System and method for biometric verification in a delivery process
Described is a method and system for providing a verified delivery of a package. First, registration information is obtained from a recipient; the registration information includes a biometric identification of the recipient. A delivery service obtains the package from a sender which is addressed to the recipient and forwards the package to the recipient. At the point of delivery, the delivery service obtains a further biometric identification from the recipient using a portable device which includes a biometric reader. The delivery service releases the package to the recipient only if the biometric identification is substantially identical to the further biometric identification.
1. A method for providing verified delivery of an item, comprising:
registering a recipient prior to receiving an item, the registration comprising obtaining biometric identification data from the recipient, storing the biometric identification data in a database, and issuing an identification card to the recipient comprising the biometric identification data and a signature sample from the recipient;
scanning a barcode of the issued card at a point of delivery using a barcode scanner of a portable device, the barcode comprising the biometric identification data;
obtaining biometric information from the recipient upon delivery of the item using a biometric scanner of the portable device;
comparing the biometric identification data obtained from the card and the biometric information obtained from the biometric scanner to the biometric information stored in the database;
obtaining a signature from the recipient upon delivery of the item using a signature pad of the portable device;
comparing the signature sample obtained from the card and the signature obtained from the recipient; and
releasing the item to the recipient based on the comparison of the biometric information and the signature.
2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
storing the biometric identification data in a remote database wirelessly accessible by the portable device.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the point of delivery is an address of the recipient.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the biometric identification data includes at least one of a fingerprint, a retinal scan, a voice sample and a DNA sample.
5. A portable electronic device for verifying delivery of an item, comprising:
a communications arrangement having access to a recipient verification record for a recipient of the item, the recipient verification record including biometric identification data stored in a database;
a barcode scanner scanning a barcode included on an identification card presented by the recipient at a point of delivery using the portable device, the barcode comprising a copy of the biometric identification data stored in the database, the identification card further comprising a signature sample from the recipient; and
a processor comparing the copy of the biometric identification data and the biometric identification data stored in the database and the signature sample obtained from the card and a signature obtained from the recipient to verify an identity of the recipient.
6. The device according to claim 5 , further comprising:
a display screen,
wherein, the processor generates a visual indicator on the display screen as a function of the comparison of the biometric identification data and signature, the visual indicator indicating whether to release the item to the recipient.
7. The device according to claim 5 , further comprising: a signature pad.
8. The device according to claim 5 , further comprising: a biometric reader.
9. The device according to claim 5 , wherein the communications arrangement is a wireless communications arrangement.
10. The device according to claim 9 , wherein the wireless communications arrangement wirelessly accesses a remote database storing the record.
11. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the point of delivery is an address of the recipient.
12. The device according to claim 5 , wherein the biometric identification data includes at least one of a fingerprint, a retinal scan, a voice sample and a DNA sample.