CN113538005B - Method and system for assigning ownership of marked physical object - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention is a code attribute control system, comprising: -a unique code (30); -wherein each of said codes (30) is openly accessible, legible or scannable arranged or marked on the item of sale (10); -wherein one or more of the items of sale (10) are publicly and freely displayed and sold within a physical boundary (22) of a physical store (20); -wherein, in the property control system (91), the item (10) is initially assigned a status code (33) with the property "not sold" -wherein, for a consumer to establish ownership or ownership indication of the item (10), the consumer scans and registers the code (30) outside the boundary (22) of the store (20), -whereby in the property control system (91), the status code (33) property is changed to "sold" -after which the owner restricted service relating to the above item (10) will be available to the consumer.

Description

Method and system for assigning ownership of marked physical object

Technical Field

The present invention is a code attribute activation system for a unique code for an item for sale. These codes are arranged as legible codes on the goods of the shop. The code itself may be legible to potential buyers in the store.

Background

For items that have a code and are offered for sale in a store or other publicly accessible sales location for display or inventory, the code carries potential services and benefits (S) that are unlocked by the code itself. These services and benefits (S) should only be available to the owner. When items are freely displayed in a physical store and codes on the items can be scanned on store shelves or store storage areas, consumers can simply scan the codes (30) and access services and benefits (S) that should only become available to product holders after obtaining proof of purchase or other ownership indication. If anyone visiting the store could perform such an unwanted code scan, the appropriate owner would then be denied their appropriate services and benefits (S). Unless such undesirable scanning is controlled and managed in a physical store, it is difficult to avoid scanning the code. The present invention addresses these problems.

Examples of such services and benefits (S) may be provided by the following examples, reserved for the actual owner:

*discount coupon codeFor additional purchase or purchase of other units of items or access to other services.

Purchasing articlesCertificate of authenticity，

Purchasing articlesAccessing user directions，

Participation in general membership schemes and plans, etc.

Furthermore, it is common practice to print the code as a label or directly on the surface of the product packaging and is readable by all. The person using the code (e.g., identifying the discount coupon code, without actually purchasing the product) is actually stealing the discount. Then, when he is inside the store, he can enter a code (e.g., on an interactive internet page) for abusing the discount coupon code, thereby obtaining a discount on other merchandise from the same manufacturer or the same store. One practical approach for product manufacturers is to place the code in the product package in the form of an internally placed label tag or to place internal printed matter on the back of the carton, but this requires at least one more labeling and packaging step and adds undesirable cost. These problems are also solved by the present invention.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention is defined in the appended claims and proposes a solution to one or more of said problems.

The present invention presents a solution to one or more of the problems associated with unwanted code scanning.

The invention provides a code attribute control system comprising a code resource of unique codes, wherein each of said codes is arranged to be placed or marked on one or more items of sale publicly accessible, legible or scannable; and a tracking and tracing system arranged to track and trace each individual item individually in a logistics supply chain, wherein when an item is received/delivered and provided to a store, the code of the item is scanned and/or registered by the tracking and tracing system, whereby the code of the item is registered in the tracking and tracing system to be stored by the store, wherein the one or more items for sale are arranged to be publicly and freely displayed and sold within a physical boundary of the physical store, wherein each of the code marked items is initially assigned an "unsold" status code attribute in the code attribute control system, wherein for a consumer owning the code marked item and at a location outside the boundary, the consumer scans the code from the location outside the boundary of the store and registers the code to the code attribute in order to establish ownership or ownership indication of the item A control system whereby said status code attribute is changed to "sold" in said code attribute control system and whereby ownership of a code marked item registered in said code attribute control system is associated with a consumer identity, whereafter owner restricted services relating to said code marked item will be available to the consumer.

THE ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

A first advantage of the present invention is that one can avoid misuse of codes and benefits by non-owners in stores when the codes are overtly marked on products. In the background art, a very common solution is to protect and hide the code out of view, for example by scratching the label, double-layering, or arranging the code inside the label of the package or the package itself. It is not uncommon for consumers in a store to tamper with these covert codes by destroying the code protection or container without becoming the owner, thereby rendering the product unmarketable. The present invention preserves brand integrity and packaging integrity. Due to the fact that value is linked to an item through a code, background art practice creates temptation and opportunities for someone to tamper with the integrity of the product.

A second advantage of the invention is related to the first problem, in the background art the cost of protecting the code on the article against tampering is very high and, in fact, this is not justified in price sensitive markets. Marking an item (10) with a direct, easy-to-read, unique code (30) according to the present invention can also be used to provide services and benefits that are limited to the actual owner of the product, which saves cost and serves the benefit of the appropriate owner. One way to protect the value and code (if the code is presented free of charge in the store) is to provide the consumer with some type of proof of purchase in the store itself, releasing the value (other services and benefits) to the owner who is now enrolled. In this case, some system (typically an electronic cash register) operated by the store must be interacted with by the store and then by the consumer to register ownership based on the unique code of the item. It is clear, however, that the cash desk (tils) is a rather cumbersome and expensive method, causing undesirable scanning and is therefore not very practical. The present invention addresses these problems.

Thus, in view of the above, a third advantage of the present invention is that it will be possible and easy to freely open a unique code (30) on an item (10) in a store (20), wherein said unique code (30) is associated with owner-restricted services and benefits (S), without the need for registration of ownership by the store or store operator to control and avoid unwanted code scanning and misuse thereof.

In other words, the present invention can freely present an open unique code (30) within the area of the store (20) for the purpose of communicating owner services and benefits (S) as described above, without the need for a system as follows: for proof of purchase within a store, or an electronic cash register in a store, and assigning ownership as described above, e.g. a system for management or intervention or interaction within a store area or by store operators.

A fourth advantage of the invention is due to the fact that: the unique code (30) is arranged to be freely displayed on the item (10) rather than to be hidden from direct view in any way, the unique code (30) may still be scanned in the store by a non-owner for potential buyers to obtain general information and item specific information, e.g. price, usage requirements, recommended accompanying products, etc. This would not be feasible if the code was hidden.

An important note in relation to the above is that this requires a truly unique code (30) on the article. The uniqueness of the unique code (30) may be used to inform potential buyers about item-related information, such as recall status absolutely related to individual items, when scanned in the store as a non-owner within the store boundary (22). This important service and feature is not possible if the code is hidden and inaccessible without unauthorized tampering with the product. By serialization, only a portion of a batch can be recalled, thereby creating a need for individual-based identification, which is made possible by the present invention. Alternatively, the store operator (or brand owner) allows the consumer to freely view certain selected tracking and traceability information (which is unique for each item) without being the owner of the item. A full or complete track and trace record display of the item (10) for the unique code (30) may be reserved for the brand owner or owner of the item (10).

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an overview of the basic features relevant to the present invention. In fig. 1 we illustrate an outline plan view of a store (20), such as a building, whose walls represent the boundaries (22) of the store (20) and have an entrance (23) and an exit (24). The item (10) marked by the unique code (30) is displayed for sale (22) within the boundary. When the user is not at the boundary (22), the user scans the code (30) and obtains ownership of the code (30) marked as an item (10) and assigns an ownership limited service to the item (10).

Fig. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention, wherein the border (22) may not be substantially absent, but still be defined, or be divided into several connected or non-interconnected sub-areas, or even be defined "interstitial" areas "outside" the border (22), e.g. other unrelated cafes arranged as "islands" within the shop.

Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of the invention in which the store (20) forms part of a tracking and traceability system (100) comprising one or more markers and package locations (300, 300A, 300B,), wherein the unlabelled articles (10) are provided with their unique codes (30) when packaged in the physical packaging hierarchy (303) and are routed to one or more repackaging and logistics locations (400), wherein a layering (403) of physical repackaging to the code marked (30) article (10) may occur, and further transported via one or more tracking locations (500) or repackaging locations (400), eventually arriving at the store (20), wherein the marked (30) item (10) is displayed or may be sold by other means. The tracking location (500) may be considered a repackaged location (400) except that only a scan of the item (10) marked by the code (30) occurs through the tracking location (500)

Fig. 4-shows an embodiment of the invention where hierarchical wrapping relationships are performed at several levels (303) and some related hierarchical code relationships are defined at different levels (304). There is shown a hierarchical packaging relationship (303) between codes (30,30 ') labeled primary items (10'), packaged as codes (30,30 "), such as boxes, labeled secondary items (10"). A plurality of such boxes, secondary articles (10') are disposed in or on larger tertiary articles (10'), e.g., trays, in which the tertiary articles (10') may be disposed. A shipping container, referred to herein as a fourth stage item (10 ""). Those hierarchical "physical" (material) packaging relationships (303) are registered at the labeling and packaging locations (300, 300A, 300B) and include information as to which current item (10) is contained in which "parent" larger containing item (10). ) And which "child" items are included in the current item (10).

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention that stores a record (110) of hierarchical code relationships (304,404) for current articles (10) (for base type articles (10'), carton type articles (10"), pallet type articles (10"'), etc.) in a database.

Fig. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the invention, wherein a record (110) of the hierarchical code relationship (304,404) is stored for each level of the item (10,10',10 "', 10" ",).

Fig. 7 illustrates an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, wherein the hierarchical code relationships (304,404) and their storage are reduced to address (112) being the unique code (30); all items use the same type of universal unique code (30) for all item levels (10) to carry the same type of unique code indicia (30) regardless of the item level (10,10',10 "', 10" ",.

Fig. 8 shows another advantageous embodiment of the invention, wherein the hierarchical code relationship (304) or the hierarchical repackaging code relationship (404) is stored at the recorded address (112) corresponding to the unique code (30) of the current item (10), but the writing of the address (112, (30)) by the hierarchical code relationship (304,404) omits the writing of the current code (30) itself, since it is implicit in the address (112 (30)).

FIG. 9 illustrates the above-described additional embodiment of the present invention that updates and stores the hierarchical code relationships (404) as appends to existing hierarchical code relationships (304,404) within the maximum record size of the record (110). During the passage of the item (10) from the marking and packaging location (300) through the supply chain until ownership, the records (110) are accumulated,

-encapsulating the hierarchical code relationships (304),

-first repackaging the hierarchical code relationships (404),

second, third repackage the hierarchical code relationship (404), and so on,

-until the store (20) repackages (unpacks) the hierarchical code relationships (404), and

-registering with an external store, we can refer to the packaging relationship (403) for the newly owned item (10) as a repackaging layered code relationship (404).

Fig. 10 shows the hierarchical code relationships (304,404) stored in the record (110) at the address (112) for the code (30) of each code (30) marked as an item (10) in the data storage location (113). In one embodiment of the invention, if the space required by the supply chain can be predicted and some slack is also allowed, space is allocated for each record (110) of each item (10) marked by a packaging code (30).

Fig. 11 shows an example of a hospital as an external supply chain outside the store (20), as an extension of the supply chain from the labeling and packaging location (300) to the store (20).

List of reference numerals

Detailed Description

The invention is a code attribute control system (91) comprising

-a code resource (105) of unique codes (30), wherein each of said codes (30) is arranged for being publicly consultable, legible or scannable placed or marked on one or more items of sale (10);

-a tracking and tracing system (100) arranged for individually tracking and tracing each item (10) in the logistics supply chain (300, 400, 500, 20), preferably to at least a first item owner;

-wherein the (10) unique code (30) of the item' is scanned and/or registered by the tracking and traceability system (100) upon receipt/delivery and provision of the item (10) to the store (20), whereby the code (30) of the item (10) is registered in the tracking and traceability system (100) stocked by the store (10).

-wherein the one or more items of merchandise (10) are arranged for public and free display and sale within a physical boundary (22) of a physical store (20);

-wherein each article (10) marked by said code (30) is initially assigned a status code (33) attribute of "unsold"; in the property control system (91), optionally arriving at a marking and packaging location (300) when arriving at a store (20) or earlier;

-wherein for a consumer who owns the item (10) marked by the code (30) and is at a location (61) outside the boundary (22), in order to establish ownership or an indication of ownership of the item (10), the consumer scans from the location (61) outside the boundary (22) of the store (20) and registers the code (30) with an attribute control system (91).

-upon receipt of the code (30) under the above conditions, the status code (33) attribute in the attribute control system (91) changes to "sold" and

-the ownership of the item (10) marked by the code (30) is associated (68) with the consumer identity and registered in the property control system (91) (note that we consider here consumer ownership);

-thereafter, the ownership restricted service of the item (10) marked with the code (30) is provided to the consumer.

Fig. 1 is an overview of the basic features associated with the present invention and is illustrative of the present invention, as will be described below. In fig. 1 we illustrate an outline plan view of a store (20), such as a building, whose walls represent the boundaries (22) of the store (20) and have an entrance (23) and an exit (24). The item (10) is displayed within the boundary for sale (22). The boundary (22) defines a bounding control region in which there is an inner portion and an outer portion that are distinguishable. The geometry and the geographical or other angular position of the polygonal arrangement of the boundary (22) are determined by the executing party. Several such surrounding control areas may be controlled. Each item (10) is identified by a unique code (30). One or more customer operated portable/handheld devices (60) having customer operated scanners (66) are provided to the customer to scan the indicia of the unique code (10) on the reading item (10).

Typically, when a consumer purchases an item (10) within the boundary (22) of a store (20), he typically receives a printed receipt (10) at a cash register (75). In addition, the consumer may also accept the electronic receipt when he purchases an item (10) while located within the boundary (22) of the store (20), if the consumer is registered in a customer database (50) operated by the store, and operated in an app, for example. An essential feature of the invention is to consider as ownership the holder of the item (10) with a unique code (30) outside the boundary (22) of the store (20).

The user operable handheld device (60) may be implemented as a mobile phone with an app dedicated to communicating with an app server (92) connected to a central data register (90) with a code attribute control system (91) and a tracking and tracing system (100). In the general case, the mobile phone will be the customer's own mobile phone.

Fig. 2 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention, wherein the border (22) may not be physically present, but still be defined or divided into several connected or non-interconnected sub-areas, or even defined as "blank" areas "outside" the border (22), such as unrelated cafes arranged as "islands" within the shop. To define a location outside the store but within such a coffee "island," WiFi positioning or wiring delineation of such internal boundaries (22) may be used.

The present invention, as shown in fig. 1 and 2, is a code attribute control system that includes a unique code (30). One of the purposes of the code attribute control system is to control and manage ownership of items having unique codes that may be publicly and freely displayed in public shopping areas prior to a sales transaction, or may be displayed outside of a store area where ownership is assumed.

Each of said codes (30) is arranged or marked as a publicly readable or scannable item of sale (10), wherein one or more of said items of sale (10) are publicly and freely displayed and sold within a physical boundary (22) of a physical store (20).

Each of the articles (10) is initially assigned a status code (33) attribute of "unsold" in an attribute control system (91).

In order for a consumer to establish ownership or indication of ownership of the item (10), the consumer scans and registers the code (30) of the item (10) when the consumer brings the item (10) outside the boundary (22) of the store (20) or owns the item (10) outside the store. After scanning the code (30), the status code (33) attribute is changed to "sold" in the attribute control system (91), -after which the ownership limited service associated with the item (10) will be provided to the consumer. These are the core features of the present invention.

Thus, a first condition for determining the ownership of an item (20) is that the item (20) is actually outside the store (20), i.e. outside the boundaries of the control area (22) of the store (20), and the holder of the item (10) scans the code (30). (when the item (10) is outside the store's boundary (22), the system assumes that the holder of the item (10) is ownership. of course, the item (10) may be stolen or otherwise illegally obtained or brought out of the boundary (22), but this is a legal issue and not discussed here), so ownership is manifested in reality as it is when stolen). The invention solves the problem of avoiding scanning codes in stores without being in possession of an item, to avoid false ownership of the item (10), and to deny non-ownership from enjoying services and benefits associated with ownership of the item (10).

