Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §§ 119, 120 of U.S. provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/661,105, filed Mar. 11, 2005 and U.S. non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 11/376,639, filed Mar. 10, 2006, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Currently, supply chain management is a cross-functional approach to manage the movement of raw materials into an organization, the internal processing of materials into finished goods, and the movement of finished goods out of the organization toward the end-consumer. As organizations strive to focus on core competencies and become more flexible, they have reduced their ownership of raw materials sources and distribution channels. Increasingly, these functions are being outsourced to other entities that can perform the activities better or more cost effectively. The effect is to increase the number of organizations involved in satisfying customer demand, while reducing management control of daily logistics operations. The purpose of supply chain management is to improve trust and collaboration among supply chain partners, thus improving inventory visibility and improving inventory velocity. However, traditional systems and methods of managing supply chains are inherently complex and problematic. 
         [0003]    For example, with global trade, sellers are having products manufactured all over the world. One month products may be manufactured in a first country because of the supply and availability of certain raw materials or critical components. The next month those same products may be manufactured in a different facility in a different country because of, for example, changes in tariffs, regional conflicts, custom problems, transportation costs to move products from a manufacturer to a remote retailer, raw material shortages, quality control issues identified for a given manufacturing location, labor strikes, labor costs, etc. 
         [0004]    Additional problems are created when individuals or entities attempt to counterfeit the goods and pass them off as authentic products in the stream of commerce. Consumers may not know whether a product is authentic or counterfeit. Consumers who accidentally purchase counterfeit goods may become upset after learning that the item is counterfeit, defective, or inferior in quality to the authentic products. Counterfeit goods may also cause consumer harm in situations such as, for example, lead paint on infant goods or ineffective pharmaceutical products. When attempting to return the counterfeit item to the manufacturer, the consumer may become frustrated if the manufacturer will not accept the return. Alternatively, if the consumer believes that that counterfeit product was authentic, the consumer may incorrectly assume that the manufacturer&#39;s quality is poor and its reputation may suffer. 
         [0005]    Still other problems may be caused by globalization and complex supply chains. One such problem is product diversion. Often diversion is a civil contractual problem in the United States resulting from a sale outside the authorized store or class of trade for which the authentic products were intended. For instance, if a manufacturer sells authentic product to a high-end retail store, a contractual clause may prevent the retailer from diverting any excess authentic product to a low-end discount store. Oftentimes, these types of provisions are intended to protect brand or trade name reputation, which could be tarnished if the authentic products were sold in a low-end discount store. Nonetheless, if diverted product is found in a low-end discount store, it may be difficult to identify the high-end retailer from whom the authentic product was off loaded or diverted. 
         [0006]    Yet other problems may arise even when a customer purchased authentic product and is pleased with it. For example, a customer may purchase high-quality apparel. After years of successful and pleasant use of the product, it may become damaged or worn out. The customer may then wish to purchase the same product again as a replacement. However, retailer or distributor information may not be present on the product or easily accessible. Consequently, the customer may be unable to determine from where replacement product of like or similar kind may be purchased. Similarly, the customer may not know whether associated products complementing the high quality apparel exist and, if so, from where they may be procured. Furthermore, manufacturers often have no way of knowing who the customers are who purchased the authentic products, let alone those customers who purchased the products and are pleased with them. Consequently, there is often a disconnect between manufacturers, retailers, and/or customers in view of globalization. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of various aspects and embodiments of the invention. The summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is neither intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention nor to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts and sample embodiments of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the description provided herein. 
         [0008]    In one embodiment, a plurality of unique identification codes may be provided. Preferably, only one code is assigned to any given item of commerce such as, for example, apparel, other softgoods, packaging, containers, devices, etc. A plurality of assignment devices (e.g. printers, etc.) may assign the codes to a plurality of items of commerce through direct printing or direct writing. Alternatively, a plurality of assignment devices (e.g., printers, etc.) to assign the codes to a plurality of items of commerce through printing to or writing the codes on tag-like items such as, for example, tags, labels, tickets, stickers, hang tags, price tickets, woven labels, heat transfer labels, woven neck labels, care labels, and security labels. Any number of assignment devices (e.g. printers, etc.) may be used. The assignment devices may be located at the same location or at any number of different geographical locations. Each unique identification code corresponds to only one item of commerce. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, one or more servers assign and keep track of the unique identification codes. The server(s) may store the codes on computer-readable media in one or more databases, data stores, separate files, or as metadata. 
