CH719592A1 - Device for tracking and authenticating a manufactured item. - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of tracking or authenticating a manufactured item, the method comprising the steps of, on a production line, marking each item with a unique identifier code; uniquely identify each item; and storing in an electronic database on a central server the identifier code of each manufactured item. Then, at a remote location on the production line, read an item identifier code on the manufactured item; and sending the details of the identifier code of each manufactured item to the central server storing the database, wherein the central server is arranged to determine, from the identifier code of each manufactured item received, the authenticity of the 'article. The manufactured article comprises a plurality of RFID antennas arranged to each emit the identical unique identification code.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of authentication and integrity control of manufactured articles.

[0002] Typically, companies employ advanced approaches to ensure that a product is authentic and to prevent the manufacture or distribution of counterfeit products, for example by attaching, engraving, coloring or printing an infrared/ultraviolet fluorescent pigment /visible, NFC chips, serial numbers, barcodes and RFID tags on products.

[0003] However, today, all the authentication means mentioned above can easily be copied or duplicated due to technological development, and therefore do not meet the reliability requirements to guarantee authenticity. On the contrary, these means of authentication even present a risk to the extent that it becomes very easy to deceive the consumer who no longer knows how to differentiate an authentic article from a counterfeit article.

[0004] One of the solutions proposed to respond to this problem is to record the certificates or product guarantees in a tamper-proof blockchain accessible for verification. That said, this solution also has limits because only certificates and guarantees can be protected by the tamper-proof blockchain while the product which can be resold can be counterfeited.

[0005] Another solution consists of providing an image of the product with a certificate or a physical or electronic guarantee in order to verify the authenticity of the product.

[0006] For example, WO2017198950 describes a method for determining a relational fingerprint between two images comprising the following steps - the implementation of a first image and a second image, - a phase of calculating similarity vectors between blocks belonging respectively to the first and second images, the similarity vectors forming a field of fingerprint vectors, the field of fingerprint vectors comprising at least one disordered region in the sense of an entropic criterion, - a phase recording as a relational fingerprint a representation of the calculated fingerprint vector field.

[0007] That said, the shape or color can be easily distorted due to camera angle or environment, compromising consistency. These methods remain very complicated to implement and remain limited to the fact that the authentication of a product using an image does not take into account the wear of the product at time t and the impacts on the authentication procedure which cannot anticipate marks, scratches or other impacts on the product being authenticated.

[0008] The aim of the present invention is to propose a method for the authentication of manufactured articles which is simple to implement and which guarantees the authenticity of the product.

[0009] According to the invention, a method of tracking or authenticating a manufactured article comprises the steps consisting of: a. on a production line, mark each item with a unique identifier code; b. uniquely identify each item; etc. storing in an electronic database on a central server the identifier code of each manufactured article; at a location remote from the production line, reading an article identifier code on the manufactured article; And sending details of the identifier code of each manufactured item to the central server storing the database, wherein the central server is arranged to determine, from the identifier code of each manufactured item received, the authenticity of the manufactured item. The manufactured article comprises a plurality of RFID antennas arranged to each emit the identical unique identification code.

[0010] In one embodiment, the plurality of RFID antennas is arranged in the intrinsic structure of the manufactured article, in a manner not visible to an individual looking at said manufactured article.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of RFID antennas is arranged in the body of the manufactured article at precalculated random locations.

[0012] In order to guarantee as much as possible the inviolability and robustness of the system, the number and location of the RFID antennas in the manufactured article is stored in the electronic database.

[0013] In one embodiment, the unique identification code comprises at least one of the elements among a code of temporal information, a manufacturing reference of the manufactured article, a code generator identifier.

[0014] In order to simplify the manufacturing process of the manufactured article, the plurality of RFID antennas is printed on the production line.

[0015] The invention also relates to an article manufactured according to the method of the present invention, the manufactured article comprising a tracking or authentication device, the manufactured article comprising a unique identification code allowing identification in a manner unique of the manufactured article, characterized in that the manufactured article comprises a plurality of RFID antennas arranged to each emit the identical unique identification.

[0016] In one embodiment, the plurality of RFID antennas is arranged in the intrinsic structure of said article, in a manner not visible to an individual looking at said manufactured article.

[0017] In order to reinforce authentication reliability, the plurality of RFID antennas is arranged in the body of the manufactured article at precalculated random locations.

[0018] The plurality of RFID antennas provides an effective means of implementing a reliable identification system. The plurality of RFID antennas allows redundancy of radio frequency transmission of information which results in an infallible item authentication reliability rate.

[0019] According to the invention the article can be in the form of a watch; a writing instrument; a piece of jewelry; a spectacle frame; of a leather item, clothing or heating film.

[0020] The characteristics of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the description of several embodiments given solely by way of example, in no way limiting with reference to the schematic figures, in which: – Figure 1 represents a heating film comprising a plurality of RFID chips to guarantee product authentication; – Figure 2 represents a handbag comprising a plurality of RFID chips to guarantee product authentication; and – Figure 3 represents a T-shirt comprising a plurality of RFID chips to guarantee product authentication.

