METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STORAGE OF DATA FOR MANUFACTURED ITEMS

• US 20110154046A1
• Filed: 12/22/2010
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2009
• 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, Mauroux, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 9,058,584 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2291 User-Defined Types; Storage management thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/121 by printing code marks applying code marks to labels B65C9/46; marking or coding completed packages B65B61/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1413 1D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 involving digital signatures

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to a method and apparatus for storage of data for a batch of manufactured items. The method comprises defining, by a lower limit identifier and an upper limit identifier, a range of unique item identifiers for the batch, wherein each manufactured item in the batch is allocated a unique item identifier falling within the range. The number of unique item identifiers allocated to the manufactured items is smaller than the number of unique item identifiers in the range. The unique item identifiers allocated to the manufactured items are defined by the lower limit item identifier of the range, the upper limit item identifier of the range and an indication of those item identifiers in the range which are not allocated to a manufactured item.

Claims

1. A method for storage of data for a batch of manufactured items, the method comprising:

defining, by a lower limit identifier and an upper limit identifier, a range of unique item identifiers for the batch, wherein each manufactured item in the batch is allocated a unique item identifier falling within the range;

wherein the number of unique item identifiers allocated to the manufactured items is smaller than the number of unique item identifiers in the range, and

wherein the unique item identifiers allocated to the manufactured items are defined by;

the lower limit item identifier of the range,

the upper limit item identifier of the range, and

an indication of those item identifiers in the range which are not allocated to a manufactured item.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indication of those item identifiers in the range which are not allocated to a manufactured item comprises an indication of one or more individual item identifiers which are not allocated to a manufactured item.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indication of those item identifiers in the range which are not allocated to a manufactured item comprises an indication of one or more further ranges.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein each identifier is derived by:

generating an identification code;

providing a plurality of secret codes; and

digitally signing the identification code by means of a secret derived from the plurality of secret codes,

wherein the plurality of secret codes are provided to a checking centre for authenticating identifiers on the manufactured items.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein each item identifier comprises production details associated with the respective manufactured item.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein each item identifier is an encrypted version of production details associated with the respective manufactured item.

7. A method for a second party to identify a manufactured item, comprising:

a first party performing a method for storage of data for a batch of manufactured items defining, by a lower limit identifier and an upper limit identifier, a range of unique item identifiers for the batch, wherein each manufactured item in the batch is allocated a unique item identifier falling within the range;

wherein the number of unique item identifiers allocated to the manufactured items is smaller than the number of unique item identifiers in the range, and

wherein the unique item identifiers allocated to the manufactured items are defined by;

the lower limit item identifier of the range,

the upper limit item identifier of the range, and

an indication of those item identifiers in the range which are not allocated to a manufactured item; and

the first party sending to the second party the range of unique item identifiers for the batch.

8. The method according to claim 7 further comprising the first party sending to the second party the indication of those non-allocated item identifiers in the range.

9. A method for a second party to determine a total number of items manufactured in a batch, comprising the steps of:

a first party performing a method for storage of data for the batch of manufactured items that includes defining, by a lower limit identifier and an upper limit identifier, a range of unique item identifiers for the batch, wherein each manufactured item in the batch is allocated a unique item identifier falling within the range;

wherein the number of unique item identifiers allocated to the manufactured items is smaller than the number of unique item identifiers in the range, and

wherein the unique item identifiers allocated to the manufactured items are defined by;

the lower limit item identifier of the range,

the upper limit item identifier of the range, and

an indication of those item identifiers in the range which are not allocated to a manufactured item;

the first party sending to the second party the range of unique item identifiers for the batch; and

the first party sending to the second party the indication of those item identifiers in the range which are not allocated to a manufactured item in the batch;

wherein the range of unique item identifiers and the indication of those item identifiers not allocated to a manufactured item may be used by the second party to determine the number of items manufactured in the batch.

10. An apparatus for storage of data for a batch of manufactured items, the apparatus comprising:

means for defining, by a lower limit identifier and an upper limit identifier, a range of unique item identifiers for the batch, wherein each manufactured item in the batch is allocated a unique item identifier falling within the range;

wherein the number of unique item identifiers allocated to the manufactured items is smaller than the number of unique item identifiers in the range, and

wherein the unique item identifiers allocated to the manufactured items are defined by;

the lower limit item identifier of the range,

the upper limit item identifier of the range and

an indication of those item identifiers in the range which are not allocated to a manufactured item.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the indication of those item identifiers in the range which are not allocated to a manufactured item comprises an indication of one or more individual item identifiers which are not allocated to a manufactured item.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the indication of those item identifiers in the range which are not allocated to a manufactured item comprises an indication of one or more further ranges which are not allocated to a manufactured item.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein each identifier is derived by:

generating an identification code;

providing a plurality of secret codes; and

digitally signing the identification code by means of a secret derived from the plurality of secret codes,

wherein the plurality of secret codes are provided to a checking centre for authenticating identifiers on the manufactured items.

14. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein each item identifier comprises encrypted or non-encrypted production details associated with the respective manufactured item.