Method and system for documenting assets with certified digital imager

• US 20060178902A1
• Filed: 01/12/2006
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Erik Vicars, Fred R. Bickerstaff, Rick B. Yeager
• Original Assignee: Erik Vicars, Fred R. Bickerstaff, Rick B. Yeager
• Inventors: Bickerstaff, Fred R., Vicars, Erik, Yeager, Rick B.
• Application Number:
  US11/330,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20060178902A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/64 Protecting data integrity, e.g. using checksums, certificates or signatures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking

Abstract

A home or small business inventory is documented by acquiring and processing a set of digital images. The processing includes sequencing and categorizing the images in a useful manner; associating receipts, audio testimony, video testimony, or other related information to the images; and providing a tamper-evident certification for the set of images. The certification includes visible watermarks, invisible watermarks and other security features. The images may be acquired by on on-site technician, or may be provided by electronic communication. A special collection device may be used to provide a certification that images were acquired at a specific time and place. The processed images may be provided on DVD or electronic files, and the inventory may be updated by supplemental DVD or file.

Claims

1. A system for acquiring, selecting, organizing, and certifying a plurality of digital images in order to provide tamper-evident digital image documentation of residential and business assets, the system comprising:

an image capture device for capturing a plurality of digital images;

a computer,

at least one computer program for organizing, and certifying at least a portion of the plurality of digital images and producing a set of certified images, the program comprising;

an image serializer, and

a first image security feature comprising a watermarking tool.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a storage means for storing the set of certified images.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the a storage means for storing the set of certified images comprises:

a DVD.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the a storage means for storing the set of certified images comprises:

an electronic file stored on the computer.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a second image security feature comprising a tool for encrypting information.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a second image security feature comprising a tool for scrambling content.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a second image security feature comprising a tool for providing keycodes in image metadata.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the image capture device further comprises:

a means for capturing a plurality of still images, and

a means for capturing a plurality of video images.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one fixture to support an inventory item while its image is captured.

10. A method for acquiring, selecting, organizing, and certifying a plurality of digital images in order to provide tamper-evident digital image documentation of residential and business assets of a customer, the method comprising:

capturing a plurality of images with an image capture device;

processing the plurality of images on a computing device, the processing comprising;

reviewing the plurality of images,

selecting a set of desired images from the plurality of images,

serializing the set of desired images into a serialized set of images,

providing a first image security feature for the serialized set of images, and

categorizing the serialized set of images to produce a set of processed images; and

delivering the set of processed images to the customer.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein delivering the set of processed images to the customer further comprises:

delivering a DVD to the customer, the DVD containing the set of processed images.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein providing a first image security feature for the serialized set of images further comprises:

providing at least one digital watermark on the set of images.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

providing a second image security feature for the serialized set of images, the second image security feature selected from the set consisting of

a tool for encrypting information,

a tool for scrambling content, and

a tool for providing keycodes in image metadata.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein capturing a plurality of images with an image capture device further comprises:

capturing a plurality of still images; and

capturing at least one video image.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein capturing a plurality of images with an image capture device further comprises:

providing a first fixture to support an inventory item while its image is captured.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising.

17. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

capturing additional data related to an image in the plurality of images;

providing a first image security feature for the subsequent image; and

appending the subsequent image, with the first image security feature, to the set of processed images.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

providing, as the additional data, at least one document related to an item in the image.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

providing, as the additional data, a digital testimony of the customer relating information about an item in the image.

20. A method of updating an inventory, the method comprising:

capturing a plurality of images with an image capture device;

processing the plurality of images on a computing device, the processing comprising;

reviewing the plurality of images,

selecting a set of desired images from the plurality of images,

serializing the set of desired images into a serialized set of images,

providing a first image security feature for the serialized set of images, and

categorizing the serialized set of images to produce a set of processed images;

delivering the set of processed images to an escrow agent at a first time;

capturing at least one subsequent image at a second time, the second time later than the first time;

obtaining the set of processed images from the escrow agent;

providing a first image security feature for the subsequent image; and

appending the subsequent image, with the first image security feature, to the set of processed images.