EP3284023A1

EP3284023A1 - System and method for labeling a product

Info

Publication number: EP3284023A1
Application number: EP16718300.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Klaus Richter; Frank CSEHAN; Harald CSEHAN; Carsten HOPPE
Original assignee: Crewpharm GmbH
Current assignee: Crewpharm GmbH
Priority date: 2015-04-17
Filing date: 2016-04-18
Publication date: 2018-02-21
Also published as: WO2016166379A1; US20180114083A1; DE102015207032A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a system and a method for applying and/or reading a label of a product (202). Here, the system for applying the label of the product (202) comprises an image generator configured to generate an image pattern (101) and for pictorially dividing the generated image pattern (101) into at least two image parts (102-1, 102-2, 102-3), an application apparatus (204) configured to apply at least one of the image parts onto at least one part of the product (202), and a first computer unit (201), comprising a first database, configured to store a representation of the generated image pattern (101). The system for reading the label of the product (202) comprises a second computer unit (401), comprising a second database, configured to store a representation of an image pattern (101) and a verification apparatus configured to read at least two image parts (102-1, 102-2, 102-3), assemble the image parts to form an assembled image pattern and verify the assembled image pattern on the basis of the representation of the image pattern (101) stored in the second database.

Description

System and method for labeling a product

The invention relates to a system and a method for labeling products, wherein the counterfeit security is increased by the marking.

There are still insufficient possibilities for the production and use of cost-effective forgery-proof labeling of products, especially in the case of medicines, authenticity is of great importance, since with counterfeiting of medicaments medical impairments of the patient must be feared.

A system and method for labeling products is known from US 2006/0255132 AI. Here, a code is applied to the packaging and a partial code of the code on the packaging is also applied inside the packaging so that the user cancels the two codes. same can. The matching is done visually by the end customer by juxtaposing the different code parts.

The SecurPharm Initiative (www.securpharm.de) serves to implement the EU directives on the counterfeiting of medicines. The currently tested method provides that each drug package is provided with a serialized Data Matrix code, which is scanned for verification at the pharmacy. The feedback indicates whether this code actually exists and, if so, what the status of the package is. If the packaging is dispensed, the status changes to "dispensed." If a second package with the same serial and product number is verified, it will be noticed that it has already been used.

The aim of the present patent application is to increase the anti-counterfeiting of drugs and in particular to give the end user a way to verify the authenticity of the drug.

This is achieved by a system and method according to the independent claims. Advantageous further developments are also described in the dependent claims.

The system for applying and / or reading a label of a product includes a system for applying the label of the product and / or a system for reading the label of a product.

Here, the system for applying the identification of the product comprises an image generator configured to generate an image pattern, such as a two-dimensional bar code, and image-divide the generated image pattern into at least two image parts. Furthermore, the system for applying the identification of the product comprises an application device which is configured to apply at least one of the image parts to at least one part of the product. The image parts can be applied, for example, by printing, embossing, detaching a part of a surface, affixing a marking, perforating the product or its packaging or by a combination of the aforementioned application methods. Furthermore, the system for application comprises a first A computation unit comprising a first database configured to store a representation of the generated image pattern. The first arithmetic unit and / or the first database can in this case be arranged centrally, for example on a server of the manufacturer, or distributed decentrally on different servers, computers or other data memories.

The system for reading the label of the product comprises a second processing unit comprising a second database configured to store a representation of a picture pattern. Furthermore, the system for reading in the identification of a product comprises a verification device which is configured to capture and / or read in at least two image parts, to assemble the image parts into a composite image pattern and to verify the composite image pattern based on the representation of the image stored in the second database image pattern.

In this case, the detection and / or reading in, for example, by a scanner, a camera, which can be arranged in a smartphone, tablet or the like, or by a scanning device. Thus, for example, mechanical, optical, digital or analog reading of the marking is possible.

