WO2013157017A1

WO2013157017A1 - System and method for preventing counterfeiting

Info

Publication number: WO2013157017A1
Application number: PCT/IN2012/000395
Authority: WO
Inventors: Surya Chaitanya AKASAM
Original assignee: Akasam Surya Chaitanya
Priority date: 2012-04-17
Filing date: 2012-06-05
Publication date: 2013-10-24

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a system and method for verifying authenticity of one or more products from different companies using a single barcode scanning application. The one or more products can be verified by any of the retailers, customers,, distributors, or the stakeholders, wherein the proposed system comprises of one or more databases (interchangeably also referred to as repositories or servers, hereinafter) for storing unique identification code (UID) of each product, a FACT server operatively coupled to the databases, and a barcode scanning application (interchangeably referred to as FACT application, hereinafter) installed on multiple mobile phones and/or appropriate computing devices having barcode readers, wherein the FACT application operatively communicates with the FACT server and is configured to read encrypted UID and product information present on the label of each product.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREVENTING COUNTERFEITING

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a system and method to verifying authenticity of product(s). More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a system and method for preventing counterfeiting of goods using unique identification codes that are put on manufacturer's products as well as stored in the manufacturer's repository/database.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Today, manufacture's, at a global level, face an imminent danger of duplication of their products, leading not only to loss of reputation and brand value but also loss to consumers in terms of their health and satisfaction over the products. This is more so the case for pharmaceutical companies, FMCG (Fast Moving^■ Consumer Goods) companies, and to product segments that are dominated by manufacturers in the unorganized market. Counterfeiting of goods basically relates to making a duplicate or a cheap replica of the original product by using sub-standard constituents to sell these sub-standard products with the intent to deceptively represent the product's authenticity and/or source, thereby defrauding the consumers purchasing these products. Such counterfeiting in pharmaceutical industry is all the more harmful as it may cause serious health hazards and/or even life of the consumer.

[0003] In the past, many techniques have been developed for preventing such counterfeiting. Some of these techniques were aimed to prevent counterfeit by marking products, labels, or product packaging with a unique identifying mark such as barcode images, holograms, color shifting inks, tamper labels, etc during manufacturing.

l [0004] In one existing implementation of such systems, these barcodes relate to a unique identification code that, apart from being present in an encrypted format as the barcode on the manufactured product, is also stored in a secured repository/database of the manufacturer. Authenticity of the barcode can be directly verified by the consumer, stock holder, distributor, retailer, and even the manufacturer with the help of a barcode scanning application in their mobile phones and/or any other applicable barcode reader. Encrypted barcode information read by the barcode scanning application can identify the unique identification code and send the code to the manufacturer's database, wherein verification is then done to check whether the same unique identification code is present in the database. In case the unique identification code is present, an authentication confirmation is issued to the stakeholder that is verifying the authentication of the product.

[0005] However, in the above mentioned method, to be able to access secured server/database of each manufacturer, the manufacturer needs to have its own barcode scanning application that allows barcode of the manufacturer's product to be read and sent to the respective secured server for authentication. As a result, if a customer wishes to verify and/or authenticate three different drugs from three different pharmaceutical companies, he/she has to install barcode scanning applications of each of said companies and then use each application in sequence to read/verify the authenticity of the product with the respective secured repository/database/server of the manufacturer. This process is not only time consuming, but complicates the entire process of authentication as the consumer now needs to spend a lot of time to browse and download each barcode scanning application corresponding to the particular company.

[0006] References such as JP 2008-279060, US 6591252, US 7204421 and WO2005083644A1 relate to a counterfeit determination system to evaluate whether a given product is original or duplicate. In each of the references, all the products have a barcode printed on their label, wherein a unique identification code is stored in an encrypted format in the barcode, and wherein the same unique identification code is also stored in a secured repository of the manufacturer. In operation, as explained above, the unique identification code is matched by the customer using the respective manufacturer's repository with the help of a barcode scanning application installed oh a mobile phone or an appropriate computing device having a barcode reader that uses the barcode scanning application. All such references and existing methods implemented for verifying authenticity of products and stop counterfeiting, suffer from the need of multiple barcode reading applications from multiple manufacturers.

[0007] Accordingly, there exists a need to facilitate the consumer to efficiently verify authenticity of different products from different manufacturers through a single barcode scanning application.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An object of the present invention is to prevent counterfeiting of products from multiple manufacturers.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to verify and authenticate products from multiple manufacturers.

[00010] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a single barcode scanning application that can scan barcodes of products from multiple manufacturers so as to retrieve unique identification code from the barcode and verify the same using respective manufacturer's repository.

[00011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a facility to a customer, retailer, or any stakeholder to verify authenticity of one or more products of different manufacturers, wherein the verification is done using a single barcode scanning application that is operatively connected with a single FACT server.

[00012] Another object of the present invention is to avoid storing, installing, and using multiple barcode scanning applications to verify authenticity of one or more product(s). SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[00013] The present disclosure relates to a system and method for prevention of counterfeiting and for verifying authenticity of a product at any level of the product distribution hierarchy from manufacturer to the end customer.

[00014] Multiple and varied embodiments are given below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The figures are intended to allow those who are ordinarily skilled in the art to understand the present disclosure and not to limit the scope of the disclosure. The description given with respect to the diagrams can be modified according to the understanding of the person involved in the art. It is to be understood that omissions and substitutions of equivalents are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims of the present disclosure. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be. regarded as limiting.

[00015] The present disclosure provides a system and method for verifying authenticity of one or more products from different companies using a single barcode scanning application. The one or more products can be verified by any of the retailers, customers, distributors, or the stakeholders, wherein the proposed system comprises of one or more databases (interchangeably also referred to as repositories or servers, hereinafter) for storing unique identification code (UID) of each product, a FACT server operatively coupled to the databases, and a barcode scanning application (interchangeably referred to as FACT application, hereinafter) installed on multiple mobile phones and/or appropriate computing devices having barcode readers, wherein the FACT application operatively communicates with the FACT server and is configured to read encrypted UID and produce information present on the label of each product, preferably in the form of a barcode.

[00016] In an implementation, initially each manufacturer assigns a unique identification code (UID) for every product manufactured and stores the UID in an encrypted format as part of a barcode, which is then affixed to the product in the form of a bar-code representation. Each UID is then also uploaded to their respective secured databases, which are typically different for each manufacture and possibly also for each product of each manufacturer.

[00017] Further, in an embodiment, FACT server, also referred to as application server hereinafter, is operatively coupled to one or more databases of the manufacturers such that any request for verification received from FACT barcode scanning application is sent first to the FACT server, which, based on the format of the UID, redirects the verification request to the applicable manufacturer's database. The respective manufacturer's database then processes the verification request and authenticates the product if the UID sent as part of the request from the FACT server matches with the UID stored in the manufacturer's database.

[00018] In another embodiment, FACT server can also be authenticated by one or more manufacturer's databases to access their respective repositories and in case the verification request is received from FACT barcode scanning application installed on a mobile phone, the FACT server can directly process the complete verification request and match the decrypted UID sent by the FACT application with UID stored on the manufacturer's database without sending any explicit verification request to the applicable database.

[00019] In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a system and method to verify and authenticate of one or more product(s) of different manufacturers by scanning bar code images present on the product(s) using a single FACT barcode scanning application and by sending the read decrypted UID information (along with other information such as product information, product name, product code, manufacture(s) name, manufacturing date, expiry date, site of manufacturing, location to which a consignment of products has been dispatched, among others) to FACT server for verification. In an embodiment, the FACT barcode scanning application can be stored and installed on any compatible computing device such as a mobile phone, PDA, Laptop barcode scanner/reader, which can be configured to use the application to read barcode information of one or more products. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00020] FIG. 1 illustrates a counterfeit detection system for verifying authenticity of one or more products from different manufacturers in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[00021] Fig. 2 illustrates a method for implementing the counterfeit detection c

system for preventing counterfeiting and verifying authenticity of one or more products.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[00022] This description is directed to a product counterfeit detection system and a method thereof.

