System and method for tracking and authenticating items through an internet web site

• US 20040172537A1
• Filed: 02/28/2003
• Published: 09/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Appleton Papers Incorporated (Oldapco PDC Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Appleton Papers Incorporated (Oldapco PDC Corp.)
• Inventors: Anderson, Peter Ralph, Baus, George Harold, Pleshek, Joseph Donald
• Application Number:
  US10/375,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20040172537A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/170
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32

Abstract

A method of securely tracking an item using an internet web site for a user to verify that the item is genuine, comprises entering a code to obtain secure access to the web site; selecting the item from a list on the web site; determining whether the code is authentic; allowing modification of tracking data if the code is determined to be authentic; and sending an alert as to a fraud potential if the code is determined to be not authentic.

Claims

1. A method of securely tracking an item using an internet web site for a user to verify that the item is genuine, comprising:

entering a code to obtain secure access to the web site;

selecting the item from a list on the web site;

determining whether the code is authentic;

allowing modification of tracking data if the code is determined to be authentic; and

sending an alert as to a fraud potential if the code is determined to be not authentic.

2. The method of securely tracking an item according to claim 1, wherein the code is at least one of an overt code and a covert code.

3. The method of securely tracking an item according to claim 1, wherein modified tracking data is saved into a database.

4. The method of securely tracking an item according to claim 1, wherein a record of an ID of the user is saved in a database if the code is determined to be not authentic.

5. A method of defining and customizing a web site for a user to verify that an item is genuine, comprising:

adding the item onto a database linked to the web site to create an item record;

adding a name or a character identifying a substrate attached to the item; and

assigning a security access level to the user on the web site.

6. The method of defining and customizing a web site according to claim 5, wherein the security access level is one of owner, inquirer and system administrator.

7. The method of defining and customizing a web site according to claim 5, wherein the name includes at least one of a thread, a bar code and a serial number.

8. The method of defining and customizing a web site according to claim 5, wherein the name or character can be indicated as being a key field or a required field in identifying the substrate.

9. A method of entering security data on a web site for a user to verify that a an item is genuine, comprising:

entering a code to obtain secure access to the web site;

selecting the item from a list on the web site;

modifying information relating to a substrate attached to the item; and

saving the modified information onto a database linked to the web site.

10. The method of entering security data on a web site according to claim 9, wherein the code is at least one of an overt code and a covert code.

11. The method of entering security data on a web site according to claim 9, wherein the information is automatically modified using an executable application.

12. A method of securely investigating an item using an internet web site for an investigator to verify that the item is genuine, comprising:

entering a code to obtain secure access to the web site;

selecting the item from a list on the web site;

determining whether the code is authentic;

allowing the investigator to inquire about the item if the code is determined to be authentic; and

sending an alert as to a fraud potential if the code is determined to be not authentic.

13. The method of securely investigating an item according to claim 12, wherein the code is at least one of an overt code and a covert code.

14. The method of securely investigating an item according to claim 12, wherein the inquiry is saved into a database.

15. The method of securely investigating an item according to claim 12, wherein a record of an ID of the investigator is saved in a database if the code is determined to be not authentic.

16. The method of securely investigating an item according to claim 12, wherein the investigator determines that the item is valid if the inquiry indicates that a substrate attached to the item has a unique label.

17. A method of performing security management on an investigator using an internet web site that allows a user to view a record of the investigator, comprising:

identifying the investigator;

requesting a report based on the identification on items scanned by the investigator to determine whether the items are genuine; and

limiting the items scanned by the investigator to a desired period of time.

18. The method of performing security management on an investigator according to claim 17, further comprising:

saving the identification of the investigator if it is determined that no items are scanned during the period of time.