Server-Based Product Authentication via Unique Number Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems cannot reliably distinguish genuine from counterfeit products based on product names and numbers, leading to potential authentication failures and warranty issuance errors.
Innovation Solution
A data transmission method and display system where a server stores and associates first and second unique numbers, allowing it to verify the authenticity of products by matching received unique numbers and transmitting corresponding data to electronic devices for display, enabling users to confirm product genuineness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If product authentication is based on product name and number only, then the authentication process is simple, but counterfeit products can be falsely authenticated as genuine
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between the user terminal and the authentication process. The server stores the correspondence between first unique numbers (internal identifiers) and second unique numbers (external product identifiers), and mediates the authentication by verifying whether the received second unique number matches the stored correspondence. This intermediary mechanism maintains operational simplicity for users while ensuring reliable authentication through centralized verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy or record of the unique number correspondence in the server's storage. Instead of relying solely on physical product labels, the system maintains a replicated database of genuine product identifiers on the server, allowing verification by comparing user-submitted identifiers against this stored copy. This copying approach enables reliable authentication without complicating the user interface.
2Reliability
If a server-based verification system is implemented, then product authentication reliability is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The server is designed to perform multiple functions: storing unique number correspondences, receiving authentication requests, verifying identifiers, and transmitting results to user terminals. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single multi-functional server, the system achieves reliable authentication without proportionally increasing overall system complexity. The server handles various authentication operations through a unified architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables users to perform authentication themselves by having their terminals directly communicate with the server to verify product identifiers. The server provides self-service verification capabilities where users can independently check product authenticity without requiring manual intervention from manufacturers or third-party validators. This self-service approach distributes the authentication workload and reduces the need for complex centralized control mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment of a data transmission method is executed by a server that includes a memory that stores first unique number data presenting a first unique number and second unique number data presenting a second unique number, in association with each other, and includes receiving a first unique number data presenting a first unique number from a first electronic device in the first unique number reception step. Whether the first unique number presented by the first unique number data received in the first unique number reception step matches the first unique number presented by the first unique number data stored in the memory is determined in the determination step. The second unique number data stored in association with the first unique number data stored in the memory is transmitted to the first electronic device when determined in the determination step that they match.