Abstract:
A system includes an imager that images an object, which includes a marker that is visually obscured, a marker identifier that identifies markers in the image of the object, and an image processor that combines the image of the object and a visual representation for the identified marker into a combined image, wherein a presence of a visual representation for the marker included with the object in the combined image indicates the object is authentic. A method includes imaging an object that includes a visually obscured marker and generating an image of the object, identifying the marker in the image of the object, generating a combined image that includes the image of the object and a visual representation of the identified marker, presenting the combined image, wherein the object is authenticated as not counterfeit in response to the visual representation of the marker corresponding to a reference authentication marker for the object.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The following generally relates to anti-counterfeiting/authentication and is described with particular application to combing real world imagery with virtual imagery to facilitate anti-counterfeiting/authentication measures. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Counterfeiting is the act of making an imitation (a counterfeit) of an object such as currency or private documents. Counterfeiting has been used with the intent to fraudulently pass the imitation off as the genuine object. 
         [0003]    Anti-counterfeiting measures are constantly in development to protect both currency and certain documentation. As digital printing techniques emerged in the 80&#39;s and 90&#39;s, advances in digital color printing and increased resolutions have narrowed the technology gap between counterfeiters and law enforcement. The impact of this can be most easily seen in the redesigns of US Currency over the last ten years. 
         [0004]    Additionally, new security techniques are constantly added such as security strips embedded in paper, use of holograms, color shifting ink as well as others. Each of these varies in effectiveness based on the technique and cost of implementation. The lifespan of their usefulness is also impacted by the advancement of reproduction technologies and how readily these become available to counterfeiters. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Aspects of the application address the above matters, and others. 
         [0006]    In one aspect, a system includes an imager that images an object, which includes a marker that is visually obscured, a marker identifier that identifies markers in the image of the object, and an image processor that combines the image of the object and a visual representation for the identified marker into a combined image, wherein a presence of a visual representation for the marker included with the object in the combined image indicates the object is authentic. 
         [0007]    In another aspect, a method includes imaging an object that includes a visually obscured marker and generating an image of the object, identifying the marker in the image of the object, generating a combined image that includes the image of the object and a visual representation of the identified marker, presenting the combined image, wherein the object is authenticated as not counterfeit in response to the visual representation of the marker corresponding to a reference authentication marker for the object. 
         [0008]    In another aspect, a computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions which, when executed by a processor of a computer, cause the processor to: authenticate an object is not a counterfeit based on augmented reality. 
         [0009]    Those skilled in the art will recognize still other aspects of the present application upon reading and understanding the attached description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The application is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which: 
           [0011]      FIGS. 1-3  illustrate example apparatuses; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates an example image processor of the example apparatuses; and 
           [0013]      FIGS. 5-6  illustrate non-limiting methods. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates an apparatus  100 . The apparatus  100  is configured for at least anti-counterfeiting/authentication applications. In the illustrated embodiment, the apparatus  100  is configured to facilitate identifying whether an object is likely to be a counterfeit or authenticate. Suitable objects include, but are not limited to, currency, documents, logos, brands, clothes, and/or other objects. 
         [0015]    The system  100  includes an imager  102  that generates an image (e.g., video and/or still) of an object  104  in an imaging region  106  of the imager  102 . In the illustrated embodiment, the object  104  includes one or more fiduciary markers  108  that can be identified in the generated image. Suitable fiduciary markers include, but are not limited to, a pattern, a color, a symbol, a picture, and/or other fiduciary maker. In the illustrated embodiment, the marker is visually obscured (e.g., not visible, hidden, non-recognizable, etc.) to the human eye, and/or can be encrypted, encoded, or the like. Note that the illustrated number, location, and geometry of the fiduciary marker  108  of the object  104  are for explanatory purposes and are not limiting. 
         [0016]    A marker identifier  110  identifies fiduciary markers in images such as images generated by the imager  102 . In the illustrated embodiment, a marker bank  112  includes one or more predetermined markers of interest  114 , and the marker identifier  110  identifies markers in images generated at least based on the one or more predetermined markers of interest  114  in the marker bank  112 . The markers of interest  114  include a predetermined set of known authentic markers that can be used to authenticate the object  104 . The marker identifier  110  generates a signal indicative of the identified marker. 
