US 2004/0001568 A1 · System and method for detecting alteration of objects

Abstract

A system and method for detecting if an object has been tampered with comprising a characterizer, a comparator, and indicator, and optionally, a signer. The characterizer generates a first digital characterization of an object at a first time and at least one subsequent digital characterization of the object at at least one subsequent time. The comparator compares the first digital characterization with the at least one subsequent digital characterization, and the indicator generates a pre-selected characterization signal if the first and subsequent digital characterizations don't match. Optionally, the first digital characterization can be accompanied by a first digital signature. The signer optionally verifies the digital signature at the at least one subsequent time.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system for detecting if an object has been tampered with comprising:

a characterizer capable of generating a first digital characterization of an object at a first time, said characterizer generating at least one subsequent digital characterization of the object at a subsequent time;
a comparator capable of receiving and comparing said first digital characterization with said second digital characterization, said comparator further capable of determining whether said first digital characterization is substantially different from said second digital characterization and generating a pre-selected characterization notification when said second digital characterization has substantially changed compared to said first digital characterization;
and
an indicator capable of receiving said pre-selected characterization notification, said indicator providing a pre-selected characterization signal.

1 more element

An alteration detection system for at least one object comprising:

a digital characterization subsystem capable of preparing an original unique characterization for at least one object at a first time, said digital characterization subsystem capable of preparing a recomputed unique characterization for said at least one object at at least one subsequent time;
a comparison subsystem capable of comparing said original unique characterization to said recomputed unique characterization;
and
an alteration handling subsystem capable of preparing a pre-selected characterization signal if said original unique characterization is not substantially identical to said recomputed unique characterization.

1 more element

A method for detecting alteration of an object comprising the steps of:

characterizing the object to determine a characterization parameter;
generating, using the characterization parameter, an original unique entity identifier for the object at a first time;
associating the original unique entity identifier with the object;
generating a recomputed unique entity identifier, according to the characterization parameter, for the object at at least one subsequent time;
and
generating a pre-selected characterization notification if the original unique entity identifier is not substantially identical to the recomputed unique entity identifier.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for detecting alteration of objects

Life of this patent

System and method for detecting alteration of objects

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20