Packaging with automatic authentication system for packaged product

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11429704-B2
Application number	US-201916560687-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 4, 2019
Priority date	Sep 18, 2018
Publication date	Aug 30, 2022
Grant date	Aug 30, 2022

Abstract

A product with packaging includes an envelope having a cavity. An envelope flap may be opened, and may initiate a smart packaging feature, such as an NFC chip embedded in the packaging. The NFC chip may search for an electronic device, such as the electronic device of the specific user, and once connected may initiate or carry out an authentication process or activation process.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. Packaging, comprising:
a cavity configured to receive a product; and
an automatic authentication system including an NFC chip and an activation element,
wherein the activation element is configured to activate the authentication system to power on the NFC chip when the packaging is opened, or when the product is removed from the cavity,
wherein when the NFC chip is powered on it automatically communicates with a user's personal electronic device to initiate an authentication process or an activation process of the product, and
wherein the authentication or activation process includes display of information about the product on the user's personal electronic device.

2. The packaging of claim 1 , wherein the activation element comprises:
a sensor configured to detect when the packaging is opened, wherein in response to the sensor detecting the packaging is opened powering on the NFC chip.

3. The packaging of claim 2 , wherein the sensor is a Hall effect sensor.

4. The packaging of claim 1 , wherein the packaging is formed from radiotransmissive materials.

5. The packaging of claim 1 , wherein the activation element comprises:
a sensor configured to detect when a product within the packaging is removed from the cavity, wherein in response to the sensor detecting the product is removed powering on the NFC chip.

6. The packaging of claim 1 , wherein the activation element comprises a sensor selected from the group consisting of a proximity sensor, a weight sensor, a Hall effect sensor.

7. The packaging of claim 1 , further comprising:
an opening in the packaging configured as an antenna window such that the NFC chip may communicate through the opening.

8. The packaging of claim 1 , further comprising:
a power source configured to supply power to the NFC chip.

9. The packaging of claim 1 , wherein the NFC chip is preprogrammed to begin an activation or authentication process only upon receiving communication from an electronic device of a single particular user.

10. The packaging of claim 1 , wherein the NFC chip is preprogrammed to begin an activation or authentication process only on an electronic device that is logged into an account of a user that has ordered a product of the type contained within the packaging.

11. A packaging envelope, comprising:
a cavity configured to receive a card product;
an active data chip embedded in a portion of the envelope; and
a power source configured to provide power where the power source is configured to provide power to the chip upon opening the packaging.

12. The packaging envelope of claim 11 , further comprising:
a sensor configured to automatically allow the active data chip to begin broadcasting when the envelope is opened.

13. The packaging envelope of claim 11 , wherein the data chip broadcasts a signal to a user's electronic device such that the electronic device communicates with a remote server to verify whether to authenticate or activate the card product only after the envelope is opened.

14. The packaging envelope of claim 13 , wherein in response to the server verifying the authentication of the card product, the electronic device initiates a graphical user interface to complete the activation.

15. The packaging envelope of claim 11 , further comprising:
an antenna window, the antenna window configured to allow for data transmission or reception through the antenna window.

16. A fungible product, comprising:
a metallic portion, wherein the fungible product is authenticated or activated via an authentication or activation process when the packaging it is or was contained in communicates with a predetermined user's personal electronic device, wherein the communication is carried out via a radio frequency communication between the packaging and the user's personal electronic device, wherein in response to an indication received by a remote server that the packaging is communicating with a user's electronic device that is not associated with the fungible product, the fungible product is not activated, and
wherein when the fungible product is activated, the authentication or activation process includes display of information about the fungible product on the user's personal electronic device.

17. The fungible product of claim 16 , wherein in response to the fungible product being activated, the user's electronic device communicates with a remote platform to inform the fungible product provider that the order is complete.

18. The fungible product of claim 16 , wherein the packaging is recyclable.

19. The fungible product of claim 16 , wherein the packaging is formed from radiotransmissive materials.

20. A fungible product, comprising: a metallic portion, wherein the fungible product is authenticated or activated via an authentication or activation process when the packaging it is or was contained in communicates with a predetermined user's personal electronic device, wherein the communication is carded out via a radio frequency communication between the packaging and the user's personal electronic device, wherein in response to the fungible product being activated, the user's personal electronic device communicates with a remote platform to inform the fungible product provider that the order is complete, and
wherein when the fungible product is activated, the authentication or activation process includes display of information about the fungible product on the user's personal electronic device.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Stryker James A

Classifications

• H04W12/06

  Authentication · CPC title

• B65D75/14

  in sheets or blanks folded-up around all sides of the contents from a portion on which the contents are placed · CPC title

• B65D27/30

  with special means for indicating unauthorised opening · CPC title

• G06K19/0723

  the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs · CPC title

• H04W4/80

  Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication · CPC title