WO2019145969A1

WO2019145969A1 - Systems and methods for identification and verification of a product

Info

Publication number: WO2019145969A1
Application number: PCT/IN2018/050647
Authority: WO
Inventors: Damian FEREIRA; Rex SEQUEIRA
Original assignee: Fereira Damian; Sequeira Rex
Priority date: 2018-01-24
Filing date: 2018-10-11
Publication date: 2019-08-01

Abstract

A method for identification and verification of a product includes the steps of, creating a unique code for the product, creating a unique product identification number for the product, printing the unique code and the unique product identification number on the product, concealing the unique code and the unique product identification number printed on the product via a concealing component, and, identifying and verifying the product by using an application resource for interpretation and analysis of the unique code and the unique product identification number.

Description

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IDENTIFICATION AND VERIFICATION OF A PRODUCT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the field of product authentication, and, more particularly, to systems and methods for identification and verification of a product.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As per present scenario in Indian market, consumers have the option to buy multiple products from supermarkets, general stores, online stores, authorized brand stores, and the like. Due to such high volume of products sold in the market, there is always a possibility that fake products are introduced and sold along with genuine products.

Consequently, the customer is many times fooled with fake product purchases which are a lookalike of genuine products, which can happen across any industry sector, such as, for example, but not limited to, Pharmaceuticals, Alcohols, FMCG, electronics, fashion, automobiles, and the like. As a result, consumers end up with fake products that are substandard while paying the price of genuine products.

At present, there does not exist any full proof solution or technology in the market that can assist the consumers in identifying genuine products and authenticate the genuineness of the products to differentiate these from the fake products. Specifically, present solutions work in a manner such that each OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) has a barcode which is scanned near POS (Point of sale) machine when the purchases are done but the customer stands no chance to find out whether the purchase was a genuine purchase or not. In addition, fake products are sold with a packaging that is copied exactly from the genuine products, including the packaging date, Lot no, Expiry date, bar codes, and the like.

Consequently, the currently employed QR code scanning is a lengthy and complicated process which a lot of people avoid doing it and hence are unaware of the fake purchase. Also, the 2D, 3D Barcodes stickers which are there on the products also are sometimes beyond the understanding of a regular customer. Accordingly, there exists a need in the art for innovative systems and methods for identification and verification of a product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide systems and methods for identification and verification of a product.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method for identification and verification of a product includes the steps of, creating a unique code for the product, creating a unique product identification number for the product, printing the unique code and the unique product identification number on the product, concealing the unique code and the unique product identification number printed on the product via a concealing component, and, identifying and verifying the product by using an application resource for interpretation and analysis of the unique code and the unique product identification number.

The embodiments of the present disclosure have several features, no single one of which is solely responsible for their desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of the present embodiments as expressed by the claims that follow, their more prominent features will now be discussed briefly. After considering this discussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled “Detailed Description”, one will understand how the features of the present embodiments provide advantages, which include providing systems and methods for identification and verification of a product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a flow diagram of a method for identification and verification of a product, according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a system architecture of a system for identification and verification of a product, according to an embodiment of the invention; and,

FIG. 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E and 3F illustrate multiple screenshots of the application resource of the system for identification and verification of a product, according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Various embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein below, which relate to systems and methods for identification and verification of a product. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention are aimed at providing innovative solutions to business owners and consumers to determine if products being sold in the market are genuine or not as it is difficult to differentiate between genuine and fake products using presently available solutions. In use, embodiments of the present invention are further aimed at providing innovative solutions by way of below-mentioned systems and methods to the product manufactures to help them outstand their products from the similar fake products in the market by way of SeQR Tags, as described herein.

Embodiments of the present invention are aimed at providing multiple features, such as, for example, but not limited to, an application resource capable of being installed on an electronic device. In use, the electronic device includes an operating system, such as, for example, but not limited to, Android, IOS, Windows mobile platform, and the like. Further details of the electronic device are described hereinbelow.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the application resource is capable of scanning a plurality of unique codes, namely SeQR codes. Those of ordinary skills in the art will appreciate that product manufacturers and brand owners across different industries can utilize these specific SeQR codes and the application resource. In use, the users will be provided two types of SeQR codes, including a visible code, wherein any user can easily see the SeQR codes and scan with the SeQr Mobile application resource to retrieve the information available regarding a product pertaining to said visible code. In use, the information includes multiple details, such as, for example, but not limited to, whether the product is genuine, manufacturing date, expiry date product details, and the like.

