[0001] The invention relates to a system and a method for validating if a product is an original product or a counterfeiting product. Background of the invention

[0002] Counterfeiters has over the resent years been better and better to copy original products. Accordingly, the risk of getting fooled is increased for manufacture, owner of product brands as well as for costumers.

[0003] To be able to see the difference between an original and a counterfeiting shirt for instance, it has been known in that art to use a specific coloured threat somewhere in the shirt. However, counterfeiters have proven to be able to adapt their copies fast to such visible authentication techniques.

[0004] In the patent literature US20170032382 describes a technique for product authentication which employ both identification tags affixed to products and a central server to validate scanned tag codes. The central server determines, based on database records, whether the code/symbol is genuine and never scanned by another device before.

[0005] In EP3282402 a tag reader device reading the chip-based tag to obtain the product identity information saved in the chip-based tag for staring the process of authentication. The tag reader sending the identity information of the product, the device identity information of the tag reader device, and a user identity information to the authentication server, wherein the user identity information can be entered with tag reader device; and used for creating an authenticating message of the product.

[0006] In light of the prior art, a range of problems still remain unsolved, including how to ensure that a tag used for authentication of a product is not copied, how to validate a plurality of products (several hundreds) in seconds and if desired identify one single counterfeiting product among a plurality of products. Summary of the invention

[0007] It is an object of the present invention, to solve the above problem. Therefore, the invention relates to a system for validating products, the system comprising: a plurality of radio frequency chips each having a data memory for storing chip data CD, the chip data CD includes at least one of a chip identification number TID, metadata and product data EPC. A central server comprising unique chip data UCD for each of the plurality of radio frequency chip, wherein the unique chip data UCD includes at least one of the chip identification number TID, the metadata and the product data EPC. A local data processing unit comprising a scanner and a communication device. Wherein the scanner facilitates scanning the plurality of radio frequency chips to establish scanned chip data SCD, wherein the scanned chip data SCD is established after the plurality of radio frequency chips are attached to the products, and wherein the communication device facilitates data communication between the local data processing unit and the central server, thereby enabling a check whether the scanned chip data SCD are represented at the central server in and the unique chip data UCD. Wherein the system facilitates establishing product validation data PVD in response to the result of the check. Wherein a user interface is communicatively coupled to the local data processing unit facilitates providing the product validation data PVD to a user of the local processing unit. [0008] According to an embodiment of the invention, the user interface facilitates acceptance of the product validation data PVD, and the acceptance is based on an estimate of the number of products 8 at the inspection site compared to the number of the scanned products.

[0009] A valid product is understood as a product which by the manufacture or designer of the product is guaranteed to be an original product wherein the guarantee is proved by the data of the radio frequency chip of the present invention which is attached to the product.

[0010] Validating should be understood as examining the authenticity (validity) of a product i.e. whether the product is a copy of an original product or an original product. Further, validating should be understood as examine if a product for sale at a given geographical location was expected for sale at this location or at another geographical location. Accordingly, the present invention is advantageous in that it has the effect, that within a few seconds it is possible to determine the authenticity of a plurality of products and / or if it is for sale in an expected geographical location.

[0011] The communication device is understood as e.g. a smartphone or tablet via which the user can communicate with the central server, scanner and other parts of the system.

[0012] The use of radio frequency or so-called RFID (RFID; Radio Frequency IDentification) chips is advantageous in that it has the effect, that hundreds of chips can be scanned within a few seconds making scanning of large quantities of products possible.

[0013] It should be mentioned, that the local processing unit should be understood as one device facilitating both scanning and communication or a reference to two devices namely a scanner and a communication device.

[0014] The use of the unique chip data for validation of a product is advantages in that it has the effect, that since the chip identification number is static, i.e. hard coded into the chip, only one single chip can exist with this identification number. Hence the chip identification number (product data or metadata) serves as unique chip data and when a database is established based hereon, a look up in the content hereof based on information obtained from scanning of a product can easily reveal if the product is equipped with a chip identification number known by in the database. Accordingly, validating the product can be established if a match exists.

[0015] The system is furthermore advantage in that it has the effect that if a plurality of products having a chip attached, then upon scanning not only the validity of the product is controlled, but also from the established validation data it may be possible to identify the individual scanned product which is not original and other details of the product. Accordingly, depending on the level of details in the product data provided to the chip, it is possible to map the result of a validation scan of a plurality of products all the way down to an individual product.

[0016] The product validation data is the result of the check i.e. if 100 products are scanned, the product validation data comprise information of how many of the 100 products that were found on the central server i.e. where scanned chip data matched the unique chip data. Accordingly, the product validation data can be a report including or presenting the result of the scanning.

[0017] The user of the system is preferably an inspector performing product validity inspections of products from one or more product manufactures. Inspections are preferably made in shops (physical or online), marked places, hawkers' market, etc. for one type, category, group or brand of products including the specific product identified by product data EPC (such as a serial number) at the time. However, the user may also be the person buying a product and would like to be sure that the product she is buying is original. [0018] The acceptance of the product validation data can be made simply by pressing a virtual bottom in the graphic user interface. Acceptance can be made if the scanned number of products are equal to or more or less equal to the number of products estimated by the user at the inspection site. Acceptance can also be made by supplying information to the central server of the number of products estimated by the user during inspection or difference between the scanned and the estimated number of products.

[0019] This is advantages in that it has the effect, that the number of products scanned by the scanner and provided to the user is evaluated in light of the number of products the user estimated at the inspection site. In this way based on the estimated number of products, it is validated if the scanned number and the estimated number are equal to or more or less the same and thereby if counterfeiting products are present (likely if the estimated number is higher than the scanned number). [0020] According to an embodiment of the invention, the estimate of the number of products is made based on a manual inspection of products at the inspection site.

[0021] The manual inspection is understood as the overview of the user of the number of products at the inspection site that is subject to the inspection. If shirts of a given brand is inspected the inspector estimates the number of shirts at the inspection site, preferably by his visual inspection of products during the inspection. If a plurality of shirts were scanned and the product validation data (result of the check) provide information to the user that 40 shirts found on the central server, then based on the visual inspection, the inspector should be able to estimate that the number of shirts would count approximately 100 at the inspection site. Accordingly, approximately 60 shirts were not found on the central server which could indicate that these 60 shirts are not original shirts. Hence, the acceptance of the product validation data made by the user in this case would include acknowledgement of the 40 shirts and providing information of the approximately 60 additional shirts. This information can be used by the manufacture of the shirts or by the shop owner to initiate further analysis of supply chain etc.

