System and method for the automated processing of physical objects

• US 9,959,542 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2017
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gregory P. Benson
• Original Assignee: 1997 Irrevocable Trust For Gregory P. Benson
• Inventors: Benson, Gregory P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kabir, Jahangir
• Application Number:
  US15/431,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20170154344A1
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 713150, 713168, 713176, 713186, 358400, 358402, 705400, 705401
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/64 Protecting data integrity, e.g. using checksums, certificates or signatures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0619 in relation to data integrity, e.g. data losses, bit errors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/065 Replication mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0185 Product, service or business identity fraud
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00508 Printing or attaching on mailpieces printing mechanisms B41J; security printing B41M3/14; marking methods B41M5/00; inks C09D11/00; record carriers with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0004 Determining the location of mailpieces outside apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/04 Testing magnetic properties of the materials thereof, e.g. by detection of magnetic imprint G07D7/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/12 Visible light, infrared or ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231

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.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

storing data, sensed by a sensing device, representing at least one physical characteristic of a physical object in the possession of a sender in a storage remote from the sender and a receiver, and accessed through a network, at a service bureau, wherein the stored data includes data indicative of a time and date when the sender was in possession of the physical object, wherein the physical object is deliverable through a delivery service;

authenticating the identity of the sender by a computer, having at least one processor, at the service bureau and being in data communication with at least the remote storage;

subsequent to authenticating the identity of the sender, generating an identifier that uniquely identifies the physical object based on the at least one sensed characteristic of the physical object and identifies the sender, wherein the identifier is stored in the remote storage;

collocating the identifier with the physical object;

sending the physical object to the receiver through a 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;

receiving, at the service bureau computer, first data representing the identifier from the receiver;

receiving, at the service bureau computer, 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 received first data representing the identifier with the collocated identifier;

storing, at the service bureau computer, data representing an audit trail of event information associated with the physical object; and

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.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving new event information associated with the physical object; and

determining, at the service bureau computer, whether the received new event information is consistent with the stored event information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the comparing is performed by an entity not associated with the sender or with the receiver.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the physical object is associated with digital content and the at least one characteristic that is stored is the associated digital content.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising processing the digital content subsequent to determining that the received second data matches the stored data and that the received first data representing the identifier matches the collocated identifier.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein collocating the generated identifier with the physical object comprises storing digital data within the physical object, or concealing a printed pattern in an interior portion of the physical object, or embedding electronic or magnetic circuitry within the physical object.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein storing digital data comprises storing a digital link to additional data stored in the remote storage.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein collocating the identifier with the physical object comprises activating or altering an embedded identifier mechanism from a latent state.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing data indicative of the identity of the receiver in the remote storage;

receiving, at the service bureau computer with the remote storage, third data representing the identity of the receiver; and

comparing, at the service bureau computer, the third data with the stored data indicative of the receiver.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensing includes at least one of infrared sensing, radio frequency (RF) sensing, visible-spectrum optical sensing, and magnetic sensing.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer instructions which, when executed, cause a service bureau processor to:

request a sensing device to sense at least one physical characteristic of a physical object while the physical object is in the possession of a sender of the physical object, which is deliverable through a delivery service;

store data representing the at least one sensed characteristic in a service bureau storage remote from the sender and a receiver, wherein the remote storage is accessed through a network, and wherein the receiver is the addressed recipient of the deliverable physical object;

authenticate the identity of the sender;

generate an identifier that uniquely identifies the physical object and the sender subsequent to authenticating the identity of the sender, wherein the identifier is at least based on the at least one sensed characteristic of the physical object, wherein the identifier is stored in the remote storage;

collocate the generated identifier with the physical object;

receive first data representing the identifier from the receiver;

request sensing of the at least one characteristic of the physical object, the sensing to be performed at the receiver;

receive, at the service bureau processor, second data representing the at least one characteristic of the physical object from the receiver;

compare the second received data with the stored data and the received first data representing the identifier with the collocated identifier; and

generate an authentication signal, upon a successful comparison, indicative of a confirmation to the receiver that the sender was in possession of the physical object.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the stored data is indicative of a time when the sender was in possession of the physical object.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the sensing includes at least one of infrared sensing, radio frequency (RF) sensing, visible-spectrum optical sensing, and magnetic sensing.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer instructions which, when executed, cause a service bureau processor to:

request a sensing device to sense at least one physical characteristic of a physical object while the physical object is in the possession of a sender of the physical object, which is deliverable through a delivery service;

store data representing the at least one sensed characteristic in a service bureau storage remote from the sender and a receiver, wherein the stored data includes data indicative of a time when the sender was in possession of the physical object, wherein the remote storage is accessed through a network, and wherein the receiver is the addressed recipient of the deliverable physical object;

authenticate the identity of the sender;

generate an identifier that uniquely identifies the physical object and the sender subsequent to authenticating the identity of the sender, wherein the identifier is at least based on the at least one sensed characteristic of the physical object, wherein the identifier is stored in the remote storage;

collocate the generated identifier with the physical object;

receive first data representing the identifier from the receiver;

request sensing of the at least one characteristic of the physical object, the sensing to be performed at the receiver;

receive at the service bureau processor second data representing the at least one characteristic of the physical object from the receiver;

compare the second received data with the stored data and the received first data representing the identifier with the collocated identifier; and

generate an authentication signal, upon a successful comparison, indicative of a confirmation to the receiver that the sender was in possession of the physical object.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the physical object is associated with digital content and the at least one characteristic that is stored is the associated digital content, and wherein the stored computer instructions further cause the service bureau processor to process the digital content subsequent to determining that the received second data matches the stored data and that the received first data representing the identifier matches the collocated identifier.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein collocating the generated identifier with the physical object comprises storing digital data within the physical object, or concealing a printed pattern in an interior portion of the physical object, or embedding electronic or magnetic circuitry within the physical object.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein collocating the identifier with the physical object comprises activating or altering an embedded identifier mechanism from a latent state.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the stored computer instructions further cause the service bureau processor to:

store data representing an audit trail of event information associated with the physical object;

receive new event information associated with the physical object; and

determine whether the received new event information is consistent with the stored event information.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the stored computer instructions further cause the service bureau processor to:

store data indicative of the identity of the receiver in the remote storage;

receive, at the service bureau computer with the remote storage, third data representing the identity of the receiver; and

compare, at the service bureau computer, the third data with the stored data indicative of the receiver.