Methods and Systems for Making, Tracking and Authentication of Products

Abstract

The invention foresees the labeling of each manufactured good with a digitally verified unique numeric identifier, and a central checking center allowing users to verify the authenticity of a particular cigarette pack or case by means of a cell phone interface. A system of secret key sharing allows secure authentication of each item and prevents code breaking or misuse.

1 . A method of marking manufactured items, comprising: 
 providing a plurality of secret codes to a checking centre and to a production line for the manufactured items;    generating an ID code for each manufactured item;    digitally signing each ID code by means of a secret derived from the plurality of secret codes and known to the checking centre; and    marking each manufactured item with said signed ID code.    
     
     
         2 . A method of  claim 1 , comprising using a covert taggant or a laser device in the marking step.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of secret codes are precalculated random codes.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , providing the plurality of secret codes includes physical transfer of a non-volatile data support, on which the secret codes are recorded.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said secret derived from said plurality of secret codes is derived at each of a plurality of production lines.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein part of said secret is transmitted by a code generator to the checking centre via a secure network connection.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of secret codes is a collection of random codes, and comprising: 
 generating an index relating to the manufacture of one or more items;    transmitting the index to the checking centre;    deriving the secret by a code generator, from the collection of random codes and from the index; and    digitally signing each ID code for each manufactured item with a noise code derived by encrypting a copy of the ID code with the secret.    
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the secret is further derived from the ID code.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , comprising transmitting additional information concerning the manufactured items to the checking centre.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said checking centre is managed by a trusted third party, independent from the manufacturer of the manufactured item.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said marking is performed on packaging of said manufacturing article.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the ID code comprises at least one of: 
 a production site identifier;    a production line identifier;    a code generator identifier;    a product identifier; and    time information.    
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 1 , comprising encrypting the ID code.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said item is a cigarette pack or a cigarette carton.  
     
     
         15 . A manufactured item marked by the method according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         16 . A method of authenticating an item marked according to the method of  claim 1  comprising: 
 transmitting the signed ID code to the checking centre; and    authenticating the signed ID code at the checking centre.    
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 1 , comprising: 
 marking on each manufactured item part of the information contained in the ID code for that item; and    verifying the consistency of information with processed information retransmitted by the checking centre.    
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 16 , comprising retransmitting additional information related to the transmitted ID code by the checking centre.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 16 , comprising detecting cloned  40  codes at the checking centre.  
     
     
         20 . A checking centre for authenticating an item by the method of  claim 16 .  
     
     
         21 . A system for marking manufactured items comprising 
 a generator for generating collections of secret codes;    a production line for manufacturing the items to be marked, the production line comprising: 
 a code generator for generating an ID code for each manufactured item;  
 a digital signor, for signing the ID codes with a secret derived from the secret codes;  
 a data transmitter, for transmitting the secret to a checking centre; and  
 a marker for marking each manufactured item with the signed ID code.  
   
     
     
         22 . A system according to  claim 21 , wherein said marker comprises a printer or a laser device.  
     
     
         23 . A system according to  claim 21 , wherein the production line is arranged for the production of tobacco products.  
     
     
         24 . A system according to  claim 21 , wherein the generator comprises a data recorder, for recording the collection of secret codes on a non-volatile data support.  
     
     
         25 . A system according to  claim 21 , wherein the checking centre comprises an interface for accepting text or numeric queries from a network and for transmitting answers via the network.  
     
     
         26 . A system according to  claim 21 , wherein the generator for generating collections of secret codes is a salt generator.  
     
     
         27 . A system according to  claim 21 , wherein the production line comprises a sensor to detect the marked signed ID code.  
     
     
         28 . A method of authenticating a manufactured item, comprising: 
 generating a code and signing said code with a digital signature within a code generator;    marking the item with the signed code;    transmitting the signed code to a checking centre over a public network for authentication;    authenticating the digital signature by the checking centre;    retrieving the significance of the code at the checking centre; and    transmitting the significance to a user over the public network.    
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 28 , wherein codes generated by the code generator are not stored.  
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 28 , wherein the code is signed with a secret shared by the code generator and the checking centre.  
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 30 , wherein the secret is extracted from a collection of secret codes shared by the code generator and the checking centre and is modified during operation of the code generator.  
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 30 , wherein said secret is different for each manufactured item.  
     
     
         33 . A method of controlling the volume of manufactured items marked according to the method of  claim 1 , comprising: 
 gathering manufacturing volume information at the checking centre; and    providing the manufacturing volume information to a user.    
     
     
         34 . A method according to  claim 33 , wherein the manufacturing volume information is obtained from ID codes transmitted to the checking centre.  
     
     
         35 . A method of tracking an item marked according to the method of  claim 1  comprising: 
 transmitting the signed ID code to the checking centre;    authenticating the signed ID code by the checking centre; and    retransmitting the tracking information related to the ID code to a user.    
     
     
         36 . A method according to  claim 34 , wherein the tracking information is obtained from the ID codes of manufactured items transmitted to the checking centre.  
     
     
         37 . A method according to  claim 32 , comprising identifying the user.  
     
     
         38 . A method according to  claim 33 , comprising a step of denying information to users not belonging to a predefined group of privileged users.  
     
     
         39 . A method of authenticating manufactured items, comprising marking the items by: 
 providing a plurality of secret codes to a checking centre and to a production line for the manufactured items;    generating an ID code for each manufactured item;    digitally signing each ID code by means of a secret derived from the plurality of secret codes and known to the checking centre; and    marking each manufactured item with said signed ID code; and    authenticating a manufactured item on request by validating the secret at the checking centre.    
     
     
         40 . A system for authenticating manufactured items, comprising: 
 a system for marking manufactured items comprising: 
 a generator for generating collections of secret codes;  
 a production line for manufacturing the items to be marked, the production line comprising: 
 a code generator for generating an ID code for each manufactured item;  
 a digital signor, for signing the ID codes with a secret derived from the secret codes;  
 a data transmitter, for transmitting the secret to a checking centre; and  
 a marker for marking each manufactured item with the signed ID code; the authentication system further comprising a checking centre for authenticating a manufactured item on request by validating the secret.