WO2001031558A2 - Data carrier and system for transmitting product related information - Google Patents

Data carrier and system for transmitting product related information Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2001031558A2
WO2001031558A2 PCT/ZA2000/000205 ZA0000205W WO0131558A2 WO 2001031558 A2 WO2001031558 A2 WO 2001031558A2 ZA 0000205 W ZA0000205 W ZA 0000205W WO 0131558 A2 WO0131558 A2 WO 0131558A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
data carrier
data
product
package
reader
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/ZA2000/000205
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Lionel Nicholas Mantzivis
Original Assignee
Lionel Nicholas Mantzivis
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Lionel Nicholas Mantzivis filed Critical Lionel Nicholas Mantzivis
Priority to AU18222/01A priority Critical patent/AU1822201A/en
Publication of WO2001031558A2 publication Critical patent/WO2001031558A2/en

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
    • G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
    • G06K19/067—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components
    • G06K19/07—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips
    • G06K19/0716—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising a sensor or an interface to a sensor
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
    • G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
    • G06K19/067—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components
    • G06K19/07—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips
    • G06K19/0723—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
    • G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
    • G06K19/067—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components
    • G06K19/07—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips
    • G06K19/073—Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory
    • G06K19/07309—Means for preventing undesired reading or writing from or onto record carriers
    • G06K19/07345—Means for preventing undesired reading or writing from or onto record carriers by activating or deactivating at least a part of the circuit on the record carrier, e.g. ON/OFF switches
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
    • G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
    • G06K19/067—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components
    • G06K19/07—Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards also with resonating or responding marks without active components with integrated circuit chips
    • G06K19/077—Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
    • G06K19/07749—Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
    • G06K19/07758—Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00—Commerce
    • G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B13/00—Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
    • G08B13/22—Electrical actuation
    • G08B13/24—Electrical actuation by interference with electromagnetic field distribution
    • G08B13/2402—Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F3/00—Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means; Seals; Postage or like stamps
    • G09F3/02—Forms or constructions
    • G09F3/0297—Forms or constructions including a machine-readable marking, e.g. a bar code
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/72—Mobile telephones; Cordless telephones, i.e. devices for establishing wireless links to base stations without route selection
    • H04M1/724—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
    • H04M1/72403—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
    • H04M1/72409—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality by interfacing with external accessories
    • H04M1/72412—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality by interfacing with external accessories using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Definitions

  • This invention relates to data carriers and to systems using data carriers.
  • this invention relates to data carriers suitable for carrying data relating to a product, such as fast moving consumer goods, or the like.
  • stock item identity is meant what type of product it is and not which particular item from the inventory, i.e. a can of beans not which particular can of beans.
  • a consumer product provided together with or having applied thereto a data carrier configurable for use with the consumer product and readable by an electronic data carrier reader, the data carrier including data about the specific product item, such as a serial number, origin, ingredients, contents, and the like.
  • the data carrier may include a transmitting means and the data carrier reader may be a receiver configured to receive the transmission from the data carrier.
  • the data carrier reader may be in the form of a hand held receiver, such as a radio, a cellular telephone, a satellite telephone, a DECT telephone, or the like, and the transmission means may be adapted to transmit in a mode receivable by such stand alone data carrier reader.
  • a hand held receiver such as a radio, a cellular telephone, a satellite telephone, a DECT telephone, or the like
  • the transmission means may be adapted to transmit in a mode receivable by such stand alone data carrier reader.
  • the consumer product may include switch means for activating and/or deactivating the data carrier so that the data is readable by the data carrier reader when the switch means is in a first operative condition and not readable when the switch means is in a second operative condition.
  • the switch means may be an electrical or magnetic coil located on the consumer product and the switch means may be changeable between the first and second conditions by exposure to an electrical or magnetic field.
  • the switch means may be light sensitive device located on the consumer product and the switch means may be changeable between the first and second conditions by exposure to light, for example, by being located in a bottle cap so that when the bottle cap is removed from the bottle the switch means is exposed to light and permits the data carrier to be read.
