Method for improving security and enhancing information storage capability, the system and apparatus for producing the method, and products produced by the system and apparatus using the method

• US 20050061878A1
• Filed: 04/22/2004
• Published: 03/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Secure Symbology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Secure Symbology, Inc.
• Inventors: Barenburg, Ronald, Bordner, Rhett C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,207,481 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06046 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06056 the marking comprising a further embedded marking, e.g. a 1D bar code with the black bars containing a smaller sized coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1434 Barcodes with supplemental or add-on codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0054 with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles

Abstract

One alternative and optional method of the present invention provides a secured item specific identification system incorporating the steps of identifying an item to a determined degree, generating a first identifying code for the item, generating a second code and separately providing the same to a partner, enabling an access to secure identification data regarding the item upon an authorizing use of both the first and second code. In other optional alternative embodiments, the first and second codes may be optionally linked or alternatively provided in alternative and adaptive composite symbology formats.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing information security during item transfer, comprising the steps of:

enumerating an item specific designation for a user specified item;

encoding said enumerated item specific designation into a readable composite symbology encodation;

said composite symbology encodation, comprising;

at least a first and a second encoded symbology portion, wherein said at least first and second portions are electronically joined during said step of encoding and require a combination of said portions to read said encoded item specific designation;

deconstructing said readable composite symbology encodation into said at least first and second encoded symbology portions rendering at least one of said at least first and second portions separately unreadable without the other;

applying one of said deconstructed at least first and second encoded symbology portions to said user specified item;

transferring said user specified item to at least a first authorized party;

transferring said other of said at least first and second encoded symbology portions to said at least first authorized party separately from said user specified item; and

reconstructing said at least first and second encoded symbology portions and into said readable composite symbology encodation, thereby enabling said authorized party to conduct a step of reading said composite symbology encodation and determining said item specific designation.

2. A method of enhancing information security during item transfer, according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

recording at least said item-specific designation for said user specified item in an authorized-use accessible storage system;

providing to said at least first authorized party means for securely accessing said authorized-use storage system; and

accessing said authorized-use accessible storage system and comparing said reconstructed composite symbology encodation with said recorded item-specific designation, thereby enabling said at least first authorized party to confirm at least one of a pedigree and an authentication of said user specified item.

3. A method for enhancing information security during item transfer, according to claim 2, wherein:

said means for securely accessing includes means for securely updating said authorized-use storage system, whereby said system enables at least a receipt confirmation of said user specified item.

4. A method of enhancing information security during item transfer, according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

conducting at least one of a step of updating, a step of modifying, and a step of correcting said authorized-use accessible storage system to link said recorded item specific designation to at least one of a location status, a return status, an authorization status, a pedigree status, and a counterfeit status, relative to said user specified item, whereby said method enables a comprehensive supply-chain report during said item transfer to said authorized party.

5. A method of enhancing information security during item transfer, according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

accessing said authorized-use accessible storage system and determining at least a location of said user specified item.

6. A method of enhancing information security during item transfer, according to claim 1, wherein:

said item specific designation includes both higher-order information and specific-item information effective to provide a user-determined unit designation to said user specified item.

7. A method of enhancing information security during item transfer, according to claim 6, wherein:

said higher-order information includes at least one of a UPC identifier, a NDC code identifier, a manufacturer identification identifier, and a transmission means identifier; and

said specific-item information includes at least a one of a serial number and a custom identification number for said user specified item.

8. A method of enhancing information security during item transfer, according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

enabling said authorized party to access said authorized-use accessible storage system via one of an internet-based secure hyperlink connection and an intranet-based connection, wherein said step of enabling allows an easy access to said accessible storage system for simplified and secure item tracking.

9. A method of enhancing information security during item transfer, according to claim 1, wherein:

at least one of said first and second encoded symbology portions is a 2D symbology encodation; and

said other of said first and second encoded symbology portions is a 1D symbology encodation, whereby said readable composite symbology encodation combines said 1D and said 2D symbology encodations enabling at least an increased security during item transfer.

10. A method of enhancing information security during item transfer, according to claim 1, wherein:

at least one of said first and second encoded symbology portions is a 2D symbology encodation; and

said other of said first and second encoded symbology portions is a 2D symbology encodation, whereby said readable composite symbology encodation combines said 2D and said 2D symbology encodations enabling at least an increased security during item transfer.

11. A method of enhancing information security during item transfer, according to claim 2, wherein:

said step of encoding said readable composite symbology encodation further comprises a step of;

providing additional human readable references to said item specific designation on respective said at least first and second encoded symbology portions.

