Product protection method and identifier for checking the authenticity of products

Abstract

The invention relates to a product protection system, whereby a product piece is provided with a product-specific identification sequence (K) which is converted into a coded check sequence (C), by means of an encoding method (F 1 ) using a secret encoding sequence (B). A product control sequence is applied to or on the product piece which comprises the coded check sequence (C), or a sequence derived therefrom. In order to check the authenticity of the product piece, the product control sequence is recorded by a control requester and transmitted by internet to a product protection server structure. A decoded check sequence is derived therein from the product control sequence by means of a decoding method using a decoding sequence. The authenticity of the decoded check sequence, or a sequence derived therefrom is checked and the result of the authenticity check transmitted by internet to the control requester.

1 . A computer implemented method for generating a product protection identification which is affixed on or to the product piece to ensure the authenticity of a product piece, comprising:
 detecting a product-specific identification sequence for each product piece;   generating on a computer an encoded check sequence using a symmetric encoding method with a secret encoding sequence, wherein said symmetric encoding method is performed on one of:
 the product-specific identification sequence or 
 a sequence derived from the product-specific identification sequence; 
   converting on said computer the encoded check sequence with a hash method to a hash sequence; and   affixing to or on the product piece a product control sequence, comprising:
 (a) the encoded check sequence or a sequence that is derived from the encoded check sequence and 
 (b) the hash sequence. 
   
   
   
       2 . The computer implemented method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the encoded check sequence cannot be generated from the product-specific identification sequence without knowledge of the secret encoding sequence. 
   
   
       3 . The computer implemented method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the product control sequence comprises the product-specific identification sequence in addition to the encoded check sequence or the sequence derived from the encoded check sequence. 
   
   
       4 . The computer implemented method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a serial number of the product piece is used as the product-specific identification sequence. 
   
   
       5 . The computer implemented method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein one of the encoding methods Triple-DES, IDEA, CAST-128, Blowfish, RC5, f8, or Rijndael is used for the symmetric encoding method. 
   
   
       6 . A product control sequence affixed to or on a product piece, comprising:
 (a) an encoded check sequence or a sequence derived from the encoded check sequence, wherein the encoded check sequence is generated on a computer specifically for the product piece by encoding:
 (i) a product-specific identification sequence or 
 (ii) a sequence derived from the product-specific identification sequence, 
 wherein, said encoding is performed with the aid of a symmetric encoding method and using a secret encoding sequence; and 
   (b) a hash sequence, wherein the hash sequence is generated on said computer using a hash method and the encoded check sequence or a sequence derived from the encoded check sequence.   
   
   
       7 . The product control sequence as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the product control sequence comprises the product-specific identification sequence in addition to the encoded check sequence or the sequence derived from the encoded check sequence. 
   
   
       8 . The product control sequence as defined in  claim 6 , wherein a serial number for the product piece is used for the product-specific identification sequence. 
   
   
       9 . The product control sequence as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the product-specific identification sequence is converted prior to the encoding with a hash method to a hash sequence, wherein the encoded check sequence is generated by encoding the hash sequence derived from product-specific identification sequence with the secret encoding sequence. 
   
   
       10 . The product control sequence as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the product control sequence is affixed to the product piece in the form of an alphanumeric character string. 
   
   
       11 . The product control sequence as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the product control sequence is affixed to the product piece in a machine-readable form. 
   
   
       12 . The product control sequence as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the product control sequence is affixed to the product piece as visually readable text. 
   
   
       13 . The product control sequence as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the product control sequence is affixed to a document enclosed with the product piece or is affixed to a packaging for the product piece. 
   
   
       14 . A combination comprising a product piece and a product control sequence affixed on or to the product piece, wherein the product control sequence comprises:
 (a) an encoded check sequence or a sequence derived from the encoded check sequence, wherein the encoded check sequence is generated on a computer specifically for the product piece by encoding:
 (i) a product-specific identification sequence or 
 (ii) a sequence derived from the product-specific identification sequence, 
 wherein, said encoding is performed with the aid of a symmetric encoding method and using a secret encoding sequence; and 
   (b) a hash sequence, wherein the hash sequence is generated on said computer using a hash method and the encoded check sequence or a sequence derived from the encoded check sequence.   
   
   
       15 . The combination as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the product control sequence comprises the product-specific identification sequence in addition to the encoded check sequence or the sequence derived from the encoded check sequence. 
   
   
       16 . The combination as defined in  claim 14 , wherein a serial number for the product piece is used for the product-specific identification sequence. 
   
   
       17 . The combination as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the product-specific identification sequence is converted prior to the encoding with a hash method to a hash sequence, wherein the encoded check sequence is generated by encoding the hash sequence derived from product-specific identification sequence with the secret encoding sequence. 
   
   
       18 . The combination as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the product control sequence is affixed to the product piece in the form of an alphanumeric character string. 
   
   
       19 . The combination as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the product control sequence is affixed to the product piece in a machine-readable form. 
   
   
       20 . The combination as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the product control sequence is affixed to the product piece as visually readable text. 
   
   
       21 . The combination as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the product control sequence is affixed to a document enclosed with the product piece or is affixed to a packaging for the product piece.