         [0017]    The marker identifier  110  may also be configured to generate a signal indicating that a marker cannot be identified in connection with the object  104  and/or that an identified marker does not correspond to a marker in the markers of interest  114 . As noted above, suitable markers include, but are not limited to, a pattern, a color, a symbol, part of a picture, and/or maker. The marker identifier  110  may also be configured to de-encrypt, de-code, etc. fiduciary markers that have been encrypted, encoded, etc. Using cryptology may mitigate identification of a fiduciary marker by non-authorized devices. 
         [0018]    It is to be appreciated that one or more of the markers of interest  114  may be a combination of the fiduciary marker  108  and a key  116 . By way of example, a marker of interest  114  may be a particular pattern that is formed when the key  116  is oriented in the imaging region  106  between the imager  102  and the object  104  such that the combination of the fiduciary marker  108  and the key  116  produce the marker of interest  114 . In another embodiment, multiple keys  116  are utilized in combination with the marker  108 . In another embodiment, individual keys  116  combine with the marker  108  to produce different ones of the markers  114  in the bank  112 . 
         [0019]    An image processor  116  generates an image (e.g., video and/or still) at least based on the image output by the imager  102  and marker identified by the marker identifier  110 . In the illustrated embodiment, the image processor  116  combine, superimposes, and/or otherwise merges the image output of the imager  102  and a representation for the marker identified by the marker identifier  110 . By way of example, where the marker  108  is visually obscured, the image processor  116  produces an image with a representation of the marker  108  that visible and recognizable to the human eye. Where a marker is not identified, the image processor  116  can be configured to combine the image from the imager  102  with indicia indicating that a marker has not been identified. 
         [0020]    As described in greater detail below, in one embodiment, the image processor  116  employs augmented reality to combine the image from the imager and the representation to produce an image that includes the live physical real-world and computer-generated imagery. For example, the image processor  116  may employ augmented reality to combine a live image of the object  104  with a computer-generated representation for the marker  108 . Where the output of the marker identifier  110  indicates that a marker could not be identified, the image processor  116  may combine indicia indicating such with the image from the imager  102 . 
         [0021]    A viewer  118  such as a monitor, display, or the like is configured to present the combined image from the image processor  116  such that the image from the imager  102  and the marker are visible and recognizable to a human looking at the combined image via the viewer  118 . The viewer  118  may be local or remote to the system apparatus  100 , and more than one viewer  110  and/or other viewers can be employed to view such data. The viewer  118  can be configured to display information in 2D and/or 3D formats. 
         [0022]    A notification component  120  can be used to send a notification indicating at least one of the marker identifier  120  did not identify a mark or the marker identifier  110  identified a mark. The notification can be sent via various communication channels, including, but not limited to, cell phone, telephone, pager, email, text message, instant message, and the like. The notification component  120  may also provide audible, tactile, and/or other notifications. 
         [0023]    Employing the apparatus  100  for an anti-counterfeiting application may make it technically difficult to pass a counterfeit of the object  114 , costly to counterfeit the object  114 , etc. 
         [0024]    It is to be appreciated that one or more of the components of the apparatus can be implemented by way of hardware and/or software. In one embodiment, the apparatus  100  includes one or more processors that execute one or more computer readable instructions embedded or encoded in computer readable storage medium to implement one or more of the components of the apparatus. In this embodiment, the storage medium may be local to and/or remote from the apparatus  100 . 
         [0025]    The apparatus  100  may be variously configured. For example, in one embodiment, the apparatus  100  is included in a hand held device. The device may be a dedicated device or a device such as a cell phone, a personal data assistant (PDA), a laptop computer, or the like. In another embodiment, the apparatus  100  may be portable and moveable, for example, via wheels, being carried, and/or otherwise. In yet another embodiment, the apparatus  100  is stationarily mounted. 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  illustrates an apparatus  200  which includes the apparatus  100  and other components. 