         [0010]    In a further embodiment, one or more servers communicate with the printers through a wide area network (WAN) such as, for example, the Internet. A cellular carrier network may also be used in addition to the WAN or instead of it. The printers may utilize network interface cards and local routers or switching equipment such that they may be in direct communication with the servers. Alternatively, one or more computers local to the printers and connected to them through a local area network (LAN) may function as intermediaries. 
         [0011]    In still another embodiment, information may be provided from the printers or computers local thereto back to the server(s). The information may identify which unique identification code was associated with which item of commerce. 
         [0012]    In yet another embodiment, additional information for a unique identification code or the tag-like item to which it was assigned may include: authenticity information, checkpoint information, contract number, country of origin, creation date, customs information, consumer identification information, drawings, EPC number, geographical location, invoice number, item size, item type, location in supply chain, manufacturing date, manufacturing location, notes, photographs, purchase order number, quality control information, retailer information, SKU number, videos, or any other type of information or metadata relating to the particular identification code, tag-like item, or item of commerce. 
         [0013]    In various embodiments, the unique identification codes may be human readable, machine readable, or both. Any type of unique identification code may be used so long as each code is truly unique and is only associated with a single item of commerce. An example of unique identification code is an electronic product code (EPC). 
         [0014]    In various embodiments, the assignment devices may be radio frequency identification printers, radio frequency identification readers/encoders, bar code printers, digital presses, laser printers, thermal printers, inkjet printers, and/or any combination thereof. 
         [0015]    In a further embodiment, one or more servers may receive inquiries, such as an inquiry about a specific unique identification code or the item of commerce to which it was assigned. A server may then use the inquiry to reference in the database, data store, file, or metadata information relating to the item of commerce. In one embodiment, the inquiry and response thereto may be transmitted through a WAN. In another embodiment, the inquiry and response thereto may be transmitted through a carrier network (e.g., a network operated by a mobile network operator, a carriage service provider, a wireless service provider, wireless carrier, mobile phone operator, or cellular company) and then through the WAN. 
         [0016]    In other embodiments, one or more handheld devices may be used to make inquiries regarding one or more unique identification codes or the items of commerce to which they correspond. Sample handheld devices include cellular phones, personal digital assistants, RFID readers, RFID readers/writers, barcode scanners, notebook computers, laptop computers, tablet pcs, or other handheld devices. The handheld devices may communicate with the server(s) through a WAN, carrier network, or both. 
         [0017]    In various embodiments, the handheld devices may receive an identification of the unique identification code from the tag-like item for an item of commerce by reading a radio frequency identification, scanning a barcode, performing optical character recognition, allowing manual entry of the code through a keyboard, or by using any other reading or entry method. 
         [0018]    In one embodiment, responses to inquiries may be provided directly by one or more servers. The responses may be pre-determined based on the desires of a manufacturer, distributor, retailer, or other authorized entity. Alternatively, the responses may be dynamic based on the nature of the inquiry and the contents of the database(s) for the item of commerce. Still another option is for the server(s) to relay inquiries to the manufacturer, distributor, retailer, or other authorized entity in order for them to provide a direct response to the person or entity making the inquiry. 
         [0019]    In still a further embodiment, a customer or user may be allowed to register with the server(s). Information may be entered a single time in order to capture information supplied by the customer such as name, address, e-mail address, geographical location, gender, phone numbers, etc. By registering a single time, the server(s) may be able to automatically recognize the customer or user whenever an inquiry is made. This obviates the need for repetitive registrations or repetitive entry of information by the customers, thereby improving the user experience. Customers may be identified automatically by their phone number, IP address, login, etc. The server(s) may provide this information to manufacturers, distributors, retailers, or other authorized entities, if desired. 
         [0020]    Additional features and advantages of the invention will be apparent upon reviewing the following detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not limited in the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements. 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a suitable operating environment in which various aspects of the disclosure may be implemented. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  depicts a sample LAN, WAN, and/or carrier network topology for printing or assigning unique identification codes to items of commerce in which various aspects of the disclosure may be implemented. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  shows an example of a computer-readable medium with computer-executable instructions and/or data stored thereon that may be used as a part of or in conjunction with computers, servers, assignment devices, and/or handheld devices in which various aspects of the disclosure may be implemented. 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  depicts a sample LAN, WAN, and/or carrier network topology in which a handheld device may be utilized to read or enter a unique identification code as well as upload and/or download information pertaining to the corresponding item of commerce. 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a flow diagram that demonstrates how unique identification codes may be assigned to items of commerce in accordance with the distributed topology of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a flow diagram that illustrates how handheld devices may be used to read or enter unique identification codes as well as upload and/or download information pertaining to items of commerce such as, for example, as shown in the topology of  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]    In accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, printer systems and methods are illustrated for facilitating global tracking of products in a supply chain; enabling authentication of products by manufacturers, inspectors, retailers, and customers; and helping manufacturers, distributors or retailers to connect with customers before a product sale, at the time of a product sale, and post-sale. 