The second arithmetic unit and / or the second database, like the first arithmetic unit and the first database, can be arranged centrally or decentrally. It is possible that the first database is identical to the second database, or that the first and second data protection databases for end customers are kept separate from the manufacturer.

The method of applying and / or reading a label of a product includes the following steps of applying the label to the product and / or reading the label of the product.

The method for applying the marking to the product is effected by generating a picture pattern dividing the picture pattern into at least two parts, by storing the picture pattern in a first database of a first computer unit, and by applying at least one of the picture elements. Share on the product. Optionally, information about the type of coding, as well as the correct composition of the image parts may be included in the image parts. It is also possible for information about the position of the further image parts to be contained in at least one of the image parts. The first arithmetic unit and the first database can hereby be arranged centrally or decentrally, just as in the above-described system for applying a marking.

Herein, the generation as well as the splitting of the image pattern may be performed by a computer-implemented algorithm which may be parametrizable so that it may be possible to vary parts of the image pattern from product to product or from series to series while leaving other parts of the image pattern the same. The procedure for reading in the labeling of the product is carried out by

Detecting at least one image portion applied to the product, by composing the image portions into a composite image pattern, and comparing the composite image pattern with an image pattern stored in a second database of a second arithmetic unit. The second arithmetic unit and the second database can hereby be arranged centrally or decentrally in the same way as in the system described above for reading in an identification.

The compositing of the image parts into a composite image pattern can be carried out, for example, by a further computer-implemented algorithm, wherein it is possible for the image parts to contain information which is necessary or at least helpful for the correct composition. For example, at least one of the image parts, preferably the image part which is probably first seen and detected by the user, may contain information about the position of the further image parts. This information can for example be decoded immediately after detecting the image part and displayed to the user, for example on a smartphone or in the display of a special reader. As a result, it may also be possible to integrate image parts into the product or its packaging in such a way that they are not perceived by the user as being part of a coding. For example, after capturing the first The image part of the user is instructed to also capture the product back through the reader.

It is also possible, for example, to convert an image pattern into an image pattern with the same information content in another form by the disclosed system or method. For example, a square image pattern can be divided into two equal-sized rectangles, which are then printed one behind the other, creating a rectangular image pattern. Even more complicated shapes, such as circles, hexagons, or any polygons are possible. The reconstruction of the original image pattern can then be done by a computer-implemented algorithm. Optionally, the image patterns may also be selected so that only an arrangement of the image parts results in an image pattern that can be interpreted by the algorithm.

In the disclosed system or method, due to their smaller size, the image portions may be applied and read faster than the entire image pattern. Furthermore, it is possible to apply the image parts to different parts of the product, which further makes it difficult to falsify the marking.

In this case, it may be possible for the image generator to be further configured to generate and divide the image pattern such that each of the image parts includes individual information that can not be reconstructed from the other image parts. As a result, the falsification of the labeling is further difficult because forgery is possible only with knowledge of all parts of the picture.

In order to enable the reading and verification of the image parts even if one or more image parts are damaged, for example by dirt, scratches or cracks, it may be advantageous if the image generated

Image pattern contains redundancies. The degree and type of redundancies may depend on the type of damage expected and the number and arrangement of image parts.

It is furthermore possible for the generated image pattern to be a flat two-dimensional image pattern, for example a data matrix code or a QR code. Code. This type of labeling can be easily and inexpensively created and imported by existing software and hardware, such as readers. As an alternative to a planar image pattern, it is also possible for the generated image pattern to have elevations, for example three-dimensional elevations, for example by a multilayer structure. A marking with elevations is more complicated to produce, but also offers improved protection against counterfeiting.

Depending on the nature of the product, the generated image pattern can be divided into, for example, 2 to 6, preferably 3 or 4 image parts. It is thus possible to place the various image parts on different product parts and thus to ensure a correct product composition.

