GB2550894A

GB2550894A - Anti counterfeiting system

Info

Publication number: GB2550894A
Application number: GB1609386.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ben Dhia Amor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-05-27
Filing date: 2016-05-27
Publication date: 2017-12-06
Also published as: GB201609386D0

Abstract

An authentication system allows a user to check whether or not a product is genuine. The system involves the generation of a unique product code, the product code is distributed with a product, and the inputting 90 of the product code to a mobile device by a user. The code is then transmitted 91 to a verification server 20, which compares the submitted product code with stored product codes in database. A return message is transmitted to the mobile device by the verification server indicating that the product code genuine if the product code is correct 97, or that the product code is not genuine if the product code is not correct 160. It can also include a step of the transmission of a return message to the mobile device by the verification server that product code cannot be confirmed as genuine if product code is correct, but has previously been checked 99.

Description

ANTI COUNTERFEITING SYSTEM

The present specification relates to anti-counterfeiting system, in particular, a system that allows the detection of counterfeits and the validation of authentic goods.

The producers of most branded products, when their product achieves any degree of success can expect counterfeiting of their products. It is particularly noticeable for luxury products such as clothes, bags, perfumes and watches, but even products such as medicines, aircraft parts and food goods are imitated by unscrupulous traders. The brand holder both loses sales and reputation, and the consumer receives an inferior or even dangerous product. Proceeds from counterfeit products may be diverted to other criminal activities.

Many anti-counterfeiting systems rely on including some feature on the product or packaging that is difficult and expensive to reproduce. For example, the product or packaging may incorporate a hologram, which requires expensive apparatus to produce. The fact that it requires expensive equipment is necessarily burdensome. It also relies on the consumer to recognise a correct hologram, and attempts are made to counterfeit the holograms themselves.

Another known system uses RFID crystallogram (provided by the company Toppan), which incorporates an RFID antenna in the hologram. However, it is not necessarily practical for the consumer to check the authenticity. Other systems use specialist inks, which require apparatus to authenticate the product. Again, it is not always practical to require dedicated apparatus to check the authenticity of a product.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a straightforward system that allows genuine products to be authenticated and counterfeit products to be detected. Other benefits of the present invention will become apparent from the description.

According to the present invention, there is provided an authentication system for checking whether or not a product is genuine, comprising the steps of the generation of a unique product code the product code is distributed with a product the inputting or loading of the product code to a mobile device by a user, which is then transmitted to a verification server the verification server comparing the submitted product code with stored product codes in a product code database the transmission of a return message to the mobile device by the verification server that product code genuine if product code is correct or the transmission of a return message to the mobile device by the verification server that product code is not genuine if product code is not correct.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an authentication system verification server as herein defined.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided mobile device as herein defined.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided scratchcard as herein defined.

References to the server in the description refer to the server or set of computer programs of the system organiser that are arranged to receive data from the users and transmit the authenticity results as described herein. In practice, functions of the server may be distributed between several servers. Also, a manufacturer may institute and control their own server.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, of which

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the system architecture

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the network over which the system operates

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the scratchcard Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the scratchcard

Figures 5 to 8 are flow diagrams of an embodiment of a step in the verification processes; and

Figures 9 to 10 are diagrams of embodiments of a mobile device while being used as part of the system.

Referring to figure 1, when configured for use with a smart phone having internet access, the basic architecture of the system comprises a mobile device 10 and a server 20 each having a collection of software. The mobile stack includes a web Tenderer 12 such as Webview, a search filter 14 such as Ionic filter, Cordova plugins 16, a native software developer kit 18, the mobile phone operating system 19. The server 20, for example a Tomcat server, can call various components such as Grails apps 22, View apps 24, controllers 26, web services 28, and web request support 30 such as CORS Filter. The server stack also includes a token authentication module 32. The server stack also includes a database 34, such as a MySQL database that the components can write to and retrieve data from. The mobile device can send an html request 36 to the server, and receive a response 37 from the server.

The server may be located in one country, while users purchasing goods can be in another country, but still perform the checks as described below. In fact, different users of the system could be situated in different countries, and all contact a single server in a single location. The number of users and their respective locations can be easily increased with sufficient server capacity. Many different products may be included in the system, and new products can easily be added. The system is therefore completely scalable, both with respect to the user base, and brand owners, and the range and type of products. Also, the scratchcard telephone numbers, destination of SMS to be sent by User, user's mobile numbers are similarly scalable, and may contain information representing countries or regions of any size. The product codes may also indicate the product, the brand owner manufacture etc.

Referring to figure 2, the system may also be configured for use with SMS messaging over the telephony network. The mobile device 10 communicates with the server 20 via a cellular radio telephony network 40, though of course any method that can relay messages between the mobile device 10 and the server 20 can be used. Figure 2 also shows the basic process steps of the authentication system, which will be described in greater detail below.

