Patent attributes
Methods, devices, and systems enable an originating entity to use a digital fingerprint, alone or in conjunction with other data related to the physical object, to characterize the physical object so that the physical object may be confirmed as authentic when it is returned to the originating entity or another entity. A determination that expected changes to the object occurred, and/or that unexpected changes did not occur, while the physical object was outside the control of the originating entity can be made. The originating entity may induct the object into a repository before the physical object leaves the originating entity's control, and the originating entity may authenticate the physical object upon return by a process that queries the repository for matching records.
