Product distribution verification system using encoded marks indicative of product and destination

• US 6,246,778 B1
• Filed: 08/14/1997
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lewis J. Moore
• Original Assignee: Lewis J. Moore
• Inventors: Moore, Lewis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johns, Andrew W.
• Application Number:
  US08/911,415
• Time in Patent Office: 1,398 Days
• Field of Search: 392/100, 392/103, 392/112, 392/143, 392/317, 356/71, 340/825.3, 340/825.34
• US Class Current: 382/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/143 Sensing or illuminating at different wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00435 Details specific to central, non-customer apparatus, e.g. servers at post office or vendor
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00443 Verification of mailpieces, e.g. by checking databases
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/00 Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means medals or badges A44C3/00; making labels B31D1/02; sheets temporarily attached together B42F; labelling B65C; labels on record carriers G11B23/38, G11B23/40; Seals; Postage or like stamps

Abstract

A system and method of marking goods for authentication and tracking purposes is described. The system and method include a central control which enables the system. The method and system are accomplished in real time affording manufacturers the ability to eliminate problems associated with counterfeiting and diversion which begin at one or more manufacturing site which are remote from central control. A central control unit enables the system by providing an allotment of marks to one or more host units. Each host unit directs marking terminals to mark, at locations remote from the host units, particular goods or packages with specific information encoding symbols. Items are preferably marked directly, but alternately can be identified by means of affixed fixtures which are marked with encoding symbols either prior to, or subsequent to, affixing to the items. Following marking, items are scanned to insure proper marking. Once within the commerce stream, items can be checked by illuminating the symbols marked thereon and cross referencing this data with the host database by using a field reading unit, or alternately decoded into clear text at the field reader for analysis.

Claims

1. A method of marking and tracking goods from place of manufacture to place of final distribution, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a control computer to control and enable a host computer by providing an allotment of encoded symbols indicating said place of final distribution;

(b) enabling said host computer to direct a printer at said place of manufacture to print an encoded symbol from said allotment of encoded symbols on said goods thereby forming marked goods;

(c) enabling said host computer to direct a second printer at said place of manufacture to print said encoded symbol on a package containing a plurality of said marked goods thereby forming a marked sized package of marked goods;

(d) scanning said marked goods and said marked sized packages with a field reader to capture said symbol imprinted thereon; and

(e) verifying the authenticity of said symbol.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said verification of authenticity of said symbol comprises the steps of:

(a) transferring said captured symbol to said host computer;

(b) comparing within said host computer said captured symbol with a data base of authentic encoded symbols; and

(c) transmitting to said field reader an indication of the result of said comparison.

3. The method of claim 2 comprising the additional steps of:

(a) providing a plurality of said host computers wherein

(i) said control computer provides an allocation of symbols to each host computer unique to that host computer and unique to a final place of distribution, and

(ii) each host computer controls two or more printers to print said symbols onto said goods and onto said sized packages of said goods at said place of manufacture; and

(b) directing said plurality of host computers with said control computer.

4. The method of claim 3 comprising the additional step of locating each of said host computers remote from said control computer.

5. The method of claim 4 comprising the additional step of locating at each of a plurality of places of manufacture, a set of said two or more printers, wherein a single host computer controls said plurality of sets of printers.

6. The method of claim 3 comprising the additional steps of:

(a) providing a plurality of said field readers controlled by one of said host computers;

(b) transferring said captured symbol from each said field reader to that host computer;

(c) comparing within said host computer said captured symbol with a data base of encoded symbols; and

(d) transmitting to each said field reader capturing said symbol an indication of the result of said comparison of symbols captured by that field reader.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of scanning said marked goods comprises illuminating said symbol on said marked goods with a light source having a specified frequency range to illuminate said imprinted symbol.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said host computer is enabled by said control computer through a security device comprising an enigma card.

9. A method of marking and tracking goods and sized packages of goods, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a control computer to control and enable a plurality of host computers by providing an allotment of encoded symbols to each said host computers, wherein each host computer is provided with symbols indicating a unique place of distribution of goods;

(b) enabling each said host computer to direct a plurality of printers to print an encoded symbol onto said goods and said sized packages of goods, wherein

(i) at least one printer is located at each of a plurality of places of manufacture of said goods, and

(ii) each symbol indicates the place of manufacture of said goods;

(c) scanning said goods with a field reader, which cooperates with a specific host computer and is located at each said place of distribution, to capture said symbol imprinted thereon;

(d) verifying the authenticity of said imprinted symbol using said captured symbol; and

(e) verifying said place of distribution using said captured symbol.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said host computer is enabled by said control computer through a security device comprising an enigma card.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said verification of authenticity of said symbol comprises the steps of:

(a) transferring said symbol captured by said field reader to said cooperating host computer;

(b) comparing within said host computer said captured symbol with a data base of encoded symbols; and

(c) transmitting to said field reader an indication of the result of said comparison.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said verifying said place of distribution using said captured symbol comprises the steps of:

(a) transferring said symbol captured by said field reader to said cooperating host computer;

(b) extracting from said captured symbol product identification and destination information and comparing this information with intended place of distribution information stored within said host computer, and

(c) transferring to said field reader the results of said comparison.

13. The method of claim 12 comprising the additional steps of:

(a) providing said field reader with a CPU;

(b) converting said captured symbol into an ASCII string within said CPU; and

(c) transmitting said captured symbol to said cooperating host computer in the form of said ASCII string.

14. The method of claim 9 including the additional steps of:

(a) scanning said imprinted symbol at said place of manufacture of said goods; and

(b) verifying the accuracy of said imprinted symbol prior to distribution of said goods.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of scanning said goods comprises illuminating said symbol on said goods and said sized packages of goods with a light source having a specified frequency range to illuminate said imprinted symbol so that said symbol can be captured by said field reader.