  • a data carrier including at least a portion or zone having as one of its materials of manufacture, a material which will only permit the data on the data carrier to be activated for reading when the data carrier or the portion or zone is exposed to one or more environmental stimulus.
  • the exposure to the one or more environmental stimulus may also deactivate the data carrier if it is in an activated state.
  • the data carrier may also be deactivated by inhibiting exposure of the data carrier or portion or zone to the one or more environmental stimulus which activated the data carrier for reading.
  • the data carrier may be a bar coded label, a magnetic data carrier, a smart card, for example having an integrated circuit data carrier portion, a cellular phone SIM card, a transponder, or any other similar data carrier.
  • the material may react to the environmental stimulus by, for example, portions thereof becoming penetrable by laser light, radio waves, micro waves, or other reading means used by the data reader.
  • the environmental stimulus is light, or a specific wave length band width of the light spectrum, moisture, heat and/or a gas.
  • the portion of the light spectrum leading to the desired result is light in the ultra violet wave length band width.
  • the portion of the light spectrum leading to the desired result is light in the infra-red length band width.
  • the environmental stimulus includes light
  • the light may originate from the laser of the data carrier reading device.
  • the gas may be a gas commonly found in the atmosphere, such as oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or any other atmospheric gas.
  • the gas may however be a gas evolved by at least one of the materials included in the manufacture of the data carrier, when said data carrier is exposed to environmental stimulus.
  • the invention further extends to a package for a data carrier as described above, the package including filtering means for filtering out the environmental stimulus which would lead to the activation for reading of said data carrier, i.e. the data carrier only begins to be activated for reading once the package is opened.
  • the package may include an inert gas atmosphere so that the material of the data carrier remains unaffected until the inert gas atmosphere is at least partially displaced from the package. Equally the package may contain an inhibitor gas which inhibits or reduces the rate of progress of the becoming readable of the data carrier.
  • the package may be made of an opaque or limited translucency material to inhibit light of all or some wave lengths from passing therethrough onto the data carrier.
  • the package may be the same package as that in which a product is being sold, and the data carrier may relate to that product, for example, the data carrier may be the product label.
  • a part of a package is also included, for example, a lid of a container may be used to inhibit activation of the data carrier, a sticker may be stuck over the data carrier, which when peeled off will lead to the data carrier becoming activated.
  • a system for storing and retrieving data relating to a product item including: placing the data on a data carrier; providing the data carrier in association with the product item to which it relates; activating the data carrier to permit at least some of the data relating to the product item to be read by a data carrier reader; and optionally, permitting some of the data to be available for reading by a data carrier reader prior to activation thereof.
  • the data carrier may permit a first portion of data to be readable before activation of the data reader with a second, more detailed, portion of data being readable only after activation.
  • the second portion may include data unrelated to the first portion or be an extension of the first portion.
  • the first portion may be transmitted for reading by a receiver, for example, a radio or a mobile telephone.
  • the data carrier may be a data carrier as described above.
  • the data carrier may be packaged together with the product item to which it relates.
  • the data carrier may be applied to a product item to which it relates, for example, on a book cover, on a CD ROM, on a glass bottle, on a pen, and the like.
  • the data carrier may be located under the cap or lid, especially where the cap or lid is made from an electromagnetic wave shielding material in order to inhibit reading of the data on the data carrier until the jar or bottle has been opened.
  • the data carrier may be activated for reading, substantially as described above.
  • the data carrier may be activated for reading by any other means, for example, by a transmission from the data carrier reader, or a transmission from any other source configured for that purpose.
  • the data carrier may be activated by breaking the seal on a package, twisting a lid, breaking an electrical contact, generating a static electricity charge, or the like.
  • the data carrier may be capable of transmitting data to a cellular telephone device and the data carrier reader incorporates a cellular telephone device, either alone as in a stand alone cellular telephone or incorporated in a personal diary organiser PDA, for example, a Palm pilot TM .
  • the data carrier may carry additional data relating to the product generally, the product manufacturer, product user groups, or other data, such as advertising.
  • the data carrier may carry data permitting access to a website on the Internet, which when read by the data carrier reader, will permit access to an otherwise inaccessible website.
  • the website may relate to the product generally, the product manufacturer, product user groups, or other data, such as advertising.