[0022] According to an embodiment of the invention, the central server comprises a data storage for storing the unique chip data UCD of the plurality of radio frequency chips and for storing the result of the acceptance of the product validation data PVD. [0023] The result of the acceptance of the product validation data preferably includes both an accept of the number of scanned product found on the central server and the difference between this number and an estimate of the number of products at the inspection site. The difference may indicate the presents of counterfeiting products. When the difference is 0 only original products are present at the inspection site. Storing the result of the acceptance of the product scan is advantages in that it has the effect that via access to the central server the manufacture (or others) has access to the scanning results as fast as they are made.

[0024] It should be mentioned that the data storage of the central server may be divided into independent data storages. It should be mentioned that the data storage may also be located on the local data processing device. In this embodiment, the validation can be made completely without communication with the central server. Results of the validation made according to this embodiment, can later be uploaded to a central server. [0025] According to an embodiment of the invention, the unique chip data UCD associates the chip identification number TID and the product data EPC at the central server.

[0026] Associating the chip identification number and the product data is advantageous in that it has the effect, that copying of the chip data becomes very hard to do compared to the situation where chip data only comprise one of the chip identification number or product data. Further, when associating the chip identification number with product data related to the product to which the chip is attached, a unique tag is created for that specific product. Accordingly, it is possible to establish a database of original unique chip data and if scanned chip data does not match any of the unique chip data of the database, the product is not an original product.

[0027] According to an embodiment of the invention, the check is made at the central server.

[0028] This is advantageous in that it has the effect that validation of a plurality of products can be made very fast and the result is available very fast. Very fast may be understood as up to hundred checks per second or even faster. This is due to chip type enables fast scanning, communication device enables fast data communication and central server facilitates fast check of the received scanned chip data with the stored unique chip data of the data storage hereof.

[0029] According to an embodiment of the invention, the product validation data PVD reflects a valid product if the scanned chip data SCD matches the unique chip data UCD. [0030] According to an embodiment of the invention, the product validation data PVD is provided to the local data processing unit and displayed to a user of the local data processing unit on a display.

[0031] According to an embodiment of the invention, the communication device is a handheld device having wireless access to the central server and including the user interface.

[0032] Preferably the handheld device is a smartphone or tablet having the effect, that it is small, light and can communicate via different wireless communication protocols. This enables communication with the scanner and central server and others even though such other end point devices in a network do not use the same communication protocol. The user interface can be any kind of human machine interface via which the user can communicate with the system e.g. obtain access to information stored on the central server. The user interface may facilitate communication (including bidirectional communication) via audio, light, physical interaction, etc.

[0033] According to an embodiment of the invention, the user interface is a graphical user interface.

[0034] According to an embodiment of the invention, the communication device comprises a filtering function via which the user can select at least one of the list comprising: product data EPC, brand, category, type and group to be scanned for.

[0035] The filtering function is preferably facilitated by an application installed on the communication device. Via the application, the user may select among brands, categories, groups and all the way down to specific model of e.g. jeans or down to a specific product to be scanned for. This is advantages in that it has the effect that the result of scanning of a plurality of products is limited to the types of products defined by the product data configured by the user.

[0036] Further, it is advantageous in that it has the effect that the information comprised by the product validation data is limited. This is especially true for the so- called missing list. If a product is comprised by the database of the central server and not found during a scan, it will appear on the missing list. Hence if the filter function is used, the product validation data will only comprise information of the products which has been selected by the filter. Hence the product validation data will not include products on the missing list which are filtered out by the filter.

[0037] Further, the filtering function has the effect that speed is increased in the checking process. This is because the nature of the check is a one to many comparison (each scanned chip data is checked up against / compared to the entire database or at least unique chip data for a specific brand) accordingly when filtering is used the amount of unique chip data is limited and therefore check / compariosn can be made faster.

[0038] The filter / level of details possible to configure the filter with may depend on the level of details of the product information available on the central server. Hence it is possible to configure a filter so as to scan for products of a specific brand, group, type all the way down to e.g. a specific model of jeans or down to a specific product if sufficient product data is available on the central server.

[0039] According to an embodiment of the invention, the scanner is a stationary scanner located at an access point passed by a plurality of products.

[0040] This is advantageous in that it has the effect, that a scan for counterfeiting products can be made in an area such as a warehouse, a street, a shop, etc. without the need of a user to perform the scan.

[0041] According to an embodiment of the invention, the product data EPC include at least one of the list comprising: GTIN (GTIN; Global Trade Item Number), manufacture, serial number of product, type, group, category and brand. [0042] The product data is preferably provided to the chip and attached to the product before the product is leaving the production facility. This time in the product life is typically where most information is available at the same time and it is the last point in time where“all” products are gathered making coding the chip easiest. It is advantages to upload as much information at this point in time as required to perform the desired filtering before scanning. This is advantageous in that it has the effect that a scanning e.g. in a clothing shop can be made only for shirts of a specific brand e.g. in a specific color or size. Accordingly, specific and targeted scanning’s can be made. [0043] According to an embodiment of the invention, the chip data CD of the data memory of the radio frequency chip furthermore comprises metadata.

[0044] Metadata is understood as data which provides extra information about the product besides the product data (EPC). Metadata may include information of costumer of product, shop where product is intended for sale, intended marked of product, production country, costumer, costumer order number, time certificate, codes, batch number, frequency band, expiry date, originality certificate etc.

[0045] The use of metadata is advantageous in that it has the effect, that not only can a scan of a product determined if the product is original, but also the chip data can be made more difficult to copy and a scan may provide information indicating that a product is parallel imported, or the like. Further metadata is advantageous to use in that it has the effect, that the local data processing unit overview of parallel imported products can be a side effect of a scanning of products to find counterfeiting products

[0046] According to an embodiment of the invention, the product validation data PVD is divided into a scanning result group and a missing group. [0047] The product validation data includes scanning result list for each of the products defined by the filter and a missing list. The scanning result group provide information to the user of how many products that were scanned within the group and preferably the scanning result group is determined according to the filter configuration. This is advantageous in that it has the effect, that an overview is created of the scanning result on a desired level.

[0048] The missing list provide information to the user of how many products determined by the filter configuration that was not found during the scan i.e. if the filter is configured to scan for jeans and no jeans was scanned, then based on the information of the central server of the jeans, jeans will appear on the missing list. More specific, if a product exists at the central server but is not found at the inspection site, it will appear on the missing list, unless it is filtered out by the filter described in this document. [0049] According to an embodiment of the invention, the metadata can be configured on the radio frequency chip 1 via the user interface.

[0050] This is advantageous in that it has the effect, that additional information can be added, or existing data can be corrected after the chip has been attached to the product. [0051] According to an embodiment of the invention, the metadata is stored at the central server associated with unique chip data UCD of a product.

[0052] Storing metadata on the central server is advantageous in that it has the effect, that the data does not have to be uploaded to the chip e.g. by scanning but can be associated with the chip data online. Hence, if metadata of a product is that it should be sold in Germany and the scanning is made in Denmark, it may indicate parallel import of the product. Other indications can be established based on the metadata both with metadata on the chip, on the central server or located at both locations.

[0053] According to an embodiment of the invention, the unique chip data UCD is established based on scanned chip data SCD received from an initial scan of the radio frequency chip 1 of the plurality of products by a scanner.

[0054] This is advantageous in that it has the effect that creation of the unique chip data is made automatically, fast and with minimal risk of errors. The scanner may be a scanner dedicated to this purpose and not necessary part of the local processing unit.

[0055] According to an embodiment of the invention, the unique chip data UCD is established based on a data file comprising linked product data EPC and chip identification data TID from the products. [0056] This is advantageous in that it has the effect, that establishing the unique chip data can be made very fast. The file type can be a comma separated file or what is compatible with the central server data equipment. The file is typically made by the manufacture of the products. [0057] According to an embodiment of the invention, the product validation data

PVD is divided into primary response and secondary response, the primary response relating to validity of the product 8 and is being based at least partly on the chip information number TID and the secondary response relating to parallel import of the product and is at least partly being based on the metadata. [0058] This is advantageous in that it has the effect that by one scanning for validity, if metadata is associated with the product data, the validity scanning may result in an indication of parallel import of the products as a bonus result of the validity scanning.

[0059] According to an embodiment of the invention, a visual tag comprising information associated with the unique chip data UCD is attached to the product 8. [0060] This is advantageous in that it has the effect that identification of a specific product and its authenticity can be made fast at the inspection site.

[0061] According to an embodiment of the invention the metadata includes a sequence of numbers and wherein the number sequence is randomized.

[0062] This is advantageous in that it has the effect, that by the randomizing, it becomes difficult to mass produce copies of chips. Accordingly, if the number sequence is randomized a copy of such metadata and thereby the chip data or unique chip data is very easy to reveal by a simple look up in the database on the central server.

[0063] According to an embodiment of the invention, the metadata includes an expiry date.

[0064] Moreover, the invention relates to a method of validating a plurality of products, the method comprising the following pre-validating steps: establishing a plurality of radio frequency chips each of which comprises a chip identification number TID, determining product data EPC defining the plurality of products, storing the product data EPC in a data memory of the radio frequency chip, establishing unique chip data ETCD for a plurality of radio frequency chips as at least one of the chip identification number TID, metadata and the product data EPC, storing the plurality of unique chip data UCD at a data storage, and attaching, to each of a plurality of products 8, one of the plurality of radio frequency chips. Further, the method comprising the following validating steps: by a scanner scanning a plurality of the products 8 comprising a radio frequency chip to receive scanned chip data SCD including at least one of the chip identification number TID, the metadata and the product data EPC, checking if the scanned chip data SCD is in the unique chip data UCD, and establishing product validation data PVD in response to the result of the check. Further, the method comprising the following post-validating steps: communicating the product validation data PVD via a user interface to a user of the local processing unit. [0065] According to an embodiment of the invention, the user is accepting the received product validation data PVD based on an estimate of the number of products 8 at the inspection site compared to the number of scanned products.

[0066] Accepting should here be understood an acknowledgement of the received product validation data and could therefore include both accepting the validation data as received or discharging the validation data received if e.g. the scanned number of products does not match the estimated number of products at the inspection site.

[0067] The chip identification number is unique from chip to chip and is typically hard coded into the chip and cannot be changed. This is typically done by the manufacture of the radio frequency chip when the radio frequency chip is produced. Hence, establishing radio frequency chips should be understood as ordering of manufacturing the radio frequency chips.

[0068] Product data should be understood as data defining the products so that grouping the products in categories of brands, model, type etc. is possible and of course so that scanned chip data identifies the product to which the chip is attached [0069] Storing the product data in the radio frequency chip memory, is preferably done at the chip manufacturing process or uploaded to the memory of the radio frequency chip after production based on product data received from the manufacture of the product. Then, in the first alternative, the manufacture of the product receives a plurality of coded chips which are ready to attach to a series of product.

[0070] Attaching should be understood as equipping the product with a radio frequency chip in one way or the other.

[0071] Unique chip data is preferably understood as the combination of product data and chip identification number established at the data storage for each radio frequency chip. It should be noted that if the unique chip data includes a combination of product data, chip identification number and / or metadata it may also exist in the radio frequency chips itself). Also note that the unique chip data may simply be understood as one or any combination of chip identification number, metadata and product data. The data received from the radio frequency chip is referred to as scanned chip data and it is checked if it is part of the unique chip data of the data storage. The result of the checking is preferably provided to the user via a graphical user interface in the form of product validation data i.e. as information of number of scanned products, number of missing products, etc.

[0072] The user then via an estimate of the number products evaluates the product validation data. If there is a match between number of scanned products and estimated number of products, the user accepts the product validation data. However, if the number of scanned products is higher or lower than the estimated number of products, the user accepts the product validation data together with providing information of the difference between number of scanned products and estimated products. In this situation the acceptance from the user indicates that among the products are counterfeiting products.

[0073] The above method is advantageous in that it has the effect that a plurality of products or items can be scanned simply by passing by (within a few meters, preferably less than lOmeters) the products with a scanner. Accordingly, scanning an entire shop for the presence (or the opposite) of a specific type of products can be made in seconds or a few minutes. Thereby, the validity of the products of the shop can be determined in a few minutes.

[0074] According to an embodiment of the invention, the estimate of the number of products is made based on a manual inspection of products at the inspection site.

[0075] Preferably, this is done by the user estimating the number of products as he is scanning the products at the inspection site. This is advantageous in that it has the effect, that the user can validate the number of products scanned by the system / method and if he estimates that there are more or less products, then further actions can be taken in terms of inspection, stop of sale, etc.

[0076] According to an embodiment of the invention, the unique chip data UCD associates the chip identification number TID and the product data EPC at the central server (3).

[0077] According to an embodiment of the invention, the data storage is part of a central server.

[0078] This is advantageous in that it has the effect that several users can scan and validate (perform checking of, if the scanned chip data is included in the unique product data) products at the same time.

[0079] According to an embodiment of the invention, the scanned chip data SCD is communicated to the central server via a communication device communicating with the scanner.

[0080] Preferably, the communication device is a smartphone or a tablet.

