System and method for the automated processing of physical objects
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- sensing at least one physical characteristic of a physical object by a sensing device associated with a service bureau while the physical object is in the possession of a sender of the physical object, the physical object deliverable through a delivery service;
storing data representing the at least one sensed characteristic at the service bureau in a storage remote, accessed through a network, from the sender and a receiver;
authenticating, by a computer with at least one processor at the service bureau, the identity of the sender;
subsequent to authenticating the identity of the sender, generating an identifier that uniquely identifies the physical object and the sender, wherein the identifier is at least based on the at least one sensed characteristic of the physical object, and wherein the identifier is stored in the remote storage;
collocating the generated identifier with the physical object;
sending the physical object to the receiver through the delivery service, wherein the physical object is received at the receiver through the delivery service, and wherein the receiver is the addressed recipient of the sent physical object;
requesting scanning of the collocated identifier, using an electromagnetic spectrum, corresponding to the physical object at the receiver;
receiving, at the service bureau at a computer having at least one processor and being in data communication with at least the remote storage, first data representing the identifier from the receiver;
requesting sensing of the at least one characteristic of the physical object at the receiver;
receiving, at the service bureau with at least the remote storage, second data representing the at least one characteristic of the physical object from the receiver;
comparing, at the service bureau, the second received data with the stored data and the first received data representing the identifier with the collocated identifier;
generating an authentication signal, upon a successful comparison, indicative of a confirmation to the receiver that the sender was in possession of the physical object; and
generating an authentication signal, upon an unsuccessful comparison, indicative of a confirmation to the receiver that the sender was not in possession of the physical object.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for verifying authenticity of a physical object and/or for verifying possession of the object by an individual are described. In one embodiment, the object is registered with a remote processing system. Data representing at least one characteristic of the object is obtained and stored in the remote system and the identity of the individual or entity possessing the object is authenticated. After authenticating the individual, an identifier is collocated (or an existing mechanism is activated or modified to replicate the identifier) with the object, where the identifier uniquely identifies the object and the individual possessing the object. The object and the identity of the individual possessing the object can be authenticated at a future time by sensing the collocated identifier and sending the sensed identifier to the remote system. The remote system can send instructions to an entity wishing to authenticate the object and its association with the individual possessing the object. The instructions can be set up at the time the object is registered in the remote system. The remote system can perform an interactive or automated session with the entity wishing to authenticate the object, thereby saving time and providing a robust method of authentication and means for carrying out additional processing functions.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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sensing at least one physical characteristic of a physical object by a sensing device associated with a service bureau while the physical object is in the possession of a sender of the physical object, the physical object deliverable through a delivery service; storing data representing the at least one sensed characteristic at the service bureau in a storage remote, accessed through a network, from the sender and a receiver; authenticating, by a computer with at least one processor at the service bureau, the identity of the sender; subsequent to authenticating the identity of the sender, generating an identifier that uniquely identifies the physical object and the sender, wherein the identifier is at least based on the at least one sensed characteristic of the physical object, and wherein the identifier is stored in the remote storage; collocating the generated identifier with the physical object; sending the physical object to the receiver through the delivery service, wherein the physical object is received at the receiver through the delivery service, and wherein the receiver is the addressed recipient of the sent physical object; requesting scanning of the collocated identifier, using an electromagnetic spectrum, corresponding to the physical object at the receiver; receiving, at the service bureau at a computer having at least one processor and being in data communication with at least the remote storage, first data representing the identifier from the receiver; requesting sensing of the at least one characteristic of the physical object at the receiver; receiving, at the service bureau with at least the remote storage, second data representing the at least one characteristic of the physical object from the receiver; comparing, at the service bureau, the second received data with the stored data and the first received data representing the identifier with the collocated identifier; generating an authentication signal, upon a successful comparison, indicative of a confirmation to the receiver that the sender was in possession of the physical object; and generating an authentication signal, upon an unsuccessful comparison, indicative of a confirmation to the receiver that the sender was not in possession of the physical object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method comprising:
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sensing at least one physical characteristic of a physical object by a sensing device associated with a service bureau while the physical object is in the possession of a sender of the physical object, the physical object deliverable through a delivery service; storing data representing the at least one sensed characteristic at the service bureau in a storage remote, accessed through a network, from a receiver; authenticating, by a computer with at least one processor at the service bureau, the identity of the sender; generating, by the service bureau computer with at least one processor, an identifier that uniquely identifies the physical object and the sender, wherein the identifier is at least based on the at least one sensed characteristic of the physical object, and wherein the identifier is stored in the remote storage; collocating the generated identifier with the physical object; sending the physical object to a receiver through the delivery service, wherein the physical object is received at the receiver through the delivery service, and wherein the receiver is the addressed recipient of the sent physical object; requesting scanning of the collocated identifier, using an electromagnetic spectrum, corresponding to the physical object at the receiver; receiving first data representing the identifier from the second entity; requesting sensing of the at least one characteristic of the physical object at the receiver; receiving, at the service bureau at a computer with at least one processor and being in data communication with at least the remote storage, second data representing the at least one characteristic of the physical object from the receiver; comparing, at the service bureau computer, the second received data with the stored data and the first received data representing the identifier with the collocated identifier; generating an authentication signal, upon a successful comparison, indicative of a confirmation to the receiver that the sender was in possession of the physical object; and generating an authentication signal, upon an unsuccessful comparison, indicative of a confirmation to the receiver that the sender was not in possession of the physical object. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A method comprising:
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sensing at least one physical characteristic of a physical object by a sensing device associated with a service bureau while the physical object is in the possession of a sender of the physical object, the physical object deliverable through a delivery service; storing data representing the at least one sensed characteristic in a storage remote, accessed through a network, from the sender and a receiver, the storage being associated with a service bureau; authenticating, by a computer with at least one processor at the service bureau, the identity of the sender; subsequent to authenticating the identity of the sender, generating an identifier that uniquely identifies the physical object and the sender, wherein the identifier is at least based on the at least one sensed characteristic of the physical object, and wherein the identifier is stored in the remote storage; collocating the generated identifier with the physical object; sending the physical object to the receiver through the delivery service, wherein the physical object is received at the receiver through the delivery service, and wherein the receiver is the addressed recipient of the sent physical object; requesting scanning of the collocated identifier, using an electromagnetic spectrum, corresponding to the physical object at the receiver; receiving, at the service bureau with the remote storage, first data representing the identifier from the receiver; requesting sensing of the at least one characteristic of the physical object at the receiver; receiving, at the service bureau, second data representing the at least one characteristic of the physical object from the receiver; comparing, at the service bureau, the second received data with the stored data and the first received data representing the identifier with the collocated identifier; generating an authentication signal, upon a successful comparison, indicative of a confirmation to the receiver that the sender was in possession of the physical object; and generating an authentication signal, upon an unsuccessful comparison, indicative of a confirmation to the receiver that the sender was not in possession of the physical object. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification