Remote authentication of two dimensional barcoded indicia

1. A method of verifying the authenticity of indicia comprising:

embedding identification and encrypted device data into an indicia, wherein the embedding of the identification and encrypted device data further comprises the steps of;

providing device data to a first hash function to yield a first hash value;

providing the first hash value to a first digital signature function utilizing a device private key to yield a first digital signature value;

incorporating the identification data, the first hash value and the first digital signature value into the indicia;

providing the device data and a device public key to a second hash function to yield a second hash value;

providing the second hash value to a second digital signature function utilizing a vendor private key to yield a second signature value; and

incorporating the second hash value and a vendor public key into the indicia;

utilizing the identification data to retrieve authentication data for deciphering the encrypted device data; and

determining a validity of the indicia using the deciphered device data.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising accessing a remote database to retrieve the authentication data.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising embedding identification and encrypted device data into indicia using a franking device.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the identification data comprises a serial number of the franking device.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the device data comprises one or more of a serial number of the franking device, a value applied by the franking device, and the contents of a register of the franking device.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying the identification data and the first hash value incorporated in the indicia;

determining a device public key from the identification data;

utilizing the device public key to extract the first hash value from the first digital signature value to yield a first extracted hash value;

comparing the first extracted hash value and the first hash value and if they do not match determining that the indicia is invalid.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

comparing the first extracted hash value and the first hash value and if they match identifying a vendor public key to extract the second hash value from the second digital signature value to yield a second extracted hash value; and

comparing the extracted second hash value and the second hash value and determining that the indicia is valid if they match and invalid if they do not match.