[0081] According to an embodiment of the invention, the user interface is part of the communication device. [0082] This is advantageous in that it has the effect, that the acceptance of the product validation data can be made in real time (or within minutes) after the scanning of products (depending on the number of scanned products). Hence, immediately after a scanning, the user is able to determine if scanned products are original and thereby if further investigation of the products are necessary.

[0083] According to an embodiment of the invention, the communication device comprises a filter and wherein the method further comprises the step of configuring the filter so that the scanned chip data SCD only relates to a subset of unique chip data UCD available on the data storage.

[0084] Preferably, when scanning products in a shop all products having a radio frequency chip is scanned leading to a huge amount of data. Accordingly, the configuration of the filter has the effect, that only relevant products then are validated leading to reduced data processing, faster checking / comparison step and data to communicate.

[0085] According to an embodiment of the invention, the product validation data PVD is divided into a scanning result group and a missing group. [0086] According to an embodiment of the invention, the product validation data

PVD is divided into primary response and secondary response, the primary response relating to validity of the product and is being based at least partly on chip identification number TID and the secondary response relating to parallel import of the product and is at least partly being based on the metadata. [0087] According to an embodiment of the invention, the check of whether the scanned chip data SCD is in the stored unique chip data UCD, is made at the central server.

[0088] This is advantageous in that it has the effect that the unique chip data only has to be stored at the central server to be accessible by a plurality of local data processing devices. Thereby, the data storage capacity of the local data processing unit can be reduced.

[0089] In this situation, it is advantageous if the central data processing unit communicates the product validation data to one or more user interface(s) one of which is preferably located at the local data processing unit. Another user interface could be a stand-alone (in relation to the system of the present invention) located at the product manufacture. The local processing unit should be understood as including the scanner and the communication device (not necessary one and the same device). [0090] According to an embodiment of the invention, the unique chip data UCD is established based on scanned chip data SCD received from an initial scan of the radio frequency chip 1 of the plurality of products by the scanner.

[0091] This is advantageous in that it has the effect that creation of the unique chip data is made automatically, fast and with minimal risk of errors. [0092] According to an embodiment of the invention, the unique chip data UCD is established based on a data file comprising linked product data EPC and chip identification data TID from the products.

The drawings [0093] For a more complete understanding of this disclosure, reference is now made to the following brief description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and detailed description, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts. The features of the figures can be combined if relevant to solve a given problem.

Figure 1 illustrates steps of preparing a chip. Figure 2 illustrates steps of validating a product.

Figure 3 illustrates the inventive system according to an embodiment of the invention including a radio frequency chip.

Detailed description

[0094] A radio frequency chip 1 suitable for use in an embodiment of the invention should preferably be understood as, but not limited to, an RFID chip 1 which in this description sometimes is referred to simply as chip 1. RFID chips 1 are divided in two main groups namely active and passive chips. The active chips are powered by a battery making this group more expensive compared to the passive chips. The advantage of the active chips is that they can be scanned over larger distances compared to the cheaper passive chips. The passive chips are due to the low-price advantages to use when product information is to be stored for products produced in large volumes. The passive chips are in principle everlasting since they are energized by the electromagnetic waves of the scanning signal in response to which they broadcast the information comprised by the chip.

[0095] The chips are in principle a simple microchip comprising one or more memory banks 2 and an antenna 4 via which communication with a scanner 6 is established. The communication is via radio frequencies typically in the range starting at low frequencies around l25KHz and up to ultrahigh frequencies ending around 960MHz. It should be mentioned, that some chips may be able to communicate outside this frequency range and up to several giga hertz, however this would typically be of a semi active or active chip type. Passive chips are advantageous in that it has the effect, that such RFID chip 1 is cheap, have a theoretic infinite lifetime and already used by many cloth brands and hence easy to implement in the at least this business area.

[0096] The memory banks 2 may store various information including unique chip identification TID (TID; Tag Identifier, sometimes referred to simply as TID), metadata and product data EPC (EPC; Electronic Product Code, sometimes referred to simply as EPC or GTIN (global trade item number)). Alone or together EPC, metadata and TID are referred to as chip data CD. The unique chip identification TID may be stored in the chip 1 in the process of producing the chip 1 where it can be hard coded into the chip 1, making it impossible to change. This is in contrary to the product data EPC which sometimes is possible to change. The unique chip identification TID preferably includes at least one of a unique serial number, chip model number and mask designer id whereas the product EPC may include various information such as GTIN, type (such as shirt, pants, etc.), group (such as men’s, women’s, child’s wear, etc., category (such as cloth, shoes, etc.) and or model of the product. Product relevant information such as origin of production, intended marked, etc. is referred to as metadata in this document.

[0097] It should be understood, that the above brief description of the RFID technology is only a short introduction to this known technology based on which the present invention is developed. Today, RFID chips 1 are commonly used for scanning a product to retrieve information related to the scanned product, information (data) which is referred to as EPC and stored in the memory bank 2 sometimes referred to as Electronic Product Code Memory.

[0098] As mentioned the chip identifier TID stored in the memory bank 2 of the chip is not editable making it possible to make each RFID chip 1 in the world unique and distinguishable. The TID is a worldwide acknowledge identification system for identifying RFID chips. From the TID typically the manufacture, model and serial number of the chip 1 can be derived. Accordingly, to make a copy of a RFID chip 1 would require data from a known chip 1 manufacture and machinery to manufacture the chip 1 making copying very complicated.

[0099] The present invention solves the problem of distinguishing between an original product and a copy hereof, by using the unique chip data UCD preferably including a combination of the TID and EPC to create a unique product identifier. When the chip identification TID and product data EPC is associated and stored in a database, a user is able to scan a chip 1 attached to a product 8 and validate the data returned from the check made if the scanned chip data SCD is in the unique chip data UCD of the database. Preferably this validation also includes a manual estimation of, if the number of products 8 scanned for was higher than the number of products scanned and registered by the scanner 6. If the scanned chip data SCD exists in the database, the authenticity of the product 8 is validated. If the estimated number of products 8 are larger than the number of scanned products 8 it indicates that some of the product are counterfeiting products. This aspect and a plurality of other aspects are described below with reference to the figures. [0100] Figure 1 illustrates the steps of establishing the chip 1 and attaching it to a product 8.

[0101] Step 11 - manufacturing chip 1. Initially, a plurality of RFID chips 1 are ordered from a chip manufacture, the type (e.g. active or passive) and design (e.g. as a visible label or hidden inlay, geometry, etc.) of the ordered chips 1 are chosen to fit the product 8. The chips 1 are delivered from the chip manufacture with the unique TID.

[0102] Step 12 - customising chip 1. If not already included, an antenna 4 is connected to the tuner 8 of the RFID chip 1. The antenna 4 or antenna 4 / tuner 8 configuration is determining for the size of the tag, the scanning distance and the frequency of radio scanning signal. The latter may change depending on which part of the world the chip 1 is to be used. Now the chip 1 only needs to be packed in an enclosure that is appropriate for the environment the product is exposed to during the time scanning of the chip 1 is relevant. This time may vary from product to product and purpose of the scanning. In relation to the main aspect of the present invention, if the product 8 is a shirt this time will typically end when the shirt is sold to a costumer in a shop for the shirt manufacture to be able to ensure to its costumer that the shirt is original.

[0103] Step 13 - associate chip 1 and product 8. The“raw” RFID chips 1 are in this step made product specific by combining its TID with the EPC of the product 8. The manufacture of products which are to be equipped with a chip 1 establish the product data EPC identifying the individual product or group of identical products. If the product again is a shirt, the manufacture may have 1000 shirts in different sizes of a first colour and 1000 shirts in different sizes of a second colour. The EPC data may in this example be a code that for each of the 2000 shirts is identifying shirt type, colour and size together with a serial or item number of the shirt. Further information such as brand, manufacture and the like may also be considered EPC data and loaded to the EPC memory bank 2 of the chip 1. With this said, it should be mentioned that data relating to the product can be divided in both product data EPC and metadata as will be described later. It should be noted, that the physical chip 1 can be attached to the product 8 both before and after coding of the chip 1.

[0104] As indicated products 8 can be identified just as detailed as desired. Hence, it is possible to determine the EPC / metadata based on whatever information that in the future would be necessary to receive upon a scan. Typically, the EPC is limited to identify brand, a GTIN number, manufacture and / or product type, group and category. Besides this information, the product data EPC may include product serial number. In this case it is possible to identify individual products and not only the number of a given type of product. If more details are relevant such data will typically be characterised as metadata and stored independently of the EPC in the memory bank 2. In this way a product 8 can be identified down to the individual detailed specification of the product 8 by means of the metadata. The metadata may also be included in a reference to chip data CD.

[0105] It is noted that it is in this step, the individual product data EPC (and if present metadata) is associated with an individual chip identifier TID. Again, if a copy afterwards should be made it would require information of TID and machinery to manufacture a chip 1 with that TID, EPC data of the product 8 (and of metadata if relevant) and information of the TID of the chip 1 that is combined with which EPC. Accordingly, it is at this step, the chip data CD is turning the chip 1 into a unique product identifier even though it is not even attached to the product 8 yet.

[0106] It should be mentioned, that the chip 1 could have been attached to the product 8 before this point. When chip 1 is attached to the product 8 depends on type of product, manufacturing process, logistics and distribution of products, etc.

[0107] To further enhance the uniqueness of the chip data CD, the so-called user memory part of the memory bank 2 can be used to store information such as costumer of the product, location of delivery, etc. which is referred to as metadata. It should be mentioned that such metadata besides the location in user memory also or alternatively may be stored on a central server 3 e.g. in the data storage 10 where it is assigned to the corresponding TID. [0108] Accordingly, in step 13 it becomes possible to establish a file of unique chip data UCD i.e. TID associated with EPC and possible metadata. Preferably such file is established by scanning all the programmed chips 1 which in this way also is tested to ensure they can be scanned and return information as intended. [0109] Step 14 - establish central database. The associated data established in step

13 (referred to as unique chip data UCD) is now uploaded to a data storage 10 of a central server 3, access to which can be made preferably via the internet. In this way it is possible to scan a product 8 and check if the result of the scan is in the content of the data storage 10 and if the scanned chip data SCD does not match the unique chip data in the data storage 10, it indicates that something is not as it should have been. This could indicate counterfeiting products, products at a location not intended (e.g. indicating parallel import), etc. It should be mentioned, that scanned chip data may be received for products that is not part of the inspection i.e. not selected by the filter and that it is only for the products selected by the filter, the above is valid for. [0110] No matter when the chip 1 is attached to the product 8, the responsible

(typically manufacture) of the product can initiate the establishing of the unique chip data UCD e.g. by scanning the chips 1 attached to the product and thereby establish the link between EPC and TID i.e. information required for the central server 3 and which above is referred to as a“file”. [0111] With the EPC and TID to the central server 3 and here associated to create the unique chip data UCD a range of possibilities exist to arrange this information (chip data). As an example, if a product manufacture has uploaded several thousand TID / EPC pairs i.e. chip data CD used for different pieces of cloths (shirt, pants, etc.) this information can be grouped as desired. Hence, groups of shirts, pants etc. can be made where the groups can be further specified by size, colour, etc. The more detailed EPC / metadata, the more grouping options exists when scanning the product 8 e.g. in a clothing shop.

[0112] The fact that the chip 1 is storing various information of the product 8 and the same information is accessible via the central server 3 enables scanning products 8 for one thing and getting results also for things not scanned for. Hence if a scan is made to find counterfeiting products, then due to the metadata information such as marked (country) information of the product 8, the scan may result in indication of issue on parallel import.

[0113] Step 15 - attaching chip 1 to product. The chip 1 has to be attached to the product 8 either visible e.g. on a label attached to the product 8 or incorporated into the product 8. This can be done any time from receiving the chips 1 until the product 8 leaves the factory or warehouse. The best time of attaching the chip 1 to the product 8 depends on the type of EPC and metadata, the manufacturing process, warehouse handling, etc. accordingly it is different from product to product. After the chip data CD has been created and the chip 1 attached to the product 8, scanning of product are possible. The steps of scanning products according to an embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to figure 2.

[0114] The scanner 6 of the local data processing unit 5 preferably includes or communicates with an application which is part of the local data processing unit 5 e.g. as part of the communication unit 7 such as e.g. a smartphone, tablet or the like (alternatively on a central server 3). The local data processing unit 5, scanner 6, application and display 9 used for scanning is sometimes referred to as a reader. Prior to scanning of products 8, it is possible to specify the products 8 which are relevant to scan. This has the effect, that the scanning result is organized automatically according to the specifications made i.e. filter settings made.

[0115] The local data processing unit 5 preferably comprises a standalone handheld scanner 6 and a standalone handheld data processor such as a smartphone 7 sometimes referred to as a communication device 7. This is advantageous in that standard electric devices (scanners and smartphones) can be used and only an application directed the purpose needs to be developed. Is should be mentioned, that in an embodiment, however, the scanner 6 and the data processor / communication device 7 may be included in one and the same enclosure such as in a smartphone or similar device designed for the purpose. Preferably, the scanner 6 should be able to work within the low, high or ultrahigh frequency ranges. [0116] Step 21 - setup of application. The user of the system of the present invention preferably needs to“sign in” e.g. via the application to gain access to the central server 3 and thereby the information accessible here. The user of the system is in most situations an inspector hired by the owner of the brand, manufacture of the product or other parties having interest in authenticity of the products. In embodiments, the user could also be the costumer buying or thinking of buying a product 8.