In an embodiment of the invention, an item (10) marked with a unique code (30) displayed for sale in a store (10) is registered in a tracking and tracing system (100), see fig. 3 and 4. An advantageous function that can be achieved by using a unique code (30) on an item (10) is aggregated tracking and tracing. Aggregated tracking and tracing is a very fine-grained system that can provide extensive logistics and environmental information from a unique code (30) tagged pallet item (10), as well as code (30) tagged shipping container items (10) up to a single purchasable code (30) tagged item (10), in other words, items at two (preferably three or more) different packaging tiers, are both code (30) tagged items (10), preferably tagged with codes (30) generated in the same code generator (105).

When a store managed by a store operator managed by the tracking and traceability system receives an item in the form of an item (10) marked by a unique code (30), the store scans for incoming items (30), see fig. 3, top right) as indicated and determined by the tracking and traceability protocol. A pallet article (30), for example, a cider carton, marked with a unique code (30) will register as having a pallet of cider and 600 cartons, which the unique code (30) marked article (10) receives at the store of the pallet article (30). The tray is thus at a higher packaging level than the carton. Essentially, since each code (30) marked carton article (10) is associated with a pallet article (30), the tracking and traceability system has now registered which store (20) (which location) in the supply chain has which unique code (30) marked article (10). In addition, the tracking and tracing system has an inventory of items linked to and managed by the tracking and tracing system (inventory management).

One of the features of the traceability system is to collect data on many aspects of the supply chain, such as logistics and consumer behaviour patterns. Such information may be shared in whole or in part with the consumer.

However, if ownership outside the store is established as described in the present invention (even without the use of a tracking and traceability system as follows), the benefit of obtaining ownership data is at the store operator, brand ownership, company, or possibly regional level, which is valuable to one or more beneficiaries, but may not be fully utilized by the consolidated plurality of participants. Thus, in one embodiment of the present invention, further advantages are obtained using a tracking and traceability system.

As described above, by using the unique code (30) of the uniquely coded product item (10), it will provide additional information that can be used in a sales situation, as explained below. An advantageous use tracking and tracing system is arranged for registering a store (20) supporting establishment of ownership, also due to the tracking and tracing information identifying also the item (10) marked by the store and sales code (30), and preferably also a store operator associated with the store (20).

Selling items (10) connected to a tracking and tracing system with a unique code (30) according to the present invention presents new opportunities for manufacturers, brand ownership and store operators, even those interested parties to progress collaboratively, as they can share information about supply chain logistics, consumers selling and purchasing items.

In this context, the store's operators or brands, either individually or in combination, give the sales operator more opportunities to adjust the value and benefits released with the sales by the present invention.

In one embodiment of the invention, when managing the property control system, advantageous information is also generated by linking the uniquely tagged (30) sales items (10) to the tracking and tracing system (100), i.e. when a consumer establishes a sale outside the store (20), it is not only easy for the consumer and the store, but it can be recorded from which sales store and marketplace it is easy for the consumer to buy/obtain the items.

In addition to the unique code (30) marking the item (10) meeting the limits of the conditions outside the boundary (22), the operator may also want to enforce additional rules as to when transfer of ownership of the item is possible or permitted. As described in the core invention, the location of the store (20) when the code (30) is scanned. For example, according to an embodiment of the invention, such an additional condition may be that the tracking and tracing system has actually registered a marked item to be received, registered and inventoried by a store or from a given list of stores. In other words, if the tracking and tracing system in communication with the code attribute control system determines that the store for the inventory item is not registered, ownership cannot be transferred to the consumer. If not, this indicates that the item may be stolen during shipment in the supply chain, or to the wrong destination, such as another state in the United states. In any case, this means that no store sells it. However, such a limitation may be undesirable, and in other embodiments, one simply believes that the holder of the article (10) is legitimate ownership.

In an embodiment of the invention, the consumer scans the portable device (60) for the code (30) using a code scanner (66) with a customer operation, and the portable device (60) communicates the scanned code (30) to the property control system (91).

Of course, ownership of the item (10) may be established within the store (20), i.e., within the boundary (22). In such an alternative, the consumer and the item of merchandise (10) may be within a boundary (22) of a regulated area of the store (20) and a receipt has been registered for the item (10) from the store (20). This may therefore be the second condition for establishing ownership, i.e. the consumer has a receipt, if still in the store.

In practice, it is necessary to establish a condition for determining whether the boundary (22) of the store (20) is outside. In one embodiment of the invention, when a consumer is scanning and registering a code (30) outside the boundary (22), the consumer receives a location (61) given by a location indicating device (62), such as a GPS (62) or the like, the location (61) of which is estimated to be outside the control boundary (22). Other devices (62) accepted by ownership of the store (20) indicate the location (61) with sufficient accuracy. Other techniques, tools or methods (e.g., Wifi assisted positioning) may also be used to determine location.

According to the invention. The store boundary (22) may be a virtual or digital representation of the physical boundary of the store (22). In one embodiment of the invention it may be a polygon represented by its angular coordinates given by the angular coordinates, or in yet another embodiment it may be a radial distance from a point representing the centre or exhibition point of the shop to it. Ensuring that the location (61) is indeed outside the showpiece store or market.

Position of

In an embodiment of the invention, the portable device (60) is implemented as a mobile phone or a computer or some type of similar device. In an embodiment of the invention, the portable device (60) is provided with a position receiver (62), such as a GPS (61). The portable device (60) is equipped with a client operated code scanner (66), such as a mobile camera, any type of bar code scanner, typically implemented as a camera application, or a contactless scanner, such as an RFID/near field communication scanner.

Preliminary remarks about this invention

The invention is based on mutual trust. Ownership of an item (30) marked by the code (30) is achieved directly by registering the consumer identity (68) in a code attribution system (91) which changes the status code (33) to "sold" and transfers ownership of the item (10) to the consumer identity (68). By default, it is assumed that the holder (the consumer (68) with the consumer's identity) is in proper ownership without further proof of purchasing, receiving, or scanning the code (30) in the cash register in the store (20), but the holder is simply scanning the unique code (30) by the consumer when purchasing the item (10) outside the store. In one embodiment of the invention, the code attribution system (91) may have a checking function for checking whether a sales receipt has been issued when it registers the status code (33) as "sold". Theft of the article (10) marked by the code (30), belonging to another problem, may be revealed by the system (91). Thus, the system trusts a majority of the holders of the item (10) in terms of ownership by the primary or secondary buyer. In an embodiment of the invention, the current holder has taken over the code (30) marked with the item (10) from the first registered ownership, and can simply scan and register the unique code (30) of the item (10) and register itself as ownership of the item (10), inheriting the associated ownership-restricted service. This simplifies the registration process of the item (10) and allows the system to consider the holder as the appropriate ownership, facilitating brand ownership and maintaining the commercial value of the product: the consumer/holder knows that he may transfer the item (10) to another holder for ownership (10) of the registered item, including benefits and services associated with the item (10). If necessary, a recall message may be sent to the current holder to immediately determine the recall process if the cause of the recall is severe, such as a contaminated item (10), a by-product (10) of the item found to be undesirable, a malfunction of the item (10), such as a brake failure, a risk of fire on the mobile phone, etc.

An equipment (60) identity (67) associated with an ownership identity (68) of the mobile equipment (60)

In an embodiment of the code attribution control system (91) of the present invention, a consumer identity (68), such as a name or a customer number or a unique number, such as a social security number, is associated with an identity (67) of the device, such as a mobile phone number of a portable device (60) of the customer, and registered in the code attribution system (91).

A first consumer having a consumer identity (68) of an item (10) tagged with a unique code (30) registered in a code attribution system (91) is considered to be a holder of the item (10) and is therefore a proper ownership of the item (10).