In addition to the above, the same SeQR code can be scanned by multiple people at once, however, the application resource is capable of identifying fake products by applying additional criteria, such as, for example, but not limited to, a scenario wherein if 1 to 5 devices scan the same SeQR code at a different location which is more than 1000 meters away, then such SeQR code can be eliminated as there are possibilities where the product was purchased and then the SeQR code was copied and pasted on the fake products. In this way, the first case of counterfeiting product can be stopped.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the second type of code includes scratch able stickers or peel off stickers over the SeQR codes. In use, the users can check after purchasing the product by peeling off or scratching the sticker and then scanning it with the electronic device using the application resource. Subsequently, in this manner, only the electronic device which scans the code will indicate whether the purchase was genuine or fake. Thereafter, if the same code is scanned by a different device, it will inform the buyer to scan with the original device again or simply indicate that the purchase may be fake as the code was scanned earlier, wherein the user may further be informed to contact the seller of the corresponding product. Henceforth, with this type of code, the copying of the SeQR code can be stopped. Even in cases if the SeQR code gets copied and is used for a fake product, it will displayed to the user that the fake product has been purchased as the information was already been scanned and the SeQR code has expired.

FIG. 1 illustrates a flow diagram of a method 100 for identification and verification of a product, according to an embodiment of the invention. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the method 100 for identification and verification of a product includes the steps of, creating a unique code for the product, creating a unique product identification number for the product, printing the unique code and the unique product identification number on the product, concealing the unique code and the unique product identification number printed on the product via a concealing component, and, identifying and verifying the product by using an application resource for interpretation and analysis of the unique code and the unique product identification number. As used herein, the SeQR code and the unique code refer to the same code for the purposes of this invention. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the step of identifying and verifying the product by using the application resource for interpretation and analysis of the unique code includes, scanning the unique code and the unique product identification number to create scanned data; transmitting the scanned data to a central server for identification and verification of the product; processing of the scanned data by the central server and sending processed information back to the application resource; and, determining if the product is a genuine product or a fake product based on the processed information received by the application resource. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the method further includes the step of notifying a user if the product is a genuine product.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the method further includes the step of notifying a user and a brand owner if the product is a fake product.

In use, the concealing component is a scratch card.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the step of identifying and verifying the product by using the application resource for interpretation and analysis of the unique code and the unique product identification number further includes scanning the unique code, wherein the unique code expires after at least one initial scan.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the step of identifying and verifying the product by using the application resource for interpretation and analysis of the unique code and the unique product identification number further includes scanning the unique code, wherein the unique code expires after the unique code is scanned more than once over a different location.

FIG. 2 illustrates a system architecture of a system 200 for identification and verification of a product, according to an embodiment of the invention. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the system 200 for identification and verification of a product includes, a code generation component for creating a unique code and a unique product identification number for the product, a printing component for printing the unique code and the unique product identification number on the product, a concealing component for concealing the unique code and the unique product identification number printed on the product, and, an application resource for interpretation and analysis of the unique code and the unique product identification number for identifying and verifying the product.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the system further includes an electronic device, and wherein the application resource is installed on the electronic device. In use, the electronic device includes at least one processor configured to execute an application manager and the application resource resident on the electronic device. In use, the at least one processor being is configured to execute a plurality of instructions in accordance with the above-discussed methods and processes.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the system further includes a central server 203 for identification and verification of the product. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the electronic device of the system 200 includes a brand owner electronic device 201 and a user electronic device 202. In use, the central server 203 further includes one or more processors, similar to the one or more processors of the electronic device. In further use, the central server 203, the brand owner electronic device 201 and the user electronic device 202 may have similar system architecture, including a storage device or a database 205, a user interface (Ul), and a network interface, each being able to communicate with each other over a communication network 204. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, one or more processors as disclosed herein can be implemented as one or more integrated circuits (including, e.g., a conventional microprocessor or microcontroller), can control the operation of the central server 203, the brand owner electronic device 201 and the user electronic device 202.

Network interface as disclosed herein can provide an interface to one or more communication networks. For example, the network interface can incorporate a radio-frequency (RF) transceiver and suitable components for communicating via a mobile communication network 204 such as a mobile telephone network 204. Additionally or instead, network interface can incorporate a wireless connection 204 to the Internet (e.g., a WiFi transceiver, 3G transceiver or the like), to a personal area network 204 (e.g., a Bluetooth network), or any other network 204. In still other embodiments, a wired network connection 204 (e.g., Ethernet) may be provided. In some embodiments, the same hardware can be used to support connections to multiple networks; thus, network interface can include analog-to- digital and/or digital-to-analog circuitry, baseband processing components (e.g., codecs, channel estimators, and the like), modulators, demodulators, oscillators, amplifiers, transmitters, receivers, transceivers, internal and/or external antennas, and so on.

In some embodiments, some operations associated with network connectivity can be implemented entirely or in part as programs executed on the one or more processors (e.g., encoding, decoding, and/or other processing in the digital domain), or a dedicated digital signal processor can be provided. Therefore, as may be seen, various embodiments of the present invention disclose systems and methods for identification and verification of a product, which provide multiple advantages to the consumers and the product manufactures. As disclosed herein, embodiments of the present invention are aimed at addressing the problem of eliminating the illegal/fake products from the market and making people understand in a very simple and easy way by just one scan how genuine their purchases have been. Additionally, the present invention also helps the product manufacturer effectively sell their genuine products in the market and not worry about any similar fake products.

