Event-driven authentication of physical objects

Abstract

A system may include an event trigger processor (ETP) configured to receive signals from sensors or another system (FIG. 11). Output signals from the sensor(s), local or remotely located, may be utilized by the ETP as trigger inputs to initiate a process or response, namely authentication actions, which also may be local or remote from the ETP. Events from external systems also may serve as trigger inputs to the ETP. In some embodiments, as a triggered response, the ETP may direct a local field imaging system to acquire an image of an object, generate a digital fingerprint from the image, and query a database using the generated digital fingerprint to identify or authenticate the object. The ETP may initiate or direct various actions by sending a message to another entity or system, for example, using known network communication protocols.

1 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A system, comprising:
 an event trigger processor, the event trigger processor communicatively coupled to one or more sensors which are located at a remote location that is located remotely from the event trigger processor, the event trigger processor operable to:
 receive information representative of events or conditions; 
 determine whether an unusual event or unusual condition has occurred based at least in part on the received information; 
 determine, at least in part on a determination that an unusual event or unusual condition has occurred, to perform an authentication action; and 
 trigger the authentication action to be performed. 
   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25  wherein to determine whether an unusual event or unusual condition has occurred, the event trigger processor employs a predictive or an artificial intelligence model applied to the received information representative of events or conditions. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25  wherein to determine whether an unusual event or unusual condition has occurred, the event trigger processor employs a predictive or an artificial intelligence model applied to the received information representative of events or conditions as well as to one or more pieces of external data. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the event trigger processor is communicatively coupled to one or more sensors which are at one or more of the remote locations to receive the information representative of events or conditions as sensed by the one or more sensors. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 25  wherein to trigger the authentication action to be performed, the event trigger processor triggers acquisition of digital image data representing an image of at least a portion of at least one physical object at a one of the remote locations at which the unusual event or unusual condition has occurred. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the event trigger processor determines a type of authentication action to be performed based on the received information representative of events or conditions. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30  wherein to trigger the authentication action to be performed the event trigger processor causes a digital fingerprinting system to perform the determined type of authentication action. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 30  wherein the digital fingerprinting system is operable to perform authentication actions with respect to one or more physical objects using respective ones of a plurality of digital fingerprints, each digital fingerprint based on digital image data of at least a portion of a corresponding physical object, and wherein each digital fingerprint is based solely on native features of the corresponding physical object and not based on any identifier, label, or other proxy added to the physical object for identification or authentication and the digital fingerprint contains a set of fingerprint features which are extracted from one or more authentication regions in the digital image data. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 25  wherein to determine whether an unusual event or unusual condition has occurred based at least in part on the received information, the event trigger processor determines whether a person is detected in an area in which no persons are supposed to be present at a defined time. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33  wherein to trigger the authentication action to be performed, the event trigger processor causes an acquisition of digital fingerprints of one or more physical objects in the area in which the person is detected but in which no persons are supposed to be present at a defined time. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 25  wherein to determine whether an unusual event or unusual condition has occurred based at least in part on the received information, the event trigger processor determines whether an unauthorized person is detected in an area. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35  wherein to trigger the authentication action to be performed, the event trigger processor causes an acquisition of digital fingerprints of one or more physical objects in a vicinity of a detected unauthorized person. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 35  wherein to trigger the authentication action to be performed, the event trigger processor causes an acquisition of digital fingerprints of one or more physical objects in the area in which the unauthorized person was detected. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 25  wherein to determine whether an unusual event or unusual condition has occurred based at least in part on the received information, the event trigger processor determines whether a person is detected proximate to a baggage conveyor in an airport where no persons are supposed to be present during a defined time. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38  wherein to trigger the authentication action to be performed, the event trigger processor causes an acquisition of digital fingerprints of one or more pieces of baggage on the baggage conveyor. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 38  wherein to trigger the authentication action to be performed, the event trigger processor causes an acquisition of digital fingerprints of one or more pieces of baggage on the baggage conveyor, and determination whether any pieces of baggage have been either removed or added to the conveyor. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 25  wherein to trigger the authentication action to be performed, the event trigger processor causes an acquisition of digital fingerprints of one or more pieces of luggage or parcels at a defined location. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 25  wherein to trigger the authentication action to be performed, the event trigger processor causes an acquisition of digital fingerprints of one or more physical objects in at least one of a sortation facility or a manufacturing line. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 25  wherein to receive information representative of events or conditions the event trigger processor receives image data from one or more cameras. 
     
