Digitally secured electronic titles for products in supply chains

Abstract

Computer-implemented methods and systems are provided for inhibiting entry of unauthorized products in a supply chain. The methods and systems feature unique identifiers placed on products in the supply chain and Digitally Secured Electronic Titles (DSETs) for products. The DSETs are exchanged upon transfer of the products in the supply chain and tracked in an electronic registry.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for inhibiting entry of unauthorized products in a supply chain, comprising:
 (a) electronically receiving, at a computer system, a digitally signed electronic title for a product from a first custodian of the product, the electronic title containing information on the product including a unique identifier that is indicated on the product, and creating an entry for the electronic title in an electronic registry indicating a state of the electronic title as being claimed by the first custodian;   (b) for each transfer of the product from a custodian indicated in the electronic registry as claiming the electronic title to a subsequent custodian in the supply chain:
 (i) electronically receiving, at the computer system, the electronic title for the product from the custodian indicated in the electronic registry as claiming the electronic title when that custodian sends the product and the electronic title to a subsequent custodian, and updating the state of the electronic title in the electronic registry as being released; and 
 (ii) electronically receiving, at the computer system, the electronic title for the product from the subsequent custodian after the subsequent custodian has received the electronic title and the product and has verified authenticity of the electronic title and matched the unique identifier indicated in the electronic title to the unique identifier indicated on the product, and updating the state of the electronic title in the electronic registry as being claimed by the subsequent custodian; and 
   (c) once the product has been received by a custodian who is an end customer or once the product has been lost, stolen, or destroyed, updating the state of the electronic title in the registry as being closed.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic title for the product is digitally signed by the first custodian of the product using a private key, and wherein other custodians in the supply chain verify the authenticity of the electronic title using a corresponding public key provided by the first custodian. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic title comprises a structured file format. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic title further contains information on lot number, expiration date, and manufacturer identification for the product. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the unique identifier comprises a serial number, and wherein the serial number is indicated in a human-readable format or a machine-readable format. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing an authenticated application programming interface (API) enabling custodians to request changes in the state of a product in the electronic registry. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising verifying the identity of the first custodian and registering the first custodian in the electronic registry prior to step (a). 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising issuing an electronic transaction token to the first custodian upon receiving the electronic title from the first custodian in step (a), and wherein the token is transferred with the product to each subsequent custodian in the supply chain. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein steps (b)(i) and (b)(ii) further comprise electronically receiving, at the computer system, a transaction token with the electronic title for the product. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each custodian accesses the computer system over the Internet. 
     
     
         11 . A computer system, comprising:
 at least one processor;   memory associated with the at least one processor; and   a program supported in the memory for use to inhibit entry of unauthorized products in a supply chain, the program containing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:   (a) electronically receive a digitally signed electronic title for a product from a first custodian of the product, the electronic title containing information on the product including a unique identifier that is indicated on the product, and create an entry for the electronic title in an electronic registry indicating a state of the electronic title as being claimed by the first custodian;   (b) for each transfer of the product from a custodian indicated in the electronic registry as claiming the electronic title to a subsequent custodian in the supply chain:
 (i) electronically receive the electronic title for the product from the custodian indicated in the electronic registry as claiming the electronic title when that custodian sends the product and the electronic title to a subsequent custodian, and update the state of the electronic title in the electronic registry as being released; and 
 (ii) electronically receive the electronic title for the product from the subsequent custodian after the subsequent custodian has received the electronic title and the product and has verified authenticity of the electronic title and matched the unique identifier indicated in the electronic title to the unique identifier indicated on the product, and update the state of the electronic title in the electronic registry as being claimed by the subsequent custodian; and 
   (c) once the product has been received by a custodian who is an end customer or once the product has been lost, stolen, or destroyed, update the state of the electronic title in the registry as being closed.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the electronic title for the product is digitally signed by the first custodian of the product using a private key, and wherein other custodians in the supply chain verify the authenticity of the electronic title using a corresponding public key provided by the first custodian. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the electronic title comprises a structured file format. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the electronic title further contains information on lot number, expiration date, and manufacturer identification for the product. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the unique identifier comprises a serial number, and wherein the serial number is indicated in a human-readable format or a machine-readable format. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the system provides an authenticated application programming interface (API) enabling custodians to request changes in the state of a product in the electronic registry. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further caused to verify the identity of the first custodian and register the first custodian in the electronic registry prior to (a). 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further caused to issue an electronic transaction token to the first custodian upon receiving the electronic title from the first custodian in step (a), and wherein the token is transferred with the product to each subsequent custodian in the supply chain. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein (b)(i) and (b)(ii) further comprise electronically receiving, at the computer system, a transaction token with the electronic title for the product. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein each custodian accesses the computer system over the Internet.