TRACKING ITEMS IN A DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL

• US 20100235250A1
• Filed: 06/07/2007
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Planetech Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Planetech Incorporated
• Inventors: Bar-Levav, Kfir
• Application Number:
  US12/303,762
• Publication Number:
  US 20100235250A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/23
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/012 Providing warranty services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A method of providing inventory control service to a point of sale, the method comprising: providing readers adapted to read a unique identifier (UID) of a purchased item and transmit the UID to a database together with a reader identification code (RIC) of a specific reader; implementing reading of UIDs by the readers as items are purchased; and allowing access to data transmitted from a designated set of readers to an authorized party.

Claims

1-4. -4. (canceled)

5. A method according to claim 53, further comprising:

(e) implementing reading of the UID by the at least one reader as the item is introduced into inventory.

6. A method according to claim 53, further comprising:

(e) implementing reading of the UID by the at least one reader as the item leaves inventory without being purchased.

7. A method of activating a warranty for a specific item of a product, the method comprising:

(a) applying a unique identifier (UID) to individual items in a post manufacturing process;

(b) entering the UID into a database; and

(c) associating the UID with a unique consumer identifier (CID);

wherein the entering is performed by a retailer acting as a mercantile agent and serves to activate the warranty.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the CID is at least one of a credit card number, a driver'"'"'s license number, a social security number, a phone number, or a frequent flyer number.

9-12. -12. (canceled)

13. A method of activating a warranty for a specific item of a product, the method comprising:

(a) applying a unique identifier (UID) to individual items in a post manufacturing process;

(b) entering the UID into a database; and

(c) associating the UID with a physical warranty certificate separate from the individual items;

wherein the entering is performed by a retailer acting as a mercantile agent.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein the association includes a physical transfer of a media bearing the UID to the warranty certificate.

16. A method according to claim 13, wherein the association includes storage of data including the UID on a memory attached to the warranty certificate.

17. A method according to claim 13, wherein the UID is provided in a machine readable format.

18. A method according to claim 13, wherein the entering is performed via a credit card reader.

19. A method according to claim 13, wherein the entering is performed via a smart chip reader.

20. A method according to claim 13, wherein the entering is performed via an IVR phone menu.

21. A method according to claim 13, wherein the entering is performed via an RFID reader.

14. (canceled)

22. A method of warranty registration for a specific item of a product, the method comprising:

(a) incorporating a unique identifier (UID) of a specific item into a credit card type card; and

(b) transmitting the UID to a database using a credit card sales registration system.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the incorporating occurs at point of sale.

24. A method according to claim 22, wherein the transmitting occurs at point of sale.

25. A method according to claim 22, performed without registration of a credit card sale.

26-30. -30. (canceled)

31. A two-part warranty certificate;

the certificate comprising;

(a) a token bearing a magnetic media encoded with a unique identifier (UID) of a specific item; and

(b) a card with a magnetic stripe interrupted by a receptacle adapted to retain the token;

wherein the magnetic stripe retaining the token is compatible with a standard magnetic stripe card reader for purposes of reading at least the UID.

32. A certificate according to claim 31, wherein the token is associated with a package containing the specific item and is transferable to the card at a point of purchase.

33. A certificate according to claim 31, wherein the token is associated with the specific item and is transferable to the card at a point of purchase.

34-35. -35. (canceled)

36. A magnetic stripe card;

the card comprising;

a smart chip adapted to;

(i) receive and store a unique identifier (UID) for a purchased item of merchandise from a smart chip writer at a point of purchase; and

(ii) transmit the UID to a smart card reader operated by a warranty service operator.

37. A card according to claim 36, configured to operate as a credit card.

38. A card according to claim 36, configured to operate as a debit card.

39-42. -42. (canceled)

43. A method of inventory control, the method comprising:

(a) requiring members of a distribution channel to log receipt and disbursement of items in inventory into a database; and

,

(b) permitting any member in the distribution channel to track items previously in their inventory.

44. A method according to claim 43, wherein a manufacturer can monitor retail sales data for their product in the database at a level of individual units of product.

45. A method of verifying authenticity of a product, the method comprising:

(a) requiring members of a distribution channel to log receipt and disbursement of items in inventory into a database;

(b) refusing to log receipt of items if a disbursement of corresponding items is not present in the database; and

(c) logging receipt of items if a disbursement of corresponding items is not present in the database.

46-52. -52. (canceled)

51. A method of providing inventory control throughout a distribution channel among a plurality of different participants in the distribution channel, comprising:

(a) providing at least one reader device associated with a specific point of sale and adapted to read data comprising at least a unique identifier (UID) of a purchased item;

(b) transmitting the data including the UID to a database;

(c) activating a warranty based on an association between the UID and the point of sale; and

,

(d) providing access to the data transmitted from the at least one reader to the different participants.

54. A method according to claim 53, further comprising designating a legitimate distribution channel comprised of one or more of the different participants associated with the UID.

55. A method according to claim 54, wherein activating is performed only if the UID matches the legitimate distribution channel.

56. A method according to any of claims 53, further comprising replenishing depleted inventory by at least one of the different participants in response to the number of items sold as recorded on the database.

57. A method according to any of claims 53, wherein read data includes a consumer identifier (CID).

58. A method according to claim 57, further comprising associating on the database the CID with at least one UID.

59. A method according to claim 58, further comprising rendering warranty support to an item bearing a specific UID upon the presentation by a consumer of the CID associated with the UID on the database.

60. A method according to claim 58, wherein a consumer accesses warranty information on the database of at least one item bearing a UID using the consumer'"'"'s CID.

61. A method according to any of claims 53, further comprising logging receipt and disbursement of an item bearing a UID by at least one of the different participants into the database.

62. A method according to claim 61, further comprising automatically refusing receipt of the item from one of the participants if the participant is not in a legitimate distribution channel recorded on the database for the item.