US 6,547,137 B1 · System for distribution and control of merchandise

Abstract

An inventory and tracking system based on a labeling system is disclosed. Labels are provided for affixation to the product or product container. Each label includes, in addition to the standard information associated the product, a hologram associated with the product and a machine readable code. The machine readable code on each unit of product includes at least one set of unique machine readable identifiers that uniquely identifies each product unit. In addition, the hologram can include the trademark of the manufacturer or supplier, to permit the consumer to ascertain at a glance that the product originates from a source of known quality. The label on each unit is scanned before shipment and the destination of each unit of product is entered and stored. As the units of product are distributed through the distribution chain, the units are scanned, the destinations are stored and the information on the destination of the individual units of product are provided to the manufacturer, who maintains a master database that cross-references the machine readable identifier with the location of the product unit in the distribution chain. This master database also provides a historical record of the transit of each unit through the distribution chain. With this information in the master database, the manufacturer can determine the point at which the product entered the stream of commerce and whether or not the product entered the stream of commerce through an authorized source of distribution. Also, the manufacturer can quickly determine from the holographic label whether the product is authentic. The presence or absence of the unique machine readable identifier and hologram can confirm the product's authenticity or lack thereof.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A system for tracking items of merchandise through a plurality of locations in a stream of commerce comprising

a database, said database storing identification information on each of said items of merchandise and location information on each of said items of merchandise;
a label attached to each of said items of merchandise, said label including a hologram and a machine readable code having said identification information on said item of merchandise from said database;
means for scanning at each location in said stream of commerce said machine readable code on said label attached to said item of merchandise to obtain said identification information on said item of merchandise;
means for transmitting from each location in said stream of commerce to said database said scanned identification information and location information on said location in said stream of commerce;
means for updating said database to include said transmitted location information on said location in said stream of commerce for said scanned identification information;
and
means for tracking said item of merchandise having identification information using said transmitted location information in said database.

4 more elements

A method for tracking items of merchandise through a plurality of locations in a distribution chain, said method comprising the steps of:

attaching, at an initial location in the distribution chain, a label to each item of merchandise, the label including a hologram and a machine readable code having identification information on the item of merchandise;
scanning, at the initial location, the machine readable code having identification information on the label of each item of merchandise;
recording in a database the scanned identification information on each item of merchandise at the initial location in the distribution chain;
recording for each item of merchandise in the database destination information on a location in the distribution chain to receive the item of merchandise;
scanning at a location in the distribution chain the machine readable code having identification information on the label of each item of merchandise received at the location in the distribution chain;
updating the database with the scanned identification information on each item of merchandise received at the location in the distribution chain to indicate that each item of merchandise received at the location in the distribution chain is located at the location in the distribution chain;
and
repeating said steps scanning at a location in the distribution chain and updating the database for each location in the distribution chain to receive an item of merchandise.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System for distribution and control of merchandise

Life of this patent

System for distribution and control of merchandise

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15