  • access to the restricted website may permit verification of the product item, i.e. whether it is a genuine product or a copy.
  • Access to the restricted website may permit access to advice on use of the product, registration as a user of the product, entry to competitions, loyalty program points for purchasing the product (typically each purchase entitles a purchaser to a number of points and prizes are awarded at predetermined points levels) , redeeming of discount or rebate vouchers (real or virtual).
  • the data carrier may include confirmation means requiring the data carrier reader to transmit a predetermined code to the data carrier to confirm that the data carrier reader operator is entitled to read the data or obtain the benefits available from reading the data.
  • the data carrier may be configured to permit only a limited number of times which the data carrier is read or to limit the time between the first and last reading of the data carrier.
  • a digital billboard system including: transferring a website access code from a data carrier substantially as described above to a data carrier reader; and using the access code to access the information at that website which would otherwise not be accessible.
  • a website is accessed from a hand held data carrier reader, such as a cellular telephone device, a DECT telephone, a PDA, a personal portable computer, or the like.
  • the data carrier is provided on a consumer product, thereby making each product a gateway onto the Internet where certain information may be viewed, i.e. similar to driving a vehicle along a motorway and viewing the billboards.
  • Figure 1 shows, in schematic representation, a candy bar package including a data carrier portion broadly in accordance with the invention
  • Figure 2 shows, in schematic representation, a system for storing and retrieving data relating to a product, such as the candy bar of Figure 1 ;
  • FIG. 3 shows, in schematic representation, a digital billboard system broadly in accordance with the invention.
  • Figure 4 shows, in schematic representation, a data carrier useable with the invention.
  • reference numeral 50 generally indicates a consumer product package, in the form of a candy bar package.
  • the package 50 includes a candy bar 56 and wrapping material 52.
  • a data carrier 40 of Figures 4 is included in the package 50. Once a consumer opens the package 50 the candy bar 56 may be eaten and the data carrier 40 is exposed to the air and the light of the environment, thereby activating the data carrier 40 data portion 42 to transmit data to a data carrier reader, such as a cellular telephone 58,
  • the data so transmitted may be a code or password, for example, to reward the consumer by providing access to a restricted website on the internet, awarding loyalty program points, providing information on the candy bar ingredients, or the like.
  • reference numeral 10 generally indicates a system for storing and retrieving data 12 relating to a product item.
  • the system 10 includes the placing of the data 12 on a data carrier 14 and then packaging the data carrier 14 together with the product item, such as a candy bar 16, to which it relates.
  • the system 10 further includes activating the data carrier 14 to permit at least some of the data 12 relating to the candy bar 16 to be read by a data carrier reader, in the form of a cellular telephone device 18 and optionally, permitting some of the data 12 to be available for reading by the cellular telephone device prior to activation of the data carrier 14.
  • the data carrier 14 is activated for reading by an initialising transmission from the cellular telephone device 18.
  • the data carrier 14 includes a confirmation means, in the form of a code, requiring the cellular telephone 18 to transmit a predetermined code to the data carrier 14 to confirm that the cellular telephone 18 operator is entitled to read the data 12 or obtain the benefits available from reading the data 12.
  • the data carrier 14 carries additional data relating to the candy bar 16 generally, the manufacturer and advertising.
  • the data carrier 14 carries data permitting access to a website on the Internet, which when read by the cellular telephone device 18, permits access to an otherwise inaccessible website. Typically, access to the restricted website permits verification of the candy bar 16, i.e. whether it is genuine an imitation.
  • Access to the restricted website permits access to entry to competitions, loyalty program points for purchasing the candy bar 16 and, redeeming of discount or rebate vouchers.
  • reference numeral 100 generally indicates a digital billboard system broadly in accordance with the invention.
  • the system 100 includes transferring a website access code
  • a data carrier reader in the form of an Internet terminal 106, typically a cellular telephone device and using the access code 102 to access the information at that website 108 which would otherwise not be accessible.
  • the data carrier 104 is provided on a consumer product 110, thereby making each product a gateway onto the Internet where certain information may be viewed, i.e. similar to driving a vehicle along a motorway and viewing the billboards.