(Consumer) ownership identity (68) registered (100) in a traceability system

In a code attribute control system (91) embodiment of the present invention, a consumer ownership identity (68) having ownership of the consumer of the code (30) tagged item (10) is registered in the tracking and tracing system (100). This may be registered in the repackaging location (400) by using the repackaging level code relationship (404) input, or may be registered outside of the store (20) or store boundary (22), see fig. 9. Note also that items may change ownership in the tracking and tracing history, and that entries for ownership of each particular item (10) may be registered as part of the packaging or repackaging hierarchical code relationship (304,404) for the current item (10). This change in ownership may occur multiple times between the labeling and packaging location (300) and the store (20). Further, items of different item levels may be assigned to different ownership rights.

Registering "unsold" (300) at the marking and packaging location

According to an example of the present invention, an item (10) is initially assigned a status code (33) attribute of "unsold" in an attribute control system (91) before the item (10) has been shipped from a manufacturing location (200) and a packaging/labeling location (300) to a store (20) at a code attribute control system (91) at a labeling and packaging flag location (300). This can be done when the unique code (30) has been registered as being suitable for the marked (30) physical object (10).

Registering "not sold" when an item (10) arrives at a store (20) "

In another embodiment of the invention, the status code (33) marked as a physical object (10) is assigned as "unsold" when the unique code (30) marked as a physical object (10) is registered by the traceability system (100). ) Arrives and is in stock or is to be sold in the store (20).

A customer with a scanner can operate a portable device (66).

In an embodiment of the invention, in a code attribute control system (91), a consumer scans the code (30) using a portable device (60) with a customer-operated code scanner (66), the consumer-operable portable device (60) communicating the scanned code (30) to the attribute control system (91). In an embodiment, the consumer operable portable device (60) is a mobile phone having software and hardware capable of scanning a code (30).

(supplementary condition "inside")

In another embodiment of the invention, in addition to the condition outside the boundary (22) of the store that allows for the allocation of consumer ownership on the boundary, the consumer and the item of merchandise (10) for sale may be within the boundary (22) of the controlled area of the store (20) and the consumer has registered a purchase receipt for the item (10) from the store (20), which may override the "outside the store" condition. This would allow the user to stay in the store (20) to register his ownership and gain a benefit while still within the store, e.g., allowing the consumer to purchase the associated item (10) or other item (10) while already in the store.

A logistics supply chain is specified, including a marking & packaging location (300), a repackaging location (400), and the like.

In an embodiment of the invention, the logistics supply chain (300, 400, 500, 20) comprises one or more

-a marking and packaging location (300, 300A, 300B, …), such as a factory packaging line,

repackaging locations (400, 400A, 400B, …), such as production centers, export or import ports, customs stations, etc.,

-tracing locations (500) [ e.g. customs, harbours, airports, etc. ]

-the store (20) and optionally a first consumer/property right, and optionally a subsequent consumer/property right.

Out-of-boundary (22) position (61) condition

In one embodiment of the invention, the consumer and the item (10) are considered to be outside said boundary (22) when scanning and registering the code (30), when having or receiving the position (61) given by the position indicating means. (62) For example, a GPS (62) inserted or connected to the portable device (60) by the client operable code scanner (66), and the location is deemed or calculated to be outside of a control boundary (22).

In another embodiment of the invention, an additional condition is that, in addition to the first condition being met, the marked (30) item (10) is scanned from a location outside the store (20) and should also be located less than a given distance (measured in meters or travel time) from the store (20), wherein the marked (30) item (10) is registered for display or storage.

Mobile consumer operated handheld unit (60) with code scanner (66)

According to one embodiment of the invention, in the code property control system, the customer-operable portable device (60) is a mobile phone or a handheld computer, wherein the customer-operable code scanner (66) is, for example, a very common mobile phone with camera and "tablet", any type of bar code scanner or contactless code scanner, such as an RFID/NFC scanner.

Status code (33) "sell" and ownership limited service sent to consumer operated portable device (60)

According to an embodiment of the invention, in the code property control system (91), the status code (33) property is changed to "sold" and the limited-ownership service (10) related to the item is provided to the consumer, the status code (33) property is passed as "sold" and indicates a successful registration of ownership as "sold to" or "owned by" the consumer or a reg number or similar and is associated from the property control system (91) to the portable device (60) with the device identification (67) of the user-operable portable device (60), thereby making the limited-ownership service available to the consumer-operated portable device (60).

Activation code (39) is sent as part of ownership limited service

In an embodiment of the invention, the activation code (39) is part of a service of said ownership which is restricted, i.e. it is a service of the invention

-to the consumer-operated portable device (60), communicating with the item (10) for sale, and sending the activation code (39) to activate the item (10), or

-or directly communicating with said sold item (10), said activation code (39) activating said item (10).

Consumer identity (68) registered in a consumer database (50)

In an embodiment of the invention, the consumer identity (68) is registered into a personal record (52) in a consumer database (50) accessible by the property control system (91). In this way, purchases of items (10) may be added to the personal records (52) for subsequent analysis of consumer behavior and to allow suggestions to be made to ancillary products provided to the consumer. In one embodiment of the invention, the consumer identity (68) is recorded in the record (110) along with the hierarchical code relationships (304,404) as part of additional information "X", such as location, time, date, status (sold false/true), recall status, consumer id (68), etc., see fig. 10 and 9.

Virtual representation of store boundary (22)

The store boundary (22) may be a common wall (22) surrounding the store (20). But the store (20) may be open or have no substantial "physical" boundary, e.g. the store (20) forms an area without strict physical restrictions, see fig. 2, e.g. it forms part of a floor shared with other stores in a large building, but with a reasonably clear border (22) around the store (22), relative to other stores. The store (20) may also be part of an outdoor market with a similarly reasonably clear boundary (22). According to an embodiment of the invention, the store boundary (22) is a geographically extended virtual representation of the store (20), or a digital representation of the boundary of the store (22), whether or not the area is substantive.

Code generator (105) or code file (106)

In one embodiment of the invention, a source (105) or code generator (105) of a unique code (30) is included, the source (105) or code generator being arranged to generate the unique code (30) arranged in a digital or physical code file (106) of the unique code (30) and for transferring the code (30) to the labelling and packaging location (300, 300A, 300B … …). In one embodiment of the invention, the source in the form of a code generator (105) may be a third party service providing the unique code (30) on a file, physical or data file (106), the third party service being arranged for marking the item (10) and for storing the associated unique code (30) in the tracking and tracing system (100). The unique code (30) is provided to the marking and packaging location (300) and is printed, written or attached to the item (10), and the mutual arrangement in which the item (10) contains other items (10) and is packaged therein is registered as a packaging hierarchy (303). The number of unique codes (30) required may be 10exp 2 or 3 for very small series of items (10) and up to 10exp 9 or more for very large series of items, such as small cartridges.

Batch number, serial number in a batch

In an embodiment of the invention, please see fig. 4, each unique code (30) comprises a first code portion (31) and a second code portion (32) unique under said first code portion (31). The first code portion (31) may be a unique lot number and the second code portion (32) may be a unique serial number in the lot.

Encrypted code

In an embodiment of the invention, the code (30) is encrypted to a unique encrypted code (30,30e) in an encryption unit (124) in the code generator (105). In an embodiment of the invention, the code attribution system has encryption and decryption features for the code (30,30 e). In an embodiment, an encryption code (30,30e) is marked on an item (item) to counteract code counterfeiting and code attribution systems (in order for counting code counting, and the code attribution system). The code attribution system (91) or the customer's handheld device (60) (having a customer-operable first code scanner (66)) is capable of decrypting the unique encrypted code (30,30 e). Decryption may also be performed centrally in the code attribution system (91).

Free open information without ownership

According to one embodiment of the invention, the unique code (30) may be scanned using a consumer operated device (60) within the store, having a location (61) within the boundary (22) of the store (20) for use by non-owners of the consumer operated device (60), such that a potential purchaser transmits the unique code (30) to the central data register (90) or to the tracking and tracing system (100) for both general and item specific information, such as price, usage requirements, recommended associated products, or recall status.