For improved protection against counterfeiting, the generated image pattern may possibly be serialized and provided for application to exactly one product. In this case, the second arithmetic unit may further be configured to mark the representation of the stored image pattern in the second database after the verification of the composite image pattern based on the representation of the image pattern stored in the second database. By marking the representation of the image pattern in the second database, the repeated attempt to read and verify a composite image pattern may generate an error message warning the user, for example, of the use of the product, as the authenticity can not be guaranteed.

It is also possible that the image pattern is a multicolor image pattern so that the colors can provide another feature for verifying the authenticity of the label. Image patterns which contain perforations can also be used for marking, if appropriate also in conjunction with colored and / or raised image patterns. Advantageously, the applicator may comprise an ablative or abrasive laser which applies at least one image portion to at least a portion of the product. Other ways to apply the image parts are by printers, laser printers, embossing devices, gluing a picture pattern, peeling, etching or perforating the surface and

Combinations of the aforementioned devices and methods for applying a label given.

Ablative lasers can produce marking by ablating material from a surface by pulsed laser radiation. This process is also referred to as laser evaporation and can be used in particular for the production of image patterns with surveys. By way of example, the construction of an ablative laser includes two mirrors and one objective, the mirrors being movable via a laser control and thus opening a so-called marking field of the laser, wherein within the marking field a marking is produced only by rotations of the mirrors (of which one is the x-ray mirror). Position and the other the y-position defined within the marker field) and without movement of the entire laser is possible. For example, the marker field can be between 50 mm and 250 mm wide and between 50 mm and 250 mm long. Preferably, the marker field can be 120 mm x 120 mm.

In contrast, in the case of abrasion, the marking is produced by partial scraping of the surface. Here, too, it is possible to generate image patterns with elevations.

In ablative or abrasive laser processes, a colored image pattern can furthermore be produced in combination with a multi-layered, multicolored surface. Ablative or abrasive lasers work more slowly compared to ordinary laser printing processes, so that the speed of labeling and thus the speed of product production depends on the size, in particular on the width of the label used. In this case it is possible, for example, to apply several smaller image parts in parallel or in series through a plurality of different lasers, instead of applying a coherent, larger marking by a single laser. So can a continuous marking of several serially operating lasers are applied in narrow strips in order to increase the speed of the conveyor belt and thus the production speed. When serializing a continuous label into stripes, the exact alignment of the product is of great importance to a later one

Readout the related labeling.

The width of individual image strips may depend on a predetermined and / or construction-related working width of the application device, for example the laser. The working width is defined here as the maximum width of a marking that can be applied by the application device on a plane surface without moving the applicator. The working width of the applicator may be known in advance, such that the image generator may be configured to account for the working width in the creation and / or division of the image pattern. In this case, the image strips can be, for example, straight stiffeners or curved, curved elliptical and / or irregular stripes. For applying bent stiffeners, a laser can be moved along a guide while the products are stationary and / or the products can be moved, for example on a conveyor belt. A strip which has a maximum of a predetermined width, in the sense of the present application can thus identify different widths along the strip, but always lying below the predetermined maximum width. Also zigzag or wavy stripes are possible, as well as closed circles, ellipses or polygons.

The working width of an ablative laser can be determined, for example, by a width of the marking field of the laser. It is also possible to set a working width which is less than the width of the marking field via the laser control, since narrower markings can often be generated more quickly. The Arbeitsbreits can, for example, between 1 cm and 10 cm, preferably between 3cm and 6cm, in the interest of a quick to create label. Furthermore, it may be advantageous if the system for identifying the

Product comprises a mobile unit which is suitable for applying Device and the product to move relative to each other.

In this case, for example, the product can be guided past the application device, for example an ablative or abrasive laser, on a conveyor belt. It is possible to stop or slow down the conveyor belt during the application of the marking to the product, or, given suitable speed of the conveyor belt and the applicator device, it may also be possible to continuously make the identifications with unchanged transport speed.

This may be possible, for example, if the image parts are narrow enough due to the division of the image pattern to be applied by an ablative or abrasive laser at the transport speed of the conveyor belt.

