METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTHENTICATION
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for authentication. In one embodiment, a first identifier associated with an item to be authenticated may be received. A first decryption key associated with the item may also be received. The first identifier may be decrypted using the first decryption key to generate a second identifier. The contents of an authentication database may be searched to find a match for the second identifier. If a match for the second identifier is found in the authentication database, the item may be confirmed as authentic. In embodiments of the present invention, the item may be a lottery ticket, a document, a receipt, a ticket, a credit card, etc.
1 . (canceled)
2 .- 73 . (canceled)
74 . A lottery ticket, comprising:
a public encrypted ticket identifier readable from the lottery ticket and embodied in a bar code;
and a public decryption key readable from the lottery ticket, the public decryption key configured to decrypt the encrypted ticket identifier;
wherein both the public encrypted ticket identifier and the public decryption key are provided on the lottery ticket prior to the lottery ticket being distributed to a player and
the public decryption key is configured to decrypt the encrypted ticket identifier to generate an authentication identifier and
the authentication identifier is maintained separately in a lottery ticket authentication database of a lottery ticket authentication system to prevent an insider from determining the public identifier for the ticket.
75 . The lottery ticket of claim 74 , wherein the public decryption key is embodied in a bar code.
76 . The lottery ticket of claim 75 , wherein the public encrypted ticket identifier and the public decryption key are embodied in a single bar code.
77 . The lottery ticket of claim 74 , further comprising:
a removable layer disposed to conceal the public encrypted ticket identifier.
78 . The lottery ticket of claim 77 , wherein a removable layer is disposed to conceal the public decryption key.
79 . The lottery ticket of claim 77 , said removable layer is disposed to conceal the public decryption key.
80 . The lottery ticket of claim 74 , further comprising:
a removable layer disposed to conceal the public decryption key.
81 . The lottery ticket of claim 76 , further comprising:
a removable layer disposed to conceal the bar code.
82 . The lottery ticket of claim 74 , wherein said public decryption key is within a play area with game information.
83 . The lottery ticket of claim 82 , further comprising:
a removable layer disposed to conceal the play area.
84 . The lottery ticket of claim 74 , wherein said public encrypted ticket identifier is within a play area with game information.
85 . The lottery ticket of claim 84 , further comprising:
a removable layer disposed to conceal the play area.
86 . The lottery ticket of claim 82 , wherein said public encrypted ticket identifier is within the play area.
87 . The lottery ticket of claim 86 , further comprising:
a removable layer disposed to conceal the play area.
88 . The lottery ticket of claim 74 , wherein the lottery ticket is embodied in a smart card.
89 . The lottery ticket of claim 88 , further comprising:
a removable layer disposed to conceal the public decryption key.
90 . The lottery ticket of claim 89 , said removable layer is disposed to conceal the public encrypted ticket identifier.
91 . The lottery ticket of claim 88 , further comprising:
a removable layer disposed to conceal the public encrypted ticket identifier.
92 . A method of authenticating a ticket comprising:
receiving an authentication request from an input device;
wherein the authentication request includes a public lottery ticket identifier;
responsive to receiving the authentication request, decrypting the public lottery ticket identifier using the corresponding lottery ticket decryption key to generate a third identifier;
responsive to decrypting the public lottery ticket identifier, searching the contents of a lottery ticket authentication database to find a match for the third identifier; and
responsive to finding a match for the third identifier in the lottery ticket authentication database, validating the lottery ticket.
93 . The method of claim 92 , wherein the input device is a device capable of reading a bar code.
94 . The method of claim 92 , wherein the input device is a barcode reader.
95 . The method of claim 92 , wherein the input device is in communication with a lottery ticket machine or lottery terminal.
96 . The method of claim 92 , wherein the authentication request additionally includes the corresponding lottery ticket decryption key.
97 . The method of claim 92 , further comprising retrieving the lottery ticket decryption key from a database.
98 . A system comprising:
an interface to receive a public identifier readable from a ticket and provided on the ticket prior to the distribution of the ticket;
a decryption device to decrypt the public identifier using a decryption key to generate a second identifier, wherein the second identifier is maintained separately in an authentication database of an authentication system to prevent an insider from determining the public identifier for the ticket;
a comparator to search the contents of the authentication database to find a match for the second identifier, wherein the interface is configured to confirm that the ticket is authentic, responsive to finding a match for the second identifier in the authentication database.
99 . The system of claim 98 , wherein the decryption key is maintained in a database.
100 . The system of claim 98 , wherein the decryption key is associated with the public identifier.