12. A method of enhancing information security during item transfer, according to claim 11, wherein:

during said step of deconstructing portions of said human readable references are also deconstructed relative to said respective encoded symbology portions, thereby allowing during said step of reconstructing said authorized party to enter said human readable references in said authorized-use accessible storage system to reconstruct said item specific designation and enable said at least first authorized party to confirm said item specific designation despite a damage to said encoded symbology portions rendering them incapable of reading by non-human devices during said steps of reconstructing and accessing.

13. A method of enhancing information security during item transfer, according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of reconstructing includes at least one of a step of physically reconstructing and at step of electronically reconstructing said first and second symbology encoded portions into said readable composite symbology encodation, whereby said method enables an adaptive reconstructing method improving information security during item transfer.

14. A method for enhancing information security during item transfer, comprising the steps of:

enumerating an item specific designation for a user specified item;

encoding said enumerated item specific designation into a composite symbology encodation;

said composite symbology encodation, comprising;

at least a first 2D encoded symbology portion and a second 1D encoded symbology portion, wherein said at least first and second portions are electronically joined or linked during said step of encoding and require a combination of said portions to electronically read said composite symbology encodation of said item specific designation;

deconstructing said readable composite symbology encodation into said at least first and second encoded symbology portions rendering at least one of said at least first and second portions separately unreadable;

applying one of said deconstructed at least first and second encoded symbology portions to said user specified item;

transferring said user specified item to at least a first authorized party;

transferring said other of said at least first and second encoded symbology portions to said at least first authorized party separately from said user specified item; and

reconstructing said at least first and second encoded symbology portions and into said readable composite symbology encodation, thereby enabling said authorized party to conduct a step of reading said composite symbology encodation and determining said item specific designation.

15. A method for enhancing information security during item transfer, according to claim 14, wherein:

said first 2D encoded symbology portion is an RSS Composite-type symbology; and

said second 1D encoded symbology portion is one of an RSS Linear-type symbology and an UCC/EAN-type.

16. An apparatus, for enhancing information security during an item transfer, comprising:

means for enumerating an item specific designation for a user specified item;

means for encoding said enumerated item specific designation into a readable composite symbology encodation;

said composite symbology encodation, comprising;

at least a first and a second encoded symbology portion, wherein said at least first and second portions are electronically joined by said means for encoding thereby requiring at least one of a physical and an electronic combination of said portions to read said encoded item specific designation;

means for deconstructing said readable composite symbology encodation into said at least first and second encoded symbology portions rendering at least one of said at least first and second portions separately unreadable;

means for applying one of said deconstructed at least first and second encoded symbology portions to said user specified item;

means for transferring said user specified item to at least a first authorized party;

means for transferring said other of said at least first and second encoded symbology portions to said at least first authorized party separately from said user specified item; and

means for reconstructing said at least first and second encoded symbology portions and into said readable composite symbology encodation, thereby enabling said authorized party to read said composite symbology encodation and determining said item specific designation.

17. An apparatus, for enabling an improved security and information transfer between a label generator generating a label for an item and an authorized party receiving the item, comprising:

means for enumerating an item specific designation for said item;

means for generating at least a machine readable composite symbology encodation for said item specific designation and for deconstructing said composite symbology encodation into at least a first encoded portion and a second encoded portion rendering said first and second encoded portions separately unreadable;

said first encoded portion being a 2D symbology encodation portion;

said second encoded portion being a 1D symbology encodation portion;

means for printing at least said first encoded portion on a label for said item and applying said label to said item;

means for separately transferring said item labeled with said first encoded portion and said second encoded portion to said authorized party; and

means for reconstructing said first encoded portion from said label and said separately transferred second encoded portion thereby enabling a reading of said composite symbology and determination by said authorized party of said item specific designation.

18. An apparatus, according to claim 17, wherein:

said means for reconstructing enables at least one of a physical reconstruction and an electronic reconstruction of said composite symbology encodation, whereby said apparatus enables ready adaptation of said apparatus to differing authorized party practices and damage to said label.

19. An apparatus, according to claim 18, further comprising:

means for providing a secure master data system to said label generator and said authorized party;

means for recording said machine readable composite symbology encodation representing said item specific designation in said master data system linked with said designated specific-item information identifier; and

means for enabling said authorized party to securely access said secure master data system upon at least said reconstruction of said of said first and second encoded portions, thereby enabling an authentication by said authorized party that said item labeled with said first encoded portion is said item initially labeled by said label generator.

20. An apparatus, according to claim 19, further comprising:

means for generating human readable references respective to said first and second encoded portions and for printing said human readable references respective to said first encoded portion on said label for said item, whereby said item label and said means for reconstructing enables a specific individualized product or item identification with a safety feature enabling a human access to said specific-item information identifier.

