METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFYING, AUTHENTICATING, TRACKING AND TRACING MANUFACTURED ITEMS

• US 20090230190A1
• Filed: 03/17/2009
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philip Morris USA Incorporated (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Philip Morris USA Incorporated (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fradet, Erwan, Sager, Alain, Chatelain, Philippe, Chanez, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 11,120,387 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A method and apparatus for identifying manufactured items in containers, where each container is suitable for containing two or more units, and where the method comprises the steps of: associating each unit with a unique unit identifier, uniquely identifying each unit, allocating two or more units to be contained in each container, uniquely identifying each container, for each container, determining one or more ranges of unit identifiers of the two or more units allocated to the container, and storing, in a database, a container identifier for each container, each container identifier being coupled, in the database, to the one or more ranges of unit identifiers of the two or more units allocated to the container. There is also provided methods and apparatus for authenticating, tracking and tracing the units.

Claims

1. A method for identifying manufactured items in containers, each container suitable for containing at least two units, the method comprising the steps of:

associating each unit with a unique unit identifier;

uniquely identifying each unit;

allocating at least two units to be contained in each container;

uniquely identifying each container;

for each container, determining at least one range of unit identifiers of the at least two units allocated to the container; and

storing, in a database, a container identifier for each container, each container identifier being coupled, in the database, to the at least one range of unit identifiers of the at least two units allocated to the container.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein each unit identifier is an encrypted version of production details associated with the respective unit.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the production details for each unit comprise at least one of:

production location, production date, production time, and a counter value of an incremental counter.

4. A method for tracking a unit contained or formerly contained within a container for manufactured items identified according to claim 1, the method further comprising the steps of:

reading a unit identifier on the unit; and

sending details of the unit identifier to a host including the database.

5. A method for tracking according to claim 4, wherein the host is arranged to store the location of the unit determined from the reading of the unit identifier.

6. A method for tracking according to claim 4, wherein the host is arranged to determine, from the received unit identifier, the range in which falls the unit identifier of the unit and, hence, the container containing or formerly containing the unit, and wherein the host is arranged to store at least one location of the container containing or formerly containing the unit.

7. A method for authenticating a unit contained or formerly contained within a container for manufactured items identified according to claim 1, the method further comprising the steps of:

reading a unit identifier on the unit; and

sending details of the unit identifier to a host including the database.

8. A method for authenticating according to claim 7, wherein the host is arranged to determine, from the received unit identifier, the range in which falls the unit identifier of the unit and, hence, the container containing or formerly containing the unit.

9. A method for tracing units contained within a container for manufactured items identified according to claim 1, the method comprising the further steps of:

determining the unit identifiers of the units to be traced;

determining, from those unit identifiers, the one or more ranges of unit identifiers in which fall those unit identifiers;

determining, from those ranges, the container or containers containing the units to be traced; and

locating the determined container or containers.

11. Apparatus for tracking and authenticating a unit contained or formerly contained within a container for manufactured items identified according to claim 1, the apparatus comprising:

a reader for reading a unit identifier on the unit; and

a transmitter for sending details of the unit identifier to a host including the database.

12. Apparatus for tracking and authenticating according to claim 11, further comprising a receiver for receiving messages from the host.

10. Apparatus for identifying manufactured items in containers, each container suitable for containing at least two units, each unit being associated with a unique unit identifier, the apparatus comprising:

means for uniquely identifying each unit;

means for allocating at least two units to be contained in each container;

means for uniquely identifying each container;

means for determining at least one range of unit identifiers of the at least two units allocated to the container; and

a database for storing a container identifier for each container, each container identifier being coupled, in the database, to the at least one range of unit identifiers of the at least two units allocated to the container.