Chain of custody system and method

• US 6,963,973 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2001
• Issued: 11/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Chapman, Charles B., Childers, Winthrop D., Potts, Jerry R.
• Primary Examiner(s): JUNG, DAVID YIUK
• Application Number:
  US09/981,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20030074556A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,483 Days
• Field of Search: 713168-176, 713200-202, 713/150
• US Class Current: 713/168
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/12 Applying verification of the received information cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3207 of an address
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3215 of a time or duration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3235 Checking or certification of the authentication information, e.g. by comparison with data stored independently
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 Transmission

Abstract

An unimpeachable chain of custody system and method includes a confirmation authentication system that facilitates receiving and storing a communication signal that is indicative of an evidentiary item captured at a determined location and at a determined time. The confirmation authentication system and method further facilitates generating and transmitting a chain of custody confirmation signal to a transportable input system that the communication signal has been authenticated and stored for subsequent retrieval. The transportable input system includes a positioning device and a communication device that cooperate to facilitates generating and transmitting the communication signal in response to receiving the chain of custody confirmation signal. The transportable input system further facilitates generating an authentication signal that the communication signal was generated by the input system at about the determined location and at about the determined time so that the integrity of the received evidentiary item cannot be impeached.

Claims

1. An unimpeachable chain of custody method, comprising:

providing a confirmation authentication system to facilitate the receiving and storing of a communication signal indicative of an evidentiary item captured at a determined location and at a determined time and to facilitate the generating and transmitting of a chain of custody confirmation signal that said communication signal has been authenticated and stored for subsequent retrieval; and

providing a transportable input system having a positioning device and communication means to facilitate generating and transmitting in response to receiving said chain of custody confirmation signal, said communication signal and to facilitate generating an authentication signal that said communication signal was generated by said input system at about said determined location and at about said determined time.

2. An unimpeachable chain of custody method according to claim 1, further comprising:

said input system being disabled from generating another communication signal until another chain of custody confirmation signal has been generated by said confirmation authentication system and received by said input system.

3. An unimpeachable chain of custody method according to claim 2, further comprising:

providing an indication that said input system is enabled to generate said another communication signal.

4. An unimpeachable chain of custody method according to claim 2, further comprising:

providing an indication that said input system is disabled from generating said another communication signal.

5. An unimpeachable chain of custody method according to claim 1, wherein said step of providing said transportable input system includes:

enabling said input system to generate said communication signal for a predetermined chain of custody period of time; and

disabling said input system from generating said another communication signal for another predetermined chain of custody period of time.

6. A chain of custody system, comprising:

a confirmation authentication system for receiving and storing a communication signal indicative of an evidentiary item captured at a determined location and at a determined time;

said confirmation authentication system further for generating and transmitting of a chain of custody confirmation signal that said communication signal has been authenticated and stored for subsequent retrieval; and

a transportable input system having a positioning device and a communication device to facilitate generating and transmitting in response to receiving said chain of custody confirmation signal, said communication signal and to facilitate generating an authentication signal that said communication signal was generated by said input system at about said determined location and at about said determined time.

7. A chain of custody system according to claim 6, further comprising:

a disabling arrangement for preventing said input system from generating another communication signal until another chain of custody confirmation signal has been generated by said confirmation authentication system and received by said input system.

8. A chain of custody system according to claim 7, further comprising:

a device for providing an indication that said input system is enabled to generate said another communication signal.

9. A chain of custody system according to claim 6, wherein said transportable input system includes:

an enabling arrangement to permit said input system to generate said communication signal for a predetermined chain of custody period of time; and

a disabling arrangement to prevent said input system from generating another communication signal for another predetermined chain of custody period of time.

10. An unimpeachable chain of custody method, comprising:

generating an information signal indicative of an evidentiary item captured at a determined location and at a determined time;

transmitting said information signal to a remote confirmation system;

generating a confirmation signal verifying that said information signal has been received and stored at said remote confirmation system; and

responding to said information signal by generating an actuation signal to capture another evidentiary item at another determined location and at another determined time.

11. An unimpeachable chain of custody system, comprising:

means for generating an information signal indicative of an evidentiary item captured at a determined location and at a determined time;

means for transmitting said information signal to a remote confirmation system;

means for generating a confirmation signal verifying that said information signal has been received and stored at said remote confirmation system; and

means for responding to said confirmation signal by generating an actuation signal to capture another evidentiary item at another determined location and at another determined time.

12. A system for authenticating evidentiary items, comprising:

a remote confirmation system for receiving and storing an uploaded digital signal indicative of an evidentiary item captured at a determined location at a determined time;

said remote confirmation system generating and transmitting a verification signal that said uploaded digital signal has been received and stored; and

an evidentiary transmission system responsive to said verification signal and a user activation signal for determining another capture location and another capture time of another evidentiary item and for uploading another digital signal to said remote confirmation system.

13. A system for authenticating evidentiary items according to claim 12, wherein said evidentiary transmission system includes:

an input capture device for generating an information signal indicative of at least a portion of said uploaded digital signal.

a position device responsive to the activation of said input device for determining the capture location and capture time of said evidentiary item; and

wherein said remote confirmation system includes;

a server for receiving and storing the uploaded digital signal; and

another transmission device responsive to said server to facilitate providing said input device with said verification signal.

14. A system for authenticating evidentiary items according to claim 12, further comprising:

a public access server for providing upon public request an unauthenticated hardcopy record of said evidentiary item; and

a private access server for providing upon private request an unimpeachable hardcopy record indicative of said evidentiary item captured at said determined capture location and at said determined capture time.