Registry system, database and method

• US 7,042,335 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2005
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Theresa S. Franks
• Original Assignee: Theresa S. Franks
• Inventors: Franks, Theresa S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullen, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US11/032,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20050274790A1
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 340 58- 582, 340 585- 586, 340/5.9, 340/5.92, 235/375, 235/385, 705/28, 705/64, 707 9- 10, 713200-202, 709/229, 709/217, 711/100, 711/163, 711/164, 711/150, 711/151
• US Class Current: 340/5.8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/10 Services
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access

Abstract

An object registration system includes a server system and a database accessible via a worldwide network of computer. The system is utilized to register a user for registration of an object. The system responds to a request from a registered user to register the object by providing identification to be associated with object. The identification comprises first secret identification affixed to, or embedded in or on the object, and a second non-secret identification to be associated with the object. The object information is stored in the database for each object and includes the first secret identification, the second non-secret identification, object identification information and ownership information.

Claims

1. A method of managing and registering objects comprising:

providing a registration system comprising a server system and database accessible via a worldwide network of computers;

registering a user for registration of an object;

responding to a request from said registered user to register said object, said responding step comprising;

providing identification to be associated with said object;

said identification comprising a first secret identification affixed to said object, and a second non-secret identification to be associated with said object;

said first secret identification being different from said second non-secret identification; and

storing object specific information in said database for each said object;

said object specific information comprising said first secret identification, said second non-secret identification, object identification information and object ownership information.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

utilizing at least one of said first secret identification or said second non-secret identification for an object to access one or more portions of said object specific information from from said database.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

said one or more portions comprises object identification information.

4. A method in accordance with claim 2, further comprising:

utilizing said second non-secret identification to obtain at least portions of said object specific information corresponding to said second non-secret identification.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4, wherein:

said object identification information comprises an image of said object.

6. A method in accordance with claim 4, further comprising:

utilizing said second non-secret identification to obtain corresponding object ownership information from said database.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6, further comprising:

utilizing said corresponding object ownership information to determine provenance.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said object ownership information comprises owner biometric information.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

requiring a current owner identified by said object ownership information to provide subsequent ownership information of the next subsequent owner of said object.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9, further comprising:

permitting said next subsequent owner to register ownership only after said current owner registers a transfer to said next subsequent owner.

13. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining from an object at least one of said first secret identification and said second non-secret identification;

accessing said database to obtain object specific information corresponding to said at least one of said first secret identification and said second non-secret identification;

providing said obtained object specific information to a user of said registration system for comparison with said object to authenticate said object.

14. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a frangible, tamper resistant component comprising said first secret identification for affixation to said object.

15. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

storing as part of said object ownership information, information identifying subsequent owners of each said object.

16. A method in accordance with claim 15, further comprising:

registering each subsequent owner of each said object.

17. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

permitting access to limited portions of said object specific information by a user of said registration system who is not a registered owner of the corresponding object.

11. A method in accordance with clam 1, further comprising:

storing, as part of said object specific information, alerting information pertaining to theft, forgery or destruction of said object.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11, further comprising:

providing said alerting information in response to predetermined requests for information from said database.

18. A registration system, comprising:

a server accessible via a worldwide network;

a database accessible via said server, said database storing object information for corresponding registered objects;

said server being accessible by first users of said system for registering objects and storing object information for a corresponding object in said database, said object information comprising object identification information, owner identification information, secret information, and non-secret identification information;

said server having access to software to verify the identity of each first user;

said server being responsive to information requests from first users of said system to provide at least a first predetermined portion of corresponding object information stored in said database pertaining to an object;

said first predetermined portion of corresponding object information comprising at least one of object identification information or owner identification information corresponding to said secret information.

19. A registration system in accordance with claim 18, further comprising:

security and verification software; and

said server having access to said security, and identity verification software to verify the identity of each user attempting access to said database.

20. A registration system in accordance with claim 18, wherein:

said server is responsive to a request from a registered user to permit said registered user to order an identification item for affixation to an object.

21. A registration system in accordance with claim 18, wherein:

said server is responsive to second users of said system to provide a second portion of said object information to said second users.

22. A registration system in accordance with claim 21, wherein:

at least a portion of said object information for corresponding registered objects is not accessible by said second users.

23. A registration system in accordance with claim 18, wherein:

said object identification information comprises an image of the object.

24. A registration system in accordance with claim 18, wherein:

said owner identification information comprises identification information of the current owner of said object.

25. A registration system in accordance with claim 18, wherein:

said owner identification information includes biometric information.

26. A registration system in accordance with claim 18, wherein:

said server is operable to require a current owner of said object to register owner identification information of the next subsequent owner of said object.

27. A registration system in accordance with claim 26, wherein:

said server is operable to permit said next subsequent owner to register ownership only after said current owner registers a transfer to said subsequent owner.

28. A registration system in accordance with claim 18, wherein:

said server is operable to store alerting information in said database pertaining to theft of said object.

29. A system in accordance with claim 18, wherein:

said server is operable to receive said secret information for an object; and

said server is operable to access said database to obtain at least a portion of said object information corresponding to said secret information.

30. A registration system in accordance with claim 18, wherein:

said server is operable to permit each subsequent owner of said object to register ownership information in said database only after an immediate prior owner of said object registers the transfer to said subsequent owner.

31. A registration system in accordance with claim 18, wherein:

limited portions of said database are accessible by second users of said system.

32. A registration database comprising:

a plurality of information entries, each of said information entries comprising object identification information for an object, corresponding ownership identification information, image information of said object, secret identification information, and non-secret identification information.

33. A registration database in accordance with claim 32, wherein:

each of said information entries comprises a field for providing theft or forgery or destruction information.

34. A registration database in accordance with claim 32, wherein:

each of said information entries comprises identification information of the current owner of said object.

35. A registration database in accordance with claim 32, wherein:

said ownership identification information including owner biometric information.

36. A registration database in accordance with claim 32, wherein:

each of said information entries comprises subsequent owner information, said subsequent owner information being provided by a current owner of said object, said subsequent owner information identifying the next subsequent owner of said object.

37. A registration database in accordance with claim 32, wherein:

each of said information entries comprises an information field for storing sale information for said object.