guidance of the visual guide, the brightness levels on an image of the target authentication device captured by the image capturing device while under illumination of the light emitting device are within a predetermined range of brightness levels to facilitate verification of authenticity with reference to the captured image of the target authentication device.

Abstract: A composite information bearing device comprising a plurality of data units defined by an ensemble of pattern defining elements, the number of pattern defining elements forming the ensemble is substantially higher than the number of data units defined by the ensemble; the pattern defining elements of the ensemble are distributed to form a first data embedding pattern, the first data embedding pattern corresponds to a second set of data; the second set of data correlates to a spread pattern which follows a spatial distribution rule, the spatial distribution rule defines characteristic values of the spread pattern in spatial domain and have continuous values spread between a maximum value and a minimum value; and spatial distribution of the pattern defining elements of the ensemble follows the spatial distribution rule to the extent where the characteristic values are either above or below a selection threshold value between the maximum value and the minimum value.

Abstract: A woven information bearing device comprising a plurality of woven elements arranged to define a woven information bearing pattern, wherein the woven elements include N woven information bearing elements, N being an integer number; and wherein said N woven information bearing elements define N or more than N data elements.

Abstract: An information bearing device comprising a data bearing pattern, wherein the data bearing pattern comprises a plurality of data defining elements, the data defining elements being spatially distributed to define a set of spatial frequency data, and the set of spatial frequency data comprising a plurality of frequency data elements (F1, F2, . . . , Fn); and wherein each frequency data (Fi) has a data frequency magnitude (fi) and a data frequency angle(?i), the data frequency magnitude being above a first characteristic spatial frequency (fA) which corresponds to a characteristic frequency of a staple or commonplace image reproduction apparatus, the characteristic frequency representing an image data frequency above which reproduction quality by the staple or commonplace image reproduction apparatus begins to drop substantially.

Abstract: An authentication device comprising a woven authentication pattern, wherein the woven authentication pattern comprises a plurality of pattern forming woven elements each defining at least one pattern defining element or a plurality of pattern defining elements, and each pattern forming woven element is formed by a plurality of threads having contrasting optical or visual properties in twisted mutual engagement, wherein said pattern defining element has a spiralling outline or boundary and adjacent or abutting pattern defining elements of a pattern forming woven element are visually or optically distinguishable.

Abstract: A tamper or copy resistant information bearing device is disclosed. The information bearing device comprises a first data bearing pattern and a second data bearing pattern in overlap. At least a portion of the first data bearing pattern overlaps with at least a portion of the second data bearing pattern to form an overlapping region comprising an overlapped data bearing pattern. At least some information bearing elements of the first type and at least some information bearing elements of the second type in said overlapping data bearing pattern are joined or connected in abutment to form a plurality of overlapped information bearing elements. An overlapped information bearing element comprises a first portion due to said information bearing element of the first type, a second portion due to said information bearing element of the second type, and a third portion due to merging or overlapping of said information bearing element of the first type and said information bearing element of the second type.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for verifying authenticity of a target authentication device comprising a reference pattern having a characteristic frequency and a security pattern, the security pattern comprises an embedded security device that is coded with phase modulation information. The method comprises extracting frequency domain data from an image of the target authentication device to facilitate verification of authenticity of the target authentication device. The method provides a very effective end expedient mechanism for verifying authenticity of a moiré or moiré like authentication device to combat counterfeiting.

Abstract: A woven information bearing device comprising a plurality of woven elements arranged to define a woven information bearing pattern, wherein the woven elements include N woven information bearing elements, N being an integer number; and wherein said N woven information bearing elements define N or more than N data elements.

Abstract: A composite information bearing device comprising an image pattern and a human readable data device. The human readable data device includes a set of human readable data symbols representing a first set of data. The first set of data includes a first data portion and a second data portion. The image pattern represents a second set of data and comprises a third data portion. One of the first or said second data portions is to form an identification code upon combination or concatenation with said third data portion, and the other one of said first or said second data portions not forming part of said identification code is to form a verification code, the verification code being related to said identification code by a scheme of operation.