Importance

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Abstract

A writing pen that forms a line of ink from a sequence of small line segments of at least two lengths in a pattern that encodes information in the line. The information includes the location and time of writing, a pen identifier, and a pen usage counter. This allows a signature to be authenticated by scanning the signature, extracting the information, and comparing it to known times, locations, and pen uses of a claimed signatory. Autographs of famous persons can be authenticated this way. The pen has an ink jet head that produces the encoded line under control of a logic and data processor. A global positioning system, internal clock, pressure-sensing stylus, pen motion detector, event counter, and pen identification number, all in the pen body, provide inputs to the processor. The rate of production of the line segments is proportional to the writing speed.

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First Claim