System and method for biometric verification in a delivery process

• US 20060156029A1
• Filed: 03/01/2006
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Algazi, Allan Stuart, Sparacino, Salvatore Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 8,499,165 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 verified delivery of an item, comprising:

generating a recipient verification record for a recipient of the item, the record including a biometric identifier of the recipient;

providing the record to a portable device;

scanning a barcode presented by the recipient at a point of delivery using the portable device, the barcode storing a further biometric identifier for the recipient; and

releasing the item to the recipient only if the further biometric identifier matches the biometric identifier.

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

generating an identification card for the recipient which includes the barcode.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

storing the record in a remote database wirelessly accessible by the portable device.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the point of delivery is an address of the recipient.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the record further includes a signature sample of the recipient.

6. The method according to claim 5,

wherein the portable device includes a signature pad.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

obtaining a further signature sample from the recipient at the point of delivery; and

releasing the item to the recipient only if the further signature sample matches the signature sample.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the biometric identifier includes as least one of a fingerprint, a retinal scan, a voice sample and a DNA sample.

16. The device according to claim 4, wherein the point of delivery is an address of the recipient.

9. A portable electronic device for verifying delivery of an item, comprising:

a communications arrangement having access to a recipient verification record for a recipient of the item, the record including a biometric identifier of the recipient;

a barcode scanner scanning a barcode presented by the recipient at a point of delivery using the portable device, barcode storing a further biometric identifier for the recipient; and

a processor comparing the further biometric identifier and the biometric identifier to verify an identity of the recipient.

10. The device according to claim 9, further comprising:

a display screen, and

wherein, the processor generates a visual indicator on the display screen as a function of the comparison of the further biometric identifier and the biometric identifier, the visual indicator indicating whether to release the item to the recipient.

11. The device according to claim 9, further comprising:

a signature pad.

12. The device according to claim 9, further comprising;

a biometric reader.

13. The device according to claim 9, wherein the communications arrangement is a wireless communications arrangement.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the wireless communications arrangement wirelessly accesses a remote database storing the record.

15. The device according to claim 9, wherein the barcode is included on an identification card presented by the recipient at a point of delivery.

17. The device according to claim 10, wherein the record includes a signature sample of the recipient, a further signature sample is obtained from the recipient at the point of delivery using the signature pad, and the visual indicator is generated as a function of a comparison of the further signature sample and the signature sample.

18. The device according to claim 9, wherein the biometric identifier includes as least one of a fingerprint, a retinal scan, a voice sample and a DNA sample.

19. A system for providing verified delivery of an item, comprising:

a computing arrangement storing a recipient verification record for each of a plurality of recipients, the record including a biometric identifier of a corresponding recipient;

a portable device in communication with the computing arrangement and having access to the record, the portable device scanning a barcode presented by the recipient at a point of delivery using the portable device, the barcode storing a further biometric identifier for the recipient,

wherein, the item is released to the recipient only if the further biometric identifier matches the biometric identifier.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the biometric identifier includes as least one of a fingerprint, a retinal scan, a voice sample and a DNA sample.

21. The system according to claim 19, wherein the computing arrangement generates an identification card for the recipient which includes the barcode.

22. A portable computing arrangement for verifying delivery of an item, comprising:

a communications means for accessing a recipient verification record for a recipient of the item, the record including a biometric identifier of the recipient;

a scanning means for scanning a barcode presented by the recipient at a point of delivery using the portable device, the barcode storing a further biometric identifier for the recipient; and

a processing means comparing the further biometric identifier and the biometric identifier to verify an identity of the recipient.

23. The arrangement according to claim 22, further comprising:

a display means, and

wherein, the processing means generates a visual indicator on the display screen as a function of the comparison of the further biometric identifier and the biometric identifier, the visual indicator indicating whether to release the item to the recipient.