System and method for biometric verification in a delivery process

• US 20040083371A1
• Filed: 10/29/2002
• Published: 04/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Algazi, Allan Stuart, Sparacino, Salvatore Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 7,039,813 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/186
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00838 Personal data, i.e. biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence

Abstract

Described is a method and system for providing a verified delivery of a package. First, registration information is obtained from a recipient; the registration information includes a biometric identification of the recipient. A delivery service obtains the package from a sender which is addressed to the recipient and forwards the package to the recipient. At the point of delivery, the delivery service obtains a further biometric identification from the recipient using a portable device which includes a biometric reader. The delivery service releases the package to the recipient only if the biometric identification is substantially identical to the further biometric identification.

Claims

1. A method for providing a verified delivery of a package, comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining registration information from a recipient, the registration information including a biometric identification of the recipient;

(b) obtaining the package from a sender which is addressed to the recipient;

(c) forwarding the package to the recipient;

(d) obtaining a further biometric identification from the recipient at the point of delivery using a portable device, the portable device including a biometric reader; and

(e) releasing the package to the recipient only if the biometric identification is substantially identical to the further biometric identification.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

storing the registration information in a computer database; and

before the releasing step, providing the biometric identification from the computer database to the portable device.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of:

before the storing step, independently verifying an identity of the recipient.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

generating an identification card for the recipient which includes the corresponding biometric identification; and

providing the identification card to the recipient.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of:

obtaining the biometric identification of the recipient from the identification card using the portable device.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

before the generating the card step, encrypting the biometric identification using a predetermined encryption system; and

before the obtaining step, decrypting the biometric identification the encryption system.

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of:

releasing the package to the recipient only if (i) the biometric identification obtained from the identification card and (ii) the further biometric identification are substantially identical.

8. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

storing the registration information in a computer database;

obtaining the biometric information by the device; and

releasing the package to the recipient only if (i) the biometric identification obtained from the database, (ii) the biometric identification obtained from the identification card and (iii) the further biometric identification are substantially identical.

9. The method according to claim 4, wherein the biometric information is stored on the identification card in the form of a two-dimensional bar code and wherein the portable device includes a two-dimensional barcode reader, the method further comprising the step of:

obtaining the biometric identification by scanning the barcode of the identification card using the portable device.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the biometric identification includes at least one of a retina data, a finger print and a voice data sample.

11. The method according to claim 2, wherein the portable device includes a wireless communication arrangement, the computer database being coupled to a wireless communication network, the method further comprising the step of:

obtaining the biometric identification from the database using the portable device via the wireless communication network.

12. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of:

providing and storing the further biometric identification in the computer database.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

obtaining a signature sample of the recipient;

before releasing step, obtaining a further signature sample of the recipient; and

releasing the package if (i) the biometric identification is substantially similar to the further biometric identification and (ii) the sample signature is substantially similar to the further sample signature.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

after the releasing step, retaining a record of the release of the package to the recipient by the portable device and removing the biometric identification and the further biometric identification from the portable device.

15. A system for providing a verified delivery of a package, comprising:

a computing arrangement including a biometric reader, the computer arrangement obtaining a registration information from a recipient, the registration information including a biometric identification of the recipient; and

a portable device including a portable biometric reader,

wherein the package is obtained from a sender and addressed to the recipient, the package being forwarded to the recipient,

wherein a further biometric identification is obtained from the recipient using the portable device at the point of delivery, and

wherein the package is released to the recipient only if the biometric identification is substantially identical to the further biometric identification.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the registration information is stored in a computer database, and wherein, before the package is released, the biometric identification is provided from the computer database to the portable device.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein before the registration information is stored in the database, an identity of the recipient is independently verified.

18. The system according to claim 15, wherein an identification card for the recipient is generated, the identification card including the corresponding biometric identification.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the biometric identification of the recipient is obtained from the identification card using the portable device.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein before the card is generated, the biometric identification is encrypted using a predetermined encryption system, and wherein before the biometric identification is obtaining form the card, the biometric identification is decrypted using the encrypting system.

21. The system according to claim 19, wherein the package is released to the recipient only if (i) the biometric identification obtained from the identification card and (ii) the further biometric identification are substantially identical.

22. The system according to claim 18, wherein the biometric information is stored on the identification card in the form of a two-dimensional bar code, the portable device including a two-dimensional barcode reader, the biometric identification being obtained by scanning the barcode of the identification card using the portable device.

23. The system according to claim 15, wherein the biometric identification includes at least one of a retina data, a finger print and a voice data sample.

24. The system according to claim 15, wherein the portable device includes a wireless communication arrangement, the computer database being coupled to a wireless communication network, the biometric identification being obtained using the portable device via the wireless communication network.

25. The system according to claim 15, wherein after the package is released, a record of the release of the package to the recipient is retained by the portable device and wherein the biometric identification and the further biometric identification are removed from the portable device.