Tracking and tracing system specification (100)

Hierarchical packaging relationships (303)

In one embodiment of the invention, a hierarchical packaging relationship (303) is registered at said marking and packaging location (300, 300a, 300B), see fig. 3 and 4, marking the item (10) for each current unique code (30), wherein said hierarchical packaging relationship (303) for the current item (10) comprises

A parent, code (30) tagged article (10) (if present, if code tagged) contains

The current code (30) marks the article (10), comprising

One or more sub, codes (30) mark the item (10), if present, for inclusion in the current item (10).

In one embodiment of the invention, the packaging relationship (303) includes any level item (10,10',10 ", 10", …) marked with a unique code (30) provided from a common source (105) or document (106) of the unique code (30), see FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention wherein the store (20) forms part of a tracking and traceability system (100) comprising one or more marking and packaging locations (300, 300A, 300B..) wherein the unmarked items (10) (but commonly known lot numbers) of the items (10) each have their unique code (30) and are packaged in a packaging hierarchy (303), the shipping route to one or more repackaging and logistics distribution locations (400) wherein repackaging to the code marked (30) items (10) occurs a repackaging hierarchy (403) through which further shipping occurs (tracking locations (500) which may also occur between repackaging locations (400) and ultimately to the store (20) wherein the marked (30) items (10) are displayed or otherwise sold The articles (10) are noted even if only the outer package level articles (10) need to be scanned. The tracking and tracing system (100) also tracks a packaging hierarchy (303, 403), which in embodiments of the invention is associated with a three-level code hierarchy (304,404), the three-level code hierarchy (304,404) including a code (30) for a "parent" item (10), a current item (10), and one or more child items (10).

Establishing a hierarchical packaging canonical relationship (304)

According to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein for each current item (10), a packaging hierarchical code relationship (304) of the current item (10) is established based on the hierarchical packaging relationship (303), see fig. 4, wherein the packaging hierarchical code relationship (304) comprises

Containing the unique code (30) (nil, if not) of the parent item (10) of the current item (10)

Unique code (30) of present article (10)

One or more unique codes (30) for sub-items (10), if any, contained in the current item (10).

Using a unique code (30) as a memory address

According to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein

-the hierarchical code relationship (304) is stored as a first part of a record (110) at an address (112) of a data store (113), the address (112) corresponding to a unique code (30) of the current item (10).

FIG. 4-illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which the hierarchical wrapper relationships and code relationships are at several levels, and some related hierarchical code relationships are at different levels. There is shown a hierarchical packaging relationship (303) between primary articles (10') marked with a code (30, 30') packaged as secondary articles (10"), such as boxes (box), marked with a code (30, 30"). Many such cases, second level articles (10') are placed in or on larger third level articles (10'), such as pallets, and such pallets, third level articles (10') may be placed in shipping containers, referred to herein as fourth level articles (10'). These hierarchical "physical" (material) packaging relationships (303) are registered at the labeling and packaging locations (300, 300A, 300B) and include information about which "parent" larger contained item (10) the current item (10) is contained in and which "child" item is contained in the current item (10). These packaging (303) relationships are converted, the item (10,10 "', 10" ") for each marker (30, 30" ', 30 "") being converted into an abstract hierarchical code relationship (304), the code (30,30 "', 30" ") for its current item (10, 10" ',10 "") being related/contained in what code (30,30 "', 30" ") for the" parent "larger containing item (10, 10" ',10 ""), and which codes (30,30 "', 30" ") for the" child "item(s) (10, 10" ',10 "") are contained in/relate to the code (30, 10"', 10" ") for the current item (10, 10" ") 30. 30", 30"', 30 "").

An example of such a packaging relationship (303) is illustrated for a carton article (10"), which can be written as follows:

current article (10") (carton) hierarchical packaging relationship (303):

parent article (10"') (tray) contains

The present article (10") (carton), and

subentries (10') (including primary articles, primary articles (10'))

The respective hierarchical code relationships (404) associated for the same carton article (10") are as follows:

hierarchical code relationships (304) for the current item (10 "):

the unique code (30"') of the parent item (10"') (tray) contains

Unique code (30") of the current article (10') (carton)

The sub-item (10') (containing the unique code (30') of the basic item (10 ').

A similar set of hierarchical packaging relationships (303) and corresponding hierarchical code relationships (304) for pallet items (10"') are illustrated.

In the right part of fig. 4 it is shown that the packaged articles (10) are transported to a repacking position (400), where the articles (10) from different packaging positions (300, 300A, 300B) are opened and some have been partly taken out and/or repacked together with other articles or other articles of other batches, and a new repacking hierarchical relationship (403) is performed for all articles (10) involved. A repackage package code relationship (404) occurs. In the lower right part of fig. 4, there is shown an article (10) that has been transported from the most recent repackaging location (400) to the store (20), which article (10) can be considered in the present system as the last repackaging location (400), as normally a carton (10") or base article (10') is unpacked from its containing articles (10), such as a pallet (10" ') or carton (10'), for display in the store (20) for sale.

Advantageously, having a packaging hierarchical level code relationship (304) (and further advantageously repackaging (and unpacking) the code (404) relationship) allows for the reconstruction of a complete packaging tree structure for all of the packaging code (30) marked items (10) (and all subsequent repackaging code (30) marked items (10)); the logistics operator can scan the code (30) at any packaging level and look for which of the currently scanned items contain (10). The building of the original packaging relationship tree can be omitted and there is no need to maintain any packaging relationship tree during the logistics supply chain.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention, storing in a database a record (110) of the hierarchical code relationships (304,404) for current items (10) (for basic type items (10'), carton type items (10"), pallet type items (10"'), etc.. this would include the use of an index file.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention that stores a record (110) of the hierarchical code relationships (304,404) at a separate address (112,112'112", 112"', 112",") for each level of the item (10,10',10 ", 10"', 10"", "). Here, the storage is simplified to an address (112,112'112", 112" ', 112",) -a unique code (30,30', 30", 30"', 30" "), but still a different code (30,30', 30", 30"', 30" ") is used for a different item (10,10' 10".) level. In this embodiment, there are different data storage locations (111,111', 111", 111"', 111 "") for different levels of records (110,110', 110", 110"', 110 "") and we need a system to keep track of which item level a record belongs to. In the example shown, we store the cartons (10") of the basic items (10') of the records (110") of the hierarchical code relationships (304) (404) of the current item (10") at an address, one address (112") at a data storage location (111 ") corresponding to the unique code (30") belonging to the current item (10"), and one record (110,110', 110") for each different item (10,10',10 ", 10"', 10",. 9") level marked differently.

In an embodiment of the invention, we use a single type of code (30) common to all articles (10,10',10 ", 10"', 10 ""). An advantage of an embodiment is that no index is required, so data is looked up directly and quickly at the address (112) corresponding to the (decrypted) unique code (30). The record (110) address (112) may be organized at the discretion of the programmer, for example, by subdividing the disk into partitions corresponding to the lot number, the first portion (31) of the unique code (30), and the sector or file in the partition identified by the second portion (32) of the unique code (30) of the item (10)

Fig. 7 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention in which the hierarchical code relationships (304,404) and their storage are reduced to address (112) as the unique code (30); all items carry the same type of unique code indicia (30), regardless of the item level (10,10',10 ", 10"', 10"",. the same type of universal unique code (30) (10) is commonly used for all item levels. For this embodiment of the invention, it is an advantage if we use the further embodiment shown in fig. 9, since the unique code (30) generates a unique address (112). In FIG. 9, we write all hierarchical code relationships (304,404) throughout the tracking and tracing history into the same record (110), with the start address (112) corresponding to the code (30) of the current item (10).

If the storage address (112) is the unique code (30), then it is not necessary to store the unique code (30) at its own address

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is not really necessary to store the unique code (30) itself on its own address if the memory address (112) corresponds to the unique code (30) or is equal to the unique code (30). For each current item (10), recording a simplified portion of the hierarchical code relationship (304) for the current item (10) into the record (110), wherein writing the hierarchical code relationship (304) for the current item (10) into the record (110) comprises

A unique code (30) of a parent item (10) of the current item (10),

(rather than the unique code (30) of the current item (10);

and one or more unique codes (30) of sub-items (10) contained in the current item (10).

