US 2023/0274246 A1 · Item and ownership authentication, management and return

Abstract

The invention is an identifier(device) installed by a manufacturer, qualified professional or consumer and a (method) for managing all aspects of an item’s lifecycle: ownership, anonymous return of (or communication via) the item or person/organism bearing the identifier, anonymous reward for the return of the lost item or person/organism, authentication and warranty(repair or recall) recordkeeping and management for a given item, transfer of ownership of an item, end of life recycling when the item has achieved its usable lifespan, and data generated from the preceding for the purpose of product development, competitive analysis, market intelligence and business intelligence.

Claims6

Dependent claims

An identifier comprising visibly or invisibly printed(encoded), tattooed, or engraved data containing 2 or more of the following:

• ID#
• link to communication interface for the given ID#, whether as a URL or encoded into a barcode, QR code, electronic device such as a chip, network, gesture or voice controlled interface that communicates with a database
“I’m lost” or “If found”
• Applied directly to item or affixed to surface of item as depicted in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 7.

1 more element

The device is installed by consumer/owner, who:

• Assumes ownership of the device by adding the device’s ID# to the list of device ID#s they own
• Creates a record for the item the device is installed in or on with description, photo, and when applicable:
make, model, style number, or serial number
• Specifies their own contact preferences for receiving notifications from the device’s anonymous chat, and specifies additional persons or entities and their contact information for the purpose of receiving anonymous chat notifications or return of item when owner is unable to do so themselves (Figure 4)
• Communicates anonymously about the device or item/organism bearing the device via the associated interface or through notifications delivered according to their contact preferences (Figures 8 and 9)
• May pay an anonymous reward to the person or entity returning the item when lost (Figure 10)
• May choose to include and display their name, affiliation(s) with teams, brands, or organizations, display social information, professional information, a photo, or links to publications websites, information about the item the device is installed on, or other items they’ve installed devices on and claimownership of (Figures 11, 12 and 13).

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Item and ownership authentication, management and return

Life of this patent

Item and ownership authentication, management and return

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims6