System and method for authenticating products

• US 8,464,947 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2010
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fleet Connect Solutions LLC (Empire IP LLC)
• Original Assignee: Portiski Research LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Swan, Richard James, Mohan, Shantha, Sun, David, Varshavsky, Alexander, Mohanram, Karthik
• Primary Examiner(s): FRANKLIN, JAMARA ALZAIDA
• Application Number:
  US12/941,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20110068166A1
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 235/385, 705/22, 705/28
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A computer readable medium including executable instructions to analyze radio frequency (RF) tag information includes executable instruction to access cross-enterprise RF tag information, identify a product transition based upon the cross-enterprise RF tag information, and define a new product path based upon the product transition, where the new product path defines product pedigree information. Additional executable instructions authenticate a user, secure product information, supply product pedigree information corresponding to the product information, and verify the pedigree of the product based upon the product pedigree information.

Claims

1. A computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, in response to execution, cause a computing system to perform operations, comprising:

identifying product transition data representing a product transition for a product based at least in part on radio frequency tag information representing at least one transition of the product between enterprises;

defining product path data based at least in part on the product transition data, the product path data defining a history of movement of the product between the enterprises; and

initiating a rendering of product pedigree information for the product based at least in part on the product path data in response to receiving product identification information corresponding to the product.

2. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise rendering additional product pedigree information in response to a request for the additional product pedigree information.

3. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise initiating a rendering of information indicating a visual characteristic of the product in response to receiving a request for additional product pedigree information.

4. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the initiating the rendering of the product pedigree information includes initiating a rendering of at least one of a product code, a product description, or a product image.

5. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the initiating the rendering of the product pedigree information includes initiating a rendering of information indicating that the product is at least one of recalled, damaged, stolen, expired, returned, quarantined, lost, or destroyed.

6. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the initiating the rendering of the product pedigree information includes initiating a rendering of information specifying a product event, a product location, or a product date.

7. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise supplying failed authentication information.

8. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the supplying the failed authentication information includes supplying information specifying an action to be followed in connection with disposal of the product.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise soliciting for discrepancy information.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise processing the discrepancy information to identify a flaw in a supply chain.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise performing an authentication based at least on an identification and a password.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the performing the authentication includes authenticating to a prescribed information access level.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise verifying a pedigree of the product based upon the product pedigree information.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the product path data includes classification data that classifies the enterprises as one of a manufacturer, a warehouse, a distributor, or a retailer.

15. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a system including a processor, product information identifying a product;

linking the product information to product pedigree information defining a history of transitions of the product between enterprises, wherein the product information is derived from radio frequency tag information representing one or more transitions of the product between the enterprises;

determining a pedigree of the product based at least in part on the product pedigree information; and

displaying product pedigree information indicating the pedigree.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising displaying additional product pedigree information in response to a request for the additional product pedigree information.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising displaying information indicating a visual characteristic of the product.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising displaying failed authentication information.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the displaying the failed authentication information includes specifying an action to be followed in connection with disposal of the product.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising requesting discrepancy information.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising processing the discrepancy information to identify a flaw in a supply chain.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising authenticating an identification and a password.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the authenticating includes authenticating to a prescribed information access level.

24. A system comprising:

a memory; and

a processor that facilitates execution of computer-executable components stored within the memory, the computer-executable components comprising;

a data analysis component configured to determine, in response to receipt of product identification information for a product, product pedigree information for the product based at least in part on product path information for the product derived from radio frequency tag information, wherein the product path information defines a product path followed by the product between enterprises, and

a pedigree verification component configured to verify a pedigree of the product based on the product pedigree information.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the data analysis module is further configured to retrieve the product path information in accordance with an electronic product code.

26. The system of claim 24, further comprising an authorization component configured to enforce authorized access to at least one of the product information or the product pedigree information.

27. The system of claim 24, further comprising a display component configured to render the product pedigree information.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the product pedigree information includes information regarding a visual characteristic of the product.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein the pedigree verification component is further configured to generate an indication that the product has failed authentication based on the product pedigree information.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the pedigree verification component is further configured to generate an instruction for disposal of the product in response to a determination that the product has failed authentication.

31. A system comprising:

means for identifying a transition of a product between enterprises based on radio frequency tag information that identifies at least one transition of the product between at least two of the enterprises;

means for defining a product path for the product based on the transition, the product path recording the transition of the product between the enterprises; and

means for verifying a pedigree of the product based on the product path.

32. The system of claim 31, further comprising means for rendering product pedigree information indicating the pedigree.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the means for rendering includes means for rendering visual characteristic information for the product.

34. The system of claim 31, further comprising means for enforcing secure access to the product path.

35. The system of claim 31, further comprising means for generating an indication that the product has failed authentication based on the pedigree.

36. The system of claim 35, further comprising means for indicating an instruction for disposal of the product in response to determining that the product has failed authentication.