Method and system for on-line certificate of authenticity for collectibles and on-line signature verification of collectibles

• US 20060239516A1
• Filed: 03/27/2006
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Authenticsig Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Authenticsig Incorporated
• Inventors: Morgan, Dan C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,778,448 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/119
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/18 Legal services
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/30 Writer recognition; Reading and verifying signatures

Abstract

An on-line method for issuing a certificate of authenticity for a collectible to a collector who has personally witnessed the collectible being signed and a verification system for authenticating a suspected signature on an object by scanning the suspected signature and transmitting to a central computer where the suspected signature is compared with a set of authentic reference signatures based on input as to the shape of the object. In embodiments, the collector provides information on the collectible via the Internet to a central computer which stores the information for future reference by potential purchasers of the collectible. The collector must sign a statement on the certificate of authenticity that declares, under penalty of perjury, the information that the collector provided regarding the collectible is correct. Subsequent purchasers can access the central computer via the Internet.

Claims

1-6. -6. (canceled)

7. A method of verifying the authenticity of a signature on a collectible object comprising:

connecting to a central computer;

providing information about a signer;

transmitting an image of a suspected signature to said central computer;

selecting a type of collectible surface on which said suspected signature is inscribed;

comparing said scanned image with a selected set of stored signatures at least one of said selected set signed at a different instant by said signer at said central computer to determine whether the suspected signature is authentic or not authentic; and

communicating whether the signature is authentic or not authentic.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

scanning the suspected signature.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

wherein said central computer has a number of different reference signatures stored in memory for each signer;

matching a set of reference signatures for said signer that most closely match the configuration of the object; and

storing submitted and generated information in said central computer for retrieval at a future time.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

matching said suspected signature to one or more reference signatures that are from similarly curved or spherical objects or irregularly shaped collectible objects.

13. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

for a signature determined to be authentic;

printing a certificate of authenticity bearing a serialized hologram;

printing a second identical hologram; and

attaching the second hologram to the collectible.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

storing information regarding said certificate of authenticity bearing a serialized hologram and said second identical serialized hologram in said central computer for retrieval at a future time.

16. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

wherein said suspected signature is compared with a set of authentic reference stored signatures selection of which is based on the user'"'"'s input as to the shape of the object on which the suspected signature is inscribed and the user'"'"'s input as to the signer of the object.

11-12. -12. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

17-18. -18. (canceled)

19. A verification system allowing a user to authenticate a suspected signature on a collectible object comprising:

an input device able to scan the suspected signature into an information system;

a transmission device able to transmitting a scanned suspected signature via the Internet to a central computer;

wherein said central computer is able to compare the suspected signature with a set of authentic reference signatures at least one signature having been signed at a different instant from said suspected signature to verify a signature on a collectible, the selection of said set based on information provided by the purchaser;

logic instructions enabling said central computer to compare the suspected signature with a set of stored authentic reference signatures;

storage at said central computer storing all information for reference at a future time; and

a certificate of authenticity for a collectible with a signature that has been verified.

21. The system of claim 19 further wherein:

said system allows authenticating a signature on a collectible quickly without having to transport the collectible.

23. The system of claim 19 further wherein:

the collectible may be either a flat object;

such as a photograph or painting;

or a curved or spherical or an irregular shaped object;

such as a baseball;

basketball;

or football;

the collectible is inscribed with a signature of a celebrity;

artist;

athlete or other famous person.

24. The system of claim 19 further wherein:

said input device is connected to an originating computer, wherein said originating computer may be a user'"'"'s personal computer at home or at work or said originating computer may be located at a third part location.

25. The system of claim 24 further wherein:

said third party location is an authorized agent'"'"'s place of business and an owner of the collectible will bring the collectible to the agent'"'"'s place of business for authentication.

20. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

26-28. -28. (canceled)

29. A method of providing certificates of authenticity for collectibles using an on-line computer system comprising:

connecting an originating computer system via an online communication system to a central computer system;

providing information from the originating computer system to the central computer about a collector and a collectible for which the collector seeks to obtain a certificate of authentication said information provided solely by the collector and where the collector has personally witnessed the collectible being signed;

storing the information about the collector and the collectible on the central computer;

printing and providing to the collector a certificate of authenticity;

requiring the collector to sign a statement on the certificate of authenticity that declares, under penalty of perjury, the information that the collector provided regarding the collectible is correct, thereby assuring authenticity of the collectible.

30. A method of providing on-line certificates of authenticity for collectibles according to claim 29 further comprising:

allowing users to access information on a collectible that is stored on the central computer via an online communication system.

31. A method of providing on-line certificates of authenticity for collectibles according to claim 29 further comprising:

allowing a subsequent owner of the collectible to register their ownership of the collectible by connecting their computer via an online communication system to a central computer and providing information to the central computer about the subsequent owner.

33. A method of providing on-line certificates of authenticity for collectibles according to claim 31 further wherein:

said collector is provided with a certificate of authenticity bearing a serialized hologram with bar code and an identical serialized hologram with bar code for attachment to the collectible;

said serial number is assigned to the collectible, after the collector has provided the requested information.

and further comprising;

adding new information collected from said subsequent owner to historical information previously stored on the central computer.

providing the subsequent owner a valid, certificate of ownership showing a history of the collectible ands its chain of ownership.

37. A method of providing on-line certificates of authenticity for collectibles according to claim 29 wherein information requested from the collector comprises one or more of:

a description of the collectible item;

a name of a celebrity who autographed the collectible item;

a date and place the collectible item was autographed in the presence of the collector;

any limited edition information available such as the sequence number of the collectible and the total number in the limited edition;

an express warranty or guarantee the signature was personally witnessed by the collector;

the collector'"'"'s true legal name and street address;

any identifying serial number on the collectible item; and

any additional information that may add to the legitimacy of the autograph such as the name of the trade show company that hired the celebrity, artist, or athlete.

38. A method of providing on-line certificates of authenticity for collectibles and, doing business using a computer system according to claim 29 further comprising:

providing a collector a set of user interfaces from a remote computer system;

requesting from said collector a set of collector information using said user interfaces;

requesting from said collector a set of information about a collectible using said user interfaces;

based on information received from said collector, generating a certificate of authenticity for a collectible, said certificate of authenticity containing a guarantee in writing by the collector, and a signature of the collector stating that the signature was personally witnessed by the collector and is therefore authentic.

39. A method according to claim 38 further wherein:

said certificate of authenticity is provided with a pair of identical serialized holograms with bar codes on the certificate of authenticity and on a label that is to be affixed to the collectible item to ensure the collectible is traceable.

the collector must sign a statement on the certificate of authenticity that declares, under penalty of perjury, that the information provided to the remote computer regarding the collectible is correct.

said certificate of authenticity is provided only after;

the collector completes a customer inquiry screen with customer information for the collector; and

the collector answers a series of questions related to the collectible item being certified.

and further comprising;

assigning a customer identification number to the collector.

storing said information relating to the collector, the collectible and the certificate of authenticity at a remote computer system.

allowing a new owner to reregister a collectible on-line by providing information on the new owner and their acquisition of the collectible similar to the way that the original collector registered the collectible.

stored on the remote central computer in association with a serial number for the collectible.

46. A method according to claim 38 further wherein information requested from the collector comprises one or more of:

a description of the collectible item;

a name of a celebrity who autographed the collectible item;

a date and place the collectible item was autographed in the presence of the collector;

any limited edition information available such as the sequence number of the collectible and the total number in the limited edition;

an express warranty or guarantee the signature was personally witnessed by the collector;

the collector'"'"'s true legal name and street address;

any identifying serial number on the collectible item; and

any additional information that may add to the legitimacy of the autograph such as the name of the trade show company that hired the celebrity, artist, or athlete.

32. (canceled)

34-36. -36. (canceled)

40-45. -45. (canceled)