System and method for the automated processing of physical objects

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.

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.