System for producing a packaged item with an identifier

1. A system for packaging an item with an identifier, comprising:

A tag producer, wherein the tag producer produces one or more types of silica-based tags to be encoded with a first signature determined by an encoder, wherein the first signature is readable using an optical spectroscopic reader, wherein the silica-based tag comprises a complex porous silicon micro-tag that was programmed during electrochemical synthesis to display a reflectivity spectrum containing the first signature, and wherein the tag producer comprises:

a waveform determiner configured to determine a waveform to generate the silica-based tag; and

a tag creator configured to generate the silica-based tag based on the determined waveform;

An identifier adder, wherein the identifier adder adds the one or more types of silica-based tags to an item, wherein the identifier adder comprises a tag selector, wherein the tag selector selects one or more tags to be added to the item out of the one or more types of silica-based tags produced by the tag producer based at least on the one or more tags has a correct first signature;

A labeler, wherein a label is generated based at least in part on reading the one or more types of silica-based tags added to the item using the optical spectroscopic reader, and wherein the label includes goods info; and

A packager, wherein the packager includes the label on a package, and wherein the packager includes the item in the package.

2. A system as in claim 1 , wherein each type of silica-based tag has a second signature readable using an optical imaging reader.

3. A system as in claim 2 , wherein the second signature comprises the one or more types of silica-based tags are placed in a pattern or arrangement.

4. A system as in claim 1 , wherein the one or more tags selected by the tag selector are selected based on one or more of the following: characterization by imaging a shape of one of the one or more types of silica tags, having a correct shape, appropriate reflectivity peaks, appropriate reflectivity amplitudes, or characterization by imaging a plurality of the one or more types of silica tags with or without a fiducial visible in a field of view.

5. A system as in claim 1 , wherein the item comprises a solid oral dosage form.

6. A system as in claim 5 , wherein the solid oral dosage form comprises one of the following: a tablet, a capsule, a caplet, a powder, a crystal, or a thin film.

7. A system as in claim 1 , wherein the item comprises a liquid.

8. A system as in claim 7 , wherein the liquid comprises one of the following: a cream, a gel, a liniment, a balm, a lotion, an injectable, or an ointment.

9. A system as in claim 1 , wherein the silica-based tag comprises a rugate filter.

10. A system as in claim 1 , wherein the waveform is a current-time wave.

11. A method for packaging an item with an identifier, comprising:

producing one or more types of silica-based tags to be encoded with a first signature determined by an encoder, wherein the first signature is readable using an optical spectroscopic reader, wherein the silica-based tag comprises a complex porous silicon micro-tag that was programmed during electrochemical synthesis to display a reflectivity spectrum containing the first signature, and wherein the producing of the one or more types of silica-based tags to be encoded with a first signature determined by the encoder comprises:

determining a waveform to generate the silica-based tag; and

generating the silica-based tag based on the determined waveform;

adding the one or more types of silica-based tags to an item, comprising:

selecting one or more tags to be added to the item out of the one or more types of silica-based tags based at least on the one or more tags has a correct first signature; generating a label based at least in part on reading the one or more types of silica-based tags added to the item using the optical spectroscopic reader, and wherein the label includes goods info; and

placing the label on a package, and the item in the package.

12. A method as in claim 11 , wherein each type of silica-based tag has a second signature readable using an optical imaging reader.

13. A method as in claim 12 , wherein the second signature comprises the one or more types of silica-based tags are placed in a pattern or arrangement.

14. A method as in claim 11 , wherein the selecting of the one or more tags one or more tags includes selecting the one or more tags based on one or more of the following: characterization by imaging a shape of one of the one or more types of silica tags, having a correct shape, appropriate reflectivity peaks, appropriate reflectivity amplitudes, or characterization by imaging a plurality of the one or more types of silica tags with or without a fiducial visible in a field of view.

15. A method as in claim 11 , wherein the item comprises a solid oral dosage form.

16. A method as in claim 15 , wherein the solid oral dosage form comprises one of the following: a tablet, a capsule, a caplet, a powder, a crystal, or a thin film.

17. A method as in claim 11 , wherein the item comprises a liquid.

18. A method as in claim 17 , wherein the liquid comprises one of the following: a cream, a gel, a liniment, a balm, a lotion, an injectable, or an ointment.

19. A method as in claim 11 , wherein the silica-based tag comprises a rugate filter.

20. A method as in claim 11 , wherein the waveform is a current-time wave.

21. A computer program product for packaging an item with an identifier, the computer program product being embodied in a tangible non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:

producing one or more types of silica-based tags to be encoded with a first signature determined by an encoder, wherein the first signature is readable using an optical spectroscopic reader, wherein the silica-based tag comprises a complex porous silicon micro-tag that was programmed during electrochemical synthesis to display a reflectivity spectrum containing the first signature, and wherein the producing of the one or more types of silica-based tags to be encoded with a first signature determined by the encoder comprises:

determining a waveform to generate the silica-based tag; and

generating the silica-based tag based on the determined waveform;

adding the one or more types of silica-based tags to an item, comprising:

selecting one or more tags to be added to the item out of the one or more types of silica-based tags based at least on the one or more tags has a correct first signature;

generating a label based at least in part on reading the one or more types of silica-based tags added to the item using the optical spectroscopic reader, and wherein the label includes goods info; and

placing the label on a package, and the item in the package.

22. A computer program product as in claim 21 , wherein each type of silica-based tag has a second signature readable using an optical imaging reader.

23. A computer program product as in claim 22 , wherein the second signature comprises the one or more types of silica-based tags are placed in a pattern or arrangement.

24. A computer program product as in claim 21 , wherein the selecting of the one or more tags one or more tags includes selecting the one or more tags based on one or more of the following: characterization by imaging a shape of one of the one or more types of silica tags, having a correct shape, appropriate reflectivity peaks, appropriate reflectivity amplitudes, or characterization by imaging a plurality of the one or more types of silica tags with or without a fiducial visible in a field of view.

25. A computer program product as in claim 21 , wherein the item comprises a solid oral dosage form.

26. A computer program product as in claim 25 , wherein the solid oral dosage form comprises one of the following: a tablet, a capsule, a caplet, a powder, a crystal, or a thin film.

27. A computer program product as in claim 21 , wherein the item comprises a liquid.

28. A computer program product as in claim 27 , wherein the liquid comprises one of the following: a cream, a gel, a liniment, a balm, a lotion, an injectable, or an ointment.

29. A computer program product as in claim 21 , wherein the silica-based tag comprises a rugate filter.

30. A computer program product as in claim 21 , wherein the waveform is a current-time wave.