  • reference numeral 40 generally indicates a data carrier.
  • the data carrier 40 has a data portion 42, and an overlay portion 44 overlying the data portion 42, having as one of its materials of manufacture, a material which changes from being opaque to electromagnetic waves, such as radio waves, to being translucent to said waves when exposed to one or more environmental stimulus, for example, light 48 from lamp 46.

Abstract

The invention provides a data carrier including at least a portion or zone having as one of its materials of manufacture a material which will only permit the data on the data carrier to be activated for reading when the data carrier or the portion or zone is exposed to one or more environmental stimulus. The invention also provides a consumer product incorporating the data carrier and a system using the data carrier to provide a purchaser with access to information about the consumer product. The invention also provides a digital billboard accessible by using the data carrier.

Description

DATA CARRIER AND SYSTEM FOR TRANSMITTING PRODUCT RELATED INFORMATION
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to data carriers and to systems using data carriers. In particular this invention relates to data carriers suitable for carrying data relating to a product, such as fast moving consumer goods, or the like.
Background to the Invention
The inventor is aware that presently data carriers, such as bar coded labels and transponder labels, are used for determine the stock item identity of consumer products. By stock item identity is meant what type of product it is and not which particular item from the inventory, i.e. a can of beans not which particular can of beans.
These data carriers typically hold very little data with the remaining data being located in a central database on a computer, such that when the data from the bar coded label or transponder is read, the information as to price, product, stock levels etc is retrieved from the data base. These systems do not allow specific information about a specific item to be retrieved, only about what type of product it is, i.e. a can of beans, and not which specific can of beans. Summary of the Invention
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a consumer product provided together with or having applied thereto a data carrier configurable for use with the consumer product and readable by an electronic data carrier reader, the data carrier including data about the specific product item, such as a serial number, origin, ingredients, contents, and the like.
The data carrier may include a transmitting means and the data carrier reader may be a receiver configured to receive the transmission from the data carrier.
The data carrier reader may be in the form of a hand held receiver, such as a radio, a cellular telephone, a satellite telephone, a DECT telephone, or the like, and the transmission means may be adapted to transmit in a mode receivable by such stand alone data carrier reader.
The consumer product may include switch means for activating and/or deactivating the data carrier so that the data is readable by the data carrier reader when the switch means is in a first operative condition and not readable when the switch means is in a second operative condition.
The switch means may be an electrical or magnetic coil located on the consumer product and the switch means may be changeable between the first and second conditions by exposure to an electrical or magnetic field. The switch means may be light sensitive device located on the consumer product and the switch means may be changeable between the first and second conditions by exposure to light, for example, by being located in a bottle cap so that when the bottle cap is removed from the bottle the switch means is exposed to light and permits the data carrier to be read.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a data carrier including at least a portion or zone having as one of its materials of manufacture, a material which will only permit the data on the data carrier to be activated for reading when the data carrier or the portion or zone is exposed to one or more environmental stimulus.
The exposure to the one or more environmental stimulus may also deactivate the data carrier if it is in an activated state.
The data carrier may also be deactivated by inhibiting exposure of the data carrier or portion or zone to the one or more environmental stimulus which activated the data carrier for reading.
The data carrier may be a bar coded label, a magnetic data carrier, a smart card, for example having an integrated circuit data carrier portion, a cellular phone SIM card, a transponder, or any other similar data carrier.
The material may react to the environmental stimulus by, for example, portions thereof becoming penetrable by laser light, radio waves, micro waves, or other reading means used by the data reader.
Generally, the environmental stimulus is light, or a specific wave length band width of the light spectrum, moisture, heat and/or a gas. Where the environmental stimulus includes light, the portion of the light spectrum leading to the desired result, is light in the ultra violet wave length band width.
Where the environmental stimulus includes light, the portion of the light spectrum leading to the desired result, is light in the infra-red length band width.
Where the environmental stimulus includes light, is light in the visible light wave length band width.
Where the environmental stimulus includes light, the light may originate from the laser of the data carrier reading device.
Where the environmental stimulus is a gas, the gas may be a gas commonly found in the atmosphere, such as oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or any other atmospheric gas.
