System and method for detecting alteration of objects

• US 20040001568A1
• Filed: 05/23/2003
• Published: 01/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Mehravari, Nader, Impson, Jeremy D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,415,613 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/60
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: D21H 21/40 Agents facilitating proof of genuineness or preventing fraudulent alteration, e.g. for security paper watermarking B41M3/10, D21F1/44; security printing B41M3/14; securities or banknotes characterised by colour effects B42D25/29, B42D25/30; testing paper currency or valuable papers for genuineness G07D7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A system and method for detecting if an object has been tampered with comprising a characterizer, a comparator, and indicator, and optionally, a signer. The characterizer generates a first digital characterization of an object at a first time and at least one subsequent digital characterization of the object at at least one subsequent time. The comparator compares the first digital characterization with the at least one subsequent digital characterization, and the indicator generates a pre-selected characterization signal if the first and subsequent digital characterizations don'"'"'t match. Optionally, the first digital characterization can be accompanied by a first digital signature. The signer optionally verifies the digital signature at the at least one subsequent time.

Claims

1. A system for detecting if an object has been tampered with comprising:

a characterizer capable of generating a first digital characterization of an object at a first time, said characterizer generating at least one subsequent digital characterization of the object at a subsequent time;

a comparator capable of receiving and comparing said first digital characterization with said second digital characterization, said comparator further capable of determining whether said first digital characterization is substantially different from said second digital characterization and generating a pre-selected characterization notification when said second digital characterization has substantially changed compared to said first digital characterization; and

an indicator capable of receiving said pre-selected characterization notification, said indicator providing a pre-selected characterization signal.

2. The system as defined in claim 1 further comprising a signer, said signer capable of providing a first cryptographic signature associated with said first digital characterization and a second cryptographic signature associated with said second digital characterization to said comparator, said comparator capable of generating a pre-selected signature characterization when said second cryptographic signature is not substantially identical to said first cryptographic signature, said indicator capable of receiving said pre-selected signature notification, said indicator providing a pre-selected signature signal.

3. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said first digital characterization is computed non-invasively with respect to the object at the first time, and wherein said second digital characterization is computed non-invasively with respect to the object at the at least one subsequent time.

4. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the first time is the time at which the object is transported from a shipping origination point, the at least one subsequent time is selected from the group consisting of a pre-selected time, a random time, a border crossing, and the time at which the object reaches a shipping destination point.

5. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said first digital characterization is computed by measuring a set of physical characteristics of the object at the first time, and wherein said at least one subsequent digital characterization is computed by measuring said set of physical characteristics of the object at the at least one subsequent time.

6. The system as defined in claim 5 wherein said set of physical characteristics is selected from a group consisting of chemical characteristics, biological characteristics, nuclear characteristics, radioactive characteristics, magnetic field characteristics, electromagnetic wave emission characteristics, optical imagery, X-ray imagery, infrared imagery, smell analysis, weight, volume, pressure, and density.

7. An alteration detection system for at least one object comprising:

a digital characterization subsystem capable of preparing an original unique characterization for at least one object at a first time, said digital characterization subsystem capable of preparing a recomputed unique characterization for said at least one object at at least one subsequent time;

a comparison subsystem capable of comparing said original unique characterization to said recomputed unique characterization; and

an alteration handling subsystem capable of preparing a pre-selected characterization signal if said original unique characterization is not substantially identical to said recomputed unique characterization.

8. The alteration detection system as defined in claim 7 further comprising a digital signature subsystem, said digital signature subsystem capable of providing to said comparison subsystem a first cryptographic signature associated with said original unique characterization and a second cryptographic signature associated with said recomputed unique characterization, said comparison subsystem capable of comparing said first cryptographic signature with said second cryptographic signature, said alteration handling subsystem capable of generating a pre-selected signature signal if said first cryptographic signature is not substantially identical to said second cryptographic signature.

9. The alteration detection system as defined in claim 7 wherein said original unique characterization is computed non-invasively with respect to said at least said one object, and wherein said recomputed unique characterization is computed non-invasively with respect to said at least one object.

10. The alteration detection system as defined in claim 7 wherein said original unique characterization is computed by measuring a set of physical characteristics of said at least one object, and wherein said recomputed unique characterization is computed by measuring said set of physical characteristics of said at least one object.

11. A method for detecting alteration of an object comprising the steps of:

characterizing the object to determine a characterization parameter;

generating, using the characterization parameter, an original unique entity identifier for the object at a first time;

associating the original unique entity identifier with the object;

generating a recomputed unique entity identifier, according to the characterization parameter, for the object at at least one subsequent time; and

generating a pre-selected characterization notification if the original unique entity identifier is not substantially identical to the recomputed unique entity identifier.

12. The method as defined in claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

associating the original unique entity identifier with a shipment;

sending the original unique entity identifier and the characterization parameter in association with the shipment; and

receiving the original unique entity identifier and the characterization parameter in association with the shipment.

13. The method as defined in claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

characterizing the shipment to determine a shipment characterization parameter;

generating, using the shipment characterization parameter, a shipment original unique entity identifier for the shipment at a first time;

associating the original unique entity identifier with the shipment;

generating a recomputed shipment unique entity identifier, according to the shipment characterization parameter, for the shipment at at least one subsequent time; and

generating the pre-selected characterization notification if the shipment original unique entity identifier is not substantially identical to the recomputed shipment unique entity identifier.

14. The method as defined in claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

generating, at the first time, a cryptographic signature associated with the original unique entity identifier;

verifying, at the at least one subsequent time, the cryptographic signature; and

preparing a pre-selected signature notification if the cryptographic signature does not verify.

15. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein said step of generating the original unique entity identifier further comprises the steps of:

non-invasively measuring physical characteristics of the object; and

preparing the original unique entity identifier based on measured physical characteristics.

16. The method as defined in claim 12 wherein said step of sending further comprises the steps of:

selecting an electronic signal medium from a group consisting of the internet, a wireless local area network, a local area network, a wide area network, and a carrier wave; and

transmitting the original unique entity identifier through the electronic signal medium.

17. The method as defined in claim 16 wherein said step of receiving further comprises the steps of:

receiving an electronic signal from the electronic signal medium; and

reading the original unique entity identifier from the electronic signal.

18. The method as defined in claim 12 wherein said step of sending further comprises the steps of:

selecting a secure electronic signal medium from a group consisting of a secure internet connection, a secure wireless local area network, a secure local area network, a secure wide area network, and a secure carrier wave; and

transmitting the original unique entity identifier through the secure electronic signal medium.

19. A node for carrying out the method according to claim 11.

20. A computer data signal embodied in electromagnetic signals traveling over a computer network carrying information capable of causing a computer system in the network to practice the method of claim 11.