Referring to figure 3, the system architecture is used in conjunction with a scratchcard 50. The scratchcard 50 is printed with two sets of instructions for use. The first set is for use with for a consumer who wishes to authenticate the product using an SMS text message as described in relation to figure 2. A first set of instructions 52 describes the necessary actions, and provides one or more phone numbers 54 or other indications of where to send the SMS message. On another region of the card, preferably underneath the phone number 54, is an covered area 55 where a product code is printed, such that a covering material (such as a visually impermeable waxy substance) may be scraped away to reveal the product code. The user is directed by the instructions to send the product code in a SMS message to the phone number 54, where it is automatically directed to the server 20.

The product code is a random alphanumeric (or numeric) string generated for each product and is unique to that product. It is stored on the server, and each time a new number is generated, a check is made that that number has not been issued previously. Ideally the string is large enough that a very large number of potential product codes exist. A second set of instructions 56 instmcts the user on how to authenticate the product by using the camera of the mobile device 10. As a first step, the second set of instructions 56 also directs the user to download an app by using their mobile to scan a QR code 58 (different QR codes may be provided as illustrated, for example to allow apps for different operating systems such as android and apple, to be downloaded from googleplay or the apple app store respectively). The user will typically only have to do this on a first occasion. The user is then directed to scan a product QR code 59, which incorporates the product code 54. The downloaded app then sends the product code derived from the product QR code 59 to the server 20.

Referring to figure 4, a scratchcard 51 may alternatively be provided that is only directed to the SMS text message authentication method, having only the first set of instructions 52, the one or more phone numbers 54 and the covered area 55 where a product code is printed. Similarly, a card only providing instructions and QR codes for using the web-based authentication could be provided.

It will be realised that alternative means for revealing a code, such as a tear-off covering strip, could be provided instead of the covered area 55. Also, alternatives to QR codes, such as bar codes and other insignia, could be provided. These instructions and codes could be provided by other means than cards, such as on the packaging behind the product, or even on or in the product, depending on the nature of the product.

Including a product code by these methods is very secure and reliable; similar physical cards are used to provide prepaid telephone account details which and have proved to be easy, effective, simple to use, as well as reliable and secure.

Referring to figure 5, on clicking a 'new user' icon or button, a new user will be presented with a registration page. The mobile app will invite 60 the new user to enter the necessary information to register an account, such as a name, user id, mobile number and password. The mobile app will send 61 this to the server 20. The server 20 receives 62 the user id and password, and checks 63 that they are valid and available. If they are, a token is generated 64 and user information and the token is sent 65 to the mobile app 66, which stores the token 67 on the mobile device.

Referring to figure 6, when the user subsequently uses the application, they are prompted to enter their user id and password 70. This is sent 71 by the mobile client to the server 72, which verifies the details by comparing it to the user records held. If the entered details matches a record that is held on the server, a token is generated 74 and the user information and a token is sent to the mobile device 77. If the entered details are not found, a login failure message is sent 75. This may invite the user to attempt to login again. If the login attempt has been successful, the generated token is stored on the users mobile 78 and the preferences and details of the current user are set up 79.

Figure 7, illustrates the process when the user checks the product using an SMS method. The user enters the product code given on the scratchcard into the SMS facility provided on the phone 68 and sends this to the number provided 69. This is transmitted to the server 20, which receives the code 80 and retrieves the records corresponding to the code 81. If the user is subscribed for loyalty reward points, this is updated 82. The retrieved product key status is then sent back to the user 83. The mobile phone receives this status 84, and displays to the user whether the product is genuine 85, (an updates the user's purchase history and loyalty reward points), whether the product code has previous been used 86 or whether the product is not genuine (because the product code did not correspond to a valid record).

Referring to figure 8, the process when the user checks the product by using a scanned QR code is similar. The user uses the camera on their mobile phone to scan the QR product code on the scratch card 90, and the mobile client sends 91 this over the internet or similar network to the server 20. The server receives the code 92 and retrieves the records corresponding to the code 92. If the user is subscribed for loyalty reward points, this is updated 95. The retrieved product key status is then sent back to the user 94. The mobile phone receives this status 96, and displays to the user whether the product is genuine 85, (an updates the user's purchase history and loyalty reward points), whether the product code has previous been used 86 or whether the product is not genuine (because the product code did not correspond to a valid record).

It will be apparent that a user who wishes to verify the authenticity of a product that they have brought, only requires access to a conventional mobile phone or smart phone. By following the instructions given on the scratch card or other instructions provided, they can check the authenticity of their purchase without any further apparatus, by a process that is very straightforward for the user to follow. No client-side infrastructure is required. While an app could be installed on the client's phone, a phone with specially installed software can carry out the SMS verification method. A loyalty rewards program may be administrated and maintained by the server. For each product code enquiry submitted by a user, their user details are updated to allocate them loyalty or reward points for that process of checking. In this manner, the users are encouraged to particulate in the system, not only for their benefit, but to allow brand owners, producers and retailers to detect and police the frequency and occurrences of counterfeiting.

The server may also administer and maintain a product information and retail system. Upon submission of the product code, the user may be also be presented with product information, prices, means to purchase additional products. The system may also be linked with additional or related products, or simply products from the same or other brand owners.