The gas may however be a gas evolved by at least one of the materials included in the manufacture of the data carrier, when said data carrier is exposed to environmental stimulus.
The invention further extends to a package for a data carrier as described above, the package including filtering means for filtering out the environmental stimulus which would lead to the activation for reading of said data carrier, i.e. the data carrier only begins to be activated for reading once the package is opened.
The package may include an inert gas atmosphere so that the material of the data carrier remains unaffected until the inert gas atmosphere is at least partially displaced from the package. Equally the package may contain an inhibitor gas which inhibits or reduces the rate of progress of the becoming readable of the data carrier. The package may be made of an opaque or limited translucency material to inhibit light of all or some wave lengths from passing therethrough onto the data carrier.
The package may be the same package as that in which a product is being sold, and the data carrier may relate to that product, for example, the data carrier may be the product label.
By referring to a package a part of a package is also included, for example, a lid of a container may be used to inhibit activation of the data carrier, a sticker may be stuck over the data carrier, which when peeled off will lead to the data carrier becoming activated.
According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a system for storing and retrieving data relating to a product item, the system including: placing the data on a data carrier; providing the data carrier in association with the product item to which it relates; activating the data carrier to permit at least some of the data relating to the product item to be read by a data carrier reader; and optionally, permitting some of the data to be available for reading by a data carrier reader prior to activation thereof.
The data carrier may permit a first portion of data to be readable before activation of the data reader with a second, more detailed, portion of data being readable only after activation. The second portion may include data unrelated to the first portion or be an extension of the first portion.
The first portion may be transmitted for reading by a receiver, for example, a radio or a mobile telephone. The data carrier may be a data carrier as described above.
The data carrier may be packaged together with the product item to which it relates.
The data carrier may be applied to a product item to which it relates, for example, on a book cover, on a CD ROM, on a glass bottle, on a pen, and the like.
Where the product is packaged in a jar or a bottle, conveniently the data carrier may be located under the cap or lid, especially where the cap or lid is made from an electromagnetic wave shielding material in order to inhibit reading of the data on the data carrier until the jar or bottle has been opened.
The data carrier may be activated for reading, substantially as described above. However, the data carrier may be activated for reading by any other means, for example, by a transmission from the data carrier reader, or a transmission from any other source configured for that purpose.
Equally, the data carrier may be activated by breaking the seal on a package, twisting a lid, breaking an electrical contact, generating a static electricity charge, or the like.
Conveniently with present technology, the data carrier may be capable of transmitting data to a cellular telephone device and the data carrier reader incorporates a cellular telephone device, either alone as in a stand alone cellular telephone or incorporated in a personal diary organiser PDA, for example, a Palm pilot ™ .
The data carrier may carry additional data relating to the product generally, the product manufacturer, product user groups, or other data, such as advertising. The data carrier may carry data permitting access to a website on the Internet, which when read by the data carrier reader, will permit access to an otherwise inaccessible website. The website may relate to the product generally, the product manufacturer, product user groups, or other data, such as advertising.
Typically, access to the restricted website may permit verification of the product item, i.e. whether it is a genuine product or a copy.
Access to the restricted website may permit access to advice on use of the product, registration as a user of the product, entry to competitions, loyalty program points for purchasing the product (typically each purchase entitles a purchaser to a number of points and prizes are awarded at predetermined points levels) , redeeming of discount or rebate vouchers (real or virtual).
The data carrier may include confirmation means requiring the data carrier reader to transmit a predetermined code to the data carrier to confirm that the data carrier reader operator is entitled to read the data or obtain the benefits available from reading the data.
The data carrier may be configured to permit only a limited number of times which the data carrier is read or to limit the time between the first and last reading of the data carrier.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a digital billboard system, the system including: transferring a website access code from a data carrier substantially as described above to a data carrier reader; and using the access code to access the information at that website which would otherwise not be accessible. Typically the website is accessed from a hand held data carrier reader, such as a cellular telephone device, a DECT telephone, a PDA, a personal portable computer, or the like.
