Claims
- 1. A method of reconciling a product unit, comprising the steps of:
- affixing a sheet of material to a product unit with hidden data disposed between said sheet of material and said product unit;
- separating said sheet of material from said product unit;
- defacing said product unit to render it unsaleable;
- exposing said hidden data;
- entering said hidden data into a computer;
- confirming validity of said hidden data; and
- providing reconciliation credit for entry of valid hidden data.
- 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
- entering batch data information assigned to a group of product units; and
- determining whether said product unit is in said group of units and carries valid hidden data by comparing said hidden data with said batch data.
- 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing said sheet of material manufactured of paper.
- 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing said sheet of material manufactured of plastic.
- 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing said sheet of material manufactured of cloth.
- 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of gluing said sheet of material to said product unit.
- 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of heat-sealing said sheet of material to said product unit.
- 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a pack of cigarettes as said product unit.
- 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a greeting card as said product unit.
- 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a drug package as said product unit.
- 11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing said hidden data printed and affixed to said sheet of material.
- 12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing said hidden data printed and affixed to said product unit.
- 13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing said hidden data carried in a magnetic storage means.
- 14. A method of reconciling a product unit, comprising the steps of:
- affixing hidden data to a product unit;
- defacing said product unit to render it unsaleable;
- exposing said hidden data;
- entering said hidden data into a computer;
- confirming validity of said hidden data; and
- providing reconciliation credit for entry of valid hidden data.
- 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:
- entering batch data information assigned to a group of product units; and
- determining whether said product unit is in said group of units and carries valid hidden data by comparing said hidden data with said batch data.
- 16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of providing a pack of cigarettes as said product unit.
- 17. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of providing a greeting card as said product unit.
- 18. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of providing a drug package as said product unit.
- 19. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of providing photographic film as said product unit.
- 20. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of providing said hidden data affixed to said product unit.
- 21. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of providing said hidden data affixed to packaging of said product unit.
- 22. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of providing said hidden data carried in a magnetic storage means.
- 23. An automated product unit reconciliation system, comprising:
- a product unit;
- a sheet of material having a first side and a second side, said first side being affixed to said product unit;
- hidden information means disposed between said sheet and said product unit for reconciling said product unit with its manufacturer;
- means for removing said sheet of material from said product unit;
- means for irreparably defacing said product unit upon removal of said sheet of material from said product unit rendering said product unit unsaleable;
- means for receiving said hidden information means;
- means for confirming validity of said hidden information means; and
- means for providing reconciliation credit upon receipt of a valid hidden information means.
- 24. The system of claim 23, wherein said sheet of material is manufactured of paper.
- 25. The system of claim 23, wherein said sheet of material is manufactured of plastic.
- 26. The system of claim 23, wherein said sheet of material is manufactured of cloth.
- 27. The system of claim 23, wherein said sheet of material is affixed to said product unit by glue.
- 28. The system of claim 23, wherein said sheet of material is heat-sealed to said product unit.
- 29. The system of claim 23, wherein said product unit is a pack of cigarettes.
- 30. The system of claim 23, wherein said product unit is a greeting card.
- 31. The system of claim 23, wherein said product unit is a drug package.
- 32. The system of claim 23, wherein said information means is printed data on said first side of said sheet of material.
- 33. The system of claim 23, wherein said information means is printed data on said product unit.
- 34. The system of claim 23, wherein said information means is carried by magnetic storage means.
- 35. The system of claim 23, further comprising:
- means for grouping a plurality of product units into a single lot;
- unconcealed information means disposed on said means for grouping;
- means for receiving said hidden information means
- means for receiving said unconcealed information means;
- means for comparing said hidden information means to said unconcealed information means;
- means for confirming validity of said hidden information means; and
- means for providing reconciliation credit upon receipt of a valid hidden information means.
- 36. An automated product unit reconciliation system, comprising:
- a product unit;
- hidden information means on said product unit for reconciling said product unit with its manufacturer;
- means for revealing said hidden information means;
- means for irreparably defacing said product unit upon revealing said hidden information means rendering said product unit unsaleable;
- means for receiving said hidden information means;
- means for confirming validity of said hidden information means; and
- means for providing reconciliation credit upon receipt of a valid hidden information means.
- 37. The system of claim 36, wherein said product unit is a pack of cigarettes.
- 38. The system of claim 36, wherein said product unit is a greeting card.
- 39. The system of claim 36, wherein said product unit is a drug package.
- 40. The system of claim 36, wherein said product unit is photographic film.
- 41. The system of claim 36, wherein said information means is printed data on said product unit.
- 42. The system of claim 36, wherein said information means is printed data on packaging of said product unit.
- 43. The system of claim 36, wherein said information means is carried by magnetic storage means.
- 44. The system of claim 36, further comprising:
- means for grouping a plurality of product units into a single lot;
- unconcealed information means disposed on said means for grouping;
- means for receiving said hidden information means;
- means for receiving said unconcealed information means;
- means for comparing said hidden information means to said unconcealed information means;
- means for confirming validity of said hidden information means; and
- means for providing reconciliation credit upon receipt of a valid hidden information means.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/157,418 filed on Nov. 26, 1993, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (8)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
157418 |
Nov 1993 |
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