         [0027]    An information retriever  202  retrieves information about an identified marker based at least on the identified marker from an information database  204 . The illustrated database  204  includes information  206  and marker to information mappings  208 , and the information  206  may include one or more of a pattern, a picture, text, a symbol, etc. To retrieve information, the information retriever  118  locates a corresponding mapping from the mappings  126  based on the identified marker, and retrieves the information corresponding to the mapping. 
         [0028]    With this embodiment, the image processor  116  may additionally or alternatively generate an image by combining, superimposing, and/or otherwise merging the image output of the imager  102  and the representation, which, in the case, includes the information from the information retriever  118 . The representation of the marker may also be combined with this image. Similar to  FIG. 1 , the additional components  202 - 208  may be implemented by way of hardware and/or software, as described herein. 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  illustrates an apparatus  300  which includes the apparatuses  100  and  200  and other components. 
         [0030]    An analyzer  302  is configured to analyze the marker identified by the marker identifier  110  (if one is identified). A result of the analysis may be used to automatically determine whether the object  104  is counterfeit or authentic. 
         [0031]    For this, in one instance, the analyzer  302  uses known object information  300  to retrieve an object information to marker mapping from a verification database  304 , which includes object information to marker mappings  208  and markers  306 . The analyzer  302  employs the mapping to identify a representation of the marker or the marker from the markers  306  for the object  104 . The analyzer  302  then compares the identified marker with the marker for the object  104 . 
         [0032]    By way of non-limiting example, the object information  300  may indicate that the object is currency of a particular denomination. The mapping may lead to the particular marker utilized with the particular denomination. The particular marker is then compared with the identified marker. A successful match indicates that the object is authentic, whereas an unsuccessful match indicates a counterfeit. 
         [0033]    A rules bank  310  provides a set rules or actions (including no action) for the analyzer  302 . The analyzer  302  obtains a suitable rule from the rules bank  310  based on the results of the analysis. The rules may suggest that a notification be sent by the notification component  120 , that certain information should be combined with the image via the image processor  116  and displayed on by viewer  118 , etc. 
         [0034]    Similar to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the additional components  302 - 310  may be implemented by way of hardware and/or software, as described herein. 
         [0035]      FIG. 4  illustrates an example image processor  116 . In this embodiment, the image processor  116  employs augmented reality (combining the live physical real-world and computer-generated imagery). In other embodiments, other approaches are employed, including but not limited to, other approaches for merging the real world with the virtual world. 
         [0036]    The illustrated image processor  116  includes an augmented reality processing engine  402  (with one or more processors) and computer readable storage medium  404  that includes one or more augmented reality computer readable instructions  406  that when executed by the one or more processors combine at least the image output of the imager  102  and the representation (of the marker and/or the retrieved information) to generate live video and/or one or more still images showing the image of the object  104  with the representation merged therewith. 
         [0037]    In one embodiment, the image processor  116  registers and superimposes the information over the image from the imager  102 . In one instance, the information is placed over the image over a region dedicated for the particular information. In another instance, the information is placed over the image at region dedicated for all information retrieved from the information database and/or other information. The resulting combined image, including the image and the information, can be used to authenticate the object, or determine whether it is a counterfeit or not. 
         [0038]    Authentication can be achieved manually be a user comparing the visualized combination image with a predetermined reference authentication image. Alternatively, this can be achieved automatically via the analyzer  302 , for example, based on information about the particular object and a prior knowledge (e.g., from the verification database  304 ) about the corresponding marker for the object and hence the information that is combined with that type of particular object. 
         [0039]    Employing augmented reality as such may provide a unique means to merge physical and virtual modalities in anti-counterfeiting applications. This may not only increase the difficulty of imitating the object  104  but also allows the addition of crypto logical methods to further make a counterfeiter&#39;s job more difficult. 
         [0040]    For anti-counterfeiting applications, at one layer, the fiduciary marker  108  would be printed on the object  104  and would render a particular shape when viewed through the viewer  118 , indicating the object  104  was authentic. Other levels of anti-counterfeiting layers can concurrently be employed. 
         [0041]    By way of example, in one instance another layer of security can be achieved by incorporating the fiduciary marker  108  in a design of the object  104  so that it is not readily obvious, the colors are difficult to print, and/or the patterns are not easily recognizable to the human eye. 
