Patent ID: 7068356

Claim:
A method for determining the authenticity of a product housed in packaging having a label attached thereto, the label having a plurality of authentication materials associated therewith, at least two of said authentication materials eliciting at least one measurably different property upon excitation of the authentication materials by an excitation source, said method comprising the steps of: (a) exciting said at least two authentication materials by way of said excitation source directed across said packaging and said product to said at least two authentication materials; (b) monitoring said at least one excitation-dependent property of each of said at least two authentication materials after excitation by way of said excitation source; (c) developing a relative relationship profile between the at least one excitation-dependent property of each of said at least two authentication materials after excitation by way of said excitation source; (d) comparing said relative relationship profile of step (c) with the relative relationship profile characteristic of said at least two authentication materials after excitation by way of said excitation source with respect to a standard for an authentically labeled, authentic product housed in authentic packaging; (e) declaring authenticate said product when said relative relationship profile of step (c) corresponds to the relative relationship profile of said standard.