Secure logistics management system for objects of high economic value

Abstract

A secure logistics management system for objects of high economic value comprises a container housing an object, a unique identification device associable with the container and / or the object and physical transport means adapted to convey the container from a site of origin to a site of destination; the system also comprises computerised conveyance means adapted to convey at least one set of identification data of the object, the set of identification data being nested in the unique identification device; and a reading unlock code of the set of identification data. The reading of the identification data set is conditional to a verification of the reading unlock code.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] SECURE LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR OBJECTS OF HIGH ECONOMIC VALUE

[0003] The object of the present invention is a logistics system, intended as a network of interconnected devices distributed along a circulation path (which usually involves the production of an object, its packaging and its transport to a buyer or end user), functionally correlated to maintaining the security and "inviolability" of an object placed in such a logistics system: the system is particularly suitable for guaranteeing the security conditions of objects of high economic value, such as jewellery, objects of art (paintings, sculptures or similar), watches, precious stones or precious metal ingots.

[0004] As is known, the production and sale of high-cost objects involves considerable security problems, both in terms of possible theft and in terms of possible alteration or counterfeiting (e.g., the risks of replacing an "original" jewellery object with a low-cost replica, in addition to the risks linked with the possible undue theft of gold ingots and so on).

[0005] On the other hand, the goods / objects of high economic value are often identified by a series of identification data, which allow to certify (for example) the originality of the item / object and / or the actual constitution in terms of material: these data must be stored and managed, also and above all during the transit of these goods / objects from the manufacturer to the buyer / end user, in the most secure way possible, avoiding possible contamination or falsification of these data themselves.

[0006] More generally, the circulation of goods / objects of high economic value presents some particular problems in terms of transport security and antibreak-in and / or anti-counterfeiting guarantees that currently the known logistics management systems (usually based on affixing to goods / objects to be made highly complex and expensive holographic labels, identification codes such as the so-called "QR codes", or with more or less "tamper-proof" seals that are designed to obtain and maintain a closure of the container in which such goods / objects are stored) fail to satisfy with a sufficient level of security and / or with an economic convenience proportional to the overall costs of managing the logistics systems designed for such circulation of goods / objects.

[0007] In light of the state of the art presented above, the aim of the present invention is therefore to realise a logistics system for the distribution and transport of goods / objects of high economic value that is able to overcome the drawbacks just presented.

[0008] In particular, the present invention aims to devise a logistics system that can identify in a highly secure manner a item / object of high economic value, and that is able to quickly and equally unequivocally verify any break-ins of the containers in which said item / object is transported (thus highlighting attempts to steal or counterfeit or replace the original item / object with a non-original and / or lower value copy).

[0009] Even more generally, the present invention intends to make available a logistics system that allows to have reduced overall management costs, that is easy to use both on the "shipping side" and "receiving side" (and therefore that is easy to set up both at the time of packaging the item / object and at the time of receipt thereof, with consequent opening, of the item / object by the buyer / end user) and that therefore allows to quickly and safely track the transit of the item / object with high economic value and that allows to activate any compensation or insurance systems in case of theft, misappropriation, break-in of the container or alteration of the item / object.

[0010] In addition, the invention also responds to the need to certify the originality of the good at any time, even during subsequent transactions, such as the transfer of the good between different owners, while the certification remains intact.

[0011] These and other aims are achieved by a logistics management system for objects of high economic value in accordance with the presentinvention, having the characteristics illustrated in the appended claims and illustrated below in an exemplary (but not limiting) embodiment thereof as well as in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0012] - Fig. 1 shows a general functional scheme of the system according to the invention.

[0013] With reference to the figures, the logistics system according to the invention is generally indicated with number 1 and basically comprises a container (2) adapted to house at least one item / object (O) (which typically for the purposes of the present invention may be of high economic value), a unique identification device (3) associable with the container (2) and / or the item / object (O) and suitable physical transport means (4) - also of a type known per se - adapted to convey the container (2) from a site of origin (which for example may be a site of production and / or packaging of the item / object (O)) to a site of destination (which for example may be a site of sale and / or "final" use of the item / object (O)).

[0014] Advantageously, the present invention provides for the presence and structural and functional integration of / with computerised conveyance means (5) that are adapted to convey at least:

[0015] - A set of identification data of the item / object (O) (this set of identification data can be conveniently nested in the unique identification device (3), but when needed can also be transmitted "remotely" if the conditions of the moment make it possible or appropriate); and

[0016] - A reading unlock code of this identification data set.

