SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE AUTOMATED PROCESSING OF PHYSICAL OBJECTS

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.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a representational block diagram of an embodiment of a system for providing authentication of delivery of an object from a first entity to a second entity.

FIG. 2 is a representational block diagram of an embodiment of a system for authenticating an individual possessing a passport containing a collocated authentication code that uniquely identifies the passport and the individual.

FIG. 3 is a representational block diagram of an embodiment of a system for registration of a physical object in the possession of an individual.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a server system that may be used in any of the systems of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of performing remote authentication of an object in the possession of an individual.

Claims

1. A method comprising; storing data representing at least one characteristic of a physical object in the possession of a first entity;authenticating the identity of the first entity;subsequent to authenticating the identity of the first entity, collocating an identifier with the object that uniquely identifies the object and the first entity;receiving data representing the identifier from a second entity;electrically receiving second data representing the at least one characteristic of the physical object from the second entity; andelectrically determining whether the received second data matches the stored data and whether the received identifier matches the collocated identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: electrically receiving data representing the identity of the first entity from the second entity; and electrically determining whether the received identity data matches the authenticated identity of the first entity.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending an authentication signal to the second entity, the authentication signal indicating whether the received second data was determined to match the stored data and whether the received identifier was determined to match the collocated identifier.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to receiving the data representing the identifier from the second entity, receiving one or more rules defining one or more actions to be taken after receiving the data representing the identifier from the second entity.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the one or more received rules modifies the collocated identifier, the method further comprises storing data representing the modified identifier such that the modified identifier uniquely identifies the object and the first entity.

6. 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.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising processing the digital content subsequent to electrically determining that the second data matches the stored data and that the received identifier matches the collocated identifier.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating instructions to the second entity subsequent to receiving the data representing the identifier.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: storing data representing an audit trail of event information associated with the physical object;receiving new event information associated with the physical object; andelectrically determining whether the received new event information is consistent with the stored event information.