[0117] This step preferably also includes configuring the filter filtering the scanned products 8. All products 8 with a chip is scanned and the scanned chip data SCD is communicated to the central server 3. Here it is checked if the scanned chip data SCD is part of the database of unique chip data UCD and every scanned product data SCD matched in the database is considered valid and returned to the user via the local data processing unit 5 as part of a result group. However, if the database comprises unique chip data UCD for products 8 not present in the shop and thereby not scanned, each of these products 8 will be returned as part of a missing group to the user via the local data processing unit 5. The filter can be configured to only enable checking defined type, group, category, etc. of products 8 to minimise the missing group of the result of the check. The result of the check is sometimes referred to as product validation data PVD and as mentioned sometimes comprises both result group and missing group presented / reported to the user of the system / local data processing unit in the form of numbers, reports or the like.

[0118] Step 22 - scanning. The user in this embodiment is typically hired to check if products 8 in a clothing shop is original. This is done by walking through the shop with the scanner 6 passing by the relevant products with the scanner 6 by a distance of 0 to 3 meters (or more). Accordingly, since clothing shops typically have different brands and types of cloths for sale and since most of these cloths have attached a RFID tag the volume of data obtained from the scanning could be huge. Obviously, the subsequent analysis of this data to find counterfeiting products is time consuming.

[0119] Therefore, upon signing in, the user is able to create a filter as described above specifying, down to a level of details allowed by the EPC / metadata available on the central server 3, what to scan for. This has the effect, that the so-called missing list (or missing group of the product validation data) is reduced. The missing list is a list of products 8 present at the central server 3, but not found during the scan in the shop.

[0120] If the user has access to unique chip data UCD of the several brands, groups (e.g. men, women, boys, girls, child, etc.) and categories (e.g. clothes, shoes, bags, accessories, etc.) at the central server 3, he is preferably prompted to make selections of which he would like to scan i.e. perform a filter configuration prior to the scan. It should be noted, that the present invention can be used to validate a whole range of products 8 and thus the invention is not limited to cloth.

[0121] If filters are relevant, then upon the selection of filters, the scanning is initiated. Preferably, the scanning result and shop identification is associated. This can be done automatically via a GPS feature of e.g. the local processing device 5 or device on which the application is installed (the reader). This has the effect that the scanned chip data SCD is linked to the shop and if the scanned chip data SCD later in the future is found in another shop it may indicate fraud. This is especially true if the shop is e.g. a warehouse in the country where the product 8 is intended for sale and the future scanning then is made in a shop in another country. This is only one of many examples of how to combine scanned chip data SCD with global position data and the use hereof.

[0122] The scanning of products chip data CD is now made by walking through the shop with a local processing unit 5 making sure to be within the range defined by the choice of chips 1 which are typically 0-10 meters, preferably 1-5 meters. Because the chip 1 is a radio frequency chip 1, the scanner 6 can be located in a pocket or bag i.e. the scanning can be made anonymous. The retrieved data may be temporary stored on the local data processing unit 5 or real-time communicated to the central server 3.

[0123] Step 23 - validation. It is now checked whether the scanned chip data SCD is part of the unique chip data UCD of the central server 3. This checking can be made based on the TID. Hence for each scanned chip 1 the retrieved TID can be used to find the matching TID at the central server 3. Subsequent the retrieved EPC associated with this TID is compared with the EPC associate with the TID in the central server 3. Hence, at the central server 3 the data storage 10 is searched for a match with the scanned chip data SCD in the unique chip data UCD hereof. The result of the comparison is product validation data PVD reflecting if the scanned chip data SCD of the chip 1 is matched in the data storage 10.

[0124] Step 24 - Display / acceptance. The product validation data PVD resulting from the check is preferably communicated to the local processing unit 5 where it is displayed in a user interface 9, preferably a graphical user interface of the reader in step 24. The user then has to accept the product validation data PVD, the acceptance includes at least comparing the product validation data PVD i.e. the number of products scanned to the number of products estimated at the inspection site. [0125] The acceptance can be pushing a bottom on a display, at a keypad, keyboard, etc. entering a digit or letter or any combination hereof for indicating the user’s evaluation of the scanning result. The acceptance is preferably made manually by the user based on counting / estimating products at the inspection site, however it could be made e.g. by video inspection or other automatic methods including the estimation of products at the inspection site. If the acceptance is made automatically, the user interface 9 does not need to be part of the acceptance process. It should be mentioned that the product validation data PVD may be a report, a digital or analogue signal reflecting the result of the check of the individual and / or all the scanned products (not the once sorted out by the filter). [0126] The validation of products 8 present at an inspection site can be said to be terminated after the user has accepted the scanning result as described above. Then preferably at the central server 3 a validation report is created and accessible by interested parties including inspection site owner and product manufacture or distributer. The report may list scanned products selected by the filter, products de- selected by the filter, the estimated number of products at the inspection site made by the user, comments / observations from the user to the scan, pictures, etc.

[0127] The abovementioned RFID chip 1 may be supplemented by a visual tag such as a QR code, barcode, number sequence, figures or the like. The visual tag is as indicated, attached to the product 8 so that it is visible to the user of the system e.g. beside the price tag. It may be implemented as any kind of label or sticker. The information provided by the visual tag is at the central server 3 associated with the product data EPC / chip information data TID. In this way a specific product 8 can easily be identified. If the user is to scan in a shop for shirts and he estimates that there are 100 shirts, but the scanning result only shows 90 shirts based on the unique chip data UCD of the central server. Then if the visual tag is a sequence of numbers from 1 to 90, the 10 shirts not found on the central server 3 can be easily found by the visual tag as the shirts either having no visual tag or a sequence of numbers outside the range of 1-90. Hence, the 10 likely counterfeiting products can be identified fast. [0128] Similarly, if one specific product 8 is under suspicion for being a counterfeiting product 8 or a buyer of a product would like to check the authenticity of the product 8, this product 8 can be scanned and the visual tag information associated with the product data EPC / chip information data TID of the product 8 can be found. The authenticity of the product 8 can then be made fast by matching the visual tag information from the central server 3 with the information of the visual tag on the product 8.

[0129] No matter how and where the check of scanned chip data SCD and unique chip data UCD of the central server 3 is made, the result is preferably displayed to the user via a graphic user interface 9 on the reader or communication device / smartphone or the like.