[0017] From an operational point of view, the present invention therefore provides that the computerised conveyance means (5) are adapted to send (at least) the reading unlock code to an end user, who is typically located at the site of destination, and at the same time are adapted to enable a reading of the identification data set conditionally to a verification of the reading unlock code.

[0018] From the point of view of the possible "physical" embodiments of the invention, the unique identification device (3) comprises at least one RFIDor NFC-type chip associable with the container (2) and / or the item / object (O), or more generally any device for the coded / encrypted reception and transmission of data and / or signals available today, provided that it is of such dimensions and costs that can be easily integrated at least with the container (2) mentioned above.

[0019] Focusing now on the computerised conveyance means (5), it can be noted how these comprise:

[0020] - a generator of the reading unlock code generated at said site of origin; - a telecommunications network, which may typically be a data network or a telephone network, adapted to transport the reading unlock code to the site of destination, and

[0021] - an end user interface (6) operative at the site of destination.

[0022] In turn, the end user interface (6) comprises a hardware medium (which can be a tablet or a smartphone, for example) and a software application nested in said hardware medium: the software application is adapted to receive the reading unlock code and consequently to display the identification data to an end user.

[0023] In even greater detail, the present invention may conveniently comprise suitable anomaly detection means, which are operative at least on the unique identification device (3) and are configurable, in a typically irreversible manner, between:

[0024] - a condition of integrity, in which they enable reading the reading unlock code and identification data, and

[0025] - a condition of occurred breakage, in which instead they do not enable reading the reading unlock code and identification data.

[0026] More in detail, the anomaly detection means comprise frangible or separable portions of the RFID or NFC chip, which cause a circuit interruption of the chip itself, thus making it unable to transmit or receive energization signals and / or pulses and consequently cause a condition of inability of said RFID or NFC chip to transmit.

[0027] Depending on the needs of the moment, the frangible or separableportions are positioned at the opening flaps of the container (2), or they can also be nested in faces and / or surfaces of the container (2): in this way, the occurred unwanted openings or break-ins of the container (2) can be reasonably prevented, or rather they can still occur through "a change of the physical state", which presupposes an attempt to steal, improperly replace or alter the item / object (O) housed in the container (2) itself.

[0028] By means of an appropriate writing, and an appropriate correlation of the "status reading" of the system components (1), it is therefore possible that the software application nested in the hardware medium mentioned above is adapted to:

[0029] - receive the reading unlock code through an input of an end user (who for example receives the code via SMS or dedicated service, and who can then type it into the software application itself) and consequently to display the identification data to an end user if the frangible or separable portions correspond to the condition of integrity of the anomaly detection means; or - receive the reading unlock code through input of an end user and consequently make it impossible to read and / or verify the identification data, in the event of a situation of occurred opening or break-in of the container if said frangible or separable portions correspond to said condition of occurred breakage of the anomaly detection means.

[0030] By way of example of a possible form of implementation of the invention illustrated above (and in any case claimed below), it can be noted that the computerised conveyance means (5) can comprise a security seal, which in turn can consist of a special label containing a microchip with short-range transceiver capacity (RFID I NFC) and a relative antenna for the reception and transmission of data.

[0031] The protection provided by this seal is twofold: mechanical and electronic, as the structure of the label support is made so as to deteriorate irreversibly when it is detached (or in the event of opening operations of the container on which it is affixed), and as an additional security measure it is not possible to duplicate the data contained onanother microchip.

[0032] Damage to the label (which can conveniently be visible to the eye) therefore implies the inability of reading and / or writing the information in the microchip contained therein, due to the breakage of the parts that make up the antenna: in other words, since this type of microchip can only be activated by means of its antenna, the breakage of the latter irreparably jeopardizes its use.

[0033] During the preparation of the container (2) and the object (O), each label is programmed, associating a serial number and an encrypted string therewith; in addition, and at the same time as programming the microchip, the serial number is stored on a special "cloud" platform, together with a certification of authenticity and / or of origin of the material inserted in the package (in addition to any technical or descriptive data sheet).

[0034] The reading unlock code, otherwise defined as a "private key" in the technical jargon of the sector, is created in the previous phase of information encryption, which will then be necessary for subsequent access to all the information associated with the serial number, and is stored by those who have carried out the entire packaging procedure of the good and must guarantee its authenticity and origin.

[0035] The physical delivery of the item / object (O) housed in the container (2) will therefore be combined with the delivery of the private encryption key, in a separate and secure manner, by means of a computer, physical or telematic medium (by way of example only: flash memory medium, email, etc.).

