Method and system for verifying and authenticating signed collectibles

• US 7,046,828 B1
• Filed: 04/15/2002
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harlan J. Werner, Jerald R. Gibbs
• Original Assignee: Harlan J. Werner, Jerald R. Gibbs
• Inventors: Werner, Harlan J., Gibbs, Jerald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, KANJIBHAI B
• Application Number:
  US10/123,815
• Time in Patent Office: 1,492 Days
• Field of Search: 382/115, 382/119, 382/283, 382/305, 382/312, 427/7, 283/72, 283/88, 235/491
• US Class Current: 382/119
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce

Abstract

A system and method for verifying the identity of an authenticated item such as memorabilia and collectibles where each authenticated item is assigned a unique identifier. Also, digital image is taken of the item and a profile created for the item and recorded in a database. The digital image and profile of the item is then accessible over the Internet by use of the unique identifier. The identity of an item can be verified by comparing the item to the digital image and profile information.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an authenticated object;

recording information about the authenticated object; and

providing access to said information about the authenticated object over a network, wherein the information includes publicly accessible information and secret information, the access to the secret information being controllable by an owner of the authenticated object.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

labeling the object with a unique label; and

storing the unique label in a computer readable medium.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

capturing an image of the authenticated object.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

providing access to the image of the authenticated object over a network.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

recording the information in a computer readable medium.

6. A method comprising:

witnessing an authentication of an object;

marking the object with an invisible material;

capturing a digital image of the object;

providing access to the digital image over a network and controlling access to secret information of the object by an owner of the object.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

revealing the invisible marking to verify the identity of the object.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the recording information is in a database.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the providing access over a network is to display on a browser.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein witnessing the authentication is witnessing a signing of the object.

11. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

recording the information in a computer readable medium.

12. A system comprising:

an authenticated object;

a unique label coupled to the object;

a certificate containing the unique label; and

a database containing information about the object and an image of the object associated with the unique label;

wherein the information and image are accessible over a network, the information including publicly accessible information and secret information, the access to the secret information being controllable by an owner of the authenticated object.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the information and image are accessible by a browser over the network.

14. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

a marker containing an invisible material to mark an authenticated object.

15. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

a digital camera for capturing an image of an authenticated object.

16. The system of claim 14 further comprising:

a device to detect the invisible material.

17. A system comprising:

a means for labeling an authenticated object;

a means for providing access to an image of the object over a network;

a means for providing access to information about the object over the network; and

a means for controlling access to secret information about the object by the owner of the object.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising:

a means for capturing an image of an authenticated object.

19. The system of claim 17 further comprising:

a means for invisibly marking an authenticated object.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising:

a means for revealing an invisible marking.