Authentication and tracking system
First Claim
1. A method for authenticating one or more instantiations of a product following initial distribution comprising:
- providing a code string model having finite parameters, the finite parameters used to define a total quantity of unique code strings that can be derived from the code string model;
providing a subset of unique code strings as a quantity of unique code strings selected for use from the total quantity of unique code strings, the subset of unique code strings being at least one hundred times smaller than the total quantity of unique code strings;
defining a maximum probability of guessing any of the subset of unique code strings;
verifying that an actual probability of guessing any of the subset of unique code strings is less than the maximum probability of guessing any of the subset of unique code strings;
randomly generating the subset of unique code strings from the total quantity of unique code strings;
providing a secure server having a database used to store the subset of unique code strings;
storing the subset of unique code strings within the database on the secure server;
marking each of a quantity of the instantiations with one of the code strings of the subset;
distributing the marked instantiations along a chain of commerce; and
validating the authenticity of one of the marked instantiations during or following distribution, the marked instantiation validated through exchange of transmitted signals between the secure server and a communication device, the communication device adapted for entry of the unique code string and adapted to transmit an inquiry signal containing the unique code string to the secure server, the secure server adapted to receive the inquiry signal to reveal the scanned unique code string, adapted to search the database thereon to validate the authenticity of the unique code string, and adapted to transmit a return signal to the field reader regarding validation of the authenticity of the marked instantiation.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A subset of unique codes are generated from a set of codes. The subset of codes are stored in a database on a secure server and each of the codes is marked on a corresponding instantiation of the product. The marked instantiations are distributed. During their distribution, the marked instantiations are verified for authenticity and for routing. This verification is performed by reading or scanning the codes on the instantiations, and transmitting that information to the secure server for comparison against the codes and other information located in the database contained therein.
-
Citations
26 Claims
-
1. A method for authenticating one or more instantiations of a product following initial distribution comprising:
-
providing a code string model having finite parameters, the finite parameters used to define a total quantity of unique code strings that can be derived from the code string model;
providing a subset of unique code strings as a quantity of unique code strings selected for use from the total quantity of unique code strings, the subset of unique code strings being at least one hundred times smaller than the total quantity of unique code strings;
defining a maximum probability of guessing any of the subset of unique code strings;
verifying that an actual probability of guessing any of the subset of unique code strings is less than the maximum probability of guessing any of the subset of unique code strings;
randomly generating the subset of unique code strings from the total quantity of unique code strings;
providing a secure server having a database used to store the subset of unique code strings;
storing the subset of unique code strings within the database on the secure server;
marking each of a quantity of the instantiations with one of the code strings of the subset;
distributing the marked instantiations along a chain of commerce; and
validating the authenticity of one of the marked instantiations during or following distribution, the marked instantiation validated through exchange of transmitted signals between the secure server and a communication device, the communication device adapted for entry of the unique code string and adapted to transmit an inquiry signal containing the unique code string to the secure server, the secure server adapted to receive the inquiry signal to reveal the scanned unique code string, adapted to search the database thereon to validate the authenticity of the unique code string, and adapted to transmit a return signal to the field reader regarding validation of the authenticity of the marked instantiation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method for authenticating and tracking one or more instantiations of a product following initial distribution comprising:
-
providing a code string model having finite parameters, the finite parameters used to define a total quantity of unique code strings that can be derived from the code string model;
providing a subset of unique code strings as a quantity of unique code strings selected for use from the total quantity of unique code strings, the subset of unique code strings being at least one hundred times smaller than the total quantity of unique code strings;
defining a maximum probability of guessing any of the subset of unique code strings;
verifying that an actual probability of guessing any of the subset of unique code strings is less than the maximum probability of guessing any of the subset of unique code strings;
randomly generating the subset of unique code strings from the total quantity of unique code strings;
associating attributes to one or more of the subset of unique code strings, the attributes defining characteristics regarding the instantiations to which the one or more of the subset of unique code strings will be marked on or affixed to;
