Method and system for deterring product counterfeiting, diversion and piracy
View Patent ↗A method and system for authenticating goods and thereby detecting and deterring counterfeits are disclosed. According to one aspect of the invention, a client utilizes data received from a host to generate a plurality of security codes and to direct a printing device to print the plurality of security codes on a plurality of products, without retaining the plurality of security codes after the printing device has printed the plurality of security codes on the plurality of products. After the security codes have been printed, a person can communicate the security code to the host, which can verify its authenticity.
1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
receiving, over a network, a code authentication request including a security code that has been printed on a product; and
authenticating the security code with a processor and without comparing the security code to a previously generated security code stored in a repository of previously generated security codes that have been printed on products.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
prior to receiving the code authentication request, receiving product data associated with a plurality of products on which security codes are to be printed, wherein the product data indicates an intended destination for the products on which the security codes are to be printed; and
responsive to receiving the code authentication request, communicating the product data indicating the intended destination to a user, if the security code is successfully authenticated.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
prior to receiving the code authentication request, receiving product data associated with the plurality of products on which security codes are to be printed, wherein the product data indicates a manufacturing date, sell-by date, or use-by date for the products on which the security codes are to be printed; and
responsive to receiving the code authentication request, communicating the product data indicating the manufacturing date, sell-by date, or use-by date to a user, if the security code is successfully authenticated.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein authenticating the security code includes decoding the security code into alpha-numeric text if the security code included with the code authentication request is encoded as a graphic symbol.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
recording one or more attributes associated with the code authentication request, wherein the one or more attributes include any of the following: an occurrence of the code authentication request, a time at which the code authentication request is received, or a location from which the code authentication request originated.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
maintaining a count of the number of code authentication requests received that are associated with a particular security code.
7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
analyzing patterns of code authentication requests received that are associated with a particular security code; and reporting statistical data associated with a result of the analysis.
8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
analyzing the number, timing, frequency, or location of code authentication requests received in order to identify potential fraudulent activity.
9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , further comprising:
automatically alerting a person or an entity if a rule associated with the analysis of code authentication requests is satisfied, thereby indicating potential fraudulent activity.