System and method for authenticating a mailpiece sender
A method and system for authenticating the sender of a mailpiece is described for identifying certain mailpieces as originating from known trusted senders. In one configuration, biometric information and/or biometric metadata is captured when a user writes on a mailpiece with a digital pen. That data is then compared to reference data in a database. Registrant data is then loaded into storage device on the mailpiece and may be digitally signed and/or encrypted by the trusted third party. In another configuration, a mailpiece includes the signature of a sender and the biometric data includes authentication data obtained from the signature that is compared to the biometric data related to the signature obtained during a sender registration process.
1. A method for authorizing a sender of an item using a trusted third party authenticator system comprising:
obtaining a digital pen for capturing biometric information;
registering the digital pen including providing a biometric data sample;
handwriting a writing sample on the item;
requesting authentication of the sender of the item by sending a request to the trusted third party authenticator system including the writing sample;
receiving authentication data from the trusted third party authenticator system; and
transferring the authentication data to the item.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the item is a mailpiece label.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the item is an envelope.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein:
the writing sample is a signature.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein:
the writing sample is a signature written on the inside of the envelope.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
storing the authentication data in a storage device removably adhered to the envelope.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein:
the storage device comprises an RF-ID tag.
8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:
placing the mailpiece in the mail stream.
9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving an indication that postage was paid.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the registering process includes providing an initial reference writing sample.
11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
obtaining biometric data relating to the user.
12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
obtaining biometric data relating to the pen strokes of the user.
13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
creating at least one profile for the user by analyzing the biometric data.
14. A method for verifying the authenticity of the sender of a mailpiece:
obtaining a mailpiece authentication data from the mail piece;
obtaining a user authentication profile;
comparing the mail piece user profile to the user profile; and
assigning a level of trust from among a plurality of defined levels of trust to the mailpiece based upon the comparison; and
processing the mailpiece based upon the assigned level of trust.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein:
the user profile include information obtained using user biometric data.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein:
the user biometric data comprises sample pen stroke data.
17. A method for authorizing a sender of an item using a trusted third party authenticator system comprising;
receiving sender authentication data from the sender of the item at the trusted third party authenticator system;
receiving destination information associated with the item;
obtaining reference sender authentication data associated with the sender;
obtaining routing information associated with the item and the intended carrier system that is to be used for sending the item;
comparing the sender authentication data with the reference sender authentication data;
obtaining an item authentication data associated with the sender and the item;
sending the item authentication data to the sender if the comparison results in authentication; and
sending the item authentication data to the intended carrier.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein:
the item authentication data is digitally signed by the trusted third party; and
the item authentication data includes sender information and recipient information.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein:
the item authentication data includes an indication of the determined level of trust.
20. The method of claim 17 further comprising:
utilizing the comparison of the sender authentication data with the reference sender authentication data to determine a level of trust from among a plurality of defined levels of trust.