Typically the data carrier is provided on a consumer product, thereby making each product a gateway onto the Internet where certain information may be viewed, i.e. similar to driving a vehicle along a motorway and viewing the billboards.
The invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 shows, in schematic representation, a candy bar package including a data carrier portion broadly in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 shows, in schematic representation, a system for storing and retrieving data relating to a product, such as the candy bar of Figure 1 ;
Figure 3 shows, in schematic representation, a digital billboard system broadly in accordance with the invention; and
Figure 4 shows, in schematic representation, a data carrier useable with the invention.
In Figure 1 , reference numeral 50 generally indicates a consumer product package, in the form of a candy bar package.
The package 50 includes a candy bar 56 and wrapping material 52. A data carrier 40 of Figures 4 is included in the package 50. Once a consumer opens the package 50 the candy bar 56 may be eaten and the data carrier 40 is exposed to the air and the light of the environment, thereby activating the data carrier 40 data portion 42 to transmit data to a data carrier reader, such as a cellular telephone 58, The data so transmitted may be a code or password, for example, to reward the consumer by providing access to a restricted website on the internet, awarding loyalty program points, providing information on the candy bar ingredients, or the like.
In Figure 2, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a system for storing and retrieving data 12 relating to a product item. The system 10 includes the placing of the data 12 on a data carrier 14 and then packaging the data carrier 14 together with the product item, such as a candy bar 16, to which it relates.
The system 10 further includes activating the data carrier 14 to permit at least some of the data 12 relating to the candy bar 16 to be read by a data carrier reader, in the form of a cellular telephone device 18 and optionally, permitting some of the data 12 to be available for reading by the cellular telephone device prior to activation of the data carrier 14.
The data carrier 14 is activated for reading by an initialising transmission from the cellular telephone device 18. The data carrier 14 includes a confirmation means, in the form of a code, requiring the cellular telephone 18 to transmit a predetermined code to the data carrier 14 to confirm that the cellular telephone 18 operator is entitled to read the data 12 or obtain the benefits available from reading the data 12. The data carrier 14 carries additional data relating to the candy bar 16 generally, the manufacturer and advertising. Furthermore, the data carrier 14 carries data permitting access to a website on the Internet, which when read by the cellular telephone device 18, permits access to an otherwise inaccessible website. Typically, access to the restricted website permits verification of the candy bar 16, i.e. whether it is genuine an imitation.
Access to the restricted website permits access to entry to competitions, loyalty program points for purchasing the candy bar 16 and, redeeming of discount or rebate vouchers.
In Figure 3, reference numeral 100, generally indicates a digital billboard system broadly in accordance with the invention.
The system 100 includes transferring a website access code
102 from a data carrier 104 substantially as described for Figures 1, 2 and 4 to a data carrier reader, in the form of an Internet terminal 106, typically a cellular telephone device and using the access code 102 to access the information at that website 108 which would otherwise not be accessible.
The data carrier 104 is provided on a consumer product 110, thereby making each product a gateway onto the Internet where certain information may be viewed, i.e. similar to driving a vehicle along a motorway and viewing the billboards.
In Figure 4, reference numeral 40 generally indicates a data carrier. The data carrier 40 has a data portion 42, and an overlay portion 44 overlying the data portion 42, having as one of its materials of manufacture, a material which changes from being opaque to electromagnetic waves, such as radio waves, to being translucent to said waves when exposed to one or more environmental stimulus, for example, light 48 from lamp 46.

Claims

Claims
1. A consumer product provided together with or having applied thereto a data carrier configurable for use with the consumer product and readable by an electronic data carrier reader, the data carrier including data about the specific product item, such as a serial number, origin, ingredients, contents, and the like.
2. A consumer product as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the data carrier includes a transmitting means and the data carrier reader is a receiver configured to receive the transmission from the data carrier.
3. A consumer product as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, including switch means for activating and/or deactivating the data carrier so that the data is readable by the data carrier reader when the switch means is in a first operative condition and not readable when the switch means is in a second operative condition.
4. A consumer product as claimed in claim 3, wherein the switch means is an electrical or magnetic coil located on the consumer product and the switch means is changeable between the first and second conditions by exposure to an electrical or magnetic field.