Conversely, in another embodiment, it may also be possible for the applicator to move, for example by the laser temporarily moving continuously while the products remain stationary at least temporarily.

Thus, it is possible that the application of the image parts to the product takes place on a movable unit and / or with a movable or stationary ablative or abrasive laser. A movable laser may be dynamically movable along a given guide, or may be freely movable within a predetermined range. For freely moving lasers, the position of the laser can be selected manually or automatically by entering coordinates within the range specified for the laser. The laser can then apply, for example, at each position a mark in the width of its working width.

When using a stationary or statically mounted laser, the material supply can take place simultaneously with the marking, for example by a conveyor belt or by a magazine system. Even when using a stationary laser, it is possible to apply bent, crooked and / or irregular image parts or image strips, since the stationary laser permits flexible marking within its marking field. light.

Due to the flexible alignment of the mirrors of the laser in the x and y position, a flexible guidance of the laser beam is possible for the efficient generation of segmented image patterns or codings both with a mobile laser and with a stationary laser.

In the case of the system and / or method for identifying the product, it can also be advantageous if the first arithmetic unit is identical to the second arithmetic unit. It is also possible that only the first and second databases are identical and / or the image pattern stored in the first database, or its representation, and the image pattern stored in the second database, or its representation, are identical. What is essential here is a consistent set of data both for the labeling of the products and for the later ones

Verification of the products by their labeling. For reasons of data protection, a second database, which differs from the first database, can be used for verification in order to prevent the manufacturer from accessing the personal data of the end customers.

Identical first and second databases allow the same data to be accessed during the creation and verification of the tag, for example as part of an online check, which in turn increases the counterfeit security of the tag. Alternatively, it is also possible that the necessary for the verification of labeling

Data in certain, possibly pre-determined, intervals are transferred to other media to then verify the marking offline. In the case of different first and second arithmetic units, it is possible to further increase security by transmitting the different image parts separately and possibly on different and / or time-offset transmission paths from the first to the second arithmetic unit. This in turn increases the security against counterfeiting since the complete image pattern can not be read and / or copied by a forger as a whole at a transmission node. In various first and second databases, the second database may be offline, for example, on a user's smartphone. In this case, it is possible to first verify the image pattern offline using the second database and then later, for example as soon as a connection exists, to compare the second database with the first database. It is also possible to verify the image pattern directly from the first online database.

It may also be advantageous if a first and a second product, which are part of a product series, each having at least two image parts, wherein the image parts were generated by image division of a pattern by an image generator and by an applicator on at least a part of respective product were applied. Furthermore, representations of the respective image patterns were stored in a first database on a first arithmetic unit.

The at least two image parts on the first and / or second product can furthermore be read by a verification device, which is further configured to assemble the image parts into a composite image pattern and to verify the composite image pattern using a second database of a second processing unit stored representations of the respective image patterns.

It is also possible that the first and the second product, which may be, for example, each a drug or other pharmaceutical product, each comprise a package and each at least a first image part outside the package and at least a second image part are applied within the package. Thus, the package must be opened before the product can be verified on the basis of all image parts.

Here, according to one embodiment, the packaging of the first and second products each comprise a fuse, for example a seal, which after opening, for example by mechanical opening such as tearing or cutting, is not resealable. This is improved anti-counterfeiting security, in particular in connection with a product serialization, as for a forgery, the packaging would have to be opened and thus unsealed. A damaged seal would attract the attention of the seller and / or the customer. The serialized marking of products at the at least one picture part by the

Securing the packaging is additionally protected especially allows the end customer to check the authenticity of the product. For example, the end customer can read in all the image parts after opening the packaging, for example using an app on a smartphone, which is then automatically assembled and verified using an online database.

