Interrelated Container Closure Codes for Refill Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Counterfeiting of products, particularly in industries like wine and pharmaceuticals, is a significant issue as it leads to health risks, damage to brand reputation, and loss of revenue, with existing solutions being expensive or causing damage to containers and not addressing re-filling of counterfeit products effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that generate interrelated codes for containers and their closures, where one code is marked on the container and another on the closure, allowing for authentication and detection of unauthorized refills, using cryptographic processes and standard industry printing systems, ensuring logistical impossibility for replicating the codes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spectrometry or frequency swept electric fields are used to analyze wine bottle contents, then authentication capability is improved, but cost increases and container damage may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a cryptographic copy of the container identifier on the closure. Instead of analyzing the wine contents directly with expensive spectrometry, a digital copy of the identification information is placed on the closure in the form of a code that can be verified without physical analysis of the product contents
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the physical/chemical analysis system (spectrometry, electric fields) with a cryptographic information system. The authentication is performed through code verification and cryptographic validation rather than physical measurement of the wine contents
2Reliability
If special labels or banderoles are placed on bottles and closures, then authentication is improved, but the problem of bottle re-filling with counterfeit product remains
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the authentication system into two separate components: a first code on the container and a second code on the closure. This segmentation allows independent verification of each component and detection when they are separated or when the container is re-filled with a different closure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a verification system that checks the relationship between the first code on the container and the second code on the closure. This feedback mechanism alerts when the codes do not match, indicating potential re-filling or tampering
3Reliability
If interrelated codes are generated for container and closure using cryptographic processes, then detection of unauthorized refilling is improved, but code generation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs code generation and cryptographic processing during the initial production and sealing phase. The first and second codes are generated and placed on the container and closure before the product reaches the consumer, so that authentication can be performed simply by verifying the pre-established cryptographic relationship
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for marking a manufactured item is provided, the manufactured item comprising a container and a removable closure for the container, the method comprising: generating a first code for the container, generating a second code for the closure, marking the container with the first code, and marking the closure with the second code, wherein the first code and the second code are interrelated such that at least a portion of one of the first code and the second code can be derived from the other of the first code and the second code. In an authentication process one of the first or second codes or a portion of the first or second code, in encrypted or unencrypted form, may be compared with a value derived from reading the other of the first or second code.