Method and apparatus for storage of data for manufactured items

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9058584-B2
Application number	US-97666210-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 22, 2010
Priority date	Dec 22, 2009
Publication date	Jun 16, 2015
Grant date	Jun 16, 2015

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to a method and apparatus for storage of data for a batch of manufactured items. The method comprises defining, by a lower limit identifier and an upper limit identifier, a range of unique item identifiers for the batch, wherein each manufactured item in the batch is allocated a unique item identifier falling within the range. The number of unique item identifiers allocated to the manufactured items is smaller than the number of unique item identifiers in the range. The unique item identifiers allocated to the manufactured items are defined by the lower limit item identifier of the range, the upper limit item identifier of the range and an indication of those item identifiers in the range which are not allocated to a manufactured item.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for storage of data for a batch of manufactured items, the method comprising:
defining in a processor, using a lower limit identifier and an upper limit identifier, a range of unique item identifiers for the batch, wherein each manufactured item in the batch is allocated a unique item identifier falling within the range;
wherein the number of unique item identifiers allocated to the manufactured items is smaller than the number of unique item identifiers in the range,
wherein the processor defines the unique item identifiers allocated to the manufactured items in a storage device using:
the lower limit item identifier of the range,
the upper limit item identifier of the range, and
an indication of those item identifiers in the range which are not allocated to a manufactured item,

wherein each identifier is derived by:
generating an identification code in the processor;
providing a plurality of secret codes; and
digitally signing, in the processor, the identification code by means of a secret derived from the plurality of secret codes, and

wherein the processor provides the plurality of secret codes to a checking center for authenticating identifiers on the manufactured items.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the indication of those item identifiers in the range which are not allocated to a manufactured item comprises an indication of one or more individual item identifiers which are not allocated to a manufactured item.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the indication of those item identifiers in the range which are not allocated to a manufactured item comprises an indication of one or more further ranges.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein each item identifier comprises production details associated with the respective manufactured item.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein each item identifier is an encrypted version of production details associated with the respective manufactured item.

6. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:
storing at least the indication of the item identifiers not allocated to a manufactured item as individual item identifiers or as a range of non-allocated item identifiers in a storage location based on allocated storage space.

7. A method for a second party to identify a manufactured item, comprising:
a first party performing a method for storage of data for a batch of manufactured items defining, in a processor using a lower limit identifier and an upper limit identifier, a range of unique item identifiers for the batch, wherein each manufactured item in the batch is allocated a unique item identifier falling within the range;
wherein the number of unique item identifiers allocated to the manufactured items is smaller than the number of unique item identifiers in the range,
wherein the processor defines the unique item identifiers allocated to the manufactured items in a transmission to the second party using:
the lower limit item identifier of the range,
the upper limit item identifier of the range, and
an indication of those item identifiers in the range which are not allocated to a manufactured item;

wherein each identifier is derived by:
generating an identification code in the processor;
providing a plurality of secret codes; and
digitally signing, in the processor, the identification code by means of a secret derived from the plurality of secret codes, and wherein the processor provides the plurality of secret codes to a checking center for authenticating identifiers on the manufactured items.

8. The method according to claim 7 further comprising the first party sending to the second party the indication of those non-allocated item identifiers in the range.

9. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the processor stores at least the indication of the item identifiers not allocated to a manufactured item as individual item identifiers or as a range of non-allocated item identifiers in a storage location based on allocated storage space.

10. A method for a second party to determine a total number of items manufactured in a batch, comprising the steps of:
a first party performing a method for storage of data for the batch of manufactured items that includes defining, in a processor using a lower limit identifier and an upper limit identifier, a range of unique item identifiers for the batch, wherein each manufactured item in the batch is allocated a unique item identifier falling within the range;
wherein the number of unique item identifiers allocated to the manufactured items is smaller than the number of unique item identifiers in the range,
wherein the processor defines the unique item identifiers allocated to the manufactured items for sending to the second party using:
the lower limit item identifier of the range,
the upper limit item identifier of the range, and
an indication of those item identifiers in the range which are not allocated to a manufactured item;

the first party sending to the second party the range of unique item identifiers for the batch; and
the first party sending to the second party the indication of those item identifiers in the range which are not allocated to a manufactured item in the batch;
wherein the range of unique item identifiers and the indication of those item identifiers not allocated to a manufactured item may be used by the second party to determine the number of items manufactured in the batch;
wherein each identifier is derived by:
generating an identification code in the processor;
providing a plurality of secret codes; and
digitally signing, in the processor, the identification code by means of a secret derived from the plurality of secret codes, and wherein the processor provides the plurality of secret codes to a checking center for authenticating identifiers on the manufactured items.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the processor stores at least the indication of the item identifiers not allocated to a manufactured item as individual item identifiers or as a range of non-allocated item identifiers in a storage location based on allocated storage space.

12. An apparatus for storage of data for a batch of manufactured items, the apparatus comprising:
a processor configured to define using a lower limit identifier and an upper limit identifier, a range of unique item identifiers for the batch, wherein each manufactured item in the batch is allocated a unique item identifier falling within the range;
wherein the number of unique item identifiers allocated to the manufactured items is smaller than the number of unique item identifiers in the range,
wherein the processor is configured to define the unique item identifiers allocated to the manufactured items in a storage device using:
the lower limit item identifier of the range,
the upper limit item identifier of the range, and
an indication of those item identifiers in the range which are not allocated to a manufactured item,

wherein each identifier is derived by:
generating an identification code in the processor:
providing a plurality of secret codes; and
digitally signing, in the processor, the identification code by means of a secret derived from the plurality of secret codes, and wherein the processor provides plurality of secret codes to a checking center for authenticating identifiers on the manufactured items.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the indication of those item identifiers in the range which are not allocated to a manufactured item comprises an indication of one or more individual item identifiers which are not allocated to a

Assignees

• Fradet Erwan
• Sager Alain
• Mauroux Patrick
• Chanez Patrick
• Chatelain Philippe
• Philip Morris Usa Inc

Inventors

• Fradet Erwan
• Sager Alain
• Mauroux Patrick
• Chanez Patrick
• Chatelain Philippe

Classifications

• H04L9/3247

  involving digital signatures · CPC title

• G06K1/121

  by printing code marks (applying code marks to labels B65C9/46; marking or coding completed packages B65B61/26) · CPC title

• G06K7/1413

  1D bar codes · CPC title

• G06F16/2291 Primary

  User-Defined Types; Storage management thereof · CPC title

• G06Q10/087 Primary

  Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders · CPC title