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

• US 20060237534A1
• Filed: 04/18/2006
• Published: 10/26/2006
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 7,455,230 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/383
• 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 for loss prevention at a transaction point by preventing a fraudulent transaction relating to an item, a method comprising the steps of:

requiring a user to enter a first identifier and a second identifier of the item;

looking up the first identifier in a database of suspect or counterfeit items;

if the first identifier is not present in the database allowing the transaction;

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

if the first identifier is present in the database and the second identifier does not correspond with a 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 for loss prevention at a transaction point by preventing a fraudulent transaction relating to an item, a method comprising the steps of:

requiring a user to enter a first identifier and a plurality of second identifiers of the item;

looking up the first identifier in a database of suspect or counterfeit items;

if the first identifier is not present in the database, allowing the transaction;

if the plurality of second identifiers correspond with a record associated with the first identifier present in the database, allowing the transaction;

if the first identifier is present in the database and the plurality of second identifiers do not correspond with a 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 for loss prevention at a transaction point by preventing a fraudulent transaction relating to an item, comprising:

an input device, whereby a user inputs a first identifier and a second identifier of the item;

a searching routine, whereby the system looks up the first identifier in a database of suspect or counterfeit items; and

, a gatekeeper switch, that;

allows the transaction if the first identifier is not present in the database;

allows the transaction if the second identifier corresponds with a record associated with the first identifier present in the database; and

,

denies the transaction if the first identifier is present in the database and the second identifier does not correspond with a 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 for loss prevention at a transaction point by preventing a fraudulent transaction relating to an item, comprising:

an input device, whereby a user can input first identifier and a plurality of second identifiers of the item;

a searching routine, whereby the system can look up the first identifier in a database of suspect or counterfeit items; and

,

a gatekeeper switch, that;

allows the transaction if the first identifier is not present in the database;

allows the transaction if the plurality of second identifiers correspond with a record associated with the first identifier present in the database; and

,

denies the transaction if the first identifier is present in the database and the plurality of second identifiers do not correspond with a 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.