METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR AUTHENTICATING CONTENTS OF A BOTTLE

• US 20080197969A1
• Filed: 01/30/2008
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: eProvenance LLC
• Original Assignee: eProvenance LLC
• Inventors: Vogt, Eric E., Churchill, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US12/022,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20080197969A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A system for authenticating contents of a bottle containing an alcoholic beverage includes a neck seal, a first reader, a second reader, and a server. The neck seal is attached to the bottle and includes a neck seal identification number and an invisible security taggant. The first reader scans the neck seal, detects the presence of the security taggant, and authenticates the neck seal. The second reader retrieves a bottle tag number from a radio-frequency identification tag. The server authenticates the contents of the bottle responsive to identifying an association between the neck seal identification number and the bottle tag number.

Claims

1. A method for authenticating the contents of a bottle containing an alcoholic beverage during its progress through a distribution channel, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) authenticating, periodically, by a first reader, a neck seal of a bottle containing an alcoholic beverage, responsive to detecting an invisible security taggant deposited on the neck seal;

(b) retrieving, periodically, by a second reader, from a radio-frequency identification tag, a bottle tag number;

(c) authenticating, by a server, the contents of the bottle responsive to identifying an association between a neck seal identification number imprinted on the neck seal and the retrieved bottle tag number.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises scanning, by the first reader, upon receipt of the bottle by a channel member, the neck seal to detect the presence of the invisible security taggant.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises retrieving, by the second reader, upon receipt of the bottle by a channel member, the bottle tag number from the radio-frequency identification tag.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing, by the server, via a user interface, to a purchaser of the bottle, a description of the provenance of the alcoholic beverage, responsive to the authentication of the contents of the bottle.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of receiving, by an internet-based user interface, from a user, the neck seal identification number and the bottle tag number.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of transmitting, by the internet-based user interface, to the server, the neck seal identification number and the bottle tag number.

5. The method of claim I further comprising the step of associating, during a bottling process, a bar code inscribed on the neck seal with the bottle tag number.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of scanning, periodically, by a third reader, the bar code.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of authenticating, by the server, the contents of the bottle responsive to identifying an association between the scanned bar code and the retrieved bottle tag number.

10. A system for authenticating contents of a bottle containing an alcoholic beverage during its progress through a distribution channel comprising:

a neck seal attached to a bottle containing an alcoholic beverage and including a neck seal identification number and an invisible security taggant;

a first reader scanning the neck seal, detecting the presence of the security taggant, and authenticating the neck seal;

a second reader retrieving, from a radio-frequency identification tag, a bottle tag number; and

a server authenticating the contents of the bottle responsive to identifying an association between the neck seal identification number and the retrieved bottle tag number.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising an internet-based user interface receiving, from a user, the neck seal identification number and the bottle tag number and transmitting, to the server, the neck seal identification number and the bottle tag number.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the neck seal further comprises a bar code associated with the bottle tag number stored by the radio-frequency identification tag attached to the bottle.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising a third reader scanning the bar code and transmitting the scanned code to the server.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the third reader further comprises a bar code scanner.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the server further comprises an authentication module receiving the scanned bar code and the retrieved bottle tag number and authenticating the contents of the bottle responsive to identifying an association between the scanned bar code and the retrieved bottle tag number.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the invisible security taggant further comprises an authentication code detectable by the first reader.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the second reader further comprises a radio-frequency identification tag reader.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the server further comprises a user interface displaying, to a purchaser of the bottle, a description of the provenance of the alcoholic beverage, responsive to the authentication of the contents of the bottle.