If the first and the second product is a pharmaceutical product, the first and the second product may further each comprise an add-on pack and / or at least one packaged good. The packaged product may be, for example, a blister or an ampoule containing the actual medicaments. The leaflet and the packaged goods are located within the packaging, and in each case the at least one applied within the packaging image part is applied to the leaflet and / or on one of the at least one packaging goods.

Also, an image part could be applied from the inside to the packaging, for example, from the inside to an openable tab.

Furthermore, it is also possible to mark a packaging unit comprising several products, such as a pallet, so that an image part of the image pattern is applied to the packaging unit, which can be verified together with an image part applied to the outside of the respective packaging, for example by a dealer , The end customer can then in turn verify the authenticity of the product on the basis of the same or a further image part on the outside of the packaging in combination with an image part applied inside the packaging. By means of such a cascaded marking, a further increased security against counterfeiting can be achieved since the authenticity of the product is verified at different points in time of production, distribution and use.

The following embodiments illustrate, with the addition of following figures, the structure and the possible applications of the method and system according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a two-dimensional Q.R. code which encodes the word "patent" and a plurality of subcodes generated therefrom.

FIG. 1a shows a cross-sectional view of the operation of an ablative or abrasive laser,

Figure 2 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of the system for applying a marking,

FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a further embodiment of the system for applying a marking,

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of the system for reading in a marking;

FIGS. 5a-5d show diagrammatic views of different variants of the labeling of products as well as their method of reading in,

FIG. 6a shows a sealed, labeled product,

FIG. 6b shows the opened, unsealed product from FIG. 6a and its contents,

Figure 7 shows the integration of a split tag into a logo,

FIG. 8a shows the division of the two-dimensional code from FIG. 1 into subcodes of different sizes,

FIG. 8b shows the embedding of the subcodes of FIG. 8a in a product,

FIG. 9 shows the transmission of partial codes on different communication paths to increase security. FIG. 1 shows, according to an exemplary embodiment of the system for applying a marking to a product, as well as the corresponding method that first of all an image pattern 101, in this case a two-dimensional QR code which encodes the word "patent", is replaced by a Image generator is generated.

The image generator then splits the generated image pattern 101 into a plurality of image parts. According to one embodiment, the image pattern 101 may be divided into a spatially non-contiguous code 102 consisting of three rectangular image parts 102-1, 102-2, 102-3. It is also possible to divide the picture pattern into more than three picture parts, for example six strip-shaped picture parts 103-1, 103-2, 103-3, 103-4, 103-5, 103-6, or only into two picture parts 104- 1, 104-2, which can also have different shapes.

It is also possible for the image generator to divide the image pattern 101 into a plurality of curved and / or irregular stripes 105-1 to 105-6, wherein the maximum width is limited by a working width of the respective laser. Since different lasers can be used to apply the different stripes, it is possible that different stripes have different maximum widths.

The working width of the laser is shown schematically on the strips 105-3, 105-4 and 105-6 by arrows. The ellipsoidal image strip 105-3 may be applied by a laser having the working width shown by the arrows, the laser being moved along a guide along the shape of the image strip 105-3. The oval image strip 105-4, on the other hand, is applied by a laser of the shown working width while the laser moves relative to an axis of the image strip 105-4. The image strip 105-4 is thus partially narrower than the working widths of the laser. When applying the image strip 105-6 describes the laser with the working width shown a curve.

Here, the coding and the redundancy of the image pattern 101 is selected so that the image parts are interpretable only in their entirety. In particular, the reconstruction of a missing image part from the other image parts is not possible or only by chance. For this the coding is chosen each part of the image contains individual information, and the redundancies which may be necessary for correcting errors in the case of contamination and damage to the image pattern are designed to serve mainly for error correction within the respective image part, but not for the error correction of the other image parts.

Also, the individual image parts may contain information for correct composition, for example by numbering the image parts. Furthermore, the image parts may contain information about the location of the further image parts necessary for verification.

