Analyzing Digital Images for Authenticating Memorabilia Items

Abstract

A digital image of an item, created by a creator, can be received at an authentication server from a collector. The creator and collector can have profiles on the authentication server. The item can have an associated with the creator. The association can be a mark placed on the item. The co-location of the creator and the collector can be verified at the time of creation of the item. The digital image of the item can be transferred to the collector for verification of its authenticity. A record of ownership can be generated and stored in electronic storage with the digital image. The record of ownership can indicate that the collector owns the item.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method to be performed by at least one computer processor forming at least a part of a computing system, the method comprising:
 receiving, from a first electronic device associated with a first user, a first digital image having a digital representation of an item and an indication of a first location of the first electronic device, the first user having a first user profile electronically stored on an authentication server, the item having an association with a second user, the second user different from the first user, the second user having a second user profile electronically stored on the authentication server;   transmitting the first digital image to the second electronic device;   receiving, from the second electronic device, a verification that the first digital image includes the digital representation of the item having the association with the second user;   generating, in response to receiving the verification, a record of ownership to associate with the item and the first user;   storing, in a secure electronic storage and associated with the first user profile, the record of ownership;   receiving a request to transfer the record of ownership associated with the item from the first user to a third user, the third user having a third user profile electronically stored on the authentication server;   updating, in the secure electronic storage, the record of ownership associated with the item to associate the record of ownership with the third user;   receiving, from the first electronic device, a second digital image having a digital representation of the item;   identifying a first set of pixels within the first digital image that correspond to the item;   identifying a second set of pixels within the second digital image that correspond to the item; and   verifying that the second set of pixels corresponds to the first set of pixels, wherein the first set of pixels includes at least a mark placed on the item by the second user.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting, to the second electronic device, a request to authorize the transfer the record of ownership, associated with the item, from the first user to the third user; and   receiving, from the second electronic device, an authorization to execute the transfer the record of ownership.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the first electronic device, a second digital image of the memorabilia item, at least a portion of the second digital image comprising a mark associated with the second user;   transmitting, to the second electronic device, the second digital image of the item; and   receiving, from the second electronic device, a verification from the second user that the at least the portion of the second digital image comprises the mark.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the first electronic device, first location information associated with the first electronic device; and   receiving, from the second electronic device, second location information associated with the second electronic device; and   verifying that a first location associated with the first location information is within a defined threshold of a second location associated with the second location information.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first location information comprises satellite geolocation information. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the first location information comprises a local area network identity within communication range of the first location. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 publishing, to a distributed database system, the record of ownership associated with the item.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 publishing, to a distributed database system, the updated record of ownership associated with the item.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the record of ownership associated with the item comprises the first digital image and an identity of the first user. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 one or more processors; and   a memory comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, from a first electronic device associated with a first user, a first digital image having a digital representation of an item and an indication of a first location of the first electronic device, the first user having a first user profile electronically stored on an authentication server, the item having an association with a second user, the second user different from the first user, the second user having a second user profile electronically stored on the authentication server; 
 transmitting the first digital image to the second electronic device; 
 receiving, from the second electronic device, a verification that the first digital image includes the digital representation of the item having the association with the second user; 
 generating, in response to receiving the verification, a record of ownership to associate with the item and the first user; 
 storing, in a secure electronic storage and associated with the first user profile, the record of ownership; 
 receiving a request to transfer the record of ownership associated with the item from the first user to a third user, the third user having a third user profile electronically stored on the authentication server; 
 updating, in the secure electronic storage, the record of ownership associated with the item to associate the record of ownership with the third user; 
 receiving, from the first electronic device, a second digital image having a digital representation of the item; 
 identifying a first set of pixels within the first digital image that correspond to the item; 
 identifying a second set of pixels within the second digital image that correspond to the item; and 
 verifying that the second set of pixels corresponds to the first set of pixels, wherein the first set of pixels includes at least a mark placed on the item by the second user. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 transmitting, to the second electronic device, a request to authorize the transfer the record of ownership associated with the item from the first user to the third user; and   receiving, from the second electronic device, an authorization to execute the transfer of the record of ownership.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving, from the first electronic device, a second digital image of the memorabilia item, at least a portion of the second digital image comprising a mark associated with the second user;   transmitting, to the second electronic device, the second digital image of the item; and   receiving, from the second electronic device, a verification from the second user that the at least the portion of the second digital image comprises the mark.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving, from the first electronic device, an authentication code associated with the second user.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving, from the first electronic device, first location information associated with the first electronic device; and   receiving, from the second electronic device, second location information associated with the second electronic device; and   verifying that a first location associated with the first location information is within a defined threshold of a second location associated with the second location information.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the first location information comprises satellite geolocation information. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the first location information comprises a local area network identity within communication range of the first location. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 publishing, to a distributed database system, the record of ownership associated with the item.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 publishing, to a distributed database system, the updated record of ownership associated with the item.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the record of ownership associated with the item comprises the first digital image and an identity of the first user.