[00023] ■ Multiple and varied embodiments are given below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The figures are intended to allow those who are ordinarily skilled in the art to understand the present disclosure and not to limit the scope of the disclosure. The description given with respect to the diagrams can be modified according to the understanding of the person involved in the art. It is to be understood that omissions and substitutions of equivalents are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims of the present disclosure. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[00024] FIG. 1 illustrates a counterfeit detection system for verifying authenticity of one or more products from different manufacturers in an embodiment of the present disclosure. The present disclosure provides a system 100 for verifying authenticity of one or more products 108-1, 108-2, and 108-3..., collectively referred to as product 108 hereinafter. The products 108 can either be same products from a single manufacturer, or different products from a single manufacturer, or different products from different manufacturers. The one or more products 108 can be verified by any of the retailers, customers, distributors, or the stakeholders, wherein the proposed system 100 comprises of one or more databases 102-1, 102-2, and 102-3..., collectively referred to as databases 102 (interchangeably also referred to as repositories or servers, hereinafter) for storing unique identification code (UID) of each product 108, a FACT server 104 operatively coupled to the databases 102, and a barcode scanning application 110 (interchangeably referred to as FACT application, hereinafter) installed on multiple mobile phones and/or appropriate computing devices 106-1, 106-2, and 106-3..., collectively referred to as 106 hereinafter, having barcode readers, wherein the FACT barcode scanning application 110 operatively communicates with the FACT server 104 and is configured to scan/read encrypted UID present on the label of each product 108.

[00025] In an implementation, initially each manufacturer assigns a unique identification code (UID) for every product 108 manufactured and stores the UID in an encrypted format as part of a barcode, which is then affixed to the product 108 in the form of a bar-code representation. Each UID is then also uploaded to their respective secured databases 102, which are typically different for each manufacturer and possibly also for each product of each manufacturer. For instance, in case product 108-1 is manufactured by company A, and product 108- 2 is manufactured by company B, the database in which the UID for product 108- 1 is stored would be different from the database in which the UID for product 108-2 is stored, which could respectively be 102-1 and 102-2. Each manufacturer can, apart from storing the UID of the product, can also alongside store allied information such as product name, product code, batch no., date of manufacturing, expiry date, location to which a consignment is dispatched in the respective database 102.

[00026] Further, in an embodiment, FACT server 104, also referred to as application server 104 hereinafter, is operatively coupled to one or more databases 102 of the manufacturers such that any request for verification received from FACT barcode scanning application 110 is sent first to the FACT server 104, which, based on the format of the UID, then redirects the verification request to the applicable manufacturer's database 102. In an embodiment, the FACT application 110 is based on known standards such as ISO/IEC 15426-1 (linear) or ISO/TEC 15426-2 (2D) for scanning and decrypting the information/UID stored in the barcode. The FACT server 104 can, based on the read UID, parse and/or process the UID to identify the product and manufacturer's details so as to identify the database 102 to which the UID has to be sent for verification purposes. The respective manufacturer's database 102 then processes the verification request and authenticates the product 108 if the UID, which is sent as part of the request from the FACT server 104, matches with the UID stored in the manufacturer's database 102.

[00027] In another embodiment, FACT server 104 can also be authenticated by one or more manufacturer's databases 102 to access their respective repositories, and in case a verification request is received from FACT barcode scanning application 110 installed on a mobile phone 106, the FACT server 104 can process the complete verification request and match the decrypted UID sent by the FACT application 110 with UID stored on the manufacturer's database 102, which is directly accessible by the FACT server 104.

[00028] . In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a system and method to verify and authenticate of one or more product(s) 108 of different manufacturers by scanning bar code image present on the product(s) 108 using a single FACT barcode scanning application 110 and by sending the read decrypted UID information (along with other information such as product information, product name, product code, manufacture(s) name, manufacturing date, expiry date, site of manufacturing, location to which a consignment of products has been dispatched, among others) to a FACT server 104 for verification. In an embodiment, the FACT barcode scanning application 110 can be stored and installed on any compatible computing device 106 such as a mobile phone, PDA, Laptop barcode scanner/reader, which can be configured to use the application to read barcode information of one or more products 108. In another embodiment, the FACT barcode scanning application 110 can also be stored on POS (Point of Sale) system of the retailer(s), wherein the POS is connected to the FACT server 104 through internet. [00029] In an embodiment, the FACT application 110 can be connected with the FACT server 104 through a wired and/or a wireless network connection. The FACT server 104, on the other hand, can also be connected with databases 102 through a wired and/or a wireless network connection.

[00030] In implementation, FACT barcode scanning application 110 can, using a computing device having barcode reading capability, say 106-3, scan the barcode information of a product, say 108-3. Post scanning, the information read from the barcode can be sent to FACT server 104 for authentication of the product 108. The FACT server 104 can then, after parsing and analyzing the product and manufacturer's details, send the verification request to the database, say 102-2, where in case the UID stored in the database 102-2 is the same as the UID sent in the request from the FACT server 104, an authentication confirmation is given at the device 106-3. If post this authentication, a counterfeit product, say 108-2, is to be authenticated, the read UID from the product 108-2, is sent to the same database 102-2 for verification, wherein during matching, it would be found that authentication for the product 108-3 having the same UID (through a flag being activated on first verification) has already been done and therefore product 108-2 would be denied authentication and marked as a counterfeit product.