         [0029]    Various aspects of the present invention are preferably implemented in conjunction with one or more computers, one or more handheld devices, one or more networks, and a plurality of assignment devices (e.g., printers, etc.). An exemplary operating environment for a typical computer that may be used in conjunction with the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1  along with a server, various types of networks, and handheld devices. An overview of the relationship between the computers, handheld devices, networks, and assignment devices (e.g., printers, etc.) is provided in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a computer  100  is connected to a local area network (LAN)  102  and a wide area network (WAN)  104 . Computer  100  includes a central processor  110  that controls the overall operation of the computer and a system bus  112  that connects central processor  110  to the components described below. System bus  112  may be implemented with any one of a variety of conventional bus architectures. 
         [0031]    Computer  100  can include a variety of interface units and drives for reading and writing data or files. In particular, computer  100  includes a local memory interface  114  and a removable memory interface  116  respectively coupling a hard disk drive  118  and a removable memory drive  120  to system bus  112 . Examples of removable memory drives include magnetic disk drives  122  and optical disk drives such as CDs, DVDs, HD-DVDs, Blu-Ray DVDs, and other optical media. Hard disks generally include one or more read/write heads that convert bits to magnetic pulses when writing to a computer-readable medium and magnetic pulses to bits when reading data from the computer readable medium. A single hard disk drive  118  and a single removable memory drive  120  are shown for illustration purposes only and with the understanding that computer  100  may include several of such drives. Furthermore, computer  100  may include drives for interfacing with other types of computer readable media such as magneto-optical drives. 
         [0032]    Unlike hard disks, system memories, such as system memory  126 , generally read and write data electronically and do not include read/write heads. System memory  126  may be implemented with a conventional system memory having a read only memory section that stores a basic input/output system (BIOS) and a random access memory (RAM) that stores other data and files. 
         [0033]    A user can interact with computer  100  with a variety of input devices.  FIG. 1  shows a serial port interface  128  coupling a keyboard  130  and a pointing device  132  to system bus  112 . Pointing device  132  may be implemented with a hard-wired or wireless mouse, track ball, pen device, or similar device. 
         [0034]    Computer  100  may include additional interfaces for connecting peripheral devices to system bus  112 .  FIG. 1  shows a universal serial bus (USB) interface  134  coupling a video or digital camera  136  to system bus  112 . An IEEE 1394 interface  138  may be used to couple additional devices to computer  100 . Furthermore, interface  138  may configured to operate with particular manufacture interfaces such as FireWire developed by Apple Computer and i.Link developed by Sony. Peripheral devices may include touch sensitive screens, scanners, assignment devices, printers, and other input and output devices and may be coupled to system bus  112  through parallel ports, game ports, PCI boards or any other interface used to couple peripheral devices to a computer. 
         [0035]    Computer  100  also includes a video adapter  140  coupling a display device  142  to system bus  112 . Display device  142  may include a cathode ray tube (CRT), liquid crystal display (LCD), field emission display (FED), plasma display or any other device that produces an image that is viewable by the user. Sound can be recorded and reproduced with a microphone  144  and a speaker  146 . A sound card  148  may be used to couple microphone  144  and speaker  146  to system bus  112 . 
         [0036]    One skilled in the art will appreciate that the device connections shown in  FIG. 1  are for illustration purposes only and that several of the peripheral devices could be coupled to system bus  112  via alternative interfaces. For example, video camera  136  could be connected to IEEE 1394 interface  138  and pointing device  132  could be connected to USB interface  134 . 
         [0037]    Computer  100  includes a network interface  150  that couples system bus  112  to LAN  102 . LAN  102  may have one or more of the well-known LAN topologies and may use a variety of different protocols, such as any Ethernet standard like, for instance, IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n. Computer  100  may communicate with other computers and devices connected to LAN  102 , such as computer  152  and printer  154 . Computers and other devices may be connected to LAN  102  via twisted pair wires, coaxial cable, fiber optics or other media. Alternatively, radio waves may be used to connect one or more computers or devices to LAN  102 . 
         [0038]    A wide area network  104 , such as the Internet, can also be accessed by computer  100 .  FIG. 1  shows a modem unit  156  connected to serial port interface  128  and to WAN  104 . Modem unit  156  may be located within or external to computer  100  and may be any type of conventional modem, such as a cable modem or a satellite modem. LAN  102  may also be used to connect to WAN  104 .  FIG. 1  shows a router  158  that may connect LAN  102  to WAN  104  in a conventional manner. A server  160  is shown connected to WAN  104 . Of course, numerous additional servers, computers, handheld devices, RFID readers or RFID reader/writers  170 , bar code scanners  172 , notebook computers  166 , tablet pcs  168 , personal digital assistants  164 , cellular telephones  162  and other devices may also be connected to LAN  102  or WAN  104  either directly or through a mobile or wireless carrier network  105 . Similarly, any handheld device may have included therein or as an attached device or module: RFID reading or writing, bar code scanning, camera, video, keyboard, text messaging, and/or optical character recognition functionality. 
         [0039]    The operation of computer  100  and server  160  can be controlled by computer-executable instructions stored on a computer-readable medium  300 . For example, computer  100  may include computer-executable instructions for transmitting information to server  160 , receiving information from server  160  and displaying the received information on display device  142 . Furthermore, server  160  may include computer-executable instructions for transmitting hypertext markup language (HTML) or extensible markup language (XML) computer code to computer  100 . 
         [0040]    As noted above, the term “network” as used herein and depicted in the drawings should be broadly interpreted to include not only systems in which remote storage devices are coupled together via one or more communication paths, but also stand-alone devices that may be coupled, from time to time, to such systems that have storage capability. Consequently, the term “network” includes not only a “physical network”  102 ,  104 ,  105  but also a “content network,” which is comprised of the data—attributable to a single entity—which resides across all physical networks. 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , any number of assignment devices (e.g., printers, etc.)  202 - 208  may be at a first location and may be coupled to WAN  104  either directly (not shown) or indirectly through LAN  200  or carrier network  105 . The coupling may be hard wired or wireless. Similarly, any number of printers  212 - 218  may be in one or more other locations and may be coupled to WAN  104  either directly (not shown) or indirectly through LAN  210  or carrier network  105  (not shown). 
         [0042]    The printers  202 - 208  and  212 - 218  may be radio frequency identification encoders/readers, radio frequency identification printers, bar code printers, digital presses, laser printers, thermal printers, inkjet printers, or any combination thereof. In addition, printers  202 - 208  and  212 - 218  may have wired or wireless network interface cards and may also include a processor as well as internal memory. 
         [0043]    If desired, LAN  200  and  210  may also include routers  158 , switching equipment, and/or local computers such as personal computer  152 . These items may be provided in order to facilitate communication with the WAN  104 . Additionally or alternatively, these items may allow local control of the printers. 
         [0044]    In some embodiments, the printers  202 - 208 ,  212 - 218  may be configured such that they are only allowed to print or write a unique identification code a single time. Alternatively, the server(s)  160  or local computer(s)  152  may allow the printers  202 - 208  and  212 - 218  to reprint or rewrite a tag-like item in the event of a printing or writing error. 
         [0045]    Information pertaining to the unique identification code that is assigned to an item of commerce may be captured automatically by printers  202 - 208  and  212 - 218  through vision system or by using other automation equipment. Alternatively, information may be entered manually in local computer(s)  152 . Examples of information that may be captured or entered include: the item of commerce to which the code was assigned, the tag-like item on which it was printed, authenticity information, checkpoint information, contract number, country of origin, creation date, customs information, consumer identification information, drawings, EPC number, geographical location, invoice number, item size, item type, location in supply chain, manufacturing date, manufacturing location, notes, photographs, purchase order number, quality control information, retailer information, SKU number, videos, or any other type of information or metadata relating to the particular identification code, tag-like item, or item of commerce. The information may then be communicated back to the server  160  through the WAN  104 , carrier network  105 , LAN  200  or  210 , or any combination thereof. 
         [0046]      FIG. 3  shows an example of a computer-readable medium with computer-executable instructions and/or data stored thereon that may be used as a part of or in conjunction with computers, servers, printers, and/or handheld devices. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the information may be stored on computer-readable medium  300  or on a plurality of such media  300 . The medium or media  300  may be network attached storage or integral with server(s)  160 . The information may be stored together or separately in one or more databases  302 , files  304 , data stores 306, or as metadata  308 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 4  depicts a sample LAN, WAN, and/or carrier network topology in which a handheld device may be utilized to read or enter a unique identification code  406  as well as upload and/or download information pertaining to an item of commerce  402 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , customers, users, inspectors, representatives or other authorized personnel  400  may utilize a handheld device such as, for example, RFID readers or RFID reader/writers  170 , bar code scanners  172 , notebook computers  166 , personal digital assistants  164 , tablet pcs  168 , cellular telephones (with or without cameras)  162  or other devices to capture automatically or to enter manually the unique identification code  406  from a tag-like item  404  for an item of commerce  402 . This may be accomplished, for example, by reading from a tag-like item  404  with the unique identification code  406  printed or stored thereon by reading a radio frequency identification, reading a barcode, performing optical character recognition, allowing manual entry of the code through a keyboard, or by using any other reading or entry method. 
         [0048]    The unique identification code  406  may then be transmitted wirelessly from the handheld device or through a personal computer to carrier network  105 , LAN  102 , and/or WAN  104  in order to be communicated as an inquiry to server  160 . Optionally, the user may be allowed to register one or more times, or may not have to register at all. Ideally, the user  400  would register a single time. 
         [0049]    Based on the unique identification code  406  received as an inquiry by the server  160 , information may be provided to the user  400  in order to determine whether the item of commerce  402  is authentic, has been diverted, whether accessories, additional products, or replacement products are available and, if so, where they can be found. Advertising or other product information may be provided as well. 
         [0050]    Similarly, authorized users  400  may also be able to upload to the server  160  information about the item of commerce  402 . This is particularly helpful in the event that diverted or counterfeit product is located. Any such product could be flagged in by the server  160  in the computer-readable media  300  and could be used to track the source of the problem. It is also helpful to facilitate tracking of the item of commerce  402  in the supply chain as well as to memorialize any identified quality control issues. The uploaded information may be in the form of text, audio, and/or video. The uploaded information may be accessible by server  160  and may be stored on computer-readable medium  300  or linked thereto. 
         [0051]    Responses from the server  160  to inquiries made by handheld devices may be provided directly the server and may be pre-determined based on the desires of a manufacturer, distributor, retailer, or other authorized entity. Alternatively, the responses may be dynamic based on the nature of the inquiry and the contents of the database(s) for the item of commerce. Another option is for a server  160  to route or relay an inquiry for an item of commerce  402  to the appropriate manufacturer, distributor, retailer, or other authorized entity in order for them to provide a response to the person  400  making the inquiry. The response may be provided directly from the manufacturer, distributor, retailer, or authorized entity to the person  400 . Or, the response may be routed or relayed from the manufacturer, distributor, retailer, or authorized entity through the server  160  to the person  400 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 5  is a flow diagram that demonstrates how unique identification codes may be assigned to items of commerce in accordance with the distributed topology of  FIG. 2  or any other desired configuration. Unique identification codes may be allocated by one or more servers  500  in blocks of codes or individually. If desired, the allocations of unique identification codes may be stored  502  by the server(s) on a computer-readable medium. 
         [0053]    The unique identification codes may be then transmitted  504  to printers  202 - 208 ,  212 - 218 . This communication  504  may be made from one or more servers  160 , through a WAN  104 , through a LAN  200 ,  210 , and to printers  202 - 208 ,  212 - 218 . In such a configuration, the LAN  200  may include router(s), switch(es), computers, and/or servers in communication with and/or in control of printers  202 - 208 . Alternatively, the communication  504  may be made directly from one or more servers  160  through a WAN  104  directly to printers  202 - 208 ,  212 - 218 . 
         [0054]    In some embodiments, printers  202 - 208  and  212 - 218  may be limited and only allowed to print or write a unique identification code a single time. This would eliminate any possibility of duplicate codes being printed or assigned to different items of commerce. In other embodiments, printers  202 - 208  and  212 - 218  may be controlled locally and/or a local override may be provided in order to print again a unique identification code if an error occurred during an initial print or write attempt. 
         [0055]    Either way, printers  202 - 208 ,  212 - 218  receive the unique identification codes  506 . Each code is then printed and/or written on a tag-like item  508  for a single item of commerce. 
         [0056]    Information pertaining to the unique identification code, tag-like item, or item of commerce to which the code was assigned may be captured automatically, assigned automatically or dynamically by the assignment devices, or entered manually  512 . Sample information includes, but is not limited to, authenticity information, checkpoint information, contract number, country of origin, creation date, customs information, consumer identification information, drawings, EPC number, geographical location, invoice number, item size, item type, location in supply chain, manufacturing date, manufacturing location, notes, photographs, purchase order number, quality control information, retailer information, SKU number, and videos. Some or all of the information may be transmitted to one or more servers  514 . 
         [0057]    The tag-like item may be affixed an item of commerce  510  in various manners, depending on whether the tag-like item is a tag, label, ticket, sticker, hang tag, price ticket, woven label, heat transfer label, woven neck label, care label, or security label. Similarly, in direct print applications, the unique identification code may be printed on an item of commerce  510  in various manners depending on whether the item of commerce is apparel, other softgood, a container, packaging, device etc. 
         [0058]    Any remaining manufacturing or processing may be completed and the item of commerce may be inserted into the supply chain  516 . 
         [0059]      FIG. 6  illustrates how handheld devices may be used to read or enter unique identification codes as well as upload and/or download information pertaining to items of commerce such as, for example, as shown in the topology of  FIG. 4 . 
         [0060]    In particular, a handheld device may be used to identify automatically or to manually enter a unique identification code  600  for an item of commerce. In addition, information pertaining to the item of commerce may be captured or entered by the handheld device. 
         [0061]    The code as well as any captured or entered information may then be transmitted to the server  602 . If information is to be stored by the server  604 , then the uploaded information may be stored on one or more computer-readable media  300  in database(s)  302 , file(s)  304 , as data store(s)  306 , or as metadata  308 . 
         [0062]    If information was requested from the server and is therefore to be provided in response  608 , the appropriate data may be accessed by the server and transmitted in response to the request  610 . 
         [0063]    If information is to be provided regarding another entity  612  such as, for example, by a manufacturer, distributor, or advertiser, the server may transmit pre-determined information provided by any of those entities in response to the request  614 . 
         [0064]    Alternatively, the server may relay or route any such request to the manufacturer, distributor, advertiser, or other designated entity in order to provide a response. The response may be provided directly from manufacturer, distributor, advertiser, or other designated entity to the handheld device. Or, the response may be routed from the manufacturer, distributor, advertiser, or other designated entity to the server, which may then forward the response on to the handheld device. 
         [0065]    Persons of skill in the art will understand how various aspects of the present invention may be used to allocate and control the assignment of a single unique identification code to a single item of commerce. The code may be printed a plurality of times, if desired, however each tag-like item on which the code is printed is to be applied to the same item of commerce. This helps provide global tracking of the item of commerce in the supply chain from manufacturing, through distribution, through sales, and even post-sale. 
         [0066]    For example, as the item of commerce is moved through a supply chain, the codes may be read and information regarding location may be uploaded to the server. If quality control, counterfeiting, diversion, or other problems arise, information may be uploaded to the server. Persons interested in accessing the information may do so by provide the unique identification code in question for the item of commerce to the server. 
         [0067]    Although the foregoing examples explain how the present invention: could direct print unique identification codes on items of commerce, could apply unique identification codes to tag-like items for items of commerce, could store a variety of information about the codes and items of commerce on server(s), could allow downloading or uploading of content by users with handheld or other devices to information regarding the items of commerce, persons of skill in the art will understand that this concept could also be applied to any type of printing system or product tracking methodology for a supply chain, authentication of products, or connecting of customers with manufacturers, retailers, distributors, or advertisers prior to, at the time of, or after the sale of a product. 
         [0068]    Although not required, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that various aspects described herein may be embodied as a method, a data processing system, or as one or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions. Accordingly, those aspects may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. In addition, various signals representing data or events as described herein may be transferred between a source and a destination in the form of light and/or electromagnetic waves traveling through signal-conducting media such as metal wires, optical fibers, and/or wireless transmission media (e.g., air and/or space). 
         [0069]    Aspects of the invention have been described in terms of illustrative embodiments thereof. Numerous other embodiments, modifications and variations within the scope and spirit of the appended claims will occur to persons of ordinary skill in the art from a review of this disclosure. For example, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the steps illustrated in the illustrative figures may be performed in other than the recited order, and that one or more steps illustrated may be optional in accordance with aspects of the disclosure.

Technology Category: g