Secure tracking of articles

• US 20010053949A1
• Filed: 03/13/2001
• Published: 12/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microscan Systems Inc (Omron Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Robotic Vision Systems, Inc. (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: Arthur, Brian A., Ouellette, Richard G., Akyuz, C. Deniz, Stern, Howard, Howes, Curtis W.
• Application Number:
  US09/804,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20010053949A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/237
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/606 by securing the transmission between two devices or processes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/64 Protecting data integrity, e.g. using checksums, certificates or signatures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00024 Physical or organizational aspects of franking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0004 Determining the location of mailpieces outside apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0083 Postal data, e.g. postage, address, sender, machine ID, vendor
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00838 Personal data, i.e. biometrics

Abstract

A secure tracking system and method of tracking for articles which are secure and include authentication and verification of users and user devices for data and information access and input. Each article to be tracked is provided with a unique secure indicia applied to the article and through which chronological histories are generated and maintained from creation of each article until at least the time when article is scrapped or otherwise destroyed. The articles can include manufactured components, assemblies, device and equipment for aircraft, automotive, military and other users, as well as jewelry and works of art.

Claims

1. A secure article tracking system, comprising:

a. computer login means for permitting a user to login to the system;

b. secure database means for receiving the login to verify and authenticate the user and computer login means; and

c. security number database means for assigning a unique security number for each article to be tracked.

2. The secure tracking system of

claim 1

, wherein said computer login means includes at least a data input means and a server means,

3. The secure tracking system of

claim 1

wherein said database means may include a plurality of sub and ancillary database means each associated to some or all of the others.

4. The secure tracking system of

claim 1

wherein either said secure database means, or components thereof may be accessible through the intemet.

5. The tracking system of

claim 1

, wherein:

said security database means develops and maintains a chronological history of each article being tracked from the creation of that article at least until it is destroyed.

6. The tracking system of

claim 5

wherein said security database means is accessible upon request by specified users to update and retrieve data concerning said chronological histories.

7. The tracking system of

claim 5

wherein said security database means also includes chronological histories concerning devices, mechanisms and the like, which include said articles to be tracked, and which are also accessible to specified users upon request.

8. The tracking system of

claim 7

wherein said security database means in addition includes data and information concerning equipment that includes such devices, mechanisms and the like which, in turn, include said articles to be tracked and which are accessible to specified users upon request.

9. The tracking system of

claim 8

wherein said data and information concerning equipment and said chronological histories concerning devices, mechanisms and the like may be obtained through ancillary databases that are searchable to the system.

10. The tracking and security system of

claim 9

wherein said security database means includes business rules, data and information that are correlated to specified user requests such that only certain users can input, update and/or search only specified portions of said security database means.

11. The tracking and security system of

claim 6

wherein said chronological histories may include data and information, for each article to be tracked, such as register, manufacture, mark, store, ship, receive, pack, unpack, install, remove, modify, repair, overhaul and/or scrap or any combination of same.

12. The tracking and security system of

claim 11

wherein the articles to be tracked are parts, subassemblies, assemblies, devices or mechanisms, or combinations thereof.

13. The tracking and security system of

claim 12

wherein such articles to be tracked are for use in aircraft.

14. The tracking and security system of

claim 12

wherein such articles to be tracked are for automotive equipment.

15. The tracking and security system of

claim 12

wherein such articles to be tracked are for use in military equipment.

16. The tracking and security system of

claim 6

wherein said chronological histories are for items of jewelry and/or works of art and may be correlated to certificates of authentication for such items of jewelry and/or works of art and may further include data and information such as tracking, shipping, receiving, selling, retrieving fake or bogus or lost or stolen.

17. A secure article tracking system, comprising:

a. a computer login device for permitting a user to login to the system;

b. a secure database for receiving the login to verify and authenticate the user and computer login; and

c. a security number database for assigning a unique security number for each article to be tracked.

18. The secure tracking system of

claim 17

, wherein said computer login device includes at least a data input and a server,

19. The secure tracking system of

claim 17

wherein said database may include a plurality of sub and ancillary databases each associated to some or all of the others.

20. The secure tracking system of

claim 17

wherein either said secure database, or components thereof may be accessible through the internet.

