IT202100018491A1 - Method and system for verifying the anti-counterfeiting of Italian products using a QR code. - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

of the patent for industrial invention entitled: Method and system for verifying the anti-counterfeiting of Italian products using the QR code.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technical field.

The present invention ? relating to a method for memorizing, updating and verifying the anti-counterfeiting of products manufactured in Italy, using QR codes issued automatically by computer means.

State of art.

As ? known, in the context of traceability? of products, with particular reference to the agro-food sector, over the years various solutions have been used based on the use of identification codes affixed to the product label. These codes are easily readable or detectable through smartphones, tablets or other reading devices: these are QR codes (Quick Response) and other RFID (radio frequency identification) labeling systems which have proved useful in limiting the phenomenon of counterfeiting and at the same time , to inform the consumer of the information necessary to learn more about the product before consuming it by tracing it, in the most common applications? complete, even the production chain.

In particular, RFID technology is based on the propagation of electromagnetic waves in the surrounding environment which allow for the detection, automatically and remotely, of a large number of objects. Each label ? composed of a??transponder?, also defined?as Tag?(label) that ? the identification part of the label itself: the goods are assigned to a specific radio impulse. Usually a Tag ? composed of a polyester support on which? an aluminum antenna is molded, with different geometries, in relation to the dimensions of the product and the required performance, on which a microchip is assembled which contains the information associated with a unique identification code. It will then be the device used for personalisation, generally an RFID printer, that inserts further product information.

In the various phases of goods handling, however, the management software will update the information.

As far as QR code technology is concerned, compared to RFID technology, this appears more? simple why? its complexity? ? graphics and not mechanics, but pu? contain a lot of information which, once scanned, is immediately accessible to the user. For this reason they are called "quick response codes": every camera, both of a smartphone and a tablet can, in fact, read and process these codes. QR codes are widely used where data must be read quickly and associated with a URL (acronym for??Uniform Resource Locator??which indicates the unique address of a resource on the Internet), so it is possible to easily reach the website that contains the information you want to communicate.QR codes are also designed to maintain their graphic structure, even if partially damaged or obscured.This is possible thanks to error compensation: the information, in fact, is incorporated several times in the same QR code and can be read even if up to a third of the code has become unreadable This makes QR codes very reliable.

Technical problem to be solved.

The known solutions illustrated above present more commonly used for storing, tracking and reading data as anti-counterfeiting systems which, although on the one hand they increase security levels, on the other they are still technically vulnerable and suffer from the problem of being applied in a non-standardized way by the manufacturing companies.

Therefore, both due to the absence of a particularly effective technology and due to the non-uniform application of existing technologies, it can be seen that the phenomenon of counterfeiting is ? still seriously harmful to the Italian industrial sector.

With reference to the prior art, RFID labeling has its own limitations of applications in contexts of multi-label use.

The main technical problem? due to the overlapping of the signals which above all involves the presence of "deaf" areas, i.e. areas in which the labels, positioned therein, are unable to communicate with the reader. Since these areas are a complex system, they are influenced by various factors including the number of labels present, the position of the user who picks up or places the objects and even by the arrangement of the individual labels on the support. The overlapping of the signals also means that some labels can be momentarily detected as not present, to then go back to being recognized at the next reading.

Temperature variations and the presence of liquids or metals in contact with this type of label can also make reading unstable.

Finally, analyzing the diffusion of applications, the RFID technology is expensive to implement and complex to manage, creating a difficulty of use for small businesses.

However, the QR code glitch, another known technology, presents potential security risks for the user, as these codes can be easily manipulated: anyone who scans a QR code runs the risk of being directed to a problematic or corrupted URL. Furthermore, since it is a graphic technology printed on a label, it lends itself to being easily counterfeited by faithfully replicating the QR code and relative URL of an original object. The need is therefore felt, in a context such as today's, to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of existing methods, above all following the exponential advent of electronic commerce and ever more sophisticated computer attacks that constitute a real danger to the macro phenomenon of counterfeiting of Italian products sold mainly abroad.

