Apparatus and method for purchased product security

• US 6,886,748 B1
• Filed: 06/25/1999
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steven Jerome Moore
• Original Assignee: Steven Jerome Moore
• Inventors: Moore, Steven Jerome
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US09/344,010
• Time in Patent Office: 2,139 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 235/375, 235/384, 235/385, 235/435, 235/381, 235/380, 235/462.01, 235/468, 235/487, 235/494, 705/22, 705/24, 705/28, 705/14, 705/16, 705/17, 705/44
• US Class Current: 235/435
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0054 with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 3/00 Alarm indicators, e.g. bells

Abstract

There is disclosed a method and apparatus for encoding products with unique identifiers which are correlatable with the purchaser of a product. Data related to the purchaser is correlated at point of purchase with the unique identifier and stored in a database for latter retrieval upon theft or loss.

Claims

1. A computer-assisted method of recording an identity of a purchaser of a particular item in a retail setting comprising:

accepting from a purchaser at a point of retail sale an item encoded with a unique item identifier, said item identifier identifying the manufacturer of said item and comprising indicia specific to said item, said item being enclosed in a package having a visible electronically-readable coded form package identifier correlateable with said indicia specific to said item;

accepting from said purchaser of said good at a point of retail sale an identity card housing electronically-readable personal identification information;

inputting at the point of sale by an electro-optical reader said personal identification information from said identity card into electronic storage;

inputting at the point of sale by an electro-optical reader into said electronic storage said visible electronically-readable coded form package identifier and information pertaining to the manufacturer of said item;

correlating said personal identification information with said package identifier and information pertaining to the manufacturer of said item in a computer database.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of transferring said correlated data to a shared database with other retailers.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

providing at least a portion of said unique item identifier to the purchaser in electronically readable coded form on a medium.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of:

printing said package identifier and said personal identification information on a sales receipt in electronically readable coded form.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the item identifier is invisible in visible light.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the identity card is a self-authenticating electronically-readable coded identity card.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the identity card is a microcircuit technology card.

8. A process for encoding an item with an identifier uniquely correlateable with said item comprising:

coding an item with an unique item identifier in electronically-readable coded form, said unique item identifier identifying the manufacturer of said item and comprising indicia specifically identifying said item;

on said item or the packaging of said item, placing a package identifier, in visible electronically-readable coded form, which is correlateable with said unique item identifier, said package identifier identifying the type of item, the item'"'"'s manufacturer, as well as identifying said indicia on said item.

9. The process of claim 8 wherein the unique item identifier associated with the item is invisible.

10. The process of claim 8 wherein the unique item identifier'"'"'s position on said item is associated with the lot in which said item was manufactured.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein said visible electronically-readable package identifier which is placed on said item or the packaging of said item further identifies origin of manufacture.

12. A product made by a process comprising:

coding an item with an unique item identifier in electronically-readable coded form, said unique item identifier identifying the manufacturer of said item and comprising indicia specifically identifying said item;

on said item or the packaging of said item, placing a package identifier, in visible electronically-readable coded form, which is correlateable with said unique item identifier, said package identifier identifying the type of item, the item'"'"'s manufacturer, as well as identifying said indicia on said item.

13. A computer-assisted method of identifying a record owner of the item, or part thereof, of claim 12 comprising:

obtaining the item;

determining the unique item identifier encoded on said item;

inputting said unique item identifier into a data processor operatively connected with a data base housing purchaser identity information correlated to unique item identifiers found on a plurality of items;

retrieving purchaser identity information correlated with said unique item identifier in said data base;

determining the identity of the purchaser(s) of said item from said purchaser identity information.

14. The product of claim 12 wherein said package identifier further comprises information pertaining to characteristics of the item.

15. The product of claim 14 wherein said package identifier comprises information pertaining to the dimensions or features of the item.

16. The product of claim 14 wherein said package identifier comprises information pertaining to add-ons associated with the item.

17. A processor-assisted method of recording the identity of a purchaser of an item, having an unique item identifier thereon containing indicia specifically identifying the particular item, purchased through a data processing telecommunications network comprising:

receiving over a data processing telecommunications network a digital data signal comprising digital information relating to the order of a good, the identity of the orderer of the good, and the address to which the orderer of the good desires the good to be transmitted, said digital data signal being transmitted from said orderer to a purveyor of said good;

transmitting from said purveyor, in response to said offerer'"'"'s order, a digital data signal comprising a request for said good to a processor located at a site at which such good is physically available in a package said package having a package identifier in electronically-readable coded form correlateable with an unique item identifier said unique item identifier associated with the particular item comprising the packaged good, and comprising information identifying the manufacturer of said item and indicia specifically identifying said item;

receiving a digital data signal from form the site at which such good is physically available comprising digital information with respect to the package identifier; and

correlating in a database said package identifier digital information with said digital information pertaining to the identity of the offerer and the address to which the offerer desires the good to be transmitted.

18. A method for encoding concealed unique identifiers on products comprising:

directing one or more high energy electromagnetic waves at a material in a molten or semi-molten state such that the wave(s) substantially converge at a point within the material;

altering the convergence point of said high energy electromagnetic wave(s) such that the three-dimensional structure of the molten or semi-molten material is disrupted such that an unique identifier is formed;

using the solidified material in the construct of a product.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the molten or semi-molten material is a plastic.

20. A process for ascertaining whether an item having a unique item identifier in electrically-readable coded form, said unique item identifier identifying the manufacturer of said item and comprising indicia specific to said item, is the same item that is identified by information in electronically-readable coded form on a medium, said process comprising the steps of:

a) comparing said unique item identifier on said item with the electronically-readable coded form information on said medium;

b) determining that said item having said unique item identifier is the same as said item identified on said medium if the unique item identifier favorably compares with the electronically-readable coded form information of step a.