Systems and methods for electronic postmarking of data including location data

• US 20040133524A1
• Filed: 10/14/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Chamberlain, Charles R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,779,481 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/60
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Systems and mehods for electronic postmarking of location data are provided. Electronic postmarking of location data (S.20) includes generating a hash value corresponding to merged data (S.30). Electronic postmarking further includes generating an electronic postmark data structure (S.40) comprising the hash value and a date/time stamp. The electronic postmarking data structure (S.40) may further include a digital signature.

Claims

1. A method for performing electronic postmarking of data, including user data and location data, the method comprising:

receiving user data from a data acquisition/generation device;

receiving location data from a location data acquisition/generation device;

merging the user data with the location data to generate merged data; and

generating an electronic postmark data structure comprising the merged data and a time/date stamp.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating the electronic postmark data structure comprises generating a hash value from the merged data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the stage of generating an electronic postmark data structure includes generating a digital signature for inclusion in the electronic postmark data structure.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein location data includes at least one of position, altitude, longitude, latitude, and direction.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the stage of generating the electronic postmark data structure includes forwarding the merged data to an electronic postmarking server.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the stage of generating the electronic postmark data structure includes forwarding the merged data to an embedded electronic postmarking device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the embedded electronic postmarking device is embedded in the data acquisition/generation device.

8. The, method of claim 1, wherein the data acquisition/generation device is one of a digital camera, a digital video recorder, a personal digital assistant, a handheld computer, a laptop computer, and other device capable of generating and storing electronic data.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the location acquisition/generation device is at least one of a GPS sensor, an altitude sensor, a position sensor, a latitude sensor, a longitude sensor, and a direction sensor.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the generated electronic postmark data structure in a log file.

11. A method for performing electronic postmarking of data, including user data and location data, the method comprising:

receiving user data from a data acquisition/generation device;

receiving location data from a location data acquisition/generation device;

merging the user data with the location data to generate merged data; and

generating an electronic postmark data structure comprising the merged data, a time/date stamp, and a digital signature.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of generating the electronic postmark data structure comprises generating a hash value from the merged data.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein location data includes at least one of position, altitude, longitude, latitude, and direction.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the stage of generating the electronic postmark data structure includes forwarding the merged data to an electronic postmarking server.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the stage of generating the electronic postmark data structure includes forwarding the merged data to an embedded electronic postmarking device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the embedded electronic postmarking device is embedded in the data acquisition/generation device.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the data acquisition/generation device is one of a digital camera, a digital video recorder, a personal digital assistant, a handheld computer, a laptop computer, and other device capable of generating and storing electronic data.

18. The method of claim 11, where in the location acquisition/generation device is at least one of a GPS sensor, an altitude sensor, a position sensor, a latitude sensor, a longitude sensor, and a direction sensor.

19. A system for performing electronic postmarking of data, including user data and location data, the system comprising:

means for receiving user data from a data acquisition/generation device;

means for receiving location data from a location data acquisition/generation device;

means for merging the user data with the location data to generate merged data; and

means for generating an electronic postmark data structure comprising the merged data and a time/date stamp.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein means for generating the electronic postmark data structure comprises means for generating a hash value from the merged data.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the means for generating an electronic postmark data structure includes means for generating a digital signature for inclusion in the electronic postmark data structure.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein location data includes at least one of position, altitude, longitude, latitude, and direction.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the means for generating the electronic postmark data structure includes means for forwarding the merged data to an electronic postmarking server.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the means for generating the electronic postmark data structure includes means for forwarding the merged data to an embedded electronic postmarking device.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the embedded electronic postmarking device is embedded in the data acquisition/generation device.

26. The system of claim 19, wherein the data acquisition/generation device is one of a digital camera, a digital video recorder, a personal digital assistant, a handheld computer, a laptop computer, and other device capable of generating and storing electronic data.

27. The system of claim 19, wherein the location acquisition/generation device is at least one of a GPS sensor, an altitude sensor, a position sensor, a latitude sensor, a longitude sensor, and a direction sensor.