Tamper evident labelling system with embedded storage device

• US 5,949,059 A
• Filed: 12/09/1996
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Tuten, Wallace Gilbert, Rawson, Andrew Radcliffe Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald
• Assistant Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US08/762,375
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 235/384, 235/488, 235/492, 235/487, 340/540, 340/572, 340/825.54
• US Class Current: 235/487
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07372 by detecting tampering with the circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07381 with deactivation or otherwise incapacitation of at least a part of the circuit upon detected tampering
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/18 Constructional details

Abstract

A labeling system combines an indelibly inscribed visually readable serial number with an embedded electronically readable one-time programmable read-only storage device. The integration of the two in one labeling system ensures that the visually readable identification information is consistent with the electronically readable information. The labeling system is tamper evident visually and electronically. Electronic tamper evidence is provided by the construction of the label system which is designed to ensure the breaking of various internal and peripheral electrical connections associated with the embedded read-only storage device during any attempt to remove the label once it is affixed to the computer or subassembly thus identified. The integration of visual and electronic identification information eliminates the need to manually or electronically enter the identification information into the electronic storage device during a separate manufacturing process. The labeling system may be affixed to computer system enclosures, subassemblies, adapter cards, and even components mounted on such subassemblies and adapter cards.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an electronic storage device;

an electrical connection operable for providing an electrical path to information stored in said electronic storage device; and

means adaptable for adhesively affixing said electronic storage device and said electrical connection to an object in a manner so that said electrical path is broken when an attempt is made to physically tamper with said electronic storage device.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said electronic storage device is a read-only device.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, further comprising a first material covering said electronic storage device and said electrical connection when said electronic storage device and said electrical connection are affixed to said object, wherein said first material is adhesively affixed to said electronic storage device and said electrical connection.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, further comprising a second material, wherein said electronic storage device and said electrical connection are mounted between said first and second materials, wherein said electrical connection is a flexible conductor trace, wherein said second material includes a hole therethrough to allow access to said flexible conductor trace.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said flexible conductor trace is torn, breaking said electrical connection, when said second material is removed from adhesive connection to said first material.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein visually readable information is printed on said first material.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said first and second materials are laminate materials.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said visually readable information is stored in an electronic format in said electronic storage device.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said object is a computer system subassembly.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said object is an electronic component.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said object is a computer system chassis.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said electrical path is operable to provide access to said information to a circuit external to said apparatus.

13. A labeling system comprising:

an information storage device;

a conductor coupled to said information storage device, said conductor operable for electrically retrieving information stored in said information storage device; and

means adaptable for adhesively affixing said information storage device to an object in a manner so that said information is not retrievable from said information storage device when said labeling system is tampered with, wherein said object is a data processing system, said labeling system further comprising;

a flexible sheet of material covering said information storage device and said conductor, wherein said flexible sheet of material is bonded to said object and said conductor with an adhesive,

wherein said object is a subassembly installed in said data processing system, wherein said information storage system is coupled to circuitry on said subassembly,

wherein said information storage device is coupled to a processor so that said information is retrievable by said processor.

14. A labeling system comprising:

an information storage device;

a conductor coupled to said information storage device, said conductor operable for electrically retrieving information stored in said information storage device; and

means adaptable for adhesively affixing said information storage device to an object in a manner so that said information is not retrievable from said information storage device when said labeling system is tampered with, wherein said object is a data processing system, said labeling system further comprising;

a flexible sheet of material covering said information storage device and said conductor, wherein said flexible sheet of material is bonded to said object and said conductor with an adhesive, wherein said object is a chassis enclosing all or part of said data processing system, wherein said labeling system is affixed to said chassis in a manner so that said information is only retrievable when said chassis is properly assembled.

15. The labelling system as recited in claim 14, wherein when the chassis is properly assembled, said conductor is placed in electrical contact with a data path to a processor enclosed within said chassis.

16. A labeling system comprising:

a first laminate material;

an electronic read-only memory device adhesively affixed to said first laminate material;

a first flexible conductor coupled to an output signal path from said memory device, wherein said first laminate material has a first hole therethrough to allow access to said first flexible conductor;

a second flexible conductor coupled to a ground path from said memory device, wherein said first laminate material has a second hole therethrough to allow access to said second flexible conductor; and

a second laminate material adhesively affixed to said first laminate material, said memory device, and said first and second flexible conductors.

17. The labeling system as recited in claim 16, wherein said labeling system is adhesively affixed to a computer system part.

18. The labeling system as recited in claim 17, wherein said first and second holes are positioned over first and second conductors on said computer system part so that circuitry on said computer system part has access to information stored in said electronic read-only memory device.

19. The labeling system as recited in claim 16, wherein said second laminate material includes visually readable information.

20. The labeling system as recited in claim 16, wherein said labeling system is affixed to an object in a manner so that information stored in said memory device is not retrievable when said labeling system is physically tampered with.

21. The labelling system as recited in claim 20, wherein when said second laminate material is removed from adhesive fixation to said first material, one or both of the flexible conductors is torn, breaking said output signal path.

22. The labelling system as recited in claim 16, wherein said output signal path is operable to provide access to information stored within said memory device to a circuit external to said labelling system.