FIG. 1 a shows the mode of operation of an ablative or abrasive laser for producing a colored image pattern with elevations in cross section. On the product, different color layers 105-1, 105-2, 105-3 are applied, which are partially detached by the laser 204. The result is a multi-colored image pattern, since the lower color layers 105-2, 105-3 are visible by the detachment of the upper color layers 105-2, 105-3.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the system for applying a marking to a product, as well as the corresponding method. Here, the image generator, which is located in a first arithmetic unit 201, for example a local computer or a remotely located server, initially generates an image pattern 101 and stores the image pattern 101 or a representation of the image pattern 101 in a first database which is implemented on the arithmetic unit 201 , With a laser 204, a first image portion 102-1 of the image pattern 101 is then applied to a product 202, wherein the product is located on a conveyor belt 203. Depending on the size of the image pattern 101 or image part 102-1 to be printed and the speed of the conveyor belt, it may be necessary for the conveyor belt to be stopped or at least slowed down to apply the identification. If the maximum width of the image part to be printed does not exceed the working width of the laser, the application can be carried out at normal speed of the conveyor belt. Furthermore, the quality of the imprinted image part 102-1 is checked by a scanner 205. The laser may be an ablative or ablative laser or a commercially available laser printer. Furthermore, other methods and systems for applying the label are possible, for example, the label can be printed, embossed, stamped or glued.

Alternatively, it is also possible to use a multicolored image pattern and / or an image pattern with elevations in order to increase the security against counterfeiting. For this purpose, in particular an ablative or abrasive laser can be used, which images the pattern or at least a first image part of the image pattern by partial detachment or scraping off a surface of the

Product 202 or a package of the product 202 applies.

FIG. 3 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the system for applying a marking to a product 202. Here, the generated image pattern 101, or at least a representation of the image pattern 101, is likewise stored in the first database of the first computing unit 201 and is transferred from the image generator into three image parts 102 -1, 102-2, 102-3, which are then successively printed by three applicators 301-1, 302-2, 301-3, which may be formed as a laser, for example, on the products 202, while the products 202 are transported at normal transport speed on a conveyor belt 203. This creates a spatially unrelated code for labeling the product. Here, the lasers 301-1, 301-2, 301-3 are stationary. As a result of the narrow image parts 102-1, 102-2, 102-3 resulting from the division, application at normal transport speed is possible.

The surface of the product 202 or its packaging may in this case consist, for example, of paper, cardboard, plastic composite, glass composite, metal composite or a combination of these materials. Depending on the surface of the product 202, different application devices 204, 301-1, 301-2, 301-3 are necessary in order, for example, to glue, emboss, perforate, punch, laser or print the identification.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of the system according to the invention for reading in the identification of the product 202. Here, the printed image portions 302-1, 302-2, 302-3 are applied to various locations of the product 202 and are individually detected by a reader 402, such as a code scanner or a smartphone. The captured image parts are then assembled using a verification device 403, which may be implemented as an app for a smartphone, for example.

The composite image pattern is then compared with the representations of image patterns 101 stored in a second database of a second computing device 401. For example, this comparison can be made online as part of a web service.

In this case, it is possible to provide the products 202 with serialized image patterns, so that each product 202 receives an individual identification. In the second database, the respective representation of the image pattern 101 is then marked as "already compared" after a successful comparison. Thus, upon re-attempting to verify the same image pattern 101, an error message is generated which alerts the user that there may be a product counterfeit.

FIGS. 5a to 5d show further exemplary embodiments for reading in the identification of the product 202. Thus, it is possible, as shown in FIG. 5 a, that the image parts were applied by the lasers 301 - 1, 301 - 2, 301 - 3 in FIG. 3 in such a way that a coherent code was created by the reader 402 as coherent code can be detected. It is important to pay attention to the exact alignment when applying the Kenn- drawing.

Alternatively, as shown in Figure 5b, the image portions 102-1, 102-2, 102-3 may be spatially separated, but still detectable by a single read operation.