     
         44 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, by an event trigger processor, information representative of events or conditions;   determining, by the event trigger processor, whether an unusual event or unusual condition has occurred based at least in part on the received information;   determining, by the event trigger processor, at least in part on a determination that an unusual event or unusual condition has occurred, to perform an authentication action; and   triggering, by the event trigger processor, the authentication action to be performed.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44  wherein determining whether an unusual event or unusual condition has occurred includes applying a predictive or an artificial intelligence model to the received information representative of events or conditions. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44  wherein determining whether an unusual event or unusual condition has occurred includes applying a predictive or an artificial intelligence model applied to the received information representative of events or conditions as well as to one or more pieces of external data. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 44  wherein the event trigger processor is communicatively coupled to one or more sensors which are at one or more of the remote locations, and receiving the information representative of events or conditions includes receiving the information as sensed by the one or more sensors. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 44  wherein triggering the authentication action to be performed includes triggering an acquisition of digital image data representing an image of at least a portion of at least one physical object at a one of one or more remote locations at which the unusual event or unusual condition has occurred. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising:
 determining, by the event trigger processor, a type of authentication action to be performed based on the received information representative of events or conditions.   
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49  wherein triggering the authentication action to be performed includes causing a digital fingerprinting system to perform the determined type of authentication action. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49  wherein causing a digital fingerprinting system to perform the determined type of authentication action includes causing the digital fingerprinting system to perform authentication actions with respect to one or more physical objects using respective ones of a plurality of digital fingerprints, each digital fingerprint based on digital image data of at least a portion of a corresponding physical object, and wherein each digital fingerprint is based solely on native features of the corresponding physical object and not based on any identifier, label, or other proxy added to the physical object for identification or authentication and the digital fingerprint contains a set of fingerprint features which are extracted from one or more authentication regions in the digital image data. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 44  wherein determining whether an unusual event or unusual condition has occurred based at least in part on the received information includes determining whether a person is detected in an area in which no persons are supposed to be present at a defined time. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52  wherein triggering the authentication action to be performed includes causing an acquisition of digital fingerprints of one or more physical objects in the area in which the person is detected but in which no persons are supposed to be present at a defined time. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 44  wherein determining whether an unusual event or unusual condition has occurred based at least in part on the received information includes determining whether an unauthorized person is detected in an area. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54  wherein triggering the authentication action to be performed includes causing an acquisition of digital fingerprints of one or more physical objects in a vicinity of a detected unauthorized person. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 54  wherein triggering the authentication action to be performed includes causing an acquisition of digital fingerprints of one or more physical objects in the area in which the unauthorized person was detected. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 44  wherein determining whether an unusual event or unusual condition has occurred based at least in part on the received information includes determining whether a person is detected proximate a baggage conveyor in an airport where no persons are supposed to be present during a defined time. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57  wherein triggering the authentication action to be performed includes causing an acquisition of digital fingerprints of one or more pieces of baggage on the baggage conveyor. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 57  wherein triggering the authentication action to be performed includes causing an acquisition of digital fingerprints of one or more pieces of baggage on the baggage conveyor, and determining whether any pieces of baggage have been either removed or added to the conveyor. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 44  wherein triggering the authentication action to be performed includes causing an acquisition of digital fingerprints of one or more pieces of luggage or parcels at a defined location. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 44  wherein triggering the authentication action to be performed includes causing an acquisition of digital fingerprints of one or more physical objects in at least one of a sortation facility or a manufacturing line. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 44  wherein receiving information representative of events or conditions includes receiving, by the event trigger processor, image data from one or more cameras.