21. The tracking system of

claim 17

, wherein:

said security database develops and maintains a chronological history of each article being tracked from the creation of that article at least until it is destroyed.

22. The tracking system of

claim 21

wherein said security database is accessible upon request by specified users to update and retrieve data concerning said chronological histories.

23. The tracking system of

claim 21

wherein said security database also includes chronological histories concerning devices, mechanisms and the like, which include said articles to be tracked, and which are also accessible to specified users upon request.

24. The tracking system of

claim 23

wherein said security database in addition includes data and information concerning equipment that includes such devices, mechanisms and the like which, in turn, include said articles to be tracked and which are accessible to specified users upon request.

25. The tracking system of

claim 24

wherein said data and information concerning equipment and said chronological histories concerning devices, mechanisms and the like may be obtained through ancillary databases that are searchable to the system.

26. The tracking and security system of

claim 25

wherein said security database includes business rules, data and information that are correlated to specified user requests such that only certain users can input, update and/or search only specified portions of said security database means.

27. The tracking and security system of

claim 22

wherein said chronological histories may include data and information, for each article to be tracked, such as register, manufacture, mark, store, ship, receive, pack, unpack, install, remove, modify, repair, overhaul and/or scrap or any combination of same.

28. The tracking and security system of

claim 27

wherein the articles to be tracked are parts, subassemblies, assemblies, devices or mechanisms, or combinations thereof.

29. The tracking and security system of

claim 28

wherein such articles to be tracked are for use in aircraft.

30. The tracking and security system of

claim 28

wherein such articles to be tracked are for automotive equipment.

31. The tracking and security system of

claim 28

wherein such articles to be tracked are for use in military equipment.

32. The tracking and security system of

claim 22

wherein said chronological histories are for items of jewelry and/or works of art and may be correlated to certificates of authentication for such items of jewelry and/or works of art and may further include data and information such as tracking, shipping, receiving, selling, retrieving fake or bogus or lost or stolen.

33. A method to securely track articles, comprising at least the steps of:

a. providing a secure article tracking system;

b. providing said system with at least a secure database;

c. logging into said secure database;

d. authenticating and verifying each such login; and

e. assigning a unique number for each article to be tracked.

34. The method of

claim 33

including providing at least a data input device and a server for logging into said system.

35. The method of

claim 34

including providing a plurality of sub and ancillary databases each associated to some or all of the others.

36. The method of

claim 35

including accessing either said secure database means, or components thereof through the internet.

37. the method of

claim 33

including utilizing said security database means to develop and maintain a chronological history of each article being tracked from the creation of that article at least until it is destroyed.

38. The method of

claim 37

including accessing said security database by request of specified users to update and retrieve data concerning said chronological histories.

39. The method of

claim 38

including inputting said security database means to also include chronological histories concerning devices, mechanisms and the like, which include said articles to be tracked, and which are also accessible to specified users upon request.

40. The method of

claim 39

including obtaining said security database with data and information concerning equipment that includes such devices, mechanisms and the like which, in turn, include said articles to be tracked and which are accessible to specified users upon request.

41. The method of

claim 40

including also providing said data and information concerning equipment and said chronological histories concerning devices, mechanisms and the like through ancillary databases that are searchable to the system.

42. The method of

claim 41

including providing said security database with business rules, data and information that are correlated to specified user requests such that only certain users can input, update and/or search only specified portions of said security database.

43. The method of

claim 38

including unputting said chronological histories with data and information, for each article to be tracked, such as register, manufacture, mark, store, ship, receive, pack, unpack, install, remove, modify, repair, overhaul and/or scrap or any combination of same.

44. The method of

claim 43

wherein the articles to be tracked are parts, subassemblies, assemblies, devices or mechanisms, or combinations thereof.

45. The method of

claim 44

wherein such articles to be tracked are for use in aircraft.

46. The method of

claim 44

wherein such articles to be tracked are for automotive equipment.

47. The method of

claim 44

wherein such articles to be tracked are for use in military equipment.

48. The method of

claim 38

including inputting said chronological histories with data and information for items of jewelry and/or works of art and may be correlated to certificates of authentication for such items of jewelry and/or works of art and further inputting data and information such as tracking, shipping, receiving, selling, retrieving fake or bogus or lost or stolen.