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CONTROL OF SUPPLY NETWORKS AND VERIFICATION OF ITEMS

  • US 20110167010A1
  • Filed: 09/09/2009
  • Published: 07/07/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. ) Control apparatus for use in enabling verification by entities on a path across a supply network of an item identification means traversing said path, the network comprising:

  • at least one supplier entity able to introduce into the network an item identification means having stored therein an item identifier and a digital signature associated with said supplier entity, and to forward said item identification means along a path across said network;

    at least one intermediate entity able to receive said item identification means from said at least one supplier entity or from another intermediate entity in said network and forward said item identification means along said path; and

    at least one receiver entity able to receive said item identification means from an intermediate entity in said network;

    the control apparatus comprising;

    path determination means arranged to determine path data in respect of an item identification means, said path data relating to at least one valid path by which said item identification means may traverse the network, said path data comprising data in respect of each of said at least one intermediate entity and said at least one receiver entity indicative of one or more upstream entities from which said item identification means may be received when traversing the network along a valid path; and

    translation key means responsive to said path determination means and arranged to provide for said at least one intermediate entity a translation key, said translation key enabling translation by said intermediate entity of a digital signature associated with an upstream entity into a new digital signature associated with said intermediate entity in the event that said intermediate entity receives an item identification means having stored therein said digital signature associated with said upstream entity.

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