Method and system for preventing counterfeiting of high price wholesale and retail items

• US 6,226,619 B1
• Filed: 10/29/1998
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Schrott, Alejandro Gabriel, Tresser, Charles P., Halperin, Arnold, Moskowitz, Paul Andrew, von Gutfeld, Robert Jacob
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chung, Chang Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/182,269
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/383, 340/825.34, 705/1, 705/23, 283/72, 283/74, 283/79, 283/81, 283/82, 283/83, 283/85
• US Class Current: 705/23
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 23/14 of tags , labels, cards, coupons, decorations or the like B65D23/008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/04 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/10 at least one kind of marking being used for authentication, e.g. of credit or identity cards verification of coded identity or credit cards in mechanisms actuated by them G07F7/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing

Abstract

A method and system for preventing counterfeiting of an item, include an interrogatable tag attached to the item. The item includes visible indicia for comparison with secret, non-duplicable information stored in the tag designating authenticity.

Claims

1. A system for preventing counterfeiting of an item, comprising:

an interrogatable radio frequency identification (RFID) tag attached to the item for being interrogated,

wherein said item includes visible indicia for comparison with secret, non-duplicable information stored in said tag designating authenticity, and said item includes a label, and

wherein said tag is concealed from a user and is attached to a side of said label opposite said user when viewing said label, said label including first and second portions and the tag being attached to one of said first and second portions.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said indicia comprises at least one of a serial number and alpha-numeric characters, and

wherein said tag comprises a single-use tag such that said tag is nullified after said tag has been read.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said tag is unique and non-duplicatable, said system further comprising a tag reader for reading said tag without contact therewith.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said item is stored in a container, and said tag is attached to the container.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said tag comprises a non-detachable tag which becomes deactivated after the item'"'"'s first use, such that the item is non-replenishable and non-refurbishable with a counterfeit product.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein information on said tag remains on said tag after said tag has become deactivated.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said tag comprises a non-detachable tag which becomes deactivated after the item'"'"'s sale, such that the item is non-replenishable and non-refurbishable with a counterfeit product.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said tag comprises a unique tag having unique permanent information code, such that each tag attached to an item has a different information code.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said tag includes predetermined data fixed therein including at least one of a date, routing information, a product data, and warranty data.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein one of the item and a container for the item includes a visible unique code marked thereon,

said system further comprising a tag reader for reading said tag, said tag reader including a decryption mechanism therein for allowing a customer to verify at a point of sale that an encrypted code carried by said tag corresponds to the unique code marked on said one of the item and said container.

11. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a tag reader for reading said tag,

wherein the tag reader invalidates the tag to mark the article as sold after a sale has been completed, and said tag comprises a single-use tag.

12. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a tag reader for interrogating said tag,

wherein said tag includes a memory containing one of a unique read-only information and a memory which is alterable in a secure manner, and a housing,

said housing of said tag at least partially concealing the tag to a user, said tag further comprising a receiver receiving an interrogation signal from said tag reader, said memory and said receiver being housed in said housing,

said system further comprising means for erasing said tag information when said tag is removed from said item.

13. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a tag reader including a decryption device,

wherein after reading, said tag reader performs one of writing to said tag to indicate a status of said item and produces a predetermined radio frequency field for destroying the tag after reading.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein said item includes a stopper for closing said item and a sealing cap over said stopper,

wherein said tag comprises a flat tag and is sandwiched between said stopper and the sealing cap, and

wherein, to open said item, the sealing cap and the stopper are removed in turn, and upon removing said sealing cap, the tag is rendered inoperable as it is exposed.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said tag includes a circuit chip and an antenna, and said sealing cap is coupled to one of a line of said circuit chip and said antenna,

wherein when said sealing cap is lifted, said one of said circuit chip and said antenna are rendered inoperable.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein said item includes a stopper for closing said item and a sealing cap over said stopper,

wherein said tag comprises a flat tag attached to the sealing cap and said stopper such that the tag is severed when said item is opened.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein said label includes indicia and a tab fixed to said one of said first and second portions having the tag attached thereto, said tab being removed upon sale of the item, and

wherein the label further includes a perforation separating the first and second portions of the label, and enabling the user to detach said one of said first and second portions including the tag from the other of said first and second portions.

18. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a tag reader, wherein said item includes an item tag attached thereto, and

wherein said tag is disabled after said tag is read by said tag reader.

19. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a seal for at least partially sealing said item and substantially all of said tag,

wherein said RFID tag includes routing information validating authenticity of said item.

20. The system according to claim 1, wherein said tag warranty information associated therewith and indicia corresponding to said warranty information.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein indicia corresponding to the item is provided to a purchaser of said item and said warranty information is verifiable only with said indicia, such that said indicia is nullified upon a sale of said item.

22. The system according to claim 20, wherein indicia corresponding to the item is provided to a purchaser of said item and said warranty information is verifiable only with said indicia, such that said indicia is nullified upon a use of said item.

23. A counterfeit indicator for attachment to a retail item, including:

an interrogatable radio frequency identification (RFID) tag attached to the item,

wherein said item includes indicia visible by a purchaser of the item, for comparison with a secret non-duplicable information held in said tag, and said item includes a label, and

wherein said tag is concealed from a user and is attached to a side of said label opposite said user when viewing said label, said label including first and second portions and the tag being attached to one of said first and second portion.

24. The counterfeit indicator according to claim 23, further comprising:

wherein said label includes indicia and a tab fixed to said one of said first and second portions having the tag attached thereto, said tab being removed upon sale of the item.

25. The counterfeit indicator according to claim 24, wherein the label further includes a perforation separating the first and second portions of the label, and enabling the user to detach said one of said first and second portions including the tag from the other of said first and second portions.

26. A counterfeit indicator for attachment to a retail item, including:

an item tag attached to the item and including a cover label with predetermined indicia thereon; and

an interrogatable radio frequency identification (RFID) tag obscured by said cover label,

wherein said tag is disabled after interrogation of said tag is performed, and

wherein said tag is attached to a side of said label opposite said user when viewing said label, said label including first and second portions and the tag being attached to one of said fist and second portions.

27. The counterfeit indicator according to claim 26, further comprising a seal for at least partially sealing said item and substantially all of said tag,

wherein said tag includes routing information for validating the authenticity of the item.

28. The counterfeit indicator according to claim 26, further comprising a remote mechanism for verifying said predetermined indicia with second information at a manufacturer of said item.

29. The counterfeit indicator according to claim 28, wherein said remote mechanism comprises one of the Internet and a telephone system, and

wherein said predetermined indicia and said second information comprise first and second numbers, respectively.

30. The counterfeit indicator according to claim 26, wherein said predetermined indicia comprises a first number, said indicator further comprising:

means for verifing said first number with a second number; and

means, situated at a manufacturer of said item, for setting a flag corresponding to the first and second numbers so that an attempt to re-verify the first and second numbers again is refused.

31. The counterfeit indicator according to claim 30, further comprising:

means for removing the flag when the item is returned to one of a point of sale and the manufacturer of the item, such that the first and second numbers can be verified at a next sale.

32. The system according to claim 26, wherein information on said tag remains on said tag after said tag has become disabled.

33. A method for preventing counterfeiting of an item, comprising:

attaching an interrogatable radio frequency identification (RFID) tag to the item, said tag storing therein secret, non-duplicable information;

providing, in advance, said item with visible indicia; and

comparing said visible indicia with said secret, non-duplicable information stored in said tag designating authenticity, wherein said item includes a label, and

wherein said tag is concealed from a user and is attached to a side of said label opposite said user when viewing said label, said label including first and second portions and the tag being attached to one of said first and second portions.