As well as being able to place orders for these products (by integrating the system with a e-commerce platform of the brand owner or other client for example), the user may be permitted to redeem their reward or loyalty points against all or part of the value of these products, either directly from the system or by integrating the system with any existing Loyalty program of a brand owner or other client. The server would then reduce the reward or loyalty points of that user by the redeemed amount, and pass the order details on to the product supplier.

Referring to figure 9, a typical mobile phone 100 suitable for the system, particularly the SMS verification, is shown. A screen 102 displays text 101 and an input box 103. It also includes input button or buttons 104, which may be an enter button, or may be replaced with a keyboard, as necessary and well known in the art. When the user uses the SMS verification method as detailed in figure 7, they enter the product code 55 (referring also to figure 3) revealed in the scratch card 50 to the phone number given on the scratchcard in the box 103 and send this using the input button or buttons 104. If the product code can be verified, a text message will then be sent to the user, for example 'Your product is genuine, you earned 200 points, your total points is 1859'. If the product code is not recognised, this indicates either that the code was entered incorrectly or that the product is counterfeit. A text message 101 will then be displayed 'The product code 0203527272 does not exist, please contact your vendor'. If the product code is found to have been used before, this may mean that someone has reproduced an already-used genuine product code with a counterfeit product, and a text message 101 will then be displayed 'The product code 0203527272 has been already validated is not valid anymore, please contact your vendor'.

When an invalid code, or a previously used code, is detected by the server, these details are stored, together with user id details of the submitter of the product code. Further information about the product may be solicited from the user (such as which retailer the product was obtained from), and this may also be stored. This allows the brand owner or other party responsible for the brand and counterfeiting to more easily detect counterfeiting, observe patterns counterfeiting behaviour, and pinpoint possible sources or conduits of counterfeit goods, so as to put a stop to the activity. The user's actions and verification checks therefore become an important part of talking counterfeiting activity. Users and regular people are thus empowered to fight against the devastating counterfeiting plague within an army of hundreds of millions, everywhere and anytime.

Referring to figure 10, a mobile phone 100 may alternatively be used with the QR scanning method shown in figure 8. Here, a screen 102 displays text 101 and an application launch icon 105. When the user launches the application, the mobile device 100 switches on the camera and scans for QR codes. When the user scans the QR code 59 presented on the scratchcard, the procedure described in figure 8 is executed.

Even the most simple mobile phone has an SMS messaging facility. More sophisticated smart phones with internet or other connectivity, and camera scanning facilities, can be used in a manner that is even more convenient to the user, and avoids the user having to type a string of numbers or characters. It is likely that phone capabilities will increase, and other methods of inputting the unique product code can be implemented with a mobile, phone, tablet, or similar portable device. The same principle could be implemented on any internet or network enabled machines or computer that can transmit and receive data to the server.

The generation of product codes, and the production of scratchcards may be organised by the manufacturer of the brand, or it may be administered centrally by the system organiser who also maintains the server. The system organiser could be one or several manufacturers, distributors or retailers or brand owners. The system organiser could also be an independent body of the manufacturers, distributors or retailers or brand owners. Such an independent body could limit, deny or control access to the stored product code which would be secured. Manufacturers, distributors or retailers or brand owner could be allowed access to data and analytics indicating the origin of the product code enquiries, and the statistics and data on the product code confirmations, as well as incorrect product code confirmations. Such statistics and analytics could include data on the products themselves.

Claims

Claims:

1. An authentication system for checking whether or not a product is genuine, comprising the steps of the generation of a unique product code the product code is distributed with a product the inputting or loading of the product code to a mobile device by a user, which is then transmitted to a verification server the verification server comparing the submitted product code with stored product codes in a product code database the transmission of a return message to the mobile device by the verification server that product code genuine if product code is correct or the transmission of a return message to the mobile device by the verification server that product code is not genuine if product code is not correct.

2. An authentication system according to claim 1 wherein there is included the step of the transmission of a return message to the mobile device by the verification server that product code cannot be confirmed as genuine if product code is correct, but has previously been checked.

3. An authentication system according to either previous claim wherein the product code transmitted by SMS message.

4. An authentication system according to either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the product code is derived from scannable image

5. An authentication system according to any previous claim wherein the product code is included on a card distributed with the product

6. An authentication system according to claim 5 wherein the card includes the product code encoded in a scannable image.

7. An authentication system according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the card includes the product code printed beneath a revealable material.

8. An authentication system according to claim 7 wherein the revealable material indicates whether the card has been previously used.

9. A verification server according to any of the previous claims, that includes the processes of the generation of the unique product code comparing the submitted product code with stored product codes in the product code database the transmission of the return message to the mobile device by the verification server that product code genuine if product code is correct or the transmission of the return message to the mobile device by the verification server that product code is not genuine if product code is not correct.

10. A mobile device according to any of claims 1 to 8 adapted to input or load the product code transmit the product code to the verification server receive and display the return message from the verification server that product code genuine if product code is correct or receive and display the return message from the verification server that the product code is not genuine if product code is not correct.

11. A mobile device application program adapted for use on a mobile device according to claim 10.

12. A scratchcard according to any of claims 1 to 8 adapted to bear the product code that corresponds with the stored product code in the product code database.