[0130] Note that in an embodiment, the unique chip data UCD referred to as located on a central server 3 may be located or downloaded to the reader. This has the effect, that no data communication to external devices such as the central server 3 is needed to establish an inspection of products as described above. [0131] When the scanning is stopped, the result may be displayed to the user in various ways and in various levels of details. Hence if the filter were set to a specific brand, the number of product 8 having a chip data CD from this brand may be displayed together with e.g. total number of scanned products 8. Depending on filters and level of details of the data at the central server 3, the scanning result may be displayed to the user in the above-mentioned categories and groups.

[0132] In the situation, where it was not possible to match a scanning result (scanned chip data SCD) with unique chip data UCD of the central server 3, this will be displayed to the user. The user then may perform a number of partial scans to identify the exact product(s) having chip data CD which was not found in the central server 3. Alternatively, or in addition the scanning result is provided to the shop, product manufacture or other interested parties.

[0133] A scanning is considered normal if all scanned products 8 (specified by the filter) are found on the central server 3. Further, depending on details of the chip data CD a normal scan will also require a match between e.g. geography indicated by the chip data CD and of the shop where the scanning was made.

[0134] A scanning is considered unnormal if either product 8 are scanned which according to the unique chip data UCD of the central server 3 should not be at the shop, if products 8 that should be in the shop is not found as result of the scan or if scanned chip data SCD is not found at the central server 3. Typically, this will first be noted after communication has been made between the central server 3 and the reader and if the manufacture of the product identifier has specified a geography / market / dealer / shop to the product information. [0135] Above shop and warehouse is mentioned as inspection site, but a user may also make inspections on marked places, on internet shops (by ordering one or more products), customs, etc. The site (e.g. type of or address of shop) of scanning, time, user and other metadata related to the scanning can be associated with the scanning result when the scanning result is stored e.g. on the central server. [0136] In addition to the above-mentioned product identification using TID and EPC, the chip data CD can be supplemented by access control, randomizing, information about destination (country, costumer, order information, date, etc.), specific frequency band, addresses, dates, expiry date, sales date, counter, etc. This (sometimes referred to as) metadata can be added to the chip memory 2 either at the same time as the EPC is added or afterwards. As mentioned the metadata may also only be uploaded to the central server 3 i.e. not present in the chip memory 2.

[0137] Access control ensures unauthorized access to chip 1 information including the possibility of reading or changing information stored (EPC or metadata) on the chip 1. Access control can be achieved by coding into the chip 1 and into the application a password. In this way scanning of products will require a unique reader or the possibility of downloading the password to the reader to be able to perform the scan.

[0138] Randomizing or mixing the association of TID and EPC is a way of making it even harder for counterfeiters to copy chips 1 and thereby for the system of the present invention to reveal the existence of two identical chips (with identical chip data). Typically, TID, EPC and e.g. serial numbers are sequential. Breaking one or both of these series ensures that if a copyist gets access to TID and EPC, it is not possible to copy product identifiers simply by increasing these numbers by 1. [0139] Randomizing may also be implemented by adding a random number or time of day of e.g. coding of the chip 1 to e.g. the EPC or metadata this number is associated with the EPC and TID at the central server. Accordingly, both the EPC, TID and the random number should be scanned for a scanned product identifier can be verified at the central database. [0140] Expiry dates which when passed erases the product data EPC or unique chip data ETCD at the central server 3 can also be used to make copying of chips 1 harder in that the copyist needs to copy the chip data CD and attach it to the product 8 prior to this expiry date. The expiry date can be coded to the chip or uploaded to the central server 3. [0141] The date of sale of a product may be uploaded to the central server 3. Here it may be used to indicate, that the specific chip data CD related to the specific product is sold and thereby deleted or marked as sold in the database. If such chip data CD then in the future is copied, it will be revealed by the look up in the database in that there the specific product is marked as sold and the chip data is therefore“invalid”. [0142] A counter can be used to determine the number of times a chip 1 has been scanned. This way of making it harder to copy a chip 1 is especially relevant if the chip 1 is a NFC (NFC; Near Field Communication) chip 1 in that the reader when reading the NFC chip 1 is able to increase (decrease) the counter by 1 (or by another number) both in the NCF chip 1 and associated with the unique chip data UCD of the central database 3.

[0143] Another way of making chip ls hard to copy, is that if product destination (market, shop, etc.) is known, this information can be uploaded to the central server 3 associated with the TID of the chip 1. This metadata can be added to the chip data CD after attaching the chip 1 to the products 8 e.g. by scanning.

[0144] Yet another way of making chips 1 hard to copy, is to assign e.g. by type of antenna 4 / adjustment of tuner 8 a specific frequency band to the chip 1 via which the chip 1 responds to the reader. By analyzing the frequency of replies from the chip 1, it can be validated. The chosen frequency is associated with the TID in the central server 3.

[0145] No matter which kind of inspection is carried out, the RFID chips 1 are advantageous in that they are cheap, possible to scan hundreds per second and are having a scanning radius around the user / reader of up to normally 10 meters. The TID and EPC for a plurality of chips 1 are uploaded to the central server 3 e.g. when the products 8 are scanned e.g. at a warehouse or before shipment from factory.

[0146] If there is a match between scanned chip data SCD and the unique chip data UCD, the product 8 belongs to the manufacture and is original. If the EPC is not known in the central server (but the TID is), this may indicate that the central server 3 is not updated with data from all chips 1. If the TID is not known in the central server (but the EPC is), this may indicate that a copyist has got a hold of real EPC data and has used these on chips 1 not produced to the manufacture. If neither TID nor EPC is known in the central server 3, this may indicate that the product 8 does not belong to the manufacture producing the products. [0147] If the chip 1 is provided with metadata e.g. in the user memory mentioned above and upon scanning the check reveals that the metadata is not found at the central server, this is an indication of a counterfeiting product.

[0148] After a scanning / an inspection, a list of scanned products may be produced and as mentioned, this list may be divided into brands, categories and groups. The list may also indicate if the scanned chips 1 are valid i.e. the EPC and TID combination exists in the central server.

[0149] As mentioned, the result of the check preferably made at the central server i.e. the product validation data PVD may be divided in two groups. The first includes information of number of original products i.e. with chip data CD matching unique chip data of the central server 3. The second group includes information of products 8 not found in the shop during a scan, but present at the central server 3. This group is preferably presented on so-called missing list. Hence, the missing list includes information of products 8 having unique chip data UCD in the central server 3 but was not found during a scan. The existence of a missing list may not in itself indicate existence of a counterfeiting product, just that a type of products 8 appearing on the list is registered at the central server 3 as a product from the manufacture having a chip and thereby prepared for scanning but were not present in shop / found in the scan.

