Labeling and verifying an item with an identifier

Abstract

A system for manufacturing a label comprises a tag reader a computer, and a label writer. The tag reader determines an identifier based at least in part on a data read by the tag reader. The computer receives an identifier, a key, and a goods information and provides a message authentication code. The label writer receives the message authentication code and provides a label.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 354,639 (Attorney Docket No. CBIOP004+) entitled LABELING AND VERIFYING AN ITEM WITH AN IDENTIFIER filed Jun. 14, 2010 which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]A producer or reseller of items (including ingredients and components of such items)—for example a manufacturer, but also including other parties in the entire supply and distribution chain such as a supplier, a wholesaler, a distributor, a repackager, and a retailer—especially, but not limited to, high-value items, faces counterfeiting of the item. Counterfeiting includes the substitution, dilution, addition or omission of ingredients or components of the item compared to its intended product specification, as well as misrepresentation or diversion of the packaged item from its intended course of sale. This leads to loss of potential revenue as counterfei...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The invention is about a system and method for preventing counterfeiting and misrepresentation of items, such as pharmaceuticals and nutritional supplements, in high-value markets. The invention involves the use of a unique identifier (UID) that is associated with each item and can be used to verify the identity of the item. The invention can be implemented in various ways, such as as a process or apparatus, and can be used in various industries to prevent counterfeiting and product misrepresentation. The invention can also be used to study and authenticate the performance of items that appear identical but are made differently. Overall, the invention helps to ensure the reliability and accuracy of information collected and the effectiveness of health regimes."

Problems solved by technology

This leads to loss of potential revenue as counterfeit items are sold in the place of the real item.

Also, there can be health or product related damages caused by not using an authentic item as opposed to a counterfeit—for example, the counterfeit can perform differently or not at all as compared to an authentic item.

As international criminal organizations become more sophisticated, existing packaging security is proving inadequate.

The complexity of many industry supply chains—for example, the supply chain of the pharmaceutical industry—lends itself to entry points for adulterated or counterfeit product(s), often found in carefully counterfeited and high-quality packaging, and sometimes in authentic packaging that has either been stolen or as part of a repackaging operation.

Monetary gain or loss to either side of a transaction may also result from errors in record-keeping.

In addition to counterfeiting or product misrepresentation, items that appear physically identical or similar, for example certain nutritional supplements, may actually contain different ingredients or components, but because of similar appearance may be unintentionally packaged or labeled incorrectly.

Even if the items are otherwise identical, they may have different properties associated with the particular lot or batch conditions; for example, pharmaceuticals that otherwise appear identical may have different expiration dates and be incorrectly labeled due to failures or limitations in quality assurance protocols to ascertain such differences.

Much time, cost, and effort goes into statistical sampling and chemical analyses to verify the true identity of the unit-doses that are ultimately administered.

Images