Method and system for determining billing information in a tag fabrication process

• US 8,099,335 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2004
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Eckstein, Eric, Cote, Andre
• Primary Examiner(s): Gart, Matthew S
• Assistant Examiner(s): IWARERE, OLUSEYE
• Application Number:
  US10/998,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20050187837A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,605 Days
• Field of Search: 705/28, 705/34
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing

Abstract

A method for determining billing information for a tag application process for billing a customer using the tag application process, includes the steps of determining a cost component of said tag fabrication process and determining billing information in accordance with said cost component. The customer is billed in accordance with said determined billing information.

Claims

1. A method for determining billing information for a customer using an integrated surface processing system comprising the steps of

a) providing an integrated surface processing system including a security circuit fabrication device, said security circuit fabrication device being arranged for fabricating in situ an EAS or RFID security circuit on each of a number of items to be secured;

b) providing an adhesive in a predetermined pattern to said surface of each of said items using said security circuit fabrication device;

c) applying a conductive foil to said adhesive on each of said items using said security circuit fabrication device;

d) die cutting said conductive foil corresponding to said pattern

e) removing remaining portions of said conductive foil from each of said items using said security circuit fabrication device to thereby form a first conductive trace in situ upon said surface of each of said items, said conductive trace forming a component of said security circuit on and integral with each said item;

f) monitoring the operation the integrated surface processing system to determine a number indicative of a quantity of security circuits produced by the operation of said integrated surface processing system while repeating steps b, c, d, and e, and

g) determining billing information for said customer according to the number determined in step f.

2. The method of determining billing information of claim 1, comprising the further step of determining said number in accordance with a counter for counting a process event.

3. The method of determining billing information of claim 2, including the further step of testing a security circuit wherein said event comprises a determination of a working security circuit.

4. The method of determining billing information of claim 2, wherein said event comprises an identification of an item in accordance with an interrogation of a security circuit.

5. The method of determining billing information of claim 2, wherein said security circuit fabrication device includes a plurality of system elements, comprising the further step of disposing said counter in a selected system element of said plurality of system elements.

6. The method of determining billing information of claim 5, wherein said selected system element comprises a system roller.

7. The method of determining billing information of claim 6, wherein said system roller comprises a printer roller.

8. The method of determining billing information of claim 5, wherein said selected system element comprises an adhesive transfer device for adhering circuit elements to a substrate.

9. The method of determining billing information of claim 5, wherein said selected system element comprises a cutter for cutting tag elements.

10. The method of determining billing information of claim 5, comprising the further step of selling said selected system element to said user.

11. The method of determining billing information of claim 5, comprising the further step of renting said selected system element to said user.

12. The method of determining billing information of claim 1, comprising the further step of determining a period of time.

13. The method of determining billing information of claim 1, comprising the further step of determining a pro-rated purchase cost.

14. The method of determining billing information of claim 1, comprising the further step of determining a rental cost.

15. The method of determining billing information of claim 1, comprising the further step of determining a licensing fee.

16. The method of determining billing information of claim 15, comprising the further step of determining said licensing fee in accordance with a tag design.

17. The method of determining billing information of claim 15, comprising the further step of determining said licensing fee for licensing a tag design tool.

18. The method of determining billing information of claim 15, comprising the further step of determining said licensing fee for licensing know how.

19. The method of determining billing information of claim 1, comprising the further step of transmitting said selected process information to a monitoring location.

20. The method of determining billing information of claim 1, comprising the further step of providing a volume discount to said customer.