System, method and device to detect product tampering

• US 20070210173A1
• Filed: 03/13/2006
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andreas Nagel
• Original Assignee: Andreas Nagel
• Inventors: Nagel, Andreas
• Granted Patent: US 7,410,103 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0739 the incapacitated circuit being part of an antenna
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention disclose an efficient and inexpensive method for detecting tampered products utilizing current off the shelf components. Features of some embodiments provide for a RFID labeling system that uses multiple RFID components attached to a single product unit being embedded in the product'"'"'s label and one or more tamper labels. Such RFID labels usually comprise an adhesive label containing an RFID component, a destructible conducting path that acts as an antenna and a unique encryption. The RFID labels transmit the encryption when irradiated by an RF scanner. A complete inventory of multiple associated encryptions reported during an RFID scan of a product package provide positive indication that product has not been tampered with. A missing encryption indicates a faulty product seal or an event of tampering.

Claims

1. A system to detect product tampering comprising:

one or more objects;

two or more electronic components, wherein at least one electronic component is irremovably attached to each of the one or more objects;

an electronically readable encryption recorded on each of the two or more electronic components;

at least one destructible conducting path electrically attached to each of the two or more electronic components and fixedly attached to the substrate of its respective electronic component, whereby the destructible conducting path is disrupted when the substrate is tampered, thereby modifying the function of the electronic components;

a means for permanently attaching the one or more objects to at least one surface, wherein any attempt to manipulate the at least one surface shall disrupt the destructible electrically conducting path;

a means for electronically reading and sorting the electronically readable encryption on each of the two or more electronic components.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the two or more electronic components are RFID components.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein, the one or more objects is chosen from a group consisting of a substrate, a label, a sheet, shrinkwrap, tape, a packing strap, a product sanitary seal, foil, a bottle twist top, a beverage can opening tab, a cork, a wax seal, a paraffin seal, a product container, a packing seal and cardboard.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one destructible conducting path is selected from a group comprising an antenna, an induction loop and an electronic circuit.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the two or more RFID components is energized by a power source.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for electronically reading and sorting the electronically readable encryption on the each of the two or more electronic components includes a computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions adapted to be executed by a processor for providing error alerts, the plurality of instructions comprising:

receiving the electronically readable encryptions;

sorting the electronically readable encryptions;

associating the electronically readable encryptions with each one or more objects;

identifying missing electronically readable encryptions associated with each one or more objects; and

generating an alert associated with each missing electronically readable encryption.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for electronically reading and sorting the electronically readable encryption on each of the two or more electronic components includes:

a plurality of dispersed antennas in communication with the means for electronically reading and sorting the electronically readable encryption; and

,

a computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions adapted to be executed by a processor for providing error alerts, the plurality of instructions comprising;

receiving the electronically readable encryptions;

sorting the electronically readable encryptions;

associating the electronically readable encryptions with each one or more objects; and

determining the location of the one or more objects.

8. A tamper prevention device comprising:

at least one sheet comprising;

a product label portion; and

one or more tamper strip portions;

at least one RFID component, wherein the at least one RFID component is fixedly attached to each of the product label portion and the one or more tamper strip portions;

an electronically readable encryption recorded in each of the at least one RFID components wherein the electronically readable encryptions are associated with each other;

at least one destructible conducting path electrically attached to each of the at least one RFID components and fixedly attached to the portion of its respective RFID component, wherein the at least one destructible conducting path is at least partially routed through the at least one tamper strip portion; and

a means for permanently attaching the at least one sheet to at least one surface, wherein any attempt to manipulate the at least one surface shall disrupt the at least one destructible electrically conducting path fixedly attached to a portion.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the encryptions are unique to an item contained within the at least one surface.

10. The device of claim 8 wherein the at least one RFID component is an RFID transponder.

11. The device of claim 8 wherein the device is energized by a power source.

12. The device of claim 8 wherein the tamper strip portion further comprises a perforation wherein the perforation facilitates the destruction of the conducting path.

13. The device of claim 8 wherein the means for permanently attaching the at least one sheet to at least one surface comprises an irremovable adhesive.

14. The system of claim 8 further comprising a means for electronically reading and sorting the electronically readable encryptions including a computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions adapted to be executed by a processor for providing error alerts, the plurality of instructions comprising:

receiving the electronically readable encryptions from a plurality of RFID scanners;

sorting the electronically readable encryptions;

associating the electronically readable encryptions with the at least one surface; and

,

determining the location of the at least one surface.

15. A method to detect product tampering comprising:

irremovably fixing a first RFID label to a surface of a product package, wherein the first RFID label integrally comprises a first electronically readable encryption recorded on a first RFID component connected to a first destructible conducting path;

irremovably affixing one or more additional RFID labels to one or more accesses in the product package, wherein manipulating any of the one or more accesses shall disrupt one of an additional RFID component and an additional destructible conducting path electrically connected to the additional RFID component each of which are integrally attached to the one or more additional RFID labels, wherein further the additional RFID component contains an additional electronically readable encryption that is associated with the first electronically readable encryption;

reading the first electronically readable encryption and the additional electronically readable encryptions;

storing the first electronically readable encryption and the additional electronically readable encryptions;

determining that an additional electronically readable encryption associated with first electronically readable encryption failed to be detected in the reading step; and

generating an error.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first RFID components and the first destructible conductive path and the one or more additional RFID components and the additional destructible conductive paths are permanently embedded in the surface of the product package.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein a RFID component comprises at least one of a RFID transponder, a MU-chip, EPROM, PROM and a RFID memory chip.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the determining step comprises comparing a first database with a second database, wherein the existence of the first electronically readable encryption in the first database without detecting the associated additional electronically readable encryption in the second database generates an error.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of reading comprises

reading a single first electronically readable encryption;

and

comparing the single first electronically readable encryption to each additional electronically readable encryption until all associated additional electronically readable encryptions are accounted for.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein the means for electronically reading and sorting the electronically readable encryption on each of the two or more electronic components includes:

a plurality of dispersed RFID scanners communication with the means for electronically reading and sorting the electronically readable encryption; and

,

a computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions adapted to be executed by a processor for providing error alerts, the plurality of instructions comprising;

receiving the electronically readable encryptions;

sorting the electronically readable encryptions;

associating the electronically readable encryptions with each one or more objects; and

determining if one or more additional RFID labels attached to a particular package has been disrupted.