Item Carrying at Least Two Data Storage Elements

• US 20080272886A1
• Filed: 06/01/2005
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sicpa Holding SA
• Original Assignee: Sicpa Holding SA
• Inventors: Rozumek, Olivier, Tiller, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,798,403 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/08 using markings of different kinds or more than one marking of the same kind in the same record carrier, e.g. one marking being sensed by optical and the other by magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/06225 using wavelength selection, e.g. colour code
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 3/003 Anti-theft control theft alarms G08B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2445 Tag integrated into item to be protected, e.g. source tagging
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/001 Concealed systems, e.g. disguised alarm systems to make covert systems

Abstract

An item according to the invention comprises at least two data storage elements such as e.g. an RFID transponder 2 and a barcode 5, wherein the latter is non-visible for the unaided human eye and comprises coded information. The invention allows for a backup of information between the two data storage elements, in order to prevent inadvertent or malicious data loss. Further aspects of the invention are related to the interdependent or the cooperative use of both storage elements in the framework of a product security tracking and tracing scheme.

Claims

1-18. -18. (canceled)

19. A consumer good carrying at least two data storage elements, wherein a first data storage element comprises an RFID transponder (2) and a second data storage element comprises a preferably printed code (5) which is at least partially non-visible to the unaided human eye, and wherein the second data storage element is provided directly on the consumer good.

20. A consumer good according to claim 19, wherein the preferably printed code (5) is applied by a method selected from the group consisting of inkjet printing, thermal printing and toner printing.

21. A consumer good according to claim 19, wherein the first data storage element is provided on the item (1) via an adhesive label.

22. A consumer good according to claim 21, wherein the first data storage element is provided on the backside of an adhesive label.

23. A consumer good according to claim 19, wherein said item (1) additionally carries a security marking (6), wherein said security marking (6) serves as an authenticity identifier of said consumer good.

24. A consumer good according to claim 23, wherein said security marking serves as an authenticity identifier of said consumer good independently from said first and said second data storage element.

25. A consumer good according to claim 19, wherein the second data storage element comprises an IR- or UV-active dye, preferably chosen from the group consisting of polymethines, cyanines, phenoxazines, phtalo- and naphtalocyanines, terylenes, coumarines, triarylmethanes, squarrylium and croconium derivatives, and rare earth complexes.

26. A consumer good according to claim 19, wherein the second data storage element is or comprises a 1D- or 2D-code.

27. A consumer good according to claim 19, wherein said second data storage element serves as a backup storage means for information contained in said first data storage element attached to said consumer good.

28. A consumer good according to claim 27, wherein said first and second data storage elements are or comprise an RFID transponder (2) and a preferably printed code (5), respectively, or vice versa.

29. Process of applying coded information onto an item comprising the steps of:

at least partially reading out information contained in a first data storage element, preferably comprising an RFID transponder (2) which is attached to the item (1);

based on the read out information, triggering the application of a second data storage element onto said item (1), preferably addressing a printer to apply coded information, onto said item 1, physically separate from the RFID transponder (2).

30. Process according to claim 29, wherein the second data storage element applied to the item (1) at least partially comprises information that is already contained in the first data storage element.

31. Process of reading-out of secure information on a consumer good, comprising two data storage elements, said process comprising the steps of:

at least partially reading out information from a first data storage element;

based on the read out information, after optional processing of said information, providing access to information contained in a second data storage element.

32. Process according to claim 31, wherein said first and second data storage elements are or comprise an RFID transponder (2) and a preferably printed code (5), respectively, or vice versa.

33. Process of re-assembling of secure information attached to a consumer good, said process comprising the steps of:

at least partially reading out information from a first data storage element;

at least partially reading out information from a second data storage element;

combining said read out information of said first and said second data storage element, whereby said secure information is re-assembled.

34. Process according to claim 33, wherein said first and second data storage elements are or comprise an RFID transponder (2) and a preferably printed code (5), respectively, or vice versa.

35. Process of determining non-authorized manipulations of information contained in a first data storage element, preferably an RFID transponder, which is attached to a consumer good, said process comprising the steps of:

determining a verifier of at least a part of the information contained in said first data storage element;

applying a second data storage element onto said item, containing an indication of said verifier;

checking for manipulations of the information contained in said first data storage element, by comparing the verifier determined directly from the first data storage element with the indication of the verifier, contained in the second data storage element.

36. Process of verification of authenticity of a visible code on a consumer good, said process comprising the steps of:

applying an indication of said visible code to a first or a second data storage element, preferably an RFID transponder attached or to be attached to said item;

determining the authenticity of said visible code, by comparing the visible code and/or the information contained therein with the indication of said visible code, contained in said first or second data storage element.

37. Process according to claim 36, wherein the visible code comprises an article indication, preferably a European Article Number or Universal Product Code.