# US 12,217,272 B2 · Systems, methods, and devices for authentication of a product > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,217,272 B2 - Document ID: US12217272B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/063,542 - Filed: 2022-12-08 - Published: 2023-04-06 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2018-06-09 - Assignees: eBay Inc.v - Applicants: eBay Inc. - Inventors: Alan Vinogradov; Barris Vinogradov - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12217272B2 ## CPC - G06Q 30/0185: {Product, service or business identity fraud} - G06F 21/44: Program or device authentication - G06K 19/0723: {the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs} - G06K 19/07758: {arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag} - G06K 19/10: at least one kind of marking being used for authentication, e.g. of credit or identity cards (verification of coded identity or credit cards in mechanisms actuated by them G07F7/12) - G06Q 20/3674: {involving authentication} - G06Q 20/40145: {Biometric identity checks} - G06Q 20/409: {Device specific authentication in transaction processing} - G06K 7/10722: {Photodetector array or CCD scanning} - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS ## Abstract A system, a method, and a device for authentication of a product includes one or more databases configured to store data of one or more products, and a user device communicatively coupled to the databases via a network. The user device includes at least one memory configured to store computer executable instructions, and at least one processor configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to receive, from an authenticator, product search data of the product, and to search the product in the databases based on the product search data. The product is listed by a user for authentication, and the product is authenticated by scanning an authentication tag attached to the product. The authentication tag is pre-programmed and becomes inactive when detached from the product. There is also a dual-purpose device for authenticating a commercial product and associating a brand with the authentication of the product. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An authentication tag comprising: a communication chip and internal circuitry associated with the communication chip; a body that includes a front unit, a rear unit, and an inner unit, the inner unit configured to be placed between the front unit and the rear unit, and the inner unit including the communication chip and the internal circuitry associated with the communication chip; and a strap configured to secure the body of the authentication tag to a product via a pin and tube engagement assembly, wherein the internal circuitry is programmed to cause the communication chip to: communicate an indication of an authenticity of the product to a scanning device when scanned by the scanning device based on the pin and tube engagement assembly being engaged; and suspend the communicating of the indication of the authenticity of the product to the scanning device based on the pin and tube engagement assembly being disengaged. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The authentication tag of claim 1, wherein the communication chip comprises a near-field-communication (NFC) chip. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The authentication tag of claim 2, wherein the communication chip comprises an active NFC chip. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The authentication tag of claim 2, wherein the communication chip comprises a passive NFC chip. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The authentication tag of claim 1, wherein the communication chip comprises a short-range-wireless-communication chip. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The authentication tag of claim 1, wherein detaching the strap from the product disengages the pin and tube engagement assembly causing the internal circuitry to be inoperable. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The authentication tag of claim 1, wherein detaching the strap from the product disengages the pin and tube engagement assembly causing a separate internal circuitry to transmit an error message when the authentication tag is scanned by the scanning device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The authentication tag of claim 7, wherein transmitting the error message to the scanning device causes the error message to be displayed at the scanning device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The authentication tag of claim 1, wherein the front unit and the rear unit of the body define a three-dimensional shape. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The authentication tag of claim 9, wherein the three-dimensional shape comprises one of a sphere, torus, cylinder, cone, cube, cuboid, triangular pyramid, square pyramid, or triangular prism. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The authentication tag of claim 9, wherein a shape of the authentication tag is a disk. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The authentication tag of claim 1, wherein the strap is formed with opposing ends, with a first end being detachably connected to the body, threadable through a part of the product, and reattachable to the body, thereby to couple the body to the product. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The authentication tag of claim 1, wherein to suspend the communicating of the indication of the authenticity of the product causes a message to be displayed at the scanning device when scanned by the scanning device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The authentication tag of claim 1, wherein to communicate the indication of the authenticity of the product to the scanning device when scanned by the scanning device causes data of the product to be displayed by the scanning device, and wherein the data comprises at least one of a type of the product, a color of the product, one or more dimensions of the product, or data associated with a purchase of the product. ### Claim 15 A device comprising: programmable circuitry; a body that encloses the programmable circuitry, wherein the body includes an expanse that can receive and present branding information to associate a brand with an authenticity of a product; and an elongated connector that couples the body to the product via a pin and tube engagement assembly, wherein the programmable circuitry is programmed to: communicate an indication of the authenticity of the product when scanned by a scanning device; and suspend the communicating of the indication of the authenticity of the product to the scanning device based on the pin and tube engagement assembly being disengaged. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The device of claim 15, wherein the body has top, bottom and side surfaces that define a three-dimensional shape. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The device of claim 16, wherein the three-dimensional shape comprises one of a sphere, torus, cylinder, cone, cube, cuboid, triangular pyramid, square pyramid, or triangular prism. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The device of claim 16, wherein the three-dimensional shape is a disc. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The device of claim 15, wherein the elongated connector is formed with opposing ends, with a first end being detachably connected to the body, threadable through a part of the product, and reattachable to the body, thereby to couple the body to the product. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The device of claim 15, wherein to suspend the communicating of the indication of the authenticity of the product causes a message to be displayed at the scanning device when scanned by the scanning device.