In other words, only the parent and child hierarchical code relationships are saved (304). This saves storage space and writing and reading time, since the current code (30) of the current item (10) is already known by the address (112) as the current code (30).

Fig. 8 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which the hierarchical code relationship (304) or the hierarchical repackaging code relationship (404) is stored at the record address (112) of the unique code (30) corresponding to the current item (10), but the hierarchical code relationship (304,404) for which the address (112(30)) is written omits writing the current code (30) itself, as it is implicit in the address (112 (30)).

Layered repacking relationship (403)

The packaging relationship is registered (300) at the marking and packaging location. In the repackaging position (400), an item (10) may be removed from its parent item (10) and/or one or more new child items (10) may be entered into the item (10), see fig. 3 and 4. A change in the packaging relationship (303, 403) is registered at the repackaging location (400, 400A, 400B) or occurs relative to a previous packaging relationship. For the packages involved in the repackaging location (400), i.e. for each current hierarchical repackaging relationship (403), the item (10) marked by the unique code (30),

the hierarchical repackaging relationship (403) of the current item (10) includes

Parent, code (30) tagged item (10), if present, contains

Currently, the code (30) marked article (10) further comprises

One or more sub-code (30) marked items (10), if any, are included in the current item (10).

In one embodiment of the invention, the repackaging relationship (403) generated at the repackaging location (400) involves any level of the item (10,10',10 ", 10"', 10"",. multidot. ") marked with the same unique code (30) provided from a common file (106) of the unique code that has been applied to the marking and packaging location (300).

Establishing repackaging layered code relationships (404)

In another embodiment of the present invention, for each current item (10) involved in the hierarchical repacking relationship (403), a repacking hierarchical code relationship (404) for the current item (10) is established based on the hierarchical repacking relationship (403), wherein the repacking hierarchical code relationship (404) comprises

Containing the unique code (30) of the parent item (10) of the current item (10)

Unique code (30) of present article (10)

One or more unique codes (30) of sub-items (10) contained in the current item (10).

In other words, the repackaging layered code relationships are established in the same structure as the packaging layered code relationships.

FIG. 9 illustrates a further embodiment of the above, where the hierarchical code relationship (404) is updated within the maximum record size of the record (110) and stored as an appendix to the existing hierarchical code relationship (304, 404). Records (110) are accumulated as items arrive at the owner through the supply chain from the marking and packaging location (300).

-wrapping the hierarchical code relationship (304),

-a first repackaging layered code relationship (404),

second, third repackage of the layered code relationships (404), and so on,

-until the store (20) repackages (unpacks) the hierarchical code relationships (404), and

-register to an outside shop, we can call the packing relation (403) of the items (10) in the hands of the new owner (for the repackaging hierarchical code (404) relation), where "parent" ═ nil, but the child code is "nil" or it contains further child items (10), e.g. for a multi-packed item (10) with multiple "child" items (10), each child item has its own code. .

In this embodiment, all hierarchical wrapping and repackaging hierarchical code relationships are stored in the same record (110). In other words, as the tracking process begins from the wrapping and marking location (300) along the repackaging location (400) and the tracking location (500), the record (110) contains the initial hierarchical code relationship (304)) and all repackaging hierarchical code relationships (404) all the way to and including the store (20), which can be considered repackaging locations (400, 20) as these items are typically unpackaged base items (10') or carton items (10") and displayed for sale (20) in the store. In addition, the record (110) will save the "off-store" repackaged layered code relationship (404).

The operator of the label and package location (300, 300A, 300B … …) will know the package configuration. Referring to fig. 4, one example might be that, for example, 24 first-level articles (10'), such as medicine boxes, are marked and scanned prior to being placed in the carton articles (10), the carton articles (10") being packed in 5 cartons per layer, and there are 6-30 cartons (10") on a pallet (10"'), and 24 pallets (10") ("europay") occupying a 40 foot container. Then, for any particular level of hierarchical code relationships (304,404) for a particular product base item (10'), the expected reasonable maximum number of codes (30) is

Parent code level: 1

-current code level: 1

-sub-code level: 24.

for mixed types of articles (10) that are contemplated at the repackaging location, where it is contemplated to open the container or tray in order to mix cartons of different origin on the tray, or to mix trays of different origin in the container, or even to mix articles at a lower hierarchical level. The number of expected codes of the hierarchies (304,404) only varies at the "child" level, so the operator can set the highest expected "child" number expected, at his discretion, as well as the number of expected repackaged hierarchical code relationships (404) that may occur. In one embodiment of the invention, the tracking location may provide for an overwrap (10) registration tracked on the tracking location (500), a container (10 "") level tier, a pallet (10") level tier, or a carton (10") level tier; or even the registration of the outer package (10) tracked on a layer of base items (10") (if the tracked location (500) is a customs station that has a full review of the contents of the shipment).

In embodiments of the present invention, the size of each entry assigned to the wrapper code relationship (304) and the repackaged code relationship (404) may be fixed. In another embodiment of the invention, the size assigned to each entry (304,404) may be variable, with only parent changes or child changes entered in the repackaged hierarchical code relationship (404) and a separator before each new entry in the record (110), see FIG. 9.

An advantage of an embodiment of the present invention is that the wrapping structure is not stored directly in the tracking and tracing system, but is implicitly available from the hierarchical code relationships (304,404), as is the case when repackaging, and the present invention allows for the rearrangement of the wrapping structure. For example, the present invention is very flexible, registers quickly, updates quickly, and allows changes to packaging configurations.

A significant advantage of the embodiments shown in fig. 7 and 9 or fig. 8 and 9 is that the record (110) contains the complete history of the current item from the package to the store: an included item at any time, an included item at any time. Thus, the hierarchical code relationship can be read from the record (110) by merely scanning (or knowing) the unique code to read the record (110) from the starting address, thereby reading the packaging and repackaging relationships of each current code tagged item. If complaints, failure reports, and recalls need to be made on an item basis, this has significant additional advantages for the manufacturer: items are traced in the item's (10) record (112) to try and find similar malfunctioning products (10) in order to find the cause of the malfunction and recall all items from that common point. These faults may include high temperature faults, toxic material faults, illegal component faults, illegal import faults, etc.

The length of the unique code (30) is known prior to packaging, and the unique code (30) may comprise a first code portion (31) and a second code portion (32). In one embodiment of the invention, the record (110) may be assigned a fixed length, such as 4kB, 8kB, 16kB, 32kB, or in practice any record size deemed sufficient to accommodate a maximum size of the package (304) and repackage a series of entries (404) for a product path from the package and label to the store to the customer.

Note that in most cases only the currently visible code (30) of the outer article (100) is visible for scanning at the repackaging location (400). Of course, its content will carry the same subcode (30) inherited from the previous location (300, 400). Thus, only a change in the parent code (30,30P) or child code (30, 30C) need be entered to repackage the item (10) hierarchical code relationship (404). This can significantly reduce the storage requirements for tracking and tracing the history in the record (110).

Example of a Hospital as a supply chain outside a store (20)

Note that in embodiments of the present invention, our system is not limited to one check-in of owners outside the store (20). In embodiments of the invention, second, third, etc. owners may be registered when items (10) are distributed outside of a store. For example in a hospital where goods have been purchased from a retailer owning the mall or store (20), and then new owners (68,68-901,68-902, 68-903.) are registered in the code attribute control system (91) and assigned owner rights are passed along the external supply chain with the item (10), see fig. 11.

For example, the first owner to register outside the store (20) is a hospital (900), represented by the main storage (901) of the hospital, which scans the code (30) of the item (10). It may be a tray (10"') having a code of 30, 30"'. In the system, the hospital master store has consumer identities (68, 68-901). Ownership of the tray (10") and its contents, code (30") tagged carton (10") and code (30") tagged end-user article (10') is now associated with the consumer identity (68), registered in the property control system (91), and thereafter the owner restricted service associated with the code (30) tagged article (10,10',10 ", 10" ') will be provided to the consumer. The repackaging hierarchical code relationship (404) is now outside the supply chain (including store or store (20)) controlled by the brand owner and is registered as a further step in the record (110) of the data storage location (113).