Those of ordinary skills in the art will appreciate that various embodiments of the present invention are novel, inventive and non-obvious because with just one scan, a regular consumer will understand if he has bought a genuine product or not. Also, the present invention assists the product manufacturer in selling their products effectively in the Indian market and help them eliminate similar fake products, thereby resulting in more business opportunities. Moreover, the embodiments of the present invention disclose systems and methods including usage of a single scan to achieve the objective of identifying a genuine product by using a single scan, following which the code expires, thereby making the entire process user-friendly.

In the description herein, embodiments are described with reference to acts that are performed by one or more computing systems. If such acts are implemented in software, one or more processors of the associated computing system that performs the act direct the operation of the computing system in response to having executed computer-executable instructions. For example, such computer- executable instructions may be embodied on one or more computer-readable media that form a computer program product.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the principles described herein may be practiced in network computing environments with many types of computer system configurations, including, personal computers, desktop computers, laptop computers, message processors, hand-held devices, multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, mobile telephones, PDAs, tablets, pagers, routers, switches, and the like. The invention may also be practiced in distributed system environments where local and remote computer systems, which are linked (either by hardwired data links, wireless data links, or by a combination of hardwired and wireless data links) through a network, both perform tasks.

As such, in a distributed system environment, a computer system may include a plurality of constituent computer systems. In a distributed system environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the invention may be practiced in a cloud computing environment. Cloud computing environments may be distributed, although this is not required. When distributed, cloud computing environments may be distributed internationally within an organization and/or have components possessed across multiple organizations. In this description and the following claims,“cloud computing” is defined as a model for enabling on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services). The definition of “cloud computing” is not limited to any of the other numerous advantages that can be obtained from such a model when properly deployed.

Still further, system architectures described herein can include a plurality of independent components that each contribute to the functionality of the system as a whole. This modularity allows for increased flexibility when approaching issues of platform scalability and, to this end, provides a variety of advantages. System complexity and growth can be managed more easily through the use of smaller-scale parts with limited functional scope.

Conditional language used herein, such as, among others,“can,”“could,”“might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without author input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment. The terms "comprising," "including," 'having," and the like are synonymous and are used inclusively, in an open-ended fashion, and do not exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations, and so forth. Also, the term "or" is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so that when used, for example, to connect a list of elements, the term "or" means one, some, or all of the elements in the list.

While there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the instant invention it is to be appreciated that the invention may be embodied otherwise than is herein specifically shown and described and that, within the embodiment, certain changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the parts without departing from the underlying ideas or principles of this invention as set forth in the Claims appended herewith. Therefore, the appended claims are to be construed to cover all equivalents falling within the true scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

Claims I Claim,

1. A method for identification and verification of a product, said method comprising the steps of: creating a unique code for said product; creating a unique product identification number for said product; printing said unique code and said unique product identification number on said product;

concealing said unique code and said unique product identification number printed on said product via a concealing component; and,

identifying and verifying said product by using an application resource for interpretation and analysis of said unique code and said unique product identification number.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said step of identifying and verifying said product by using said application resource for interpretation and analysis of said unique code comprises:

scanning said unique code and said unique product identification number to create scanned data;

transmitting said scanned data to a central server for identification and verification of said product; processing of said scanned data by said central server and sending processed information back to said application resource; and,

determining if said product is a genuine product or a fake product based on said processed information received by said application resource.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said method further comprises the step of notifying a user if said product is a genuine product.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said method further comprises the step of notifying a user and a brand owner if said product is a fake product.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said concealing component is a scratch card.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said step of identifying and verifying said product by using said application resource for interpretation and analysis of said unique code and said unique product identification number further comprises scanning said unique code, wherein said unique code expires after at least one initial scan.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said step of identifying and verifying said product by using said application resource for interpretation and analysis of said unique code and said unique product identification number further comprises scanning said unique code, wherein said unique code expires after said unique code is scanned more than once over a different location.

8. A system for identification and verification of a product, said system comprising: a code generation component for creating a unique code and a unique product identification number for said product; a printing component for printing said unique code and said unique product identification number on said product;

a concealing component for concealing said unique code and said unique product identification number printed on said product; and,

an application resource for interpretation and analysis of said unique code and said unique product identification number for identifying and verifying said product.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said system further comprises an electronic device, and wherein said application resource is installed on said electronic device.

10. The system as claimed in Claim 8, wherein said electronic device comprises at least one processor configured to execute an application manager and said application resource resident on said electronic device, said at least one processor being configured to execute a plurality of instructions comprising: creating said unique code for said product;

creating said unique product identification number for said product; printing said unique code and said unique product identification number on said product; concealing said unique code and said unique product identification number printed on said product via said concealing component; and,

11. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said system further comprises a central server for identification and verification of said product.

12. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said concealing component is a scratch card.

13. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said electronic device comprises a brand owner electronic device and a user electronic device.

(Digitally Signed)