Abstract: A method for authenticating a workflow that has one or more designated steps that require authentication of associated resources, the method comprising: using a reader instrument to read at least one security feature uniquely associated resources involved in the workflow; authenticating the security feature, thereby to authenticate its associated resource, and recording authentication information for each designated workflow step.

Abstract: A system for authenticating articles comprising: an authentication manager for managing authentication information associated with the articles; a plurality of secure taggant reader instruments for reading machine readable taggants associated with the articles, the taggants including the authentication or related information, and an instrument configuration manager for secure on-line configuration of the instruments. Each taggant reader instrument is operable to securely process and send authentication information derived from a taggant to the authentication manager. The authentication manager uses the received authentication information to identify suspicious events. When suspicious events are detected, the instrument configuration manager is able to reconfigure at least some of the taggant reader instruments. Reconfiguration may also happen in the event of a product recall and/or taggant security compromise.

Abstract: A product management system for monitoring the movement of products through a supply chain, the system being adapted to receive data from reader devices that capture data associated with the products as they move through the chain. The captured data is used to generate an event record for each product, at each stage in the supply chain. These records are used, together with at least one model of the supply chain, to detect anomalous events.

Abstract: An item handling system comprises an item processing device having input and output stations, a transport system for transporting items from the input station to the output station(s), one or more detectors for sensing one or more respective characteristics of items transported from the input to the output stations, and a communication device coupled with the or each detector for transmitting signals related to the output of the or each detector. A remote monitoring device includes a processor, and a communication device for receiving signals transmitted by the communication device of the item processing device, the processor being adapted to monitor the received signals and to generate an output related to the items being transported.