[0036] The recipient of the secured good, once he / she has ascertained that the package and the relative seal are intact, can at any time verify its authenticity simply by reading the content of the microchip with a normal reader compatible with the RFID and / or NFC chips (smartphone or other); in this way he / she can connect to the cloud platform that holds the data, and, only by providing the private key previously received, he / she can decode the information and obtain the documents referred to the serialnumber of its label (certificate of authenticity, origin, etc.).

[0037] The invention allows to obtain important advantages.

[0038] First of all, it should be noted how the peculiar constructive architecture of the logistic system according to the invention, being based on a transceiver element that is easy to find, just as easy to encode (and possibly decode) and with a high capacity for integration both physically / materially in the most disparate containers and at the level of loading and management of the identification data of the most diverse goods / objects of high economic value, allows to implement secure transports, with unique identifications of the goods / objects in transit in the logistics system itself and with rapid and unique reports of anomalies or discrepancies that may occur during the transit of the goods / objects in the logistics system itself.

[0039] It should also be noted that thanks to the peculiar functional and structural integration between physical containers, identification elements and secure closure systems, it is possible to obtain a total low management cost combined with high reliability in the detection of anomalies.

[0040] Finally, the duality of "transport" underlying this logistics system allows on the one hand an efficient delivery of the physical item / object, and in parallel it allows the end user to quickly and with high ease of use have a control interface on the authenticity and security of transport of the item / object of interest.

[0041] Finally, if necessary, the invention makes it possible to record and track each verification operation of the identification tool, both from the point of view of passing the check, and from the geographical origin of the check (e.g., network address).

Claims

CLAIMS1. Secure logistics management system for objects of high economic value comprising:- a container (2) adapted to house at least one item / object (O), said item / object (O) preferably being of high economic value;- a unique identification device (3) associable with said container (2) and / or said item / object (O); and- physical transport means (4) adapted to convey said container (2) from a site of origin, said site of origin being preferably a site of production and / or packaging of said item / object (O), to a site of destination, said site of destination being preferably a site of sale and / or use of said item / object (O),characterised in that it also comprises computerised conveyance means (5) adapted to convey at least:- A set of identification data of said item / object (O), said set of identification data being nested in said unique identification device (3); and - A reading unlock code for said set of identification data,wherein said computerised conveyance means (5) are adapted to send at least said reading unlock code to an end user located at said site of destination and are also adapted to enable a reading of said set of identification data conditionally to a verification of said reading unlock code.

2. System according to claim 1 , wherein said unique identification device (3) comprises at least one RFID-type chip associable with the container (2) and / or the item / object (O).

3. System according to claim 1 , wherein said unique identification device (3) comprises at least one RFID I NFC-type chip associable with the container (2) and / or the item / object (O).

4. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the computerised conveyance means (5) comprise a generator of said reading unlock code active at said site of origin, a telecommunication network, preferably a data network or a telephone network, adapted to transport said reading unlock code to the site of destination, and an end user interface (6) operative at the site of destination.

5. System according to claim 4, wherein said end user interface (6) comprises a hardware medium, said hardware medium being preferably a tablet or a smartphone, and a software application nested in said hardware medium and adapted to receive the reading unlock code and consequently to display said identification data to an end user.

6. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein there are also means for detecting operational anomalies at least on the unique identification device (3) and configurable, in a preferably irreversible manner, between a condition of integrity, in which they enable reading the reading unlock code and identification data, and a condition of occurred breakage in which they do not enable reading the reading unlock code and identification data.

7. System according to claim 6, wherein said anomaly detection means comprise frangible or separable portions of said RFID or NFC chip, said frangible or separable portions causing a circuit interruption of said RFID or NFC chip and preferably causing a condition of inability of said FRID or NFC chip to transmit.

8. System according to claim 7, wherein said frangible or separable portions are positioned at opening flaps of the container (2).io9. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said frangible or separable portions are nested in faces and / or surfaces of the container (2).

10. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the software application nested in the hardware medium is adapted to:- receive the reading unlock code through input of an end user and consequently to display the identification data to an end user if said frangible or separable portions correspond to said condition of integrity of the anomaly detection means; or- receive the reading unlock code through input of an end user and make it impossible to read and / or verify the identification data, in the event of a situation of occurred opening or break-in of the container if said frangible or separable portions correspond to said condition of occurred breakage of the anomaly detection means.

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