The goal of this invention? put in place an easily feasible and performing method that is adopted uniformly, generating the result of obtaining a central control and enforcement system, aimed not only at protecting products that are victims of counterfeiting, but also at actively hindering the risk that foreign companies produce products writing on the label ?made in Italy? when, on the other hand, they are manufactured and sold abroad, with ingredients that are far from quality? that distinguishes our products, creating real ?Italian brands?.

This phenomenon escapes the concept of counterfeiting as a replica of an original product since, more? difficult to monitor from Italy, it does not allow to easily estimate the economic and image damage for our industry. In this way, the rules of competition are distorted, as their cost on the market is inevitably lower due to the lower incidence of shipping costs, customs costs and more? low production costs.

In summary, the request to have verification methods in the field of anti-counterfeiting which serve to guarantee a higher level of information security, allowing a uniform application, and on a large scale, to protect companies, located on the Italian territory, with particular reference to the agro-food sector.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention and the advantages of the method emerge from the description of examples in relation to the anti-counterfeiting system illustrated for indicative and non-limiting purposes:

- figure 1 shows a block diagram of a method for registering, verifying and sending QR codes, in order to achieve the anti-counterfeiting purpose, according to the system of this invention.

- figure 2 shows the QR code model with the indication of the host name which introduces the URL following the scan.

- figure 3 shows the result, on the user side, after scanning the QR code of an Italian product which, according to the method of this invention, is protected by the system.

Detailed description of the invention.

Creating a centralized and digital system in favor of companies operating within the Italian territory, with specific reference to the agri-food sector, responds to the current global needs related to ?food safety? and significantly reduces the problem of counterfeiting ?Made in Italy?.

With reference to Fig. 1, the anti-counterfeiting system, object of this invention, takes the form of the automatic issue of a QR code which identifies each product that the Italian company registers within the platform created for this purpose.

The Italian company creates its own account (102) within the dedicated online platform ItalySi.it (101) ?Italy Safe Item? so that the system checks its location within the territory.

The registration by the company takes place through the compilation of a ?form? (102) in which to enter the company references: company name, VAT number or tax code, registered office, main Ateco code, PEC address, name and telephone number of the operator in charge of completing it.

The computer system replies (103):

- If the compilation is successful: does it mean that the company? actually located in Italy and the relative Ateco code allows registration, through the use of APIs provided by third parties. In this case the operator (102) will receive? a confirmation sms (via an API service provided by third parties) in which you are notified of the successful registration and of the sending of a security code via PEC to be entered to complete the process of creating the company account within the ItalySi.it platform. Received the 7-digit code, provided through a one-way function ?One-Way Hash Function? (OWHF) and sent via PEC (103), the operator will be? able to proceed with the registration of the products (104) after having logged in using both the PEC and the 7-character alphanumeric code received thereon (103).

- If the compilation will have? negative result: the operator will receive? a text message in which the system warns of the failed registration of the company, with an invitation to contact assistance using the same PEC.

This method (101-102-103) ? characterized by a high level of IT security as the ItalySi.it registration platform provides for the use of the ?HTTPS? (101) and ? structured to welcome only companies located in Italy, thanks to the compilation of the ?form? (available in Italian only). The system only accepts IP addresses located in Italy, using rules in the ?white list? of the ?firewall? (101). The same certified e-mail address can can also be used to request a new security code (102).

Once you have logged in, (104) you can register the products of the single company, listing the following elements: ingredients, place of the plant where the main processing of the product takes place, lot number, average production number of items in relation to the number lot number, expiration date. This phase (105) ? fundamental for the automatic construction of the QR code, using a ?QR code generator? integrated to the platform (Fig.1) and therefore to the path of the associated URL. During this step? It is also possible to integrate variants (for example, different format or different material used for packaging) of the same product batch.

At this point, further optional specifications (106) can be inserted, in order to add certifications, linked to the product, in compliance with current Italian and Community legislation, which will be visible following the scan (with reference to Fig.3):

- if the whole of the ingredients and the complete processing of the product belong to the Italian territory;

- if the product, in accordance with current legislation, ? classified as organic;

<- >if the product, in accordance with current legislation, ? certified according to production specifications linked to territorial origin;

- if the packaging of the products ? made of recyclable materials;

- if inside the production plants? employed the use of renewable energies.