FIG. 5c shows that the image parts 102-1, 102-2, 102-3 are applied to different parts, namely the packaging 202-1, an instruction leaflet 202-2, and a medicament blister 202-3 of a pharmaceutical product 202, and detected by separate reads.

Another variant is that, as shown in Figure 5d, only a few but not all image parts necessary for decryption are applied to the product 202. In this case, at least one further image part must be additionally procured, for example by a web service 502 or an RFID transponder 501, which may be arranged on the packaging, the pallet or at another location.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, the first arithmetic unit 201 and the second arithmetic unit 401 as well as the first database and the second database are identical in each case, so that the verification of the read, assembled image pattern on the basis of the image pattern when generating

101 stored representation of the image pattern 101 is carried out.

FIG. 6a shows a pharmaceutical product 202, on whose packaging 202-1 there is an image part 102-1 of the serialized identification of the pharmaceutical product 202. The pharmaceutical product 202 additionally has a seal 601 which is destroyed when the package 202-1 of the pharmaceutical product 202 is opened.

FIG. 6b shows the pharmaceutical product 202 from FIG. 6a after the opening of the packaging 202-1 and the seal 601. The seal 601 was used during the

Opening is divided into two parts 602-1 and 602-2 and can not be restored. After opening the package 202-1, the further components of the pharmaceutical product 202, in this case a leaflet 202-2 and a medicament blister 202-3 can be removed. Both on the instruction leaflet 202-2 and on the medicine blister 202-3 is another image part 102-2, respectively 102-3. Only upon reading all of the image parts 102-1, 102-2 and 102-3 can the product 202 be successfully verified. If additional parts are included in the packaging, for example due to the presence of several medicament blister packs, it is optionally possible to also mark these with another or identical image part.

In this case, it is also possible that the products of a product series have partially identical identifications and only a part of the individual product identification is serialized and generated individually, as a serial number. A combination of a sealed packaging, at least one image part within the packaging and a serialized image pattern can increase counterfeiting security because a counterfeiter must open an original product and thus invalidate it in order to obtain all the required image parts. If the counterfeiter uses the same pattern several times to identify counterfeit products, the probability of the counterfeit being noticed in a timely manner increases. Thus increase risk and / or effort for the counterfeiter and counterfeiting of products is increasingly unprofitable.

FIG. 7 shows how a non-contiguous code 102 may be embedded in a logo 701, thereby creating a new logo 702. With a reader, for example by an app of a smartphone, the spatially unrelated code can be detected and assembled.

FIG. 8a again shows the image pattern 101 from FIG. 1, which is divided into image parts 102-1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 102-3 having different sizes. The strip-shaped image parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 can now be integrated in the product, the packaging of the product or a label, as shown in Figure 8b, that the image parts of a user at first glance even not be perceived as part of the coding. Now, if the user scans at least one of the image parts 102-1 and 102-3 with his smartphone, he receives the instruction on the display of the smartphone, but please scan the entire packaging page, or the entire label. After all image parts 102-1, 102-3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 were scanned by the smartphone, the image parts are assembled by an app on the smartphone, which in turn creates the original image pattern 101.

FIG. 9 shows how the security can be additionally increased by sending the image parts 102-1, 102-3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the image pattern 101 to the receiver 902 via different communication paths from the transmitter 901 , Here, the image parts are each transmitted via different transmission node 903 from transmitter 901 to receiver 902. The receiver 902 can reconstruct the image pattern 101 after receiving all the image parts 102-1, 102-3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, but it is not possible for an attacker to attack the whole by attacking only one transmission node 903 Image pattern 101.