5. A consumer product as claimed in claim 4, wherein the switch means is a light sensitive device located on the consumer product and the switch means is changeable between the first and second conditions by exposure to light.
6. A consumer product as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least one of the switch means and the data carrier is located in a bottle cap so that when the bottle cap is removed from a bottle the switch means is exposed to light and permits the data carrier to be read.
7. A data carrier including at least a portion or zone having as one of its materials of manufacture a material which will only permit the data on the data carrier to be activated for reading when the data carrier or the portion or zone is exposed to one or more environmental stimulus.
8. A data carrier as claimed in claim 7, wherein the exposure to the one or more environmental stimulus deactivates the data carrier if it is in an activated state.
9. A data carrier as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, which is deactivated by inhibiting exposure of the data carrier or portion or zone to the one or more environmental stimulus which activated the data carrier for reading.
10. A data carrier as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9, which is in the form of a bar coded label, a magnetic data carrier, a smart card having an integrated circuit data carrier portion, a cellular phone SIM card, a transponder, or any other similar data carrier.
11. A data carrier as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the material reacts to the environmental stimulus by portions thereof becoming penetrable to laser light, radio waves, micro waves, or other reading means used by the data reader.
12. A data carrier as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the environmental stimulus is selected from light, a specific wave length band width of the light spectrum, moisture, heat and/or a gas.
13. A data carrier as claimed in claim 12, wherein the environmental stimulus includes light in the ultra violet wave length band width.
14. A data carrier as claimed in claim 12, wherein the environmental stimulus includes light in the infra-red length band width.
15. A data carrier as claimed in claim 12, wherein the environmental stimulus includes light from the laser of the data carrier reading device.
16. A data carrier as claimed in claim 12, wherein the environmental stimulus is a gas commonly found in the atmosphere including oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or any other atmospheric gas.
17. A data carrier as claimed in claim 12, wherein the gas is a gas evolved by at least one of the materials included in the manufacture of the data carrier, when said data carrier is exposed to environmental stimulus.
18. A package for a data carrier as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 17, the package including filtering means for filtering out the environmental stimulus which would lead to the activation for reading of said data carrier so that the data carrier only begins to be activated for reading once the package is opened.
19. A package as claimed in claim 18, including an inert gas atmosphere so that the material of the data carrier remains unaffected until the inert gas atmosphere is at least partially displaced from the package.
20. A package as claimed in claim 18, wherein the package contains an inhibitor gas which inhibits or reduces the rate of progress of the becoming readable of the data carrier.
21. A package as claimed in claim 18, wherein the package is made of an opaque or limited translucency material to inhibit light of all or some wave lengths from passing therethrough onto the data carrier.
22. A package as claimed in claim 18, wherein the package is the same package as that in which the product of claims 1 to 6 is being sold.
23. A package as claimed in claim 22, wherein the data carrier is the product label.
24. A system for storing and retrieving data relating to a product item, the system including: - placing the data on a data carrier as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 17; providing the data carrier in association with the product item to which it relates; activating the data carrier to permit at least some of the data relating to the product item to be read by a data carrier reader; and optionally, permitting some of the data to be available for reading by a data carrier reader prior to activation thereof.
25. A system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the data carrier permits a first portion of data to be readable before activation of the data reader with a second portion of data being readable only after activation, the second portion including data unrelated to the first portion.
26. A system as claimed in claim 25, wherein the first portion is transmitted for reading by a receiver.
27. A system as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 26, wherein the data carrier is packaged together with the product item to which it relates.
28. A system as claimed in claim 27, wherein the product item is a book cover, a CD ROM, a glass bottle, a pen, or other consumer product.
29. A system as claimed in claim 24 or claim 25, wherein where the product is packaged in a jar or a bottle, the data carrier is located under the cap or lid.
30. A system as claimed in claim 29, wherein the cap or lid is made from an electromagnetic wave shielding material in order to inhibit reading of the data on the data carrier until the jar or bottle has been opened.
31. A system as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 30, wherein the data carrier is activated for reading by a transmission from the data carrier reader, or a transmission from any other source configured for that purpose.
