Apparatus and method for authenticating products
View Patent ↗A computer readable medium including executable instructions to analyze radio frequency (RF) tag information includes executable instruction to access cross-enterprise RF tag information, identify a product transition based upon the cross-enterprise RF tag information, and define a new product path based upon the product transition, where the new product path defines product pedigree information. Additional executable instructions authenticate a user, secure product information, supply product pedigree information corresponding to the product information, and verify the pedigree of the product based upon the product pedigree information.
1. A computer readable medium including executable instructions to analyze radio frequency (RF) tag information, comprising executable instruction to:
access cross-enterprise RF tag information, wherein cross-enterprise RF tag information includes RF tag information characterizing product movement from a first enterprise to a second enterprise, wherein said first enterprise and said second enterprise are selected from a manufacturer, a warehouse, a distributor and a retailer;
identify a product transition based upon said cross-enterprise RF tag information;
define a new product path based upon said product transition, said new product path defining product pedigree information;
authenticate a user through a graphical user interface;
secure product information;
supply product pedigree information corresponding to said product information at said graphical user interface; and
verify the pedigree of a product based upon said product pedigree information.
2. The computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein said executable instructions to supply product pedigree information include executable instructions to supply additional product pedigree information in response to a user request.
3. The computer readable medium of claim 2 wherein said executable instructions to supply additional product pedigree information include executable instructions to supply information indicating visual characteristics of an authentic product.
4. The computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein said product pedigree information includes information selected from a product code, a product description, and a product image.
5. The computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein said product pedigree information includes information selected from information indicating whether a product is recalled, damaged, stolen, expired, returned, quarantined, lost and destroyed.
6. The computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein said product pedigree information includes information sequentially specifying a product event, location, and date.
7. The computer readable medium of claim 1 further comprising executable instructions to supply failed authentication information.
8. The computer readable medium of claim 7 wherein said failed authentication information includes information specifying actions to be followed in connection with the disposal of the product that failed authentication.
9. The computer readable medium of claim 1 further comprising executable instructions to solicit discrepancy information from a user.
10. The computer readable medium of claim 9 further comprising executable instructions to process said discrepancy information to identify flaws in a supply chain.
11. The computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein said executable instructions to authenticate include executable instructions to authenticate to a prescribed information access level.