Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080253560 | Duo Codes for Product Authentication - Systems and methods are provided that employ two or more cryptographically linked codes. The codes, when encrypted, become cipher texts that appear unrelated. The codes described herein are characterized by a series of bits including one or more switch bits. The cipher text of a code having a switch bit in one state will appear to be unrelated to the cipher text of another code differing only in that the switch bit is in the opposite state. The cryptographically linked codes can be used in various combinations, such as on a product and its packaging, on a product and a component of the product, on a certificate packaged with the product and on the packaging, or on outer and inner packagings of the product. | 10-16-2008 |
20080256367 | Duo Codes for Product Authentication - Systems and methods are provided that employ two or more cryptographically linked codes. The codes, when encrypted, become cipher texts that appear unrelated. The codes described herein are characterized by a series of bits including one or more switch bits. The cipher text of a code having a switch bit in one state will appear to be unrelated to the cipher text of another code differing only in that the switch bit is in the opposite state. The cryptographically linked codes can be used in various combinations, such as on a product and its packaging, on a product and a component of the product, on a certificate packaged with the product and on the packaging, or on outer and inner packagings of the product. | 10-16-2008 |
20090065568 | Systems and Methods for Associating Production Attributes with Products - Methods are provided for marking products with unique identification codes, associating times with at least some of the unique identification codes, and associating other times with certain events pertaining to the production of the marked products. These times can be used to subsequently determine whether a marked product belongs to a population that was produced before or after an event. | 03-12-2009 |
20090065579 | Attributing Harvest Information with Unique Identifiers - Systems and methods allow units of produce to be traced back to the fields in which the produce was grown. In the field, a harvest form is completed with harvest information at the time of the harvest. In some instances, labels having unique codes are used to label the produce in the field, and two additional labels are placed on the harvest form to associate a range of unique codes with the harvest information on the form. In other instances, the produce packages arrive at the field already marked with the unique codes. The empty marked packages are themselves packed in boxes, where each box has a unique box code. The unique codes on the empty marked packages are associated in advance with the unique box code on the box, and in the field the unique box code is associated with the harvest information. | 03-12-2009 |
20100006648 | Mobile Table for Implementing Clamshell-to-Case Association - Systems and methods are provided for associating traceability codes on clamshells with unique identifiers on containers in which the empty clamshells are packed for later use. In various methods, the clamshells are marked with traceability codes and stacked together, one traceability code is read from one of the clamshells in each stack, a unique identifier is read from a container, and the stack,is placed in the container. The traceability code is stored in association with the unique identifier for later retrieval. An exemplary table for making clamshell-to-container associations comprises a scanner for reading traceability codes and rails for positioning stacks of clamshells proximate to the scanner. The table can also comprise a second scanner positioned to read unique identifiers from containers placed proximate thereto. The table can further comprise a computing system to make and store the associations. | 01-14-2010 |
20100037297 | Method and System for Deterring Product Counterfeiting, Diversion and Piracy - A method and system for authenticating goods and thereby detecting and deterring counterfeits are disclosed. According to one aspect of the invention, a client utilizes data received from a host to generate a plurality of security codes and to direct a printing device to print the plurality of security codes on a plurality of products, without retaining the plurality of security codes after the printing device has printed the plurality of security codes on the plurality of products. After the security codes have been printed, a person can communicate the security code to the host, which can verify its authenticity. | 02-11-2010 |
20100299263 | Method and System for Deterring Product Counterfeiting, Diversion and Piracy - A client system receives a request for a set of unique security codes and also receives product data associated with a product on which the security codes are to be printed. The client sends at least some of the product data to a host system and receives a batch identifier from the host. The host stores received product data with the batch identifier. The client generates the set of security codes and then provides the codes to be printed on the product. After the products enter the stream of commerce, the host can receive an authentication request including a security code, and in response the host will verify that the security code is valid and return to the requestor the authentication result and at least part of the product data associated with the batch identifier. | 11-25-2010 |
20110084127 | Voice Code for Distribution Centers - A Produce Traceability Initiative compliant case label includes the GTIN, the lot code, and a short numeric voice code. The voice code is derived from the GTIN and the lot code by an algorithm. Cases of goods that include these case labels are shipped by the source of goods to a distribution center for redistribution to retailers. The distribution center records the GTIN and lot code upon receipt. The distribution center uses the same algorithm to generate voice codes, and then uses the voice codes to direct pickers to fill orders from specific lots using automated pick systems. Pickers use the voice codes to find the intended cases and to confirm that cases from the intended lot were picked, or to indicate a different lot was picked. The distribution center then associates the lot code of the picked lot with the outgoing order. | 04-14-2011 |