Claims

claims

A system for applying and / or reading in an identification of a product (202), comprising a system for applying the identification of the product (202) comprising an image generator configured to generate an image pattern (101) and to image the generated image pattern (101) into at least two image parts (102-1, 102-2, 102-3), o an application device (204) configured to apply at least one of the image parts (102-1, 102-2, 102-3) to at least one part of the product ( 202), o a first arithmetic unit (201) comprising a first database configured to store a representation of the generated image pattern (101); and / or a system for reading the label of the product (202), comprising: o a second processing unit (401) comprising a second database configured to store a representation of a picture pattern (101); o a verification device (403) configured to read in at least two image parts (102-1, 102-2, 102-3), to assemble the image parts (102-1, 102-2, 102-3) into a composite image pattern, and for verification of the composite image pattern based on the representation of the image pattern (101) stored in the second database.

A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the image generator is further configured to generate and divide the image pattern (101) such that each of the image portions (102-1, 102-2, 102-3) comprises individual information consisting of the others Image parts are not reconstructable.

System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the generated image pattern (101) contains redundancies.

System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the generated image pattern (101) is a planar, two-dimensional image pattern (101).

A system according to claim 4, characterized in that the generated image pattern (101) is a QR code.

System according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the generated image pattern (101) has elevations.

System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the image generator for dividing the generated image pattern (101) into three image parts (102-1, 102-2, 102-3) is configured.

System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the generated image pattern (101) is serialized and is provided for application to exactly one product (202), and that the second arithmetic unit (401) is configured to mark the representation of the stored image pattern ( 101) in the second database after verification of the composite image pattern based on the representation of the image pattern (101) stored in the second database. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the image pattern (101) is a multicolored image pattern (101).

System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application device (204) comprises an ablative or abrasive laser (102-1, 102-2, 102-3) for applying at least one image part (102-1, 102-2, 102 -3) on at least part of the product (202).

A system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system comprises a movable unit adapted to move the applicator (204) and product (202) relative to each other.

A system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the applicator has a predetermined working width, and the image generator is configured to divide the specimen into at least two strips at most as wide as the predetermined working width, the stiffeners being straight and / or or curved strips are.

Method for applying and / or reading in a marking of a product (202) comprising the following steps:

Applying the marking to the product (202) by o generating a picture pattern (101) and dividing the picture pattern (101) into at least two picture parts (102-1, 102-2, 102-3), o storing the picture pattern (101) in a first database of a first arithmetic unit (201), o applying at least one of the image parts (102-1, 102-2, 102-3) to the product (202); and or Reading in the marking of the product (202) by o acquiring at least one of the image parts (102-1, 102-2, 102-3) applied to the product (202) by a reading device, o assembling the image parts (102-1, 102- 2, 102-3) to a composite image pattern, o comparing the composite image pattern (101) with an image pattern stored in a second database of a second arithmetic unit (401).

A method according to claim 13, characterized in that the application of the image parts (102-1, 102-2, 102-3) takes place on the product (202) on a movable unit and / or with a movable or stationary ablative or abrasive laser.

System according to one of claims 1 to 11 or method according to one of claims 12 to 13, characterized in that the first arithmetic unit (201) and the second arithmetic unit (401) are identical and / or the first database and the second database are identical and / or the image patterns stored in the first database and the image patterns (101) stored in the second database are identical.

A first and a second product (202), each characterized by the system or method of any of the preceding claims, wherein at least two image portions (102-1, 102-2, 102-3.) Are respectively formed on the first and second products (202) ) and the first and second products (202) are part of a series of products.

The first and second product (202) according to claim 15, characterized in that the first second product (202) each comprises a package (202-1) and at least a first image portion (102-1) on the outside of the package (202-1 ) and at least a second image portion (102-2, 102-3) is applied within the package (202-1).

18. First and second product according to claim 16, characterized in that the packaging (202-1) of the first and the second product (202) each comprise a fuse (601) which is not recoverable after opening.

19. First and second product (202) according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the first and second product (202) is a pharmaceutical product (202) each further comprising a leaflet (202-2) and / or at least a packaged product (202- 3), the at least one image portion applied within the pack (202-1) being applied to the instruction leaflet (202-2) and / or to one of the at least one inner packaged goods (202-3).