International Business Machines Corporation

Frequentz LLC

Anthony C Asher

Gary J Robinson

Christian C Clauss

Ralf Rantzau

Shrinivas Kulkarni

Tyrone W A Grandison

Steven P Beier

Karin Kailing

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for providing a discovery service that provides a mapping from an electronic product code to electronic product code information services that include information about an item represented by an electronic product code. The discovery service includes a database containing a list of custodians for the item and a service interface through which electronic product code information services and applications can access the entries in the list. The list includes an entry for each custodian. Each entry includes the electronic product code number, a pointer to an electronic product code information service associated with the custodian, and a trip identifier for the item. The service interface includes several services enabling traceability of the item represented by the electronic product code. Methods and apparatus, including computer program products for using a trip identifier in a discovery service are also described.

Enhancing discovery services in an EPC network

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for managing security and privacy associations between an electronic product code value and an address of a repository containing information about an item represented by the electronic product code. A security certificate is issued to each of one or more parties that are authorized to use the repository. In response to a party among the one or more parties sensing the electronic product code, a record is created in the repository. The record represents the sensing of the electronic product code and includes a security certificate belonging to the party that sensed the electronic product code.

Security and privacy enforcement for discovery services in a network of electronic product code information repositories

Growing community of inventors

Bethesda, MD, United States of America

Anthony C Asher