Bar codes, UPC's and RFID's for paper, currency and media

Date: June 9, 2005
Object: Bar codes, UPC’s and RFID’S for paper, currency and media
Inventor: xrd1 Consulting
Notebook #: © 2005 62005-1
Rights: © 2005 Copyright/patent pending
Scope: To describe the invention/idea for imprinting all paper, paper currencies, media with bar codes and UPC’s (Universal Price Codes) and RFID’s (Radio Frequency Identification tags/labels/stickers) and the potential benefits rising from the practice.
The Invention: All new paper, paper currencies and media be issued with bar codes, UPC’s and RFID chips (tags/labels/stickers/tape) and the potential benefits arising from this proposed practice. Bar coded and UPC-labeled paper, currencies, media can be “scanned” at red-light laser or (in future) “blue-light” laser register terminals at time of cash/media tender payment is made. Terminal laser-scans or manually inputted UPC’s at cash register is made and/or with register laser-scan at time of purchase and when in “payment” tender and/or “cash” modes.
This would potentially eliminate the need for manually counting and verification of cash transactions at a cash register or similar device or terminal. Paper currency, checks and media bar-coded and with UPC’s could be automatically scanned and counted by state-of-the-art cash registers in use at retail and other outlets. An “invisible” type of bar code may be imprinted on the media or currency or paper as an added security measure – so as to deter counterfeiting, forgery, etc…
RFID chips (or labels or tags or stickers, see Koprowicz’s notes 62005-2) could be placed in currency paper rolls (at point of manufacture, say, at March Paper) prior to or during the currency/media printing process. It may be cost-prohibitive to use such chips on lower denomination currencies/notes. RFID technology could be combined with laser-scanner technology (extant and/or future technologies) to verify cash and currency count and authenticate currencies/notes/media (via detection of forgery, forged documents/notes and counterfeits). This would reduce time to count and reduce potential and possibilities of human interference/error, audit and verify and authenticate currency and media received at a laser-scanner cash register, terminal or similar device.
Drawbacks: Technology is undeveloped and untested. Will power of the radio signal be sufficient to merit development based on size of the tag? Will count/audit/verification/authentication procedures be done with sufficient speed?
Benefits: Current RFID tagging technology is cost-prohibitive ($ 0.50 to $ 1.00 estimated per unit) and limits its application to “bulk” or “wholesale” level. A lower cost technology (described in xrd1's notes 62005-1 and 62005-2) has the potential to drive technology cost down (for example, to $ 0.02 to $ 0.05 estimated per unit) and could be used at “retail” and “individual” or “mass-media” levels.
Potential for reduction counterfeit media entering in the USA cash flow and finance sector. “Immediate” physical verification (“counts”) and authentication of tendered/ received paper and paper currencies and all other media (“verification procedures”, “anti-counterfeiting strategies/initiatives”) and mitigation of law enforcement action concerning counterfeit media and paper and currency.
Potential for abatement of terrorist-funded activity via cessation and intercession of counterfeit media and currency (homeland security). Deprivation of terrorist-funded activity through use of RFID “tagged” media, paper and currencies.
Submissions: U.S. Bureau of Printing and Engraving, June 9, 2005
Brady Corp., June 20, 2005

FOM: Counterfeit Euros Are Detected With an Optical Mouse