Ownership of the contained code (30) item (10) is transferred.

The transfer of ownership to the new owner identity (68) to the hospital primary storage (68-901) of each contained carton item (10") and end-user base item (10') can then be easily made in a record (110) in the data storage location (113) of each child code (30, 30C) of the code (30) of the tray (10'") as they are linked by the parent code (30,30P) or child code (30, 30C) in each hierarchical code relationship (404). .

In the hospital primary storage (901) having received the pallet items (10"'), the pallet is now unpacked into code (30") labeled carton items (10") and scanned and assigned by a primary storage (901) scanner device (60), such as the hospital name (68-901) as the owner identity (68). In one embodiment, this is done in the tracking and tracing system for all contained items (10) in the tracking and tracing system (100) as they are registered in the repackaging relationship (404) as children of the currently scanned item code (30).

Subsequently, the item (10) is transferred to one of the hospital ward stores (902) and there the code (30) of the item is scanned upon receipt and the corresponding repackaging relationship (404) is written to the record (110) along with the updated owner identity (68, 68-902).

In one embodiment of the invention, the simulated transfer of identity may occur when an end user, such as a nurse (903), having an identity (68, 68-903) retrieves a code (30) -tagged base item (30) from a carton item (10) in the patient room warehouse (902) and scans the code (30). The new owner identity (68, 68-903) is then written with the final repackaged code relationship (404), as follows:

parent code (30,30p) ═ nil

Current code (30)

Subcode 30,30c) ═ nil

Owner as nurse (68, 903)

Location, time, date, sold as true.

The base article may be a protective article such as a tablet, a dose of medicine in a bottle or syringe package, protective glasses, goggles, a mask, protective gloves, etc. A significant advantage is that for the end user, in this case a nurse (903) with owner identity (48-903), the local ownership of the item (10), after scanning and registering the item, he will immediately obtain the owner restricted service in relation to the code (30) of the marked item (10). Here he may have access to recall status, expiration dates, user instructions and warnings, particularly useful when changes and releases are made to a particular product after it has been manufactured.

(ultimately, if permitted by patient legislation, the owner identity (68) may be assigned to the patient on receipt of the drug dose, and the final destination of the item (10) registered in the record (110). in this case, this portion (110) of the record should be reserved for hospital use and its associated personnel only.)

In such a system, for a new owner/consumer, a consumer/owner identity (68,68-901,68-902,68-903, …) (e.g. a name) is associated with a device identity (67, 67-901, 67-902, 67-903, …) (e.g. a mobile number of a customer portable device (60)) and registered in the code attribute system (91). As described above, the identity (68,68-901,68-902,68-903,) of the consumer owning the item (10) marked by the code (30) is registered in the above-described tracking and tracing system (100).

Attribute state transition back to owner

In one embodiment of the invention, after the status code (33) attribute is changed to "sold" in the attribute control system (91), and when the owner provides the consumer with restricted service related to the item (10), the status code (33) attribute is transmitted from the attribute control system (91) to the portable device (60). An attribute "sold" represents a successful ownership that is registered as "sold to a consumer," or "owned by a consumer," "owned by a holder," "purchased," or a registration number, etc. The holder now obtains rights to an article (10) such as described above

A discount coupon code, wherein the discount coupon code is,

a warranty for the purchase of the item,

obtaining a user description of the purchase of the item,

participate in general loyalty programs and similar programs, etc.

Attribute state transfer back to item

In one embodiment of the invention, the attribute state is transferred directly to the item (10) rather than to the owner. After changing the status code (33) attribute to "sold" in the attribute control system (91) and after providing the consumer with the owner restricted service associated with the item (10), the status code (33) attribute is "sold", for example transmitted from the attribute control system (91) to the portable device (60) over a mobile line, for example communicating with the sold item (10) over a bluetooth or Wifi line, and transmitting an activation code (39) activating the item (10). In another more direct alternative, the attribute control system (91) communicates with the sold item (10) and sends an activation code (39) that activates the item (10). In such an embodiment, the item (10) must be able to communicate directly with the attribute control system.

The term "activation code" includes any kind of required token for enabling a device to access or activate the device.

The practical use of the above described embodiment is in the case where the article (10) is a motor vehicle, computer, toy, which requires activation by an activation code (39).

In one embodiment of the invention, the consumer is registered with a personal record (52) in a consumer database (50), the consumer database (50) being accessible by the attribute control system (91).

Items that link a value to a unique code are variations of the reward and incentive program. It is common practice for store operators to be responsible for managing such rewards and incentive programs in most cases. A typical, common example is "buy three send one". However, in some cases, the plan is a collaboration between the store operator and the brand owner. These types of plans may or may not use the item's unique item code at runtime.

The current innovation creates a new practice and opportunity to enable the brand owner to provide better service and welfare to the consumer independently of the store operator, directly through his own product. As in the past, brand owners (at least in practice) rely heavily on cooperation with distributors and store operators in order to effectively implement incentive programs. They can now avoid the need for "middlemen" in running such incentive programs because they use existing inventions to run such incentive programs without any store-operated system and without their labor, consent, or any specific type of collaboration. With the merchandise attribute system, the brand owner can even differentiate the value of the code based on the store operator and the individual store (if a tracking and traceability system is used). Thus, if a consumer purchases a good at a chain supermarket A, the consumer may receive less incentive than the incentive to purchase a similar good at the brand owner's own chain supermarket B. The tracking and tracing system will be able to know and identify from which point of sale or store operator before the consumer scans the goods.

Furthermore, if a smaller store operator or any operator decides to be the operator of the item property system, they may be easier to run these plans if they are working with the brand.

Another aspect of the invention is that when outside the store boundary (22), the holder of the product is considered the owner of the product if he just scans the code and communicates with the system. The system requires the system owner to believe that the viewer of the item is the legitimate owner of the item. Theft is a calculable risk in the system that is otherwise addressed. The invention helps to preserve the brand and use value of the product for the product holder and ensures simple maintenance (for the original purchaser) or transfer (for the purchaser of the second-hand item or the successor owning the second-hand product) of the service and welfare of the product, such as updating, securing, spare part availability, etc.

In an embodiment of the invention, the central data register (90) includes a customer database (50) containing records (52) about determined buyers:

name, customer identity (68), cell phone number, address, gender, age, size,

income, family relations, education level, position,

the information on the contact is transmitted to the mobile terminal,

purchase preferences, purchase history.

Code generator

In one embodiment of the invention, the system includes a code generator (105) configured to generate two or more unique codes (30). In one embodiment, the code generator (105) is configured to generate a unique code (30), the unique code (30) being configured in a digital or physical code file (122) of two or more such unique codes (30). The code generator (105) advantageously generates the code (30) before the article (10) reaches the packaging and marking location (300, 300A, 300B), the file (122) with the unique code (30) being transferred to a marking or labelling machine forming part of the packaging and marking location.

In an embodiment of the invention, the code generator (105) may be a third party service that provides the unique code (30) on a file (122) (physical file or data file) for marking the item (10).

Registration package

In an embodiment of the present invention, codes are registered when they are wrapped in a wrapper file that is converted into hierarchical wrapper code relationships (304) for transmission to the tracking and tracing system (100).

Batch and serial number of codes

In an embodiment of the invention, each such unique code (30) comprises a first code portion (31) and a second code portion (32) unique under said first code portion (31).

Encryption/decryption

In an embodiment of the code property control system of any of the above claims, wherein the code (30) is encrypted in an encryption unit (124) in the code generator (105) as a unique encrypted code (30,3 x).

Short-distance readable encrypted code label

In an embodiment of the invention, each code (30) is arranged to be placed on the outer surface of the item of sale (10) and may be visually read, optically scanned or otherwise short-range readable. If the store (20) has a boundary (22), it must be taken into account that, for short range readability, the code (30) cannot be read from outside the store (20), from outside said physical boundary (22) (when within said physical boundary (22)). If the store is a public market, the encryption code (35) must not be legible outside the market. In practice, in an embodiment of the invention, the code (30) is arranged as encrypted text, a bar code, a two-dimensional code or the like. (e.g., in RFID).