21. An apparatus, according to claim 17, wherein:

said item specific designation includes at least specific-item information including a designated item serial number;

said designated item serial number being at least one of a sequential number, a numeric number, an alpha-character number, and an alpha-numeric number; and

said designated item serial number being at least one of an encrypted and non-encrypted number.

22. An apparatus, according to claim 21, wherein:

said composite symbology encodation further comprises at least higher-order information; and

said higher-order information includes at least one of a National Drug Code (NDC) identifier, a Lot identifier, an Expiration Date identifier, a general item identifier, and an item-manufacturer identifier, whereby said apparatus enables a secure master data system storage and secure assess to both said higher-order information and said specific-item information providing an improved security and an enhanced information storage capability to an item transfer between said label generator and said authorized party.

23. A method for providing an improved information security during an item transfer between an initial item identifier and at least one supply chain party in a supply chain, comprising the steps of:

selecting an item requiring an item specific designation;

selecting an identification system for enumerating an identifier for said item from one of an industry-acceptable identification system and a custom-created identification system;

enumerating an item specific designation for said item;

said item specific designation including at least higher-order information and specific-item information;

said specific-item information including at least a unique serial number for said item;

encoding at least said specific item information in at least a first 2D bar code;

applying said at least first 2D bar code to one of said item and an item label using one of a commercially acceptable off-line and a commercially acceptable online printing method producing a 2D bar code unreadable separately from a security 1D bar code;

generating said linked security 1D bar code for said supply chain party enabling a reading of a combination of said 2D and 1D bar codes only when said 2D and 1D bar codes are physically or electronically joined;

said 2D bar code and said 1D bar code being one of electronically linked/hooked codes and electronically unlinked/unhooked codes;

maintaining a secure database system joining at least each said item, said unique serial number for each item; and

said 2D bar code in a secure database accessible via the Internet;

maintaining a secure connection between said secure data base system, the Internet, and said at least one supply chain party enabling access through at least one of an authorized use of said physically or electronically joined 1D and 2D bar codes and an authenticated use employing human enterable data;

transferring said security 1D bar code to said supply chain party in a secure manner separately from said 2D bar code and said item; and

allowing for a secure updating of a location of said item in said secure data base system along said supply chain, whereby said method enables a certification of a pedigree of said item via said secure data base system and limits an access to said secure data base system when said 1D and 2D bar codes are not joined.

24. An system for providing an improved information security during an item transfer between an initial item identifier and at least one supply chain party in a supply chain, comprising:

means for selecting an item requiring an item specific designation;

means for selecting an identification system for enumerating an identifier for said item from one of an industry-acceptable identification system and a custom-created identification system;

means for enumerating a item specific designation for said item;

said item specific designation including at least higher-order information and specific-item information;

said specific-item information including at least a unique serial number for said item;

means for encoding at least said specific item information in at least a first 2D bar code;

means for applying said at least first 2D bar code to one of said item and an item label using a commercially acceptable off-line or on-line printing method producing a scannable 2D bar code when joined with a linked security 1D bar code;

means for generating said linked security 1D bar code for said supply chain party enabling a reading of a combination of said 2D and 1D bar codes only when said 2D and 1D bar codes are physically or electronically joined;

said 2D bar code and said 1D bar code being one of electronically linked/hooked codes and electronically unlinked/unhooked codes;

means for maintaining a secure database system storing at least each item, said unique serial number for each item; and

said 2D bar code in a secure database;

means for establishing and maintaining a secure connection between said secure data base system, and said at least one supply chain party enabling access through at least one of an authorized use of said physically or electronically joined 1D and 2D bar codes and an authenticated use employing secure human enterable data;

means for transferring said security 1D bar code to said supply chain party in a secure manner separately from said 2D bar code and said item; and

means for allowing for a secure updating of a location of said item in said secure data base system along said supply chain, whereby said method enables a certification of at least one of an authentication and a pedigree of said item via said secure data base system and limits an access to said secure data base system when said 1D and 2D bar codes are not joined.

25. A method for providing improved security during an item transfer between an initial item identifier and at least one supply chain party in a supply chain, comprising:

selecting an item requiring an item specific designation;

selecting an identification system for enumerating an identifier for said item from one of an industry-acceptable identification system and a custom-created identification system;

enumerating a item specific designation for said item;

said item specific designation including at least higher-order information and specific-item information;

said specific-item information including at least a unique serial number for said item;

encoding at least said specific item information in at least a first 2D composite bar code;

applying said at least first 2D composite bar code to one of said item and an item label using one of a commercially acceptable off-line and a commercially acceptable online printing methods;

producing a readable 2D composite bar code when joined with a second security bar code;

requiring said at least one supply chain party to separately secure said second security bar code enabling a reading of said first 2D composite bar code only when said first 2D composite code and said second security bar code are physically or electronically joined;