providing a secure server having a database used to store the subset of unique code strings;
storing the subset of unique code strings within the database on the secure server;
marking each of a quantity of the instantiations with one of the code strings of the subset;
distributing the marked instantiations along a chain of commerce; and
validating the authenticity of one of the marked instantiations during distribution, the marked instantiation validated through exchange of transmitted signals between the secure server and a communication device, the communication device adapted for entry of the unique code string and adapted to transmit an inquiry signal containing the unique code string to the secure server, the secure server adapted to receive the inquiry signal to reveal the scanned unique code string, adapted to search the database thereon to validate the authenticity of the unique code string, and adapted to transmit a return signal to the field reader regarding validation of the authenticity of the marked instantiation. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method for authenticating one or more instantiations of a product following initial distribution comprising:
-
providing a code string model having finite parameters, the finite parameters used to define a total quantity of unique code strings that can be derived from the code string model;
providing a subset of unique code strings as a quantity of unique code strings selected for use from the total quantity of unique code strings, the subset of unique code strings being at least one hundred times smaller than the total quantity of unique code strings;
defining a maximum probability of guessing any of the subset of unique code strings;
verifying that an actual probability of guessing any of the subset of unique code strings is less than the maximum probability of guessing any of the subset of unique code strings;
randomly generating the subset of unique code strings from the total quantity of unique code strings;
providing a secure server having a database used to store the subset of unique code strings, the secure server;
storing the subset of unique code strings within the database on the secure server;
marking each of a quantity of the instantiations with one of the code strings of the subset;
distributing the marked instantiations along a chain of commerce; and
validating the authenticity of one of the marked instantiations during distribution, the marked instantiation validated through exchange of transmitted signals between the secure server and a field reader, the field reader adapted to scan the unique code string on the marked instantiation, adapted to encode the unique code string into a machine-readable format, and adapted to transmit an inquiry signal containing the encoded unique code string to the secure server, the secure server adapted to decode the inquiry signal to reveal the scanned unique code string, adapted to search the database thereon to validate the authenticity of the unique code string, and adapted to transmit a return signal to the field reader regarding validation of the authenticity of the marked instantiation. - View Dependent Claims (18)
-
-
19. A system for authenticating one or more instantiations of a product following initial distribution comprising:
-
a subset of a total quantity of unique code strings derived from a code string model, the code string model having finite parameters of code string length and code string character types, the finite parameters defining the total quantity of unique code strings, the subset of unique code strings being at least one hundred times smaller than the total quantity of unique code strings, each of the subset of unique code strings marked on one of the instantiations;
a secure server having a database adapted for storing the subset of codes therein;
a communication device adapted for entry therein of one of the subset of unique code strings and adapted to transmit an inquiry signal containing the unique code string to the secure server, the secure server adapted for receiving the inquiry signal, adapted to search the database thereon to validate the authenticity of the unique code string, and adapted to transmit a return signal to the communication device regarding validation of the authenticity of the marked instantiations; and
a network linking the secure server to the communication device, the network comprising the Internet. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A system for authenticating one or more instantiations of a product following initial distribution comprising:
-
a subset of a total quantity of unique code strings derived from a code string model, the code string model having finite parameters of code string length and code string character types, the finite parameters defining the total quantity of unique code strings, the subset of unique code strings being at least one hundred times smaller than the total quantity of unique code strings, each of the subset of unique code strings marked on one of the instantiations;
a secure server having a database adapted for storing the subset of codes therein;
a field reader adapted to scan one of the subset of unique code strings, adapted to encode the unique code string into a machine-readable format, and adapted to transmit an inquiry signal containing the encoded unique code string to the secure server, the secure server adapted for decoding the inquiry signals, adapted to search the database thereon to validate the authenticity of the unique code string, and adapted to transmit a return signal to the field reader regarding validation of the authenticity of the marked instantiations; and
a network linking the secure server to the field reader. - View Dependent Claims (26)
-
Specification