UPC, EAN and JAN validation system and method for loss prevention at point of sale/return

• US 7,455,230 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2006
• Issued: 11/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: e2Interactive Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nintendo of America, Inc. (Nintendo Company Limited)
• Inventors: Junger, Peter J., Secreto, Kristin
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Savusdiphol; Paultep
• Application Number:
  US11/405,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20060237534A1
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 235/435, 235/462.07, 235/462.01, 235/375, 235/383, 235/385
• US Class Current: 235/462.07
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0054 with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 3/003 Anti-theft control theft alarms G08B13/00

Abstract

The invention provides a process/system that validates the authenticity of the product UPC, EAN, JAN, RFID, EPC and/or equivalent code, in real-time, while a transaction is taking place. A database is preferably maintained including a list of suspected false or counterfeit UPC, EAN, JAN, RFID, EPC, and/or equivalent number or first digits, and further includes a list of key descriptive text or numbers found on a product or a product'"'"'s packaging that will either corroborate or contradict the real brand name with the brand encoded in the UPC, EAN, JAN, RFID EPC, and/or equivalent number. The invention allows a transaction if the item is not found in the database of suspect or counterfeit items, or if all of the identifiers match a record in the database; otherwise, the transaction is denied.

Claims

1. In a system that promotes loss prevention at a transaction point by reducing fraudulent transactions relating to items for sale or return, a method comprising:

receiving, from a user, a first identifier and a second identifier each indicative of an item for sale or return at the transaction point as a part of a customer transaction;

looking up the first identifier in a database that includes a plurality of records, each said record corresponding to a suspect or counterfeit item for sale or return;

if the first identifier does not correspond to a record present in the database, allowing the transaction;

if the first identifier corresponds to a record present in the database and the second identifier corresponds with an entry in the record associated with the first identifier present in the database, allowing the transaction; and

if the first identifier corresponds to a record present in the database and the second identifier does not correspond with an entry in the record associated with the first identifier present in the database, denying the transaction.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the system looks up the first identifier and the second identifier together.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the system looks up the second identifier only if the first identifier is present in the database.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the transaction point is a point of sale.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein the transaction point is a point of return.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein the first identifier is a Universal Product Code (UPC).

7. A method as in claim 1, wherein the first identifier is a EAN Article Numbering Code (EAN).

8. A method as in claim 1, wherein the first identifier is a Japanese Article Numbering Code (JAN).

9. In a system that promotes loss prevention at a transaction point by reducing fraudulent transactions relating to items for sale or return, a method comprising:

receiving, from a user, a first identifier and a plurality of second identifiers, each of the first identifier and the plurality of second identifiers being indicative of an item for sale or return at the transaction point as a part of a customer transaction;

looking up the first identifier in a database that includes a plurality of records, each said record corresponding to a suspect or counterfeit item for sale or return;

if the first identifier does not correspond to a record present in the database, allowing the transaction;

if the first identifier corresponds to a record present in the database and one or more of the plurality of second identifiers correspond with one or more respective entries in the record associated with the first identifier present in the database, allowing the transaction;

if the first identifier corresponds to a record present in the database and one or more of the plurality of second identifiers do not correspond with one or more respective entries in the record associated with the first identifier present in the database, denying the transaction.

10. A method as in claim 9, wherein the system looks up the first identifier and the plurality of second identifiers together.

11. A method as in claim 9, wherein the system looks up the plurality of second identifiers all together only if the first identifier is present in the database.

12. A method as in claim 9, wherein the system looks up the plurality of second identifiers one at a time until all are checked or a discrepancy is discovered only if the first identifier is present in the database.

13. A method as in claim 9, wherein the transaction point is a point of sale.

14. A method as in claim 9, wherein the transaction point is a point of return.

15. A method as in claim 9, wherein a first identifier is a Universal Product Code (UPC).

16. A method as in claim 9, wherein the first identifier is a EAN Article Numbering Code (EAN).

17. A method as in claim 9, wherein the first identifier is a Japanese Article Numbering Code (JAN).

18. A method, as in claim 9, wherein a second identifier is a brand name.

19. A method, as in claim 9, wherein a second identifier is a serial number.

20. A system that promotes loss prevention at a transaction point by reducing fraudulent transactions relating to items for sale or return, comprising:

an input device configured to receive from a user a first identifier and a second identifier each indicative of an item for sale or return at the transaction point as a part of a customer transaction;

a search routine configured to look up the first identifier in a database that includes a plurality of records, each said record corresponding to a suspect or counterfeit item for sale or return; and

,

a gatekeeper switch configured to;

allow the transaction if the first identifier does not correspond to a record present in the database;

allow the transaction if the first identifier corresponds to a record present in the database and the second identifier corresponds with an entry in the record associated with the first identifier present in the database; and

,

deny the transaction if the first identifier corresponds to a record present in the database and the second identifier does not correspond with an entry in the record associated with the first identifier present in the database.

21. A system as in claim 20, wherein the input device is a scanner.

22. A system as in claim 20, wherein the input device is a keyboard.

23. A system as in claim 20, wherein the searching routine looks up the first identifier and the second identifier together.

24. A system as in claim 20, wherein the searching routine looks up the second identifier only if the first identifier is present in the database.

25. A system as in claim 20, wherein the transaction point is a point of sale.

26. A system as in claim 20, wherein the transaction point is a point of return.

27. A system as in claim 20, wherein the first identifier is a Universal Product Code (UPC).

28. A system as in claim 20, wherein the first identifier is a EAN Article Numbering Code (EAN).

29. A system as in claim 20, wherein the first identifier is a Japanese Article Numbering Code (JAN).

30. A system that promotes loss prevention at a transaction point by reducing fraudulent transactions relating to items for sale or return, comprising:

an input device, configured to receive from a user a first identifier and a plurality of second identifiers, each of the first identifier and the plurality of second identifiers being indicative of an item for sale or return at the transaction point as a part of a customer transaction;

a searching routine configured to, look up the first identifier in a database that includes a plurality of records, each said record corresponding to a suspect or counterfeit item for sale or return; and

,

a gatekeeper switch configured to;

allow the transaction if the first identifier does not correspond to a record present in the database;

allow the transaction if the first identifier corresponds to a record present in the database and one ore more of the plurality of second identifiers correspond with one or more respective entries in the record associated with the first identifier present in the database; and

,

deny the transaction if the first identifier corresponds to a record present in the database and one or more of the plurality of second identifiers do not correspond with one or more respective entries in the record associated with the first identifier present in the database.

31. A system as in claim 30, wherein the input device is a scanner.

32. A system as in claim 30, wherein the input device is a keyboard.

33. A system as in claim 30, wherein the searching routine looks up the first identifier and the plurality of second identifiers together.

34. A system as in claim 30, wherein the search routine looks up the plurality of second identifiers all together only if the first identifier is present in the database.

35. A system as in claim 30, wherein the search routine looks up the plurality of second identifiers one at a time until all are checked or a discrepancy is discovered only if the first identifier is present in the database.

36. A system as in claim 30, wherein the transaction point is a point of sale.

37. A system as in claim 30, wherein the transaction point is a point of return.

38. A system as in claim 30, wherein a first identifier is a Universal Product Code (UPC).

39. A system as in claim 30, wherein the first identifier is a EAN Article Numbering Code (EAN).

40. A system as in claim 30, wherein the first identifier is a Japanese Article Numbering Code (JAN).

41. A system as in claim 30, wherein a second identifier is a brand name.

42. A system as in claim 30, wherein a second identifier is a serial number.