Abstract: A computer that generates a product tag for a product is described. During operation, the computer may obtain information specifying multiple document locations associated with the product based at least in part on different environmental conditions of the product. Then, the computer may generate the product tag (or additional information specifying the product tag), where the product tag includes location information specifying the document locations. Moreover, given location information is associated with a given functional ink or is associated with a given state of a circuit in the product tag that is responsive to a given environmental condition. Furthermore, the environmental conditions for different functional inks or different states of the circuit are different, such that, at a given time, the product tag presents location information for a given one of the document locations. Next, the computer may provide the additional information specifying the product tag to the electronic device.

Abstract: A computer system that provides feedback information is described. During operation, the computer system may receive, associated with the electronic device, information associated with a portion of an image of a product, where the information specifies an identifier of the product and a location where the image was acquired. For example, the identifier may include a universal unique identifier or may specify a second location in the network. Then, the computer system may determine whether the identifier is authentic. Notably, the authenticity may be determined based at least in part on a geographic constraint on the product and the location. Next, when the identifier is authentic, the computer system may provide, addressed to a second computer, the feedback information about the product, where the second computer is associated with or is included in a supply chain of the product.

Abstract: A computer that performs product authentication is described. During operation, the computer may receive, from the electronic device, a request to authenticate authenticity of a product, where the request includes information specifying the product. Moreover, the computer may determine the authenticity of the product, where the determining includes providing a set of questions addressed to the electronic device and receiving answers to the set of questions associated with the electronic device, and at least some of the questions in the set of questions are dynamically selected based at least in part on at least some of the answers. Furthermore, the computer may provide, addressed to the electronic device, information specifying the determined authenticity.

Abstract: A computer that performs product authentication is described. During operation, the computer may provide, addressed to the electronic device, authentication information for a product, where the authentication information confirms authenticity of the product throughout a fulfillment chain of the product. Note that the fulfillment chain may include display of the product in a document at a location in a network. For example, the document may include a web page or a website. Alternatively or additionally, the authentication information may confirm the authenticity of a displayed instance of the product. Moreover, the authenticity may be invalid when a displayed instance of the product is different from a delivered instance of the product.

Abstract: A computer that performs product authentication is described. During operation, the computer may provide, addressed to the electronic device, information specifying a document at a location in a network, where the document is associated with an online marketplace and comprises second information associated with a product or a service. Moreover, the information may include authentication information that confirms an authenticity of the product or the service, and the authentication is specific (or unique) to the product or the service and the document.

Abstract: A computer system may receive, from an electronic device, an identifier of an object or a label associated with the object. Then, the computer system may determine an authentication score of the object based at least in part on authentication information corresponding to a level in a hierarchical arrangement of levels or operations in a supply or a fulfillment chain of the object. Moreover, in general, the authentication information for the level in the hierarchical arrangement may be based at least in part on container or packaging information of containers or packages in at least a subset of levels below the level in the hierarchical arrangement and second container or packaging information of a given container or a given package in the level. Next, the computer system may provide, to the electronic device, information that specifies whether the object is authentic based at least in part on the authentication score.

Abstract: A computer that generates a product tag for a product is described. During operation, the computer may obtain information specifying multiple document locations associated with the product based at least in part on different environmental conditions of the product. Then, the computer may generate the product tag (or additional information specifying the product tag), where the product tag includes location information specifying the document locations. Moreover, given location information is associated with a given functional ink or is associated with a given state of a circuit in the product tag that is responsive to a given environmental condition. Furthermore, the environmental conditions for different functional inks or different states of the circuit are different, such that, at a given time, the product tag presents location information for a given one of the document locations. Next, the computer may provide the additional information specifying the product tag to the electronic device.

Abstract: A computer device may receive multiple images of instances of a label and timestamps or identifiers of the images, where the instances of the label are associated with a printer. Then, the computer may divide the images into subgroups based at least in part on the timestamps or the identifiers and/or differences between the images, and may train a predictive model using the subgroups and information specifying the printer. For a given subgroup, the predictive model may be associated with a predictive signature. Moreover, the predictive model may have a given image of a given instance of the label as an input, and may provide an identity or an identifier of the given subgroup associated with the given image and the printer as an output. Note that the predictive model may be used to activate and/or authenticate another instance of the label.

Abstract: A computer that generates a product tag for a product is described. During operation, the computer may obtain information specifying multiple document locations associated with the product based at least in part on different environmental conditions of the product. Then, the computer may generate the product tag (or additional information specifying the product tag), where the product tag includes location information specifying the document locations. Moreover, given location information is associated with a given functional ink or is associated with a given state of a circuit in the product tag that is responsive to a given environmental condition. Furthermore, the environmental conditions for different functional inks or different states of the circuit are different, such that, at a given time, the product tag presents location information for a given one of the document locations. Next, the computer may provide the additional information specifying the product tag to the electronic device.