[0150] A product 8 may be excluded from inspection if the product 8 e.g. is from brand or manufacture the inspector has no access to or the filter made prior to scanning excluded the products 8. i.e. the inspector need a license or access to the unique chip data UCD from the manufacture to be able to perform an inspection. The information of the existence of the product e.g. from another brand may be provided to the owner of that brand for information preferably via the central server 3. This information could be an indication that something is wrong or not i.e. if the brand should not have been for sale in the shop, a specific inspection on that brand in that shop would be relevant to determine if the products e.g. are original or parallel imported.

[0151] The system of the present invention is also effective to detect parallel imported products. Chips 1 provided with information of where (country) the products 8 are intended to be sold and to whom (manufactures costumer) e.g. also with order number, dates, batch number, etc. should only be found at locations matching this information. Hence if a batch of products 8 are sold to a costumer in Italy and it is agreed with this costumer that the products should be sold in Italy, then if an inspection in Denmark reveals that the products 8 are sold in Denmark, parallel import is indicated.

[0152] The chips 1 may be provided with country and costumer information when packed on warehouse. Alternatively, this information is not loaded to the chip 1, but only associated with the TID (and EPC) in the central server 3. This can be done when a warehouse work person is packing orders at the warehouse. During this work he is scanning the products 8 and e.g. via the application associating the scanned products 8 with a given country, costumer, order number or the like. In this way it is not possible from a scanning of the products to determine where the product was supposed to be sold. [0153] Upon inspection, the manufacture receives information of the costumer to which the products 8 (to Italian marked) is sold but now is found in Denmark. This information can be used to help finding the organizer of the parallel import. When the chip 1 or central server 3 is provided with this information the system of the present invention is especially advantages in that during one inspection e.g. for counterfeiting products, a by-catch may be if products are parallel imported i.e. the inspector / manufacture receive an answer to a question that he did not even ask.

[0154] The present invention has until now been described in relation to RFID chips 1 of the UHF (UHF; Ultra High Frequency) type but may also be used in relation to RFID chips of the NFC (NFC; Near Field Communication) type. The NFC technology is known by the person skilled in the art and will therefore not be described any further. NFC chips are also provided with a TID which can be combined with EPC and metadata just as described above in relation to RFID chips 1.

[0155] Using NFC chips 1 has the advantage that a smartphone with a NFC reader can be used which eliminates the need for a scanner for radio frequency signals (requires relative much power to scan). The obvious drawback of using NFC technology is that to scan a product, the distance between the NFC reader and chip 1 has to be a few centimetres making it difficult to scan a plurality of products fast and anonymous. The use of NFC however, has the benefit of enabling a private buyer of a product 8 with access to the central server 3 to scan and validate if a product 8 is original.

[0156] An example of a product for validating with the system and method of the present invention is cloth. Figure 3 illustrates a plurality of products 8 in the form of shirts 8. Each of the shirts 8 are equipped with a chip 1 comprising TID and EPC related to the specific shirt. A local data processing unit 5 including a scanner 6, a communication device 7 and a display 9 is scanning the shirts to receive scanned chip data SCD from each of the plurality of shirts. The scanned chip data SCD is checked if it is part of the unique chip data ETCD either at the central server 3 or locally at the reader 5. The result of the check is displayed on a display 9, which in this example is included as part of the reader 5 / communication device 7. It is noted that other readers 5 are communicating with the central server 3 as well as manufactures of similar products 8.

[0157] Having a central server 3 accessible by a plurality of inspectors is advantages in that information from all inspections made then is gathered in one place. Even though data from inspections of a plurality of brands are gathered in one central server 3 it is preferred that not all data is accessible by all brand manufactures. What is preferred is that if one inspector registers e.g. a shop or marked place where counterfeiting products exists a warning is made to other brand manufactures that it might be a good idea to perform an inspection for their brands at this shop or marked place. This warning may e.g. be a simple mark on a map of a city.

[0158] As mentioned, a shop inspection is targeting products 8 of one or more specific brand, but other products of the shop are also scanned. Thereby, these other products anonymously to the inspector may be registered as present in the specific geographic location e.g. defined by GPS (GPS; Global Position System) coordinates, shop address, etc. This information can be used by manufactures of the products 8 of these (anonymous to the inspector) products 8. Hence, as a manufacture or inspector of these products 8, by logging on to the central server 3 it is possible to learn that own products 8 are found at that specific geographic location. By looking into the product data / metadata of these products 8, it may be possible to determine if this type of product should be available in this shop and thereby if it is interesting to perform an inspection of own products at that shop.

[0159] In addition to indication of the existence of counterfeiting products, the information gathered on the central server 3 may also be used to indicate parallel imported products. Like above, if it has been determined that the products of a brand sold in a shop are parallel imported, then it may be relevant to perform a control of product of another brand in the same shop. Finally, the information gathered on the central server 3 may be used for statistic purpose. Hence, almost any kind of business statistics can be made based on the gathered information of the central server.

[0160] As understood from the above description, an embodiment of the present invention relates to a system comprising an online central server 3 accessible by one or more applications of local readers. The readers are able to scan products equipped with RFID chips 1 comprising information by which the product 8 to which the chip 1 is attached can be identified. The product data EPC, TID and metadata (if existing) of the chip 1 is uploaded to a central server 3. Upon scanning the information from the chip 1 of a product in a shop, the central server 3 is contacted and a check of its unique chip data UCD with the scanned chip data SCD is made. If the scanned chip data SCD is recognised the product 8 is original if not, the product may be a copy and further investigation may be initiated. The result of the check may be displayed via the application which may be executed on a smartphone or tablet and confirmed so that the manufacture of the product can access the information. The confirmation (sometimes referred to as acceptance) is preferably accompanied by information of the number of scanned products 8 relative to an estimated number of products where the estimated number is made based on an inspection of the products visible at the inspection site. [0161] The inspector may apply one or more filters for the scanning via the application to target the inspection to a desired group of products. Products can be scanned one by one or several hundred per second. The chip may beside the product specific data EPC include metadata such as country (where it should be sold) and costumer (who bought the product). Accordingly, if this information does not comply with the actual country where the product is sold it may indicate parallel import.

[0162] Finally, the manufactures accepting to provide its data to the central server has the opportunity to become part of a network of manufactures and inspectors which one way or the other can use each other’s data. The data may be analysed to establish a likelihood of counterfeiting or parallel imported products at a given location. Almost any kind of products can be inspected by the present system.