[0021] As illustrated in Figure 1, a heating film in the form of a multilayer electrothermal structure 100, flexible, planar, having a front face intended to allow infrared rays to pass through and a rear face opposite the front face, the structure having a width and a length, i.e. a surface, the structure 100 comprises: an electrical input terminal 131; an electrical output terminal 132; a substrate for receiving a plurality of layers of the structure, the substrate comprising at least one polymeric substrate layer 110; at least one electrothermal layer 140 comprising a resistive element 149 comprising carbon, preferably graphene, having an input and an output; and at least one conductive layer 130 for connecting: the input terminal 131 of the structure to the input of the resistive element 149; and the output terminal 132 of the structure at the output of the resistive element 149; the structure 100 being covered with a passivation comprising at least one polymeric passivation layer 120; characterized in that: the electrothermal layer 140 comprises a plurality of insulated strips 145, elongated, of an electrothermal material, said strips 145 being arranged to be interconnected with each other to create said resistive element 149; and the conductive layer 130 comprises a conductive material which is formed and connected to: burst the input of the resistive element 149 onto a plurality of input points 138 along the length of a first of the electrothermal strips 145 as well as onto a plurality of corresponding entry points 138 along the length of the remaining electrothermal strips 145; and consolidate the output of the resistive element 149 from a plurality of output points 139 along the length of the first of the electrothermal strips 145 as well as from a plurality of corresponding output points 139 along the length of the remaining electrothermal strips 145, the exit points 139 being distinct from the entry points 138.

[0022] In this example, it is the internal passivation layer 120 on which the plurality of RFID antennas are printed on the production line.

[0023] Thus, it is possible to check that the heating films installed are indeed those offered by the manufacturer. This information is all the more important when it concerns the safety of people on products which must be certified before being installed in homes.

[0024] In the example illustrated in Figure 2, an article of leather goods, a handbag, includes a tracking or authentication device. The handbag has a unique identification code allowing the handbag to be uniquely identified. The handbag includes in particular a plurality of RFID antennas arranged to each emit the identical unique identification.

[0025] In this example, regardless of the material of the bag, leather, fabric, or other material, the plurality of RFID antennas is arranged in the intrinsic structure of said article, in a manner not visible to an individual looking at said manufactured article.

[0026] In order to preserve the verification of the identification code of the bag, in particular if the bag has been damaged in places, the plurality of RFID antennas is arranged in the body of the manufactured article at precalculated random locations.

[0027] In the example illustrated in Figure 3, a T-shirt includes a tracking or authentication device. The T-shirt has a unique identification code allowing the T-shirt to be uniquely identified. The T-shirt comprises in particular a plurality of RFID antennas arranged to each emit the identical unique identification.

[0028] In this example, the plurality of RFID antennas is arranged in the intrinsic structure of the T-shirt.

[0029] In order to preserve the verification of the identification code of the bag, in particular if the T-shirt tears in part, the plurality of RFID antennas is arranged in the body of the manufactured article at precalculated random locations .

[0030] Thanks to the present invention, it is possible to very reliably ensure the authenticity of a manufactured item, whether new or used, which gives more security to transactions.

Claims (10)

1. Method for tracking or authenticating a manufactured article, the method comprising the steps consisting of: has. on a production line, mark each item with a unique identifier code; b. uniquely identify each item; And vs. storing in an electronic database on a central server the identifier code of each manufactured item; at a location remote from the production line, reading an item identifier code on the manufactured item; And sending details of the identifier code of each manufactured item to the central server storing the database, wherein the central server is arranged to determine, from the identifier code of each manufactured item received, the authenticity of the article characterized in that the manufactured article comprises a plurality of RFID antennas (1) arranged to each emit the identical unique identification code. 2. Method according to claim 1, the plurality of RFID antennas (1) is arranged in the intrinsic structure of the manufactured article, in a manner not visible to an individual looking at said manufactured article. 3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of RFID antennas (1) are arranged in the body of the manufactured article at precalculated random locations. 4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the number and location of the RFID antennas (1) in the manufactured article is stored in the electronic database. 5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the unique identification code comprises at least one of the elements among a code of temporal information, a manufacturing reference of the manufactured article, an identifier of code generator. 6. Method according to the preceding claims, in which the plurality of RFID antennas is printed on the production line. 7. Manufactured article according to the method of one of claims 1 to 6, the manufactured article comprising a tracking or authentication device, the manufactured article comprising a unique identification code allowing the unique identification of the manufactured article, characterized in that the manufactured article comprises a plurality of RFID antennas arranged to each emit the identical unique identification. 8. Article according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of RFID antennas is arranged in the intrinsic structure of said article, in a manner not visible to an individual looking at said manufactured article. 9. Article according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the plurality of RFID antennas are arranged in the body of the manufactured article at precalculated random locations. 10. Article according to one of claims 7 to 9, in the form of a watch; a writing instrument; a piece of jewelry; a spectacle frame; of a leather item, clothing or heating film.