Beverage container authenticity and provenance devices and methods

Abstract

An RFID label and optional secondary security label ensures the authenticity of a beverage contained in a beverage container. The RFID label cannot be removed without destroying the RFID label or rendering it inoperable. A secondary security label may be placed over the closure of the beverage container to provide a secondary measure against tampering as well as a visual indicator of authenticity. It is placed on a portion of the bottle, a portion of the beverage container's closure, and the RFID label. An attempt to remove the secondary security label will also render the RFID label unusable.

1 . A device comprising:
 an RFID tag permanently affixed to a beverage container, wherein the RFID tag is affixed over a closure of the beverage container and at least a portion of the container; and   wherein the RFID tag is disposed whereby the RFID tag is inactivated upon opening the beverage container; and   wherein the RFID tag is inactivated if it is removed from the beverage container.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a security label affixed over at least a portion of the RFID tag, whereby the RFID tag is inactivated if the security label is removed. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a security label affixed over at least a portion of the RFID tag, whereby the security label or a chemical agent associated with the security label in a first visual appearance assumes a second visual appearance if the security label is tampered with or removed. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the beverage container is a wine bottle. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the RFID tag covers a portion of the beverage container in at least two locations to prevent removal of the closure without inactivation of the RFID tag. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the closure is a capsule of a wine bottle. 
   
   
       7 . A method comprising:
 generating a unique electronic product code;   providing an RFID tag that communicates to an RFID reader at least the unique electronic product code;   allowing the RFID tag to be affixed to a beverage container such that the RFID tag is inactivated if it is removed from the beverage container or the beverage container is opened.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the beverage container is a wine bottle. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the electronic product code is correlated to the specific beverage container to which it is affixed. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein at least provenance data is correlated with the electronic product code and the specific beverage container. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the RFID tag is affixed at the origin of the beverage container. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the RFID tag is affixed after the authenticity of the beverage and beverage container are determined. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising allowing a security label to be affixed over at least a portion of the RFID tag, whereby the RFID tag is inactivated if the security label is removed. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising allowing a security label to be affixed over at least a portion of the RFID tag, whereby the security label or a chemical agent associated with the security label in a first visual appearance assumes a second visual appearance if the security label is tampered with or removed. 
   
   
       15 . A method comprising:
 authenticating as genuine a beverage contained in a beverage container;   affixing an RFID tag to the bottle, whereby the RFID is inactivate if the beverage container is opened or if the RFID tag is removed.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the beverage is wine and the beverage container is a wine bottle. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the authentication process comprises filling the beverage container with the beverage and closing the container. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the authentication process comprises a determination of the authenticity of the beverage contained in the beverage container after the beverage container is filled with the beverage and the container is closed. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein a security label is affixed to the RFID tag and at least one of the beverage container and a closure device, whereby the RFID tag is inactivated if the security label is removed. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the security label is placed at least around a circumference of an outer surface of the closure and around a circumference of an outer surface of the beverage container. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the beverage container is a wine bottle and the closure is a capsule. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising a security label affixed over at least a portion of the RFID tag, whereby the security label or a chemical agent associated with the security label in a first visual appearance assumes a second visual appearance if the security label is tampered with or removed.