20110084129 | Voice Code with Primary and Secondary Digits - A Produce Traceability Initiative compliant case label includes the GTIN, the lot code, an optional date, and a short numeric voice code. The voice code is derived from the GTIN and the lot code and the date when present by an algorithm. Cases of goods that include these case labels are shipped by the source of goods to a distribution center for redistribution to retailers. The distribution center records the GTIN, lot code and optional date upon receipt. The distribution center uses the same algorithm to generate voice codes, and then uses the voice codes to direct pickers to fill orders from specific lots using automated pick systems. Pickers use the voice codes to find the intended cases and to confirm that cases from the intended lot were picked, or to indicate a different lot was picked. The distribution center then associates the lot code of the picked lot with the outgoing order. | 04-14-2011 |
20120059660 | Lot Identification Codes for Packaging - Lot identification codes marked on packaging comprise a fixed number of digits with substrings representing each of a date, a SKU, a lot number, and optionally a line and a checksum. The same fixed number of digits is used for the lot identification codes employed by multiple producers across an industry, or across multiple industries. The lot identification codes are therefore readily recognizable by search engines and otherwise reduce the number of steps required for consumers and others along the supply chain to obtain lot-specific information about packaged goods. Additionally, whenever an individual submits a lot identification code, it provides an opportunity to collect information about the product at that point along the supply chain. The information can link the quality of the product at the time and place of the request to the time and place of the packaging. | 03-08-2012 |
20120181334 | Mobile Table for Implementing Clamshell-to-Case Association - Systems and methods are provided for associating traceability codes on clamshells with unique identifiers on containers in which the empty clamshells are packed for later use. In various methods, the clamshells are marked with traceability codes and stacked together, one traceability code is read from one of the clamshells in each stack, a unique identifier is read from a container, and the stack is placed in the container. The traceability code is stored in association with the unique identifier for later retrieval. An exemplary table for making clamshell-to-container associations comprises a scanner for reading traceability codes and rails for positioning stacks of clamshells proximate to the scanner. The table can also comprise a second scanner positioned to read unique identifiers from containers placed proximate thereto. The table can further comprise a computing system to make and store the associations. | 07-19-2012 |
20120298741 | Method and System for Deterring Product Counterfeiting, Diversion and Piracy - A client system receives a request for a set of unique security codes and also receives product data associated with a product on which the security codes are to be printed. The client sends at least some of the product data to a host system and receives a batch identifier from the host. The host stores received product data with the batch identifier. The client generates the set of security codes and then provides the codes to be printed on the product. After the products enter the stream of commerce, the host can receive an authentication request including a security code, and in response the host will verify that the security code is valid and return to the requestor the authentication result and at least part of the product data associated with the batch identifier. | 11-29-2012 |
20120318861 | Mobile Table for Implementing Clamshell-to-Case Association - Systems and methods are provided for associating traceability codes on clamshells with unique identifiers on containers in which the empty clamshells are packed for later use. In various methods, the clamshells are marked with traceability codes and stacked together, one traceability code is read from one of the clamshells in each stack, a unique identifier is read from a container, and the stack is placed in the container. The traceability code is stored in association with the unique identifier for later retrieval. An exemplary table for making clamshell-to-container associations comprises a scanner for reading traceability codes and rails for positioning stacks of clamshells proximate to the scanner. The table can also comprise a second scanner positioned to read unique identifiers from containers placed proximate thereto. The table can further comprise a computing system to make and store the associations. | 12-20-2012 |
20130077778 | Duo Codes for Product Authentication - Systems and methods are provided that employ two or more cryptographically linked codes. The codes, when encrypted, become cipher texts that appear unrelated. The codes described herein are characterized by a series of bits including one or more switch bits. The cipher text of a code having a switch bit in one state will appear to be unrelated to the cipher text of another code differing only in that the switch bit is in the opposite state. The cryptographically linked codes can be used in various combinations, such as on a product and its packaging, on a product and a component of the product, on a certificate packaged with the product and on the packaging, or on outer and inner packagings of the product. | 03-28-2013 |
20130346125 | Methods for Correlating First Mile and Last Mile Product Data - Traceability codes on perishable products facilitate the correlation of product data from the origin of a distribution chain to quality assessments of the perishable products made at points along the distribution chain. The product data is initially associated with the code, the product is marked with the code, and then the product is distributed. Receipt of a code after the perishable product enters the distribution chain establishes an elapsed time. Location information submitted with the code can also establish a traversed distance. A quality assessment submitted with the code can be associated with both time and distance. Consumers, for example, may submit codes, provide assessments and locations, and in return access product data linked to the specific products they consider in retail stores, purchase, and use. Inspectors can likewise submit quality assessments from locations earlier in the distribution chain as well as in retail stores. | 12-26-2013 |