         [0042]    Additionally or alternatively, another layer of security can be added by requiring user of the key  116  or other physical object that interacts with the fiduciary marker  108  and influences the image produced by the imager  110 . With the approach, authentication can be determined by how the physical object interacts and influences the image. 
         [0043]    Additionally or alternatively, another layer of security can be added by adding one or more different sets of colors to one or more different keys  116  where one or more predetermined colors of the keys  116  interact with the fiduciary marker  108  in different ways, and/or other colors do not interact with the fiduciary marker  108 . 
         [0044]    Additionally or alternatively, another layer of security can be added by incorporating multiple different fiduciary markers in the object  104 . With this embodiment, certain levels of access, along with the appropriate cryptology, would activate different images or act as a secondary means of authentication in case one of the previous levels was breached. 
         [0045]    Additionally or alternatively, another layer of security can be added by having some action by the user influence how the imager  102  images the fiduciary marker  108 . For example, in one instance, the user may have to move the key  116  in the examination region  106  based on a predetermined pattern in order for the imager  102  to acquire an image in which the marker can be identified. 
         [0046]      FIG. 5  illustrates a method for facilitating authenticating the object  104 . 
         [0047]    At  502 , the object  104  is scanned, producing an image (video and/or still) of the object. 
         [0048]    At  504 , the image is processed to identify a fiduciary marker included with the object  104 . 
         [0049]    At  506 , it is determined whether the fiduciary marker is identified in the image of the object. 
         [0050]    If so, then at  508 , a combined image showing the image of the object and a representation for the marker is presented. 
         [0051]    If not, then at  510 , the image of the object is presented. Optionally, indicia indicating that a marker has not been identified may be combined with the presented image of the object. Where a marker other than the predetermined fiduciary marker is identified, this other marker may or may not be displayed with the image of the object. 
         [0052]      FIG. 6  illustrates a method for facilitating authenticating the object  104 . 
         [0053]    At  602 , the object  104  is scanned, producing an image of the object. 
         [0054]    At  604 , the image is processed to identify a fiduciary marker included with the object  104 . 
         [0055]    At  606 , it is determined whether the fiduciary marker is identified in the image of the object. 
         [0056]    If so, then at  608 , a combined image showing the image of the object and information (from the database  204 ) corresponding to the identified marker is presented. 
         [0057]    If not, then at  610 , the image of the object is presented. Likewise, optionally, indicia indicating that a marker has not been identified may be combined with the image of the object, and where a marker other than the predetermined fiduciary marker is identified, that marker may or may not be displayed with the image of the object. 
         [0058]      FIG. 7  illustrates a method for facilitating authenticating the object  104 . 
         [0059]    At  702 , the object  104  is scanned, producing an image of the object. 
         [0060]    At  704 , the image is processed to identify a fiduciary marker included with the object  104 . 
         [0061]    At  706 , it is determined whether the fiduciary marker is identified in the image of the object. 
         [0062]    If so, then at  708 , a combined image showing the image of the object and the representation of the marker and/or the information corresponding to the identified marker is presented. 
         [0063]    If not, then at  710 , the image of the object is presented. Again, optionally, indicia indicating that a marker has not been identified may be combined with the image of the object, and where a marker other than the predetermined fiduciary marker is identified, that marker may or may not be displayed with the image of the object. 
         [0064]    At  712 , it is determined whether the object  104  is authentic or counterfeit based on the identified marker and/or the information retrieved for the identified marker and a priori information about the marker for the object  104 . 
         [0065]    At  714 , a notification indicating the object  104  is authentic or counterfeit can be presented via the viewer  118  and/or sent to a remote device to notify authorized personnel. 
         [0066]    It is to be appreciated that the methods herein can be implemented via one or more processor of one or more computing systems executing one or more computer readable and/or executable instructions stored on computer storage medium such as memory local to or remote from the one or more computing systems. 
         [0067]    It is to be appreciated that the ordering of the acts in the methods described herein is not limited. As such, in other embodiments, the acts may occur in a different order. In addition, in other embodiments, one or more additional acts may be included and/or on or more acts by be omitted. 
         [0068]    The application has been described with reference to various embodiments. Modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading the application. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations, including insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims and the equivalents thereof.