[00031] · Fig. 2 illustrates a method for implementing the above described system for preventing counterfeiting and verifying authenticity of one or more products: At step 202, unique identification code (UID) along with allied product information such as product name, product code, manufacture(s) name, manufacturing date, expiry date, site of manufacturing, location to which a consignment of products has been dispatched, is stored in an encrypted format in a barcode representation. The UID, along with the product information, is also stored in at least one database 102.

[00032] At step 204, FACT barcode scanning application 1 10 of the present disclosure, scans the product 108 and sends the retrieved UID and product information to FACT server 104 as a verification request. At step 206, the FACT server 104 processes the verification request and sends the UID and product information to the appropriate database 102. At step 208, the system matches the UID and product information stored in the database 102 with the UID and product information sent by the FACT server 104 so as to authenticate the product 108 in case the match occurs.

[00033] It would be appreciated that using the above system and method, instead of installing multiple barcode scanning applications of each manufacturer for being able to access its secured database having UID, storing and installing one single FACT application 110 to achieve the authentication purpose can significantly improve the efficiency of verification and prevention of counterfeiting of the product 108.

[00034] It will of course be realized that the above disclosed embodiments have been described only by way of illustrative example of the invention and that all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth.

ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[00012] The present invention prevents counterfeiting of products from multiple manufacturers.

[00013] The present invention verifies and authenticates products from multiple manufacturers.

[00014] The present invention provides a single barcode scanning application that can scan barcodes of products from multiple manufacturers so as to retrieve unique identification code from the barcode and verify the same using respective manufacturer's repository.

[00015] ^■ The present invention provides a facility to a customer, retailer, or any stakeholder to verify authenticity of one or more products of different ( manufacturers, wherein the verification is done using a single barcode scanning application that is operatively connected with a single FACT server.

[00035] The present invention avoids storing, installing, and using multiple barcode scanning applications to verify authenticity of one or more product(s).

Claims

1. A system for verifying authenticity of a product comprising

a plurality of repositories of one or more manufacturers, wherein each said repository comprises of one or more of a unique identification code for each product manufactured by respective manufacturer, and product information of said product;

a central server operatively coupled to said plurality of repositories; and

a single barcode scanning application configured to scan a second unique identification code from said product and sending a verification request along with said scanned second unique identification code to said central server to verify authenticity of said product, wherein said central server matches said unique identification code stored on said respective repository with said second unique identification code to declare whether said product is authentic, wherein said product is manufactured from any of said manufacturers.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said central server sends said verification request to said respective repository based on format of said second unique identification code, wherein said respective repository matches said unique identification code with said second unique identification code.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said central server has direct access to and/or stores data of one or more of said plurality of repositories, wherein said central server matches said unique identification^' code with said second unique identification code without any request to said respective repository.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said single barcode application is installed one or more compatible computing devices comprising one or more of barcode readers, mobile phones, PDAs, smart phones, laptops, and POS systems.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said single barcode application scans said product information from said product, wherein said product information comprises of one or more of product name, product code, manufacturer's name, manufacturing date, expiry date, site of manufacturing, and location to which said product has been dispatched.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said second unique identification code is stored in an encrypted form on said product as a barcode.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein authenticity of said product can be checked by any stakeholder in distribution chain.

8. A method for verifying authenticity of a product, comprising the steps of:

storing one or more of a unique identification code for each product manufactured by respective manufacturer, and product information of said product . in a plurality of repositories of one or more manufacturers;

configuring a central server to be operatively coupled to said plurality of repositories; and

using a single barcode scanning application to scan a second unique identification code from said product and sending a verification request along with said scanned second unique identification code to said central server, to verify authenticity of said product, wherein said central server matches said unique identification code stored on said respective repository with said second unique identification code to declare whether said product is authentic, wherein said product is manufactured from any of said manufacturers.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said central server sends said verification request to said respective repository based on format of said second unique identification code, wherein said respective repository matches said unique identification code with said second unique identification code.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said central server has direct access to and/or stores data of one or more of said plurality of repositories, wherein said central server matches said unique identification code with said second unique identification code without any request to said respective repository.