Method of Verifying an Object

• US 20080313706A1
• Filed: 08/27/2008
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Lapstun, Paul
• Application Number:
  US12/199,718
• Publication Number:
  US 20080313706A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/367 involving electronic purses or money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0185 Product, service or business identity fraud
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/004 using digital security elements, e.g. information coded on a magnetic thread or strip
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/20 Manipulating the length of blocks of bits, e.g. padding or block truncation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/805 Lightweight hardware, e.g. radio-frequency identification [RFID] or sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A method of verifying an object using a computer system which receives a verification request indicative of an identity of the object and at least one signature fragment, the signature being a digital signature of at least part of the identity. The method includes determining the identity, and using this to determine at least one criterion relating to the verification from a database. The verification request is compared to the at least one criterion allowing the object to be verified if the criterion is satisfied.

Claims

1. A method of verifying an object, wherein the method includes, in a computer system:

receiving a verification request, the request being at least partially indicative of;

an identity of the object;

at least one signature fragment, the signature being a digital signature of at least part of the identity;

determining, using the verification request, a determined identity;

determining, using the determined identity, and from a database, at least one criterion relating to verification; and

,

comparing the received verification request to the at least one criterion; and

causing the object to be verified if the at least one criterion is satisfied.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one criterion relates to a limit on at least one of:

a number of received verification requests;

a rate of received verification requests; and

,

timing of received verification requests.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the limit is defined in respect of at least one of:

the identity of the object;

the signature;

the signature fragment;

a verification request source; and

,

the object.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the limit is proportional to a size of the signature fragment.

5. A method according to claim 2, wherein the method includes, in the computer system:

determining, using the verification request;

a request history indicative of a number of previously received verification requests; and

,

a corresponding limit;

determining, using the verification request and the request history, a request number; and

,

causing the object to be verified if the request number does not exceed the corresponding limit.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the method includes, in the computer system, and in response to a verification request, updating the request history.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein the request history is indicative of the timing of the received verification request.

8. A method according to claim 5, wherein the request history is associated with:

the identity of the object;

the signature;

the signature fragment;

a verification request source; and

,

the object.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes, in the computer system, verifying the object by authenticating the object using the identity of the object and the at least one signature fragment.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the verification request is at least partially indicative of an identity of the signature fragment.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the object is associated with a surface having disposed thereon or therein coded data including a number of coded data portions, each coded data portion being indicative of at least the identity and a signature fragment, and wherein, in response to sensing of at least one coded data portion, a sensing device generates the verification request.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the verification request is at least partially indicative of an identity of the signature fragment, the fragment identity being based on at least one of:

a number encoded within the at least one sensed coded data portion; and

,

a position of the at least one sensed coded data portion on the surface.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes, in the computer system, only comparing the received verification request to the at least one criterion after a failed verification.

14. A method of verifying an object, wherein the method includes, in a computer system:

receiving a verification request, the request being at least partially indicative of;

an identity of the object;

a concatenation of;

a signature fragment, the signature fragment being a digital signature of at least part of the identity; and

a random signature;

determining, using the verification request, a determined identity;

determining, using the concatenation, the signature fragment; and

,

verifying the object using the determined identity and the signature fragment.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein method includes, in the computer system:

determining, using the determined identity, a key;

generating, using the determined identity and the key, a generated signature;

comparing the generated signature to the concatenation to thereby identify and authenticate the signature fragment.

16. Coded data for disposal on or in a surface, the coded data including a number of coded data portions, each coded data portion encoding:

an identity; and

,

a fragment of a signature, the signature being a digital signature of at least part of the identity; and

a random signature.

17. Coded data according to claim 17, wherein each coded data portion is at least partially indicative of a data portion identity, the data portion identity being unique for each coded data portion, the data portion identity being indicative of the position.

19. Coded data according to claim 18, wherein the coded data is disposed on or in the surface using a layout, the layout being indicative of, for each data portion identity, the position of the corresponding coded data portion.

20. Coded data according to claim 19, wherein the signature is generated using RSA encryption.