32. A system as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 30, wherein the data carrier is activated by breaking the seal on a package, twisting a lid, breaking an electrical contact, generating a static electricity charge, or other switch means activation.
33. A system as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 33, wherein the data carrier is capable of transmitting data to a cellular telephone device and the data carrier reader incorporates a cellular telephone device, either alone as in a stand alone cellular telephone or incorporated in a personal diary organiser PDA.
34. A system as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 34, wherein the data carrier carries additional data relating to the product generally, the product manufacturer, product user groups, or other data, such as advertising.
35. A system as claimed in claim 34, wherein the data carrier carries data permitting access to a website on the Internet, which when read by the data carrier reader, will permit access to an otherwise inaccessible website.
36. A system as claimed in claim 35, wherein access to the otherwise inaccessible website permits verification of the product item, to determine whether it is a genuine product or a copy.
37. A system as claimed in claim 35, wherein access to the otherwise inaccessible website permits access to advice on use of the product, registration as a user of the product, entry to competitions, loyalty program points for purchasing the product, and/or redeeming of discount or rebate vouchers.
38. A digital billboard system, the system including: transferring a website access code from a data carrier substantially as described above to a data carrier reader; and using the access code to access the information at that website which would otherwise not be accessible.
39. A billboard system as claimed in claim 38, wherein the website is accessed from a hand held data carrier reader, including a cellular telephone device, a DECT telephone, a PDA, a personal portable computer, or the like.
40. A billboard system as claimed in claim 38 or claim 39, wherein the data carrier is provided on a consumer product, thereby making each product a gateway onto the Internet where certain information may be viewed.
41. A consumer product, a data carrier, a system, or a digital billboard substantially as herein described and illustrated.
42. A new consumer product, a data carrier, a system, or a new digital billboard substantially as herein described.
PCT/ZA2000/000205 1999-10-27 2000-10-27 Data carrier and system for transmitting product related information WO2001031558A2 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
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Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ZA99/6747 1999-10-27
ZA996747 1999-10-27

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Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1505538A2 (en) * 2003-08-05 2005-02-09 Deutsche Telekom AG Sensitive smart label
WO2008025779A1 (en) * 2006-08-31 2008-03-06 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Rfid transponder comprising sensor elements
FR2929033A1 (en) * 2008-03-21 2009-09-25 Oberthur Technologies Sa ANTIFALSIFICATION SYSTEM OF DOCUMENTS PROVIDED WITH A RADIOIDENTIFICATION DEVICE
WO2020060766A1 (en) * 2018-09-18 2020-03-26 Apple Inc. Packaging with automatic authentication system for packaged product
WO2020190481A1 (en) * 2019-03-15 2020-09-24 Apple Inc. Packaging with radio-frequency authentication system for packaged product

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1505538A2 (en) * 2003-08-05 2005-02-09 Deutsche Telekom AG Sensitive smart label
EP1505538A3 (en) * 2003-08-05 2006-12-13 Deutsche Telekom AG Sensitive smart label
WO2008025779A1 (en) * 2006-08-31 2008-03-06 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Rfid transponder comprising sensor elements
FR2929033A1 (en) * 2008-03-21 2009-09-25 Oberthur Technologies Sa ANTIFALSIFICATION SYSTEM OF DOCUMENTS PROVIDED WITH A RADIOIDENTIFICATION DEVICE
WO2009144397A1 (en) * 2008-03-21 2009-12-03 Oberthur Technologies Anti-counterfeit system for documents provided with a radio-identification device
WO2020060766A1 (en) * 2018-09-18 2020-03-26 Apple Inc. Packaging with automatic authentication system for packaged product
US11429704B2 (en) 2018-09-18 2022-08-30 Apple Inc. Packaging with automatic authentication system for packaged product
WO2020190481A1 (en) * 2019-03-15 2020-09-24 Apple Inc. Packaging with radio-frequency authentication system for packaged product
JP2022524598A (en) * 2019-03-15 2022-05-09 アップル インコーポレイテッド Packaging with a radio frequency authentication system for packaged products
US11447297B2 (en) 2019-03-15 2022-09-20 Apple Inc. Packaging with radio-frequency authentication system for packaged product

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