Abstract: A computer that performs authenticity verification is described. During operation, the computer may receive information from an electronic device, where the information specifies an identifier of a product and at least one of: an environment that includes the product, or an individual associated with the product. Then, the computer may access, based at least in part on the identifier, stored second information about the product that specifies: an expected environment, an expected type of individual, and/or a history of the product. Moreover, the computer may determine a product authenticity score based at least in part on a comparison of the information and the second information. Next, the computer may selectively provide a notification to the electronic device based at least in part on the product authenticity score.

Abstract: A computer system is described. This computer system may include: a network interface that communicates with an electronic device (which may be remotely located from the computer system); a processor; and memory that stores program instructions. During operation, the computer system may generate, in a decentralized manner, a globally unique product identifier for a product based at least in part on a smart contract. For example, the smart contract may be based at least in part on a blockchain. Moreover, the globally unique product identifier may be globally authenticated or may be capable of global authentication. Then, the computer system may associate the globally unique product identifier, one-to-one or many-to-one, with a non-fungible token (NFT) based at least in part on the smart contract. Next, the computer system may provide the globally unique product identifier intended for an electronic device associated with a recipient or a client.

Abstract: A computer that generates a product tag for a product is described. During operation, the computer may obtain information specifying multiple document locations associated with the product based at least in part on different environmental conditions of the product. Then, the computer may generate the product tag (or additional information specifying the product tag), where the product tag includes location information specifying the document locations. Moreover, given location information is associated with a given functional ink or is associated with a given state of a circuit in the product tag that is responsive to a given environmental condition. Furthermore, the environmental conditions for different functional inks or different states of the circuit are different, such that, at a given time, the product tag presents location information for a given one of the document locations. Next, the computer may provide the additional information specifying the product tag to the electronic device.

Abstract: There is provide a computing system configured to receive an object identifier and contextual information from an end-user, to compute the object identifier and contextual information based on pre-defined set of rules, to map said object identifier and contextual information to an entry point associated with a specific computer application among a plurality of applications, and to provide access to said specific computer application to said end-user. There is also provided a method to do the same, and a tag for use with a physical object, the tag comprising a redirection identifier embodying a unique identifier of the object and an HTTP address of a server permitting to redirect or provide access to the user to a specific computer application about the object.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes obtaining information about an object at a device; providing at least some of the information to an identification mechanism; obtaining an identifier for the object from the identification service; and using the identifier to access and store information about the object at an information mechanism. The information about the object may be determined from at least one image of the object. The information mechanism may include at least one object information application, and the information mechanism may have an Application Program Interface (API) to the at least one object information application, wherein the device uses the identifier to access the at least one object information application via the API. The identifier may be a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) that is resolvable to the information mechanism.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes, at a device running an application, and in response to a user attempting to enable or use an aspect of said application, using said device to obtain image information about an object, said object including indicia, and said image information comprising information about said indicia; using said image information to ascertain identifier information for an object; providing said identifier information to an authorization service; and responsive to said providing in (c), obtaining a response from said authorization service, said response comprising a credential; and (d) using said credential within said application to enable or use said aspect of said application. The aspect of said application to be enabled or used may be (i) a feature of said application; (ii) an amount of a virtual currency within said application; (iii) a reward within said application; or (iv) a purchase within said application.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes obtaining information about an object at a device; providing at least some of the information to an identification mechanism; obtaining an identifier for the object from the identification service; and using the identifier to access and store information about the object at an information mechanism. The information about the object may be determined from at least one image of the object. The information mechanism may include at least one object information application, and the information mechanism may have an Application Program Interface (API) to the at least one object information application, wherein the device uses the identifier to access the at least one object information application via the API. The identifier may be a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) that is resolvable to the information mechanism.

Abstract: A service type repository is populated with types of services exposed on a network that has a dynamic organization. The services are embedded on one or more devices included in the network and the services providing information about the one or more devices. A query is received that includes a request for a type of service, and the requested type of service is compared to the types of services in the service type repository to select a collection of matching service types that satisfy the request. Active instances of services that have a type included in the collection of matching service types are identified. The active instances are instances of services embedded on one or more devices included in the network. When no active instances are identified, active instances of services that have a type included in the collection of matching service types are discovered.

Abstract: There is provide a computing system configured to receive an object identifier and contextual information from an end-user, to compute the object identifier and contextual information based on pre-defined set of rules, to map said object identifier and contextual information to an entry point associated with a specific computer application among a plurality of applications, and to provide access to said specific computer application to said end-user. There is also provided a method to do the same, and a tag for use with a physical object, the tag comprising a redirection identifier embodying a unique identifier of the object and an HTTP address of a server permitting to redirect or provide access to the user to a specific computer application about the object.

Abstract: A service type repository is populated with types of services exposed on a network that has a dynamic organization. The services are embedded on one or more devices included in the network and the services providing information about the one or more devices. A query is received that includes a request for a type of service, and the requested type of service is compared to the types of services in the service type repository to select a collection of matching service types that satisfy the request. Active instances of services that have a type included in the collection of matching service types are identified. The active instances are instances of services embedded on one or more devices included in the network. When no active instances are identified, active instances of services that have a type included in the collection of matching service types are discovered.