Apparatus for customer authentication of an item
An apparatus is provided for authentication of an item or a label by storing unique random serial numbers or codes in a remote secure storage that can be used to authenticate the item or the label, generating a pointer to each stored unique random serial number/code and storing the generated pointer(s) in a client data storage. During or prior to a production run of the item(s) or label(s): the generated pointer(s) are sent from the client data storage to one or more media devices, the generated pointer(s) are obtained from the media device using a post-content manager, the unique random serial number(s)/code(s) are obtained from the server via the post-content manager using the generated pointer(s), the obtained unique random serial number(s)/code(s) are sent to the media device, and the received unique random serial number(s)/code(s) are imprinted on the item(s) or the label(s) using the media device.
1. An apparatus for authentication of one or more tangible item(s) or one or more tangible label(s) comprising:
one or more media devices communicably coupled to one or more processors, the one or more processors also being communicably coupled to one or more memory devices, wherein at least one of the memory devices stores non-transitory computer readable instructions, which instructions, when executed by at least one of the processors, causes the processor(s) during or prior to a production run of the tangible item(s) or tangible label(s) to perform the steps of:
obtaining a pointer to each of one or more unique random serial numbers or codes that are used to authenticate the tangible item(s) or tangible label(s) from the one or more media devices,
obtaining the unique random serial number(s) or code(s) from a server device communicably coupled to the processor(s) via a communications interface using the pointer(s),
transmitting the obtained unique random serial number(s) or code(s) to the one or more media devices, and
instructing the one or more media devices communicably coupled to the one or more processors to imprint the received unique random serial number(s) or code(s) on the tangible item(s) or the tangible label(s);
wherein the unique random serial number(s) or code(s) are imprinted with a security mechanism comprising one of a special ink, a special thread, a special code, a holographic symbol, or a combination thereof; and the one or more media devices comprise printers, plotters, labelers, inscribing devices, stamping machines, etching machines, or a combination thereof.
2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the unique random serial number(s) or code(s) are generated by the server device.
3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the unique random serial number(s) or code(s) are transmitted securely to the server device prior to execution of the computer readable instructions by the processor(s).
4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the pointer(s) are requested as part of a production run of the tangible item(s) or tangible label(s).
5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein: the apparatus comprises a computer, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a desktop computer, a workstation, a data terminal, a manufacturing controller or a combination thereof; and the server device is communicably coupled to the communications interface via a computer network, a telecommunications network, a wireless communications link, a physical connection, a landline, a satellite communications link, an optical communications link, a cellular network or a combination thereof.
6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the tangible item(s) comprise a manufactured product.
7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the unique random serial number(s) or code(s) are combined with a contact information or a security mechanism.
8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 , wherein the contact information comprises a phone number, a web address, an instant messaging address, a communications address, or a combination thereof.
9. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 , wherein the contact information is used to certify the authenticity of the tangible item(s) or tangible label(s), or determine whether an expiration date associated with the tangible item(s) or tangible label(s) has been exceeded.
10. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 , wherein an authenticity confirmation, an authenticity denial, the expiration date, one or more instructions, promotions or advertisements, or a combination thereof are provided whenever the contact information is used.
11. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the server device further comprises: an application program interface layer; an authentication layer coupled to the application program layer; a plug-in layer coupled to the authentication layer; a data layer coupled to the plug-in layer; and an events layer coupled to the data layer, the plug-in layer and the authentication layer.
12. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the pointer(s) is subsequently used to access the unique random serial number(s) or code(s) after proper authentication.
13. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein access to and storage of the unique random serial number(s) or code(s) is governed by one or more rules.