Counterfeit detection method

• US 20050218209A1
• Filed: 03/30/2004
• Published: 10/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Walach, Eugene, Heilper, Andre, Karnin, Ehud
• Granted Patent: US 7,222,791 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A counterfeit detection method includes electronically reading a label on a desired item in a store, transmitting an item identification code encoded in the read label to an authentication unit, receiving an indication from the authentication unit whether or not the item identification code is registered to the store and if the indication is positive, generating a certificate of authenticity for the desired item.

Claims

6-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A counterfeit detection method comprising:

reading a label on a retail product; and

providing a certificate of authenticity of said retail product if an identification code encoded in said label and identifying said retail product is registered by a third party authority to a store from which said retail product is to be bought.

1. The method according to claim 26 and wherein said tracking comprises:

electronically receiving new ownership information about at least one retail product to be physically transferred to a new owner; and

electronically registering ownership of said at least one retail product to said new owner.

2. The method according to claim 1 and wherein said electronic transferring comprises communicating along a substantially secure communications line.

3. The method according to claim 1 and also comprising having a unique article number assigned to each said at least one retail product.

4. The method according to claim 3 and also comprising having said unique article number encoded.

5. The method according to claim 3 and also comprising having said unique article number encoded as a bar code.

12. The method according to claim 11 and wherein said reading comprises scanning said label with a bar code reader.

13. The method according to claim 11 and wherein said identification code is one of the following code types:

one-dimensional bar code, two-dimensional bar code, RFID tag and a magnetic tag.

14. The method according to claim 11 and wherein said providing occurs at said store.

26. A method according to claim 11 and also comprising:

said third party authority tracking title to retail products, each said retail product having its own identification code.

15. A counterfeit detection method comprising:

in a store, electronically reading a label on a desired retail product;

transmitting a retail product identification code encoded in said read label to a third party authentication unit;

receiving an indication from said authentication unit whether or not said retail product identification code is registered to said store; and

if said indication is positive, generating a certificate of authenticity for said desired retail product.

16. The method according to claim 15 and wherein said electronically reading comprises scanning said label with a bar code reader.

17. The method according to claim 15 and wherein said identification code is one of the following code types:

one-dimensional bar code, two-dimensional bar code, RFID tag and a magnetic tag.

18-21. -21. (canceled)

22. A point of sale unit comprising:

a reader to read a label attached to a retail product; and

a unit to query a third party authentication unit to certify that the authorized owner of said retail product is the owner registered in said point of sale unit.

23. The unit according to claim 22 and also comprising a display unit to display verification or denial of authenticity, according to results of said query.

24. The unit according to claim 22 and also comprising a printer to print a certificate of authenticity, if said results of said query are positive.

25. The unit according to claim 22 and wherein said reader comprises one of the following readers:

a one-dimensional bar code reader, a two-dimensional bar code reader, an RFID tag reader, and a magnetic tag reader.