said first 2D composite bar code and said second security code being one of electronically linked/hooked codes and electronically unlinked/unhooked codes;

maintaining a secure database system joining at least each item, said unique serial number, said first 2D composite bar code, and said second security code in a secure data base accessible via the Internet;

enabling a secure connection between said secure data base system, the Internet, and said at least one supply chain party enabling an access to said secure data base system through at least one of an hand entry and an electronic entry of a joined 2D composite code and said second security bar code;

requiring an authentication of said supply chain party by a scanning of at least a first form of scannable identification prior to an accessing of said secure data base system; and

allowing for a secure updating of a location of said item in said secure data base system along said supply chain, whereby said method enables a certification of a pedigree of said item via said secure data base system, allows a reporting of the same, and limits an access to said secure data base system when said first 2D composite bar code and said second security bar code are not joined.

26. A system for enabling an improved security and information transfer between a label generator generating a label for an item and an authorized party receiving the item, comprising:

means for enumerating an item specific designation for said item;

means for generating at least a machine readable composite symbology encodation for said item specific designation and for printing said composite symbology encodation on said label;

said composite symbology encodation including at least a first encoded portion and a second encoded portion;

said first encoded portion being a 2D symbology encodation portion;

said second encoded portion being a 1D symbology encodation portion;

said means for generating including means for printing a human readable encodation reference proximate respective said first and second portions of said composite symbology encodation duplicating said item specific designation, a secure master data system including said machine readable composite symbology encodation linked with said item specific designation for said item;

means in said secure master data system for providing a secure access to said secure master data system by said label generator and said authorized party; and

said secure master data system including means for machine entering of said machine readable composite symbology and means for human entering of said human readable references, whereby said item label enables a tracking of an item specific designation and thereby enables an improved safety feature enabling at least one of a secure human access and a secure machine access to said item specific designation to confirm an authenticity of said item.

27. A system, according to 26, wherein:

said item specific designation includes a item serial number;

said designated item serial number being at least one of a sequential number, a numeric number, an alpha-character number, and an alpha-numeric number;

said designated item serial number being at least one of an encrypted and non-encrypted number;

said machine readable composite symbology further comprising higher-order information; and

said higher-order information including at least one of a National Drug Code (NDC) identifier, a Lot identifier, an Expiration Date identifier, a general item identifier, and an item-manufacturer identifier, whereby said system enables a secure data system storage and secure assess to both said higher-order information and item specific designation providing an improved security and an enhanced information storage capability to an item transfer between said label generator and said authorized party.

28. A management platform for managing a method for enhancing information security during item transfer, comprising:

means for securely receiving a first encodation portion of a composite symbology encodation from an authorizing supply chain partner;

said completed composite symbology encodation representing an item specific designation for a user specified item;

said composite symbology encodation including said 1D encodation portion and a 2D encodation portion;

means for separately receiving said second encodation portion of said composite symbology encodation separately from said means for securely receiving;

said first and second encodation portions being separately unreadable and requiring one of a physical and an electronic joining to form said completed composite symbology encodation prior to one of a physical and a machine reading of said composite symbology encodation;

means for one of a physically and a electronically joining said first encodation portion and said second encodation portion and forming said completed composite symbology encodation; and

means for scanning said completed composite symbology encodation and for determining said item specific designation, whereby said means for separately receiving and said means for physically and electronically joining providing an enhanced security feature minimizing a risk and determining an authentication of said user specified item.

29. A label for labeling an item and enhancing information security during an item transfer from an item labeler and an item receiver, said label comprising:

a first machine-readable composite symbology encodation reflecting at least a first item specific designation for said item and containing a combined first 1D encodation portion and a second 2D encodation portion;

said first machine-readable composite symbology encodation encoded to require a simultaneous a machine-reading of said first and second encodation portion to determine said encoded at least first item specific designation;

a first human-readable identifier proximate said first machine-readable composite symbology encodation enumerating in human-readable characters said item specific designation encoded by said first composite symbology encodation;

a first human-readable identifier identifying a content-description of said item during said transfer;

a second human-readable identifier identifying an origin-description of said item during said transfer;

a third 2D encodation portion of a second machine-readable composite symbology encodation on said label positioned distal from said first machine-readable composite encodation;

said third 2D encodation portion of said second machine-readable composite symbology encodation reflecting a second item specific designation; and

said third 2D encodation portion including an encodation requirement for a joint machine-reading of a missing 1D encodation portion held by said item receiver and linked with said third 2D encodation portion for a successful machine-reading;

thereby enabling said item receiver to scan said first machine-readable composite symbology encodation to determine said first item specific designation and thereafter require said item receiver to join said third 2D and said missing 1D encodation portions for a successful machine-reading to determine said second item specific designation.