16. The method of claim 13 comprising the additional steps of:

(a) verifying the authenticity of said symbol by comparing said captured symbol with a database of authentic symbols stored with said field reader CPU, and

(b) verifying the destination of said goods by comparing product identification and destination information extracted from said captured symbol and comparing this information with intended place of distribution information stored within said field reader CPU.

17. The method of claim 9 wherein:

(a) said product comprises a package of cigarettes; and

(b) said sized packages comprise cartons of packages of cigarettes and cases of cartons of cigarettes.

18. The method of claim 9 wherein:

(a) said places of manufacture comprise tobacco product manufacturing facilities;

(b) each said facility comprises a plurality of production modules; and

(c) each type of product and each sized product package from each production module is marked with a designated printer.

19. A system for marking and tracking goods and sized packages of goods, comprising:

(a) an enabling control computer;

(b) at least one host computer in communication with said control computer;

(c) at least one printing system comprising

(i) a printer CPU in communication with said host computer, and

(ii) an symbol printer; and

(d) at least one field reading system cooperating with each said host computer;

(e) wherein

(i) said control computer communicates with said host computer through a first coded communication to enable said host computer to coordinate marking of said goods and sized packages by providing said host with said allotment of symbols.

(ii) said host computer communicates with said printer CPU through a second coded communication to enable said symbol printer to print said symbols as a pattern onto said goods and sized packages of goods,

(iii) a first portion of said symbol is indicative of the intended place of distribution of said goods,

(iv) a second portion of said symbol is indicative of the place of manufacture of said goods,

(v) said field reading system scans said goods thereby capturing said symbol marks,

(iv) said field reading system communicates with said host computer to compare said captured marks with a set of authenticated patterns entered into a data base on said control computer, and

(iiv) said field reader compares said scanned intended place of distribution with an actual place of distribution.

20. The system of claim 19 comprising an encryption unit cooperating with said host computer to form said second coded communication.

21. The system of claim 19 further comprising verification means comprising a CDD camera, wherein said CDD camera scans said symbols applied to said goods and packages of said goods and compares the scanned symbols with the intended symbol markings encoded at and stored in said printer CPU.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein said field reading system comprises a PC.

23. The system of claim 22 further comprising a field reading system communication means, wherein:

(a) said field reading system scans goods and sized packages of goods and captures said symbol at various points in a product distribution system;

(b) said PC transmits said captured symbol to said cooperating control computer for verification, and

(c) said control computer transmits via said communication means the results of said comparison to said field reader PC.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein said communication means comprises satellite communication.

25. The system of claim 23 further comprising a PC software system wherein;

(a) said software system distinguishes said first portion of said captured symbol comprising place of distribution information and distinguishes said second portion comprising place of manufacture information; and

(b) said PC transmits information in said first and said second portions to said host computer and decodes and presents in clear text information in said second portion at said field reader.

26. The system of claim 25 further comprising a data base of valid symbol markings stored within said PC, wherein said captured marks are compared with authentic symbol markings encoded at and stored in said data base of said PC.

27. The system of claim 19 further comprising a security modem cooperating with each of at least said at least one host computers, wherein said cooperating security modem passes only said first encoded communication directed to a specific host computer from said control computer.

28. A system tracking the distribution of goods, the system comprising:

(a) a control computer;

(b) at least one host computer which is provided an allotment of marks by said control computer, wherein

(i) a first portion of said mark is indicative of intended place of distribution of said goods, and

(ii) a second portion is indicative of the identity of said goods;

(c) at least one printing system enabled by said host computer with said allotment of marks for imprinting onto said goods;

(d) at least one field reader to capture said marks imprinted thereon; and

(e) means for verifying the authenticity of said marks.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein said means for verifying the authenticity of said marks comprising:

(a) a means for transferring said captured mark to said control computer;

(b) a data base of authentic marks stored within said control computer, wherein said captured mark is verified by comparison with said data base of authentic marks;

(c) a second means for transmitting to said field reader an indication of the result of the comparison; and

(d) a third means for transmitting information scanned by said field reader to said control computer.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein said field reader is remote from said host computer, and said host computer is remote from said control computer.

31. The system of claim 28 comprising a plurality of printing systems is enabled by a single host computer.

32. The system of claim 28 comprising a plurality of host computers enabled with said control computer.

33. A method of marking and tracking goods, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a control computer to control and enable a host computer by providing an allotment of encoded symbols to said host computer, wherein said host computer is provided with symbols;

(b) enabling said host computer to direct one or more printers to print an encoded symbol onto said goods;

(c) scanning said goods with a reader, which cooperates with said host computer, to capture said symbol imprinted thereon;

(d) transmitting said scanned symbol;

(e) assigning an associated destination to said symbol; and

(f) storing said symbol and said associated destination in a memory of said host computer thereby creating a database of authentic symbols and associated destinations.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein said tracking of goods comprises the additional steps of:

(a) subsequently capturing said symbol imprinted on said goods with a field reader;

(b) transferring said captured symbol to said host computer;

(c) comparing within said host computer said captured symbol with said data base comprising said authentic symbols and associated destinations; and

(d) transmitting to said field reader an indication of the result of said comparison.

35. The method of claim 34 comprising the additional steps of:

(a) providing said field reader with a CPU;

(b) converting said captured symbol into an ASCII string within said CPU; and

(c) transmitting said captured symbol to said cooperating host computer in the form of said ASCII string.

36. The method of claim 33 wherein said host computer is enabled by a control computer through a security device comprising an enigma card.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein distribution of said goods is audited by electronically auditing said enigma card.