Authentication of a container and/or product packaged therein
A system and method for use in authenticating one or both of a container and a product packaged therein. The method comprises obtaining images of each of two codes carried by a container system comprising the container. The method further comprises determining, for each image, a contrast ratio between one or more elements of the code in the image and the background of the code. The method still further comprises determining the authenticity of one or both of the container and the product packaged therein based at least in part on the contrast ratios for each image, and therefore, each code.
1. A method for use in authenticating one or both of a container and a product packaged therein, comprising:
obtaining an image of a first code carried by a container system comprising the container, wherein the first code has one or more elements and is representative of first information relating to one of the container and the product packaged in the container;
determining at least one first contrast ratio between the one or more elements of the first code and a background of the first code;
obtaining an image of a second code carried by the container system, wherein the second code has one or more elements and is representative of second information relating to the other of the container and the product packaged in the container,
determining at least one second contrast ratio between the one or more elements of the second code and a background of the second code;
determining a difference between the at least one first and second contrast ratios; and
determining authenticity of one or both of the container and the product packaged therein based at least in part on the difference between the at least one first and second contrast ratios.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the at least one first contrast ratio includes obtaining and determining contrast ratios before and after the container is filled with the product, and associating the contrast ratios with the first code.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the authenticity of one or both of the container and the product packaged therein comprises determining whether one of the first or second codes is embedded in a surface of the container based on the difference between the at least one first and second contrast ratios and determining that one or both of the container and the product are authentic when it is determined that one of the first and second codes is embedded in the surface of the container.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein determining whether one of the first and second codes is embedded in a surface of the container comprises comparing the difference between the at least one first and second contrast ratios to a predetermined threshold and determining that one of the first and second codes is embedded based on the comparison of the difference between the at least one first and second contrast ratios to the predetermined threshold.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the authenticity of one or both of the container and the product packaged therein comprises determining whether one of the first or second codes is embedded in a surface of the container based on the difference between the at least one first and second contrast ratios, and when it is determined that one of the first or second codes is embedded in the container surface, the method further comprises:
reading the first and second codes and determining whether there is a link therebetween; and
when there is a link between the first and second codes, determining that one or both of the container and the product package therein are authentic.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a notification as to the authenticity determination.
7. A method for use in authenticating one or both of a container and a product packaged therein, comprising:
obtaining an image of a first code carried by a container system comprising the container, wherein the first code has one or more elements and is representative of first information relating to one of the container and the product packaged in the container;
determining at least one first contrast ratio between the one or more elements of the first code and a background of the first code;
obtaining an image of a second code carried by the container system, wherein the second code has one or more elements and is representative of second information relating to the other of the container and the product packaged in the container,
determining at least one second contrast ratio between the one or more elements of the second code and a background of the second code;
determining authenticity of one or both of the container and the product based at least in part on at least one of the at least one first and second contrast ratios.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein determining the authenticity of one or both of the container and the product comprises determining whether one of the first and second codes is embedded in the surface of the container based on the at least one first and second contrast ratios and determining that one or both of the container and product are authentic when it is determined that one of the first and second codes is embedded in the surface of the container.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein determining whether one of the first and second codes is embedded in the surface of the container comprises:
comparing at least one of the at least one first and second contrast ratios to a predetermined threshold; and
determining that one of the first and second codes is embedded in the surface of the container when one of the at least one of the at least one first and second ratios meets or exceeds the predetermined threshold.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein determining the authenticity of one or both of the container and the product comprises determining whether one of the first and second codes is embedded in a surface of the container based on the at least one first and second contrast ratios, and when it is determined that one of the first or second codes is embedded in the container surface, the method further comprises:
reading the first and second codes and determining whether there is a link therebetween; and
when there is a link between the first and second codes, determining that one or both of the container and the product package therein are authentic.
11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising providing a notification as to the authenticity determination.
12. An authentication system, comprising:
a code reader,
a central server;
a database accessible by the server and providing storage for data relating to one or both of a container and a product packaged in the container traveling within a distribution chain; and
at least one electronic code reader configured to capture images of codes carried by a container system that includes the container and to electronically communicate the captured images to the central server;
wherein the code reader is configured to;
obtain an image captured by the at least one code reader of a first code carried by the container system, wherein the first code has one or more elements and is representative of first information relating to one of the container and the product packaged in the container;
determine at least one first contrast ratio between the one or more elements of the first code and a background of the first code;
obtain an image captured by the at least one code reader of a second code carried by the container system, wherein the second code has one or more elements and is representative of second information relating to the other of the container and the product packaged in the container; and
determine at least one second contrast ratio between the one or more elements of the second code and a background of the second code;
wherein the central server will then determine authenticity of one or both of the container and the product based at least in part on the at least one first and second contrast ratios.
13. The authentication system of claim 12 , wherein the central server is configured to determine the authenticity of one or both of the container and the product by determining whether one of the first and second codes is embedded in the surface of the container based on the at least one first and second contrast ratios and determining that one or both of the container and product are authentic when it is determined that one of the first and second codes is embedded in the surface of the container.
14. The authentication system of claim 13 , wherein the central server is configured to determine whether one of the first and second codes is embedded in the surface of the container by:
comparing at least one of the at least one first and second contrast ratios to a predetermined threshold; and
determining that one of the first and second codes is embedded in the surface of the container when one of the at least one of the at least one first and second ratios meets or exceeds the predetermined threshold.
15. The authentication system of claim 13 , wherein the central server is further configured to determine a difference between the at least one first and second contrast ratios, and to determine whether one of the first and second codes is embedded in the surface of the container based on the difference between the at least one first and second contrast ratios.
16. The authentication system of claim 15 , wherein the central server is configured to determine whether one of the first and second codes is embedded in a surface of the container by comparing the difference between the at least one first and second contrast ratios to a predetermined threshold and determining that one of the first and second codes is embedded based on the comparison of the difference between the at least one first and second contrast ratios to the predetermined threshold.
17. The authentication system of claim 12 , wherein the central server is further configured to determine a difference between the at least one first and second contrast ratios, and to determine the authenticity of the one or both of the container and product based on the determined difference.
18. The authentication system of claim 17 , wherein the central server is configured to determine the authenticity of one or both of the container and the product by comparing the difference between the at least one first and second contrast ratios to a predetermined threshold and determining that one of the first and second codes is embedded based on the comparison of the difference between the at least one first and second contrast ratios to the predetermined threshold.
19. The authentication system of claim 12 , wherein the central server is configured to determine the authenticity of one or both of the container and the product by determining whether one of the first and second codes is embedded in the surface of the container based on the at least one first and second contrast ratios, and when it is determined that one of the first or second codes is embedded in the container surface, the central server is further configured to:
read the first and second codes and determining whether there is a link therebetween; and
when there is a link between the first and second codes, determine that one or both of the container and the product package therein are authentic.
20. The authentication system of claim 12 , where the central server is further configured to generate an electronic signal representative of a notification as to the authenticity determination.