The system object of this invention does not conflict with the previous certifications obtained and linked to the product that we are about to register, instead creating an all-encompassing technical data sheet (107) of each characteristic useful for distinguishing the product, favoring its anti-counterfeiting objective .

The procedure for inserting products within the platform (105) must be repeated (104-105-106) for each batch involved in the production.

For each product sheet, complete with the relative specifications, the system will generate a tricolor QR code (with reference to Fig.2), sending it via PEC (107), in PDF format together with a copy of the product sheet itself, both in Italian and in English, by means of a translation API, with the the ultimate aim of speeding up the insertion of products and related technical data sheets on the electronic commerce platforms called ?marketplace? or on the e-commerce of the same manufacturing company. In this way, at any time, the company can? ascertain, modify or update (104-105) the lot numbers (for example following a new production), receiving a new QR code and thus store your information sent to the italysi.it registration platform (104) .

Therefore, non-Italian companies will not be able to produce ?ex novo? these QR codes, since, not being able to register on the Italian platform, they will not be able to put the host name in front? italySi.it on the URL after scanning the QR code.

As mentioned above, this system (Fig.1) ? also designed to simplify access to foreign markets, especially for small realities? local companies by starting them towards digitalisation, often hindered by the absence of specific skills or adequate budgets.

The digitization of the labels will allow? to speed up the processes of ?digital labelling? and sending of technical material, essential for accessing foreign markets. Furthermore, reducing the paper material in respect of the environment.

The creation of a database of Italian companies operating in the agro-food sector will also allow the authorities to carry out rapid, targeted or widespread checks. competent.

With reference to Fig.2, the QR code model is shown for the sole purpose of illustrating that, scanned, it only shows the? ?host name? italysi.com

Figure Fig.3 represents the scan of a product (201) previously registered on the italysi.it platform (Fig.1). The QR code generated by this operation will be enriched? of the elements of the URL cos? composed: https//:www.italysi.com/company name/product name/batch number.

As content of the web page (202), however, the user can? view the digital label (203) of the article in question which ensures the Italian identity? of the product.

The main effect of this invention ? therefore the impossibility for foreign companies to produce articles by fraudulently writing ?made in Italy?, a deeply rooted phenomenon since, historically, the Italian product is? synonymous with high quality and, for this reason, it undergoes the practice of counterfeiting which mainly involves the most popular brands. celebrate.

However, ? It is also necessary to pay attention to another phenomenon of enormous dimensions, but difficult to calculate and which concerns the presence, on the foreign market, of ?brands? which cannot be classified as counterfeit as they are not present in Italy, but which by type, product name and geographical area refer to our country, creating enormous damage to the internal economy and free competition.

A further result achieved by this invention, in addition to the aforementioned anti-counterfeiting protections, is the increase of IT security standards against possible attacks. This goal? reachable thanks to the existence of a bipartition between a dynamic platform aimed at registration (Fig.1) and a static display and search platform (Fig.2 and Fig.3) which allows for further implementation and diversification by adapting the tools more effective measures aimed at guaranteeing the safety of the ItalySi (Italy Safe Item) system.

Claims (4)

1. Method of registering Italian companies on the italysi.it web platform which includes - exclusion of access by external companies from the Italian territory through the White list of IP addresses configured in the firewall of the web platform (101) - account creation in favor of Italian companies, within platform 1 through OWHF (Fig. 1) 2. QR code generation system linked to a URL path characterized by the fact of understanding - the italysi.com domain name of the platform that generates the QR codes, followed by the company name, the product name, the lot number. (Fig.2) - display of the web page after scanning the QR code on the product label which shows the digital version 3. System comprising according to each of the preceding claims the exclusion of foreign companies from being able to use QR codes connected to the URL path as indicated in the preceding claim characterized by - prevent access to the registration platform, object of claim 1 4. Creation of a search function on the italysi.com platform as per claim 2, characterized by the fact of - allow verification by the user or foreign control bodies if the company? registered on the Italian platform - allow internal control bodies to verify the correctness of the information entered (Fig.1)