In one embodiment of the invention, the return information (34) associated with the unique code (30) includes a status code (33) of the item (10) as "sold" or exit key code, shipping order, start key code, user instruction, warranty, sales contract, to the handheld device (60) and/or to another unit required by the holder of the handheld device (60).

Further information about price, quantity of articles

In one embodiment of the invention, some of the returned non-restricted information (38) associated with the unique code (30) (if not a status code, "sold") may still be transmitted back to the portable/handheld device (60), such as the price of the item (10), the number of corresponding items (10) (displayed or in stock) available in the store (20).

Payment position

In one embodiment of the invention, the handheld device (60) may then negotiate and pay for the item (10) directly or indirectly with the cash register (75), the cash register (75) further allowing the item (10) to be removed from the store (20) either through the code scanner (70) of the cash register (75) or directly, and otherwise allowing the user of the handheld device (60) to use the decrypted code (30), which is an important purpose for the user.

Claims (26)

1. A code attribute control system comprises

A code resource of unique codes, wherein each of said codes is arranged to be placed or marked on one or more items of sale publicly accessible, legible or scannable; and

a tracking and tracing system arranged to track and trace each individual item individually in the logistics supply chain,

wherein the code of the item is scanned and/or registered by the tracking and traceability system when the item is received/delivered and provided to the store, whereby the code of the item is registered in the tracking and traceability system to be stored by the store,

wherein the one or more items of merchandise are arranged to be openly and freely displayed and sold within a physical boundary of a physical store,

wherein each of said code marked articles is initially assigned a "unsold" status code attribute in said code attribute control system,

wherein for a consumer who owns the code-tagged item and is at a location outside the boundary, in order to establish ownership or indication of ownership of the item, the consumer scans the code from the location outside the boundary of the store and registers the code with the code attribute control system,

whereby the status code attribute is changed to "sold" in the code attribute control system, an

Whereby ownership of the code marked item registered in the code property control system is associated with the consumer identity, whereafter the owner restricted service relating to the code marked item will be available to the consumer.

2. The code attribute control system of claim 1, wherein a consumer identity is associated with a device identity of a portable device operated by the consumer and is registered in the code attribute control system.

3. The code attribute control system of claim 2, wherein a consumer identity of ownership of an item having a code label is registered in the tracking and tracing system.

4. The code attribute control system of claim 2, wherein after the status code attribute is changed to "sold" in the code attribute control system and when the owner restricted service related to the item is available to a consumer, the status code attribute is transmitted as "sold" indicating successful registration of ownership as "sold to consumer" or "owned by consumer" or registration number and associating the device identity of the consumer operated portable device from the code attribute control system to the consumer operated portable device, thereby enabling owner restricted service for the consumer operated portable device.

5. The code attribute control system of claim 4, wherein an activation code is part of the owner restricted service, either the consumer operated portable device communicates with a sold item and transmits the activation code for activating the item, or directly to the sold item, the activation code activating the item.

6. The code attribution control system of claim 5, wherein the consumer identity is registered in a personal record in a consumer database accessible to the code attribution control system.

7. The code attribute control system of claim 1, wherein the item is initially assigned a "unsold" status code attribute in the code attribute control system when the item has been marked at the marking and packaging locations prior to shipment from the manufacturing location and the packaging/marking location to the store.

8. The code attribute control system of claim 1, wherein the code marked physical item is assigned a status code "not sold" when the uniquely code marked physical item is registered as in stock or displayed for sale at a store by a tracking and tracing system.

9. The code attribute control system of claim 1, wherein a consumer scans the code using a consumer operated portable device with a consumer operated code scanner and the consumer operated portable device communicates the scanned code to the code attribute control system.

10. The code property control system of claim 1 wherein the logistics supply chain comprises one or more of:

marking and packaging locations;

a repackaging location;

tracking a location; and

the store.

11. The code attribute control system of claim 9, wherein a consumer who is scanning and registering a code is deemed to be outside the boundary when receiving a location provided by a location indicating device in or connected to the consumer operated portable device with a consumer operated code scanner, and the location is deemed or calculated to be outside a control boundary.

12. The code attribute control system of claim 11, wherein the consumer operated portable device is a mobile phone or a computer, wherein the consumer operated code scanner is a camera, any type of barcode code scanner, or a contactless code scanner including an RFID/near field communication scanner.

13. The code attribute control system of claim 11, wherein the store boundary is a virtual representation of a geographic extension of the store, or a substantial digital representation of a boundary of the store.

14. A code property control system according to claim 1 including a source of unique codes or a code generator arranged to generate unique codes arranged in a digital or physical code file of such unique codes and for transmitting the codes to the marking and packaging locations.

15. The code attribute control system of claim 14, wherein each unique code comprises a first code portion and a unique second code portion below the first code portion.

16. The code attribute control system of claim 15, wherein the code is encrypted as a unique encrypted code in an encryption unit in the code generator.

17. The code attribute control system of claim 15, wherein a hierarchical packaging relationship is registered for each currently uniquely coded tagged item at the tag and packaging location, and

wherein the hierarchical packaging relationship for a current item includes a parent-code marked item if the parent-code marked item exists and contains the current-code marked item and one or more child-code marked items if one or more child-code marked items exist and are contained in the current item.

18. The code attribute control system of claim 17, wherein for each current item, establishing a hierarchical code relationship for the current item based on the hierarchical packaging relationship,

wherein the hierarchical code relationship includes a unique code of a parent item that contains the current item, and a unique code of the current item, and one or more unique codes of child items contained in the current item.

19. The code attribute control system of claim 18, wherein the hierarchical code relationship is stored as a first portion of a record at an address of a data store, the address corresponding to a unique code of the current item.

20. The code attribute control system of claim 19, wherein, for each current item, a simplified portion of the hierarchical code relationship for the current item is recorded in the record, and

wherein the hierarchical code relationship for the current item written to the record includes a unique code of a parent item that contains the current item and one or more unique codes of child items contained in the current item.

21. The code attribute control system of claim 17, wherein a repackaging location is registered or a change in packaging relationship from a previous packaging relationship occurs, i.e., a hierarchical repackaging relationship for each currently unique code tagged item, and

wherein, if a parent-code-tagged item exists, the hierarchical repackaging relationship for the current item comprises a parent-code-tagged item that contains the current-code-tagged item, and if one or more child-code-tagged items contained in the current item exist, the current-code-tagged item further contains one or more child-code-tagged items.

22. The code attribute control system of claim 21, wherein for each current item, a hierarchical repackaging code relationship for the current item is established based on the hierarchical repackaging relationship, and

wherein the hierarchical repackaging code relationship comprises a unique code of a parent item that contains a current item, a unique code of the current item, and one or more unique codes of child items contained in the current item.

23. A code attribute control system in accordance with claim 22 wherein the hierarchical repackaging code relationship is stored as a subsequent portion of a record at the same address in a data storage device, the address corresponding to the unique code of the current item.

24. The code property control system of claim 23 wherein, for each current item, a simplified portion of the hierarchical repackaging code relationship for the current item is added to a record, and

wherein the hierarchical repackaging code relationship for the current item added to the record comprises a unique code for a parent item that contains the current item and one or more unique codes for child items contained in the current item.

25. A code property control system of claim 24 wherein, when or before the record is first created at the address, the hierarchical code relationships are written to the record, space is reserved/allocated for the hierarchical code relationships, and a number of hierarchical repackaging code relationships deemed sufficient for the maximum reasonably possible size and number of the hierarchical code relationships and the hierarchical repackaging code relationships in relation to the nature of the article and its packaging structure of the article.

26. The code attribute control system of claim 14, wherein the unique code can be scanned in a store such that a device operated by a non-owner using a consumer has a location within the confines of the store to enable a potential buyer to communicate the unique code to a central data register to obtain general information about the item or to the tracking and tracing system to obtain item specific information including price, usage requirements, recommended compatible products or recall status.

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