Abstract: A system includes a population of items each including a tag, each tag including a plurality of identification bits and a plurality of redundancy bits, and a tag reader configured to read tags and determine the identification bits of at least one unreadable tag in the population based on the identification bits and the redundancy bits of at least one readable tag in the population.

Abstract: A coating for an object having identifying indicia disposed thereon. An ink layer contacts at least a portion of the identifying indicia. The ink layer obscures the portion when exposed to light within a predetermined wavelength range, and the ink layer reveals a predetermined area of the portion when exposed to light outside of the predetermined wavelength range.

Abstract: A wireless network communications unit is operable to transmit and receive data for a host device. The wireless network communications unit includes a wireless network communications interface configured to transmit and receive data using a wireless network protocol when a host device having the wireless network communications unit is turned on. The wireless communications unit also includes a tag component detecting when the host device is turned off. In response to detecting the host device being turned off, the unit enters a tag operational mode wherein the tag component is configured to transmit data identifying the host device via the wireless network interface.

Abstract: A system includes a population of items each including a tag, each tag including a plurality of identification bits and a plurality of redundancy bits, and a tag reader configured to read tags and determine the identification bits of at least one unreadable tag in the population based on the identification bits and the redundancy bits of at least one readable tag in the population.

Abstract: A method of identifying a product includes generating a code unique to the product, said code being provided by a multitude of individual identifiers, applying the multitude of the identifiers of the code to the packaging of the product as a pattern to identify the product. The method also involves applying a sub-set of two or more of the multitude of the identifiers of said code to the product, said sub-set of the multitude of the identifiers of the code being applied so they will be presented in the same pattern order as they appear in the pattern order of the multitude of the identifiers of the code applied to the packaging. The product can be identified with a reasonable likelihood of being a genuine product by determining that a presented pattern order of the sub-set of the multitude of the identifiers applied to the product corresponds to a presented pattern order within the multitude of the identifiers applied to the packaging.

Abstract: A method of authenticating products includes receiving a description of detectable features read from a package. The package includes two or more detectable features, and the detectable features are affixed on the package based on encoded information. Authentication information is provided based on a comparison of the received description to one or more stored package identifiers.

Abstract: A wireless network communications unit is operable to transmit and receive data for a host device. The wireless network communications unit includes a wireless network communications interface configured to transmit and receive data using a wireless network protocol when a host device having the wireless network communications unit is turned on. The wireless communications unit also includes a tag component detecting when the host device is turned off. In response to detecting the host device being turned off, the unit enters a tag operational mode wherein the tag component is configured to transmit data identifying the host device via the wireless network interface.

Abstract: A method of authenticating a package is described. The method includes receiving a read identifier. The read identifier includes information from multiple modes of information storage on a package. Authentication information is provided based on a comparison of the read identifier and one or more stored identifiers.

Abstract: A system for distinguishing a package includes a plurality of identifiers, where at least one of the identifiers is intentionally non-functional. The system also includes an identifier indicator that indicates the identity of the at least one of the identifiers that is intentionally non-functional. In addition, the identifier indicator is stored on at least one of the package and a database and is accessible by a user to authenticate the package.

Abstract: An object identifier for an object is read in a first reading area and a second reading area. A time the object entered the first reading area and a time the object exited the first reading area is determined. Also, a time the object entered the second reading area and a time the object exited the second reading area is determined. A direction of movement of the object is determined based on at least some of the determined times.

Abstract: A system for distinguishing a package includes a plurality of identifiers, where at least one of the identifiers is intentionally non-functional. The system also includes an identifier indicator that indicates the identity of the at least one of the identifiers that is intentionally non-functional. In addition, the identifier indicator is stored on at least one of the package and a database and is accessible by a user to authenticate the package.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of identifying a product involving generating a code unique to the product, said code being provided by a multitude of individual identifiers, applying the multitude of the identifiers of the code to the packaging of the product as a pattern to identify the product. The method also involves applying a sub-set of two or more of the multitude of the identifiers of said code to the product, said sub-set of the multitude of the identifiers of the code being applied so they will be presented in the same pattern order as they appear in the pattern order of the multitude of the identifiers of the code applied to the packaging. The product can be identified with a reasonable likelihood of being a genuine product by determining that a presented pattern order of the sub-set of the multitude of the identifiers applied to the product corresponds to a presented pattern order within the multitude of the identifiers applied to the packaging.

Abstract: Implementations of the present invention provide an authentication method for tagged items. The first portion of the authentication method includes determining an identifier associated with a tag for each of one or more items in a container and hashing the identifiers from the one or more items in the container creating a digest. The second portion of the authentication method is performed after the items are shipped or transferred. This second portion of the authentication method includes determining an identifier associated with a tag for each of the one or more items in a container, hashing the identifiers from the one or more items in the container to create a verification digest, determining if the verification digest matches a digest of the identifiers previously hashed and indicating that the contents of the container may have changed in response to the match determination.