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.

Claims

1. 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.

2. 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).

3. The device is installed on an item during that item’s manufacture or after manufacture by a qualified professional or warranty/service provider • The device’s record in the database is updated with : i. Description, make, model, style number, serial number, identifier in a public ledger system, features of item device is installed on, links to webpages or other resources about the item the device has been installed on (Figures 5, 6 and 13) ii. Any applicable warranty terms, status, availability, repair history, repair providers, service contacts, instructions, end of life disposal (Figure 6) iii. Manufacturers and qualified professional warranty/service providers are able to view the device’s ownership history (Figure 5) iv. The device is registered by the owner per claim 2:.

4. Ownership of a given device can be released, sold or transferred by release of the device’s ID# from the list of ID#s they own • Owners of items bearing a device can be list these items for sale • Items bearing attributes stored in the item’s device can be requested for purchase or purchased if the owner agrees.

5. Payment of anonymous rewards • Anonymous rewards keep the identities of the payer and recipient anonymous from each other and may be paid as money, products, points, services, or other units of value • Reward options are presented to recipient and they receive their desired option (Figure 10) • Reward options, recipient selections, and demographic data are gathered and used for product or service development, competitive analysis, or behavioral insights.

6. Collection of data with respect to the preceding claims is used for product development, competitive analysis, market analysis, market penetration, demographic analysis, behavioral analysis, and warranty and repair prediction, product improvement and.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] FIG. 1 Device printed directly onto item- in this case, a house key

[0033] FIG. 2 Manufacturer-installed device(device has been printed onto a coated fabric which is then sewn onto a glove)

[0034] FIG. 3 Manufacturer-installed device(device has been reverse-printed onto a heat applied film and contains brand information and size in addition to “I’m lost,” QR code and ID#)

[0035] FIG. 4 Owner registration of manufacturer-installed device along with backup contact information

[0036] FIG. 5A Manufacturer-/qualified professional-installed device data example used to print device into or onto item

[0037] FIG. 5B Manufacturer-/qualified professional-installed device ownership and repair history data example

[0038] FIG. 6 Owner view of Manufacturer-/qualified professional-installed device with repair history

[0039] FIG. 7A Devices printed onto film and installed by consumer - semi-permanent (device on earbud case: “I’m lost,” ID# and QR code; devices on earbuds: URL, ID#)

[0040] FIG. 7B Device printed onto film and installed by consumer - semi-permanent (Eyewear device: URL and ID#)

[0041] FIG. 7C Device reverse-printed onto heat seal film for extra durability - permanent

[0042] FIG. 7D Device printed onto heat seal film - permanent

[0043] FIG. 8A Anonymous communication between the device owner and the device finder (finder view)

[0044] FIG. 8B Anonymous communication between the device owner and the device finder (owner and backup contact view)

[0045] FIG. 9 Example notification about new anonymous communication between the device owner and the device finder based on recipient’s preferences

[0046] FIG. 10A Anonymous reward options for reward recipient to choose from

[0047] FIG. 10B Anonymous reward options increasing in specificity

[0048] FIG. 10C Anonymous reward recipient information

[0049] FIG. 11 Owner-displayed information on device’s anonymous chat page

[0050] FIG. 12 Additional owner-displayed information linked from device’s anonymous chat page

[0051] FIG. 13 Device-item information - product detail/ambassador use case

[0052] FIG. 14A Ownership of multiple ID#s

[0053] FIG. 14B Ownership cessation or transfer

[0054] FIG. 15A Vulnerable person return (sleeve)

[0055] FIG. 15B Vulnerable person return (glove)

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0056] The invention is applied either by a manufacturer, or a consumer. In the case of a manufacturer, which has never been done before in any of the prior art encountered, they provide a data file containing the make, model, style no., applicable serial number, color, and size for the items that will have receive the invention/device as well as the quantity of each item corresponding to the number of invention/devices. The records for these manufactured items are loaded into the database and the corresponding ID#s and URLs are generated. At this point, an output file containing the original information plus the corresponding ID#s, URLs and any other data desired to be printed on the items is generated(FIG. 5A). The device is then printed directly onto the item (FIG. 1) by the manufacturer using a data file or alternatively, the device is printed onto or into a chip or label that will be sewn(FIG. 2), or heat sealed/applied/adhered to the item(FIG. 3). The finished item is then purchased and registered (FIG. 4) by the owner and the owner can designate a backup contact for the item.

[0057] In the case of the invention being applied by the consumer(FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D), the corresponding ID#(s) is registered, a description of the item and an optional photo are added, and a backup contact is designated(the designation of a backup contact appears to be new compared to the prior art).

[0058] As the owner uses the item and requires repair of the item or experiences some defect, these are entered into the item’s record by the manufacturer or authorized repair professionals (FIG. 5B) and viewable by the current owner or future owners of that item (FIG. 6); this is a completely new capability not found in any of the prior art. The manufacturer may also update the item’s record(FIG. 5B) to notify the owner of any defect or recall requiring repair, servicing or some other resolution; this is a completely new capability not found in any of the prior art. In cases where the owner loses an item, or where a child or vulnerable person such as a senior with dementia is wearing an item with the invention applied(completely new use of return service not found in any of the prior art), the person finding the item/person can communicate directly and anonymously with the owner/guardian or the owner/guardian’s designated backup contact (FIGS. 8A, 8B), with each receiving notifications about updates in that communication (FIG. 9); this is a completely new capability not found in any of the prior art. If the person who found the item fails to contact the owner or their designated backup contact, there is an option for that person to receive an anonymous prepaid shipping label to return the item directly to the owner; this is a completely new capability not found in any of the prior art. In the case of lost children or vulnerable persons, the contact information and address of the registered owner/guardian is provided to the police or other governmental agencies who will ensure safe return of the child/vulnerable person/senior citizen; this is a completely new capability not found in any of the prior art. Those options are available to the person who found the item/person when they email the help@plsreturnme.com email address per the instruction in the finder view of the anonymous communication interface(FIG. 8A) and include the relevant ID#; these are completely new capabilities not found in any of the prior art. When the owner receives their item back, or the tracking information for a shipped item indicates it has been delivered, the case is closed and the person who returned the item can receive an anonymous reward of their choice(FIGS. 10A, 10B) delivered to them anonymously (FIG. 10C); this is a completely new capability not found in any of the prior art. Outside of lost item return, the registered owner of the item the invention is applied to may choose to make information about themselves visible; this is a completely new capability not found in any of the prior art. This information could include professional or social information (FIGS. 11,12) or in the case of brand ambassadors, sponsored athletes or consumers who simply want to show off information about the items they own to which the invention has been applied, this could be product information or links to additional information about the product (FIG. 13); again, this is a completely new capability not found in any of the prior art. Owners of items to which the device has been applied can see all of their items in one place (FIG. 14A) and as they donate, resell, or gift items to others, they can end or transfer their ownership of that item (FIG. 14B); this is a completely new capability not found in any of the prior art.

[0059] 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.