PHYSICAL ASSET MARKING SOLUTION

SOLUTION DE MARQUAGE DES BIENS MATERIELS

English Abstract

The invention provides a new solution and method to mark and track a variety
of physical assets and
property. It combines the uniqueness of DNA with a ubiquitous liquid marking
solution. In one
particular embodiment of this invention, DNA from a natural source is
incorporated into this liquid
solution, which preserves and protects the DNA, producing the unique marking
solution. This
marking solution that includes DNA can be applied to a wide variety of
materials for the purpose of
identification at any later time. Once applied to a physical asset, the asset
bears a permanent coating
containing the DNA in its matrix. Asset tracking is achieved by detecting the
coating on the physical
asset and identifying the DNA within. Identification of the DNA is achieved
using conventional
analysis methods.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

CLAIMS:

What is claimed is:

1. A method for marking objects with a multi-component liquid solution
containing DNA from
a single or a plurality of natural source;s comprising the steps of:

(a) Selecting a natural source(s) of DNA such as human or other organisms.

(b) Adding the DNA from said source to a liquid to produce a unique liquid
marking solution, and

(c) Applying the said unique marking solution to physical assets, and

(d) Linking marked assets to the source of DNA.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the liquid marking solution dries to a
hardened coating on the
physical asset.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the liquid is a water-based mixture
comprising mainly: water, a
polymer, a buffer, a DNA binding agent, a biocide, an anti-oxidant, a
luminescent dye or colorant, a
filler, a dispersant and a surfactant:

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the liquid is a solvent-based mixture
comprising mainly: solvent,
a polymer, a buffer, a DNA binding agent, a biocide, an anti-oxidant, a
luminescent dye or colorant,
a filler, a. dispersant and a surfactant:
5. The liquid of claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the polymer or monomer component
is present in an
amount ranging from about 10 to about 70 '%~ by weight.
6. The liquid of claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the buffer agent is present in an
amount ranging from
about 0.5 to about 10 % by weight.


7. The liquid of claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the DNA-binding agent is present
in an amount ranging
from about 0.001 to about 5 % by weight.

8. The liquid of claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the biocide is present in an
amount ranging from about
0.05 to about 3 % by weight.

9. The liquid of claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the anti-oxidant is present in an
amount ranging from
about 0.1 to about 2 % by weight.

10. The liquid of claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the luminescent dye or colorant
is present in an amount
ranging from abc>ut 0.1 to about 2 % by weight.

11. The liquid of claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the filler is present in an
amount ranging from about 5
to about 30 % by weight.

12. The liquid of claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the dispersant is present in an
amount ranging from
about 0.1 to about 3 % by weight.

13. The liquid of claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the surfactant is present in an
amount ranging from
about 0.1 to about 0.5 % by weight.

14. The liquid of claim 3 or claim 4 wherein a corrosion inhibitor may be
present in an amount
ranging from about 0.5 to about 2 % by weight.

15. The liquid of claim 3 or claim 4 wherein a UV blocker may be present in an
amount ranging
from about 1 to about 3 % by weight.

16. A water-based or solvent-based coating composition compatible with DNA
from natural sources
according to claim 3 or claim 4 additionally comprising of one or more
solutions of curing agents,
cross-linkers, catalysts, organic dyes, inorganic colorants, thickeners,
fillers, biocides, surfactants,
dispersants, buffering agents and fluorescent dyes.

17. The method according to claim land claim 2 in which the resultant coating
on the physical asset
is achieved by one or more solution(s) which comprise any combination of
components according to
claim 1, and claim 5 to claim 16.



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Description

CA 02415226 2003-O1-10
METHOD AND PHYSICAL ASSET MARKING SOLUTION
The present invention relates to the general field <>f asset tracking.
Specifically the invention
provides a new rr~ethod to mark and track physical assets and property.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVEN'CION
Physical asset tracking is a method used most often for the purpose of
monitoring items or
recovering lost or stolen property. It involves recording or marking items of
interest in a manner
that allows the owner or custodian to identify or establish a claim against
the item. There are a
number of different approaches to marking objects for anti-theft or for other
tracking purposes.
Marking methods can be based on physical, chemical or electronic processes.
The most common
example of physical asset marking is engraving one's name or other personal
identifying information
(e.g. driver's license number) on an item of interest. This method requires
special tools, can damage
items being marked and is often considered too oven and outdated for current
tracking purposes.
Another method involves the use of special labels. 'These labels rnay be
microscopic and have a
special adhesive andlor security features that are unique. More recent
developments include
electronic sensors that can be monitored from a distance. T'laese systems
require monitoring devices.
Current chemical asset tracking technologies make use of specialty chemicals
such as rare earths or
isotopically-labeled compounds. This approach tends to be expensive to
manufacture and involves
the maintenance of secure owner registries and databases. 'there is a need for
a low-cost asset
marking method, which minimises extensive administrative overhead. This method
differs from
conventional asset tracking methods in that the identification of the asset
can be undertaken after the
fact and only when establishing ownership of the asset is required.
... . .. . .. ,~ ,. " ....,..._r .,.~~._ ... ...

CA 02415226 2003-O1-10
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a new solution and method to mark and track personal
property of various
kinds. It combines the uniqueness of DNA with a liquid coating solution. In
one embodiment of this
invention, DNA is incorporated into this liquid solution, which preserves and
protects the DNA,
producing the unique liquid marker. This marking solution that includes DNA
can be applied to a
wide variety of materials for the purpose of asset identification at any later
time. Asset tracking and
identification is achieved by detecting the presence of this solution,
analysing and identifying the
DNA within.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a new method to mark and track a wide range of physical
assets whether
the: are personal or institutionally owned. It combines the uniqueness of DNA
with a mufti-purpose
liquid coating solution. Natural DNA can be obtained from a variety of
different sources. For
example, the DNA of person can be obtained by collecting epithelial cells by
swabbing the interior
of their mouth. T'he collected cells are incorporated into this liquid
solution, which preserves and
protects the DNA from degradation and environmental conditions, producing the
unique marking
solution. 'this marking solution that includes DNA can be applied on fhe
surface of a wide variety
of materials such as metals, plastics, glass, wood, paper, fabrics etc. using
a small brush or
applicator. Once dry, the physical asset bears a hardened coating not easily
detected with the naked
eye containing in its matrix the DNA of the individual. Asset tracking can be
achieved by having
knowledge of the location of the coating or by detecting a fluorescent or
luminescent marker
contained in the solution using special lighting techniques such as UV light
or other narrow
bandwidth illumination devices. The DNA is sampled from the surface of the
asset in the event
proof of ownership becomes necessary. Identification of~the DN,~1 is achieved
using conventional
analysis methods such as PCR or RFL,P.
This method differs from conventional asset tracking technologies in that it
does not require the
maintenance of databases linking various assets to codes or identification
numbers, etc.
Identification is only undertaken in the event that establishing asset
ownership becomes necessary.
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