Composite security marking

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10679223-B2
Application number	US-201715843696-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 15, 2017
Priority date	Dec 21, 2016
Publication date	Jun 9, 2020
Grant date	Jun 9, 2020

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to the field of anti-counterfeit protection of products. Specifically, the disclosure is directed to a composite security marking for a physical object, in particular to an anti-counterfeit product marking. In particular, without limitation, such composite security marking can be used in connection with or can form a component of a multi-component security system, in particular of an anti-counterfeit protection system, which is also disclosed herein as part of an overall solution for anti-counterfeit protection. The composite security marking comprises a physical unclonable function, PUF, and a representation of a digital signature or of a pointer indicating a location where said digital signature can be accessed. The digital signature digitally signs a hash value resulting from application of a predetermined cryptographic hash function to data representing a response generated by the PUF in reaction to a challenge of a predetermined challenge-response authentication scheme.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A composite security marking for a physical object comprising:
a physical unclonable function, PUF; and
a pointer indicating a location where a said digital signature can be accessed;
wherein the digital signature digitally signs a hash value resulting from application of a predetermined cryptographic hash function to data representing a response generated by the PUF in reaction to a challenge of a predetermined challenge-response authentication scheme;
wherein the PUF comprises an unclonable physical pattern or a structure configured to generate a virtual pattern in response to the challenge; and
wherein said data representing a response generated by the PUF in reaction to a challenge of a predetermined challenge-response authentication scheme for said unclonable physical pattern or structure configured to generate a virtual pattern represents at least one recognized aspect or portion of said physical pattern or said virtual pattern, respectively.

2. The composite security marking according to claim 1 , wherein the security marking is an anti-counterfeit product marking.

3. The composite security marking according to claim 1 , wherein the PUF comprises an up-converting dye, UCD.

4. The composite security marking according to claim 1 , wherein said structure configured to generate a virtual pattern comprises a microstructure being configured to create an optical speckle pattern when illuminated with light of a suitable light source.

5. The composite security marking according to claim 1 , wherein the PUF comprises at least one of the following:
an image in which hidden information is steganographically embedded;
an image that is printed with an ink containing one or more types of up-converting dyes, UCD;
a hologram containing hidden phase-coded or frequency-coded information.

6. The composite security marking according to claim 1 , wherein said pointer indicates a routing to a server from which the digital signature can be retrieved.

7. The composite security marking according to claim 3 , wherein said data representing a response generated by the PUF in reaction to a challenge of a predetermined challenge-response authentication scheme for said UCD represents a spectral barcode having a continuous or a quantized range of allowed spectral values for a selected discrete subset of wavelengths and/or a characteristic lifetime of a luminescence effect occurring in the response.

8. The composite security marking according to claim 1 , wherein the composite security marking comprises at least one component resulting from an additive manufacturing process and the PUF is contained in or otherwise forms part of that component.

9. A physical object comprising the composite security marking according to claim 1 .

10. The physical object according to claim 9 , wherein:
the object is a product comprising one or more items for consumption or use and a packaging thereof; and
the PUF of the composite security marking is arranged on or contained within at least one of the items for consumption or use, while pointer to the digital signature is arranged on or within the packaging.

11. The physical object according to claim 9 , comprising one or more of the following items for consumption or use:
pharmaceutical or cosmetic compound or composition;
medical device;
laboratory equipment;
spare part or component of a device or system;
pesticide or herbicide;
seeding material;
coating, ink, paint, dye, pigments, varnish, impregnating substance, functional additive;
a raw material for additive manufacturing of products.

12. The composite security marking according to claim 1 , wherein the pointer is a pointer to a local or remote database, to a server address, or to an Internet address.

13. The composite security marking according to claim 1 , wherein the pointer is a pointer to a local or remote database, to a server address, or to an Internet address.

14. A method of providing a physical object with a composite security marking, the method comprising:
adding a physical unclonable function, PUF, to an object to be marked;
applying a challenge of a predetermined challenge-response authentication scheme to said PUF to trigger a response according to said authentication scheme in reaction to said challenge;
detecting said response;
applying a predetermined cryptographic hash function to data representing said response to obtain a hash value;
signing said hash value with a digital signature; and
adding a pointer indicating where the digital signature can be accessed to the object to be marked;
wherein the PUF comprises an unclonable physical pattern or a structure configured to generate a virtual pattern in response to the challenge; and
wherein said data representing a response triggered according to said authentication scheme in reaction to said challenge for said unclonable physical pattern or structure configured to generate a virtual pattern represents at least one recognized aspect or portion of said physical pattern or said virtual pattern, respectively.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the step of adding the PUF to an object to be marked comprises one or more of the following:
adding the PUF to a coating material to obtain a PUF-enhanced coating material and applying the PUF-enhanced coating material to a physical object to be marked;
adding a PUF to a raw material or an intermediate material before or while producing thereof a physical object to be marked;
adding a PUF to a raw material or fusion agent of an additive manufacturing process, for producing a physical object to be marked or at least a part of such object.

16. An apparatus for providing a physical object with a composite security marking, wherein the apparatus is adapted to perform the method of claim 14 .

17. A composite security marking for a physical object comprising:
a physical unclonable function, PUF; and
a pointer indicating a location where a said digital signature can be accessed;
wherein the digital signature digitally signs a hash value resulting from application of a predetermined cryptographic hash function to data representing a response generated by the PUF in reaction to a challenge of a predetermined challenge-response authentication scheme;
wherein the PUF comprises an unclonable physical pattern or a structure configured to generate a virtual pattern in response to the challenge; and
wherein said data representing a response generated by the PUF in reaction to a challenge of a predetermined challenge-response authentication scheme for said unclonable physical pattern or structure configured to generate a virtual pattern represents at least one recognized aspect or portion of said physical pattern or said virtual pattern, respectively.

Assignees

• Merck Patent Gmbh

Inventors

• Endress Thomas
• Szabo Daniel
• Wahl Fabian

Classifications

• G06K2019/06225

  using wavelength selection, e.g. colour code · CPC title

• H04L9/3278

  using physically unclonable functions [PUF] · CPC title

• G06Q30/0185 Primary

  Product, service or business identity fraud · CPC title

• G09C1/00 Primary

  Apparatus or methods whereby a given sequence of signs, e.g. an intelligible text, is transformed into an unintelligible sequence of signs by transposing the signs or groups of signs or by replacing them by others according to a predetermined system (cryptographic typewriters G09C3/00) · CPC title

• G06K19/0614

  the marking being selective to wavelength, e.g. color barcode or barcodes only visible under UV or IR (methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers using a selected wavelength, see G06K7/12) · CPC title