System and method for biometric verification in a delivery process

• US 8,499,165 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2006
• Issued: 07/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Algazi, Allan Stuart, Sparacino, Salvatore Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Parthasarathy, Pramila
• Application Number:
  US11/366,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20060156029A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,708 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 713/185
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00838 Personal data, i.e. biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence

Abstract

Described is a method and system for providing a verified delivery of a package. First, registration information is obtained from a recipient; the registration information includes a biometric identification of the recipient. A delivery service obtains the package from a sender which is addressed to the recipient and forwards the package to the recipient. At the point of delivery, the delivery service obtains a further biometric identification from the recipient using a portable device which includes a biometric reader. The delivery service releases the package to the recipient only if the biometric identification is substantially identical to the further biometric identification.

Claims

1. A method for providing verified delivery of an item, comprising:

registering a recipient prior to receiving an item, the registration comprising obtaining biometric identification data from the recipient, storing the biometric identification data in a database, and issuing an identification card to the recipient comprising the biometric identification data and a signature sample from the recipient;

scanning a barcode of the issued card at a point of delivery using a barcode scanner of a portable device, the barcode comprising the biometric identification data;

obtaining biometric information from the recipient upon delivery of the item using a biometric scanner of the portable device;

comparing the biometric identification data obtained from the card and the biometric information obtained from the biometric scanner to the biometric information stored in the database;

obtaining a signature from the recipient upon delivery of the item using a signature pad of the portable device;

comparing the signature sample obtained from the card and the signature obtained from the recipient; and

releasing the item to the recipient based on the comparison of the biometric information and the signature.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

storing the biometric identification data in a remote database wirelessly accessible by the portable device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the point of delivery is an address of the recipient.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the biometric identification data includes at least one of a fingerprint, a retinal scan, a voice sample and a DNA sample.

5. A portable electronic device for verifying delivery of an item, comprising:

a communications arrangement having access to a recipient verification record for a recipient of the item, the recipient verification record including biometric identification data stored in a database;

a barcode scanner scanning a barcode included on an identification card presented by the recipient at a point of delivery using the portable device, the barcode comprising a copy of the biometric identification data stored in the database, the identification card further comprising a signature sample from the recipient; and

a processor comparing the copy of the biometric identification data and the biometric identification data stored in the database and the signature sample obtained from the card and a signature obtained from the recipient to verify an identity of the recipient.

6. The device according to claim 5, further comprising:

a display screen,

wherein, the processor generates a visual indicator on the display screen as a function of the comparison of the biometric identification data and signature, the visual indicator indicating whether to release the item to the recipient.

7. The device according to claim 5, further comprising:

a signature pad.

8. The device according to claim 5, further comprising:

a biometric reader.

9. The device according to claim 5, wherein the communications arrangement is a wireless communications arrangement.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the wireless communications arrangement wirelessly accesses a remote database storing the record.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the point of delivery is an address of the recipient.

12. The device according to claim 5, wherein the biometric identification data includes at least one of a fingerprint, a retinal scan, a voice sample and a DNA sample.