Multi-level authentication

1. A method, comprising:

authenticating a physical object of a plurality of physical objects that together form an aggregate physical object, wherein the aggregate physical object comprises either an intermediate aggregate physical object from which said physical object is to be later separated or a final aggregate physical object;

storing in a database system relationship information reflecting a relationship between the aggregate physical object and the plurality of physical objects;

attempting to authenticate a target physical object;

responsive to matching the target physical object to the aggregate physical object based on the attempt to authenticate the physical target:

identifying in the database system a database record corresponding to the aggregate physical object;

storing in the database record authentication data reflecting the match between the target physical object and the aggregate physical object; and

storing an indication of a re-authentication of the physical object in the database system based on the relationship information

wherein authenticating the physical object comprises:

acquiring digital image data of an image of at least a portion of the physical object;

analyzing the digital image data to form a digital fingerprint, wherein the digital fingerprint is responsive to natural structure of the physical object; and

storing the digital fingerprint in the database system.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein attempting to authenticate the target physical object comprises:

acquiring first digital image data of an image of at least a portion of the aggregate physical object;

analyzing the first digital image data to form a first digital fingerprint, wherein the first digital fingerprint is responsive to natural structure of the aggregate physical object;

storing the first digital fingerprint in the database record;

subsequent to storing the first digital fingerprint in the database record, acquiring second digital image data of an image of at least a portion of the target physical object;

extracting features from the second digital image data to form a second digital fingerprint; and

querying the database system to seek a matching record based on the second digital fingerprint.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein attempting to authenticate the target physical object further comprises:

in the case that the database record is returned responsive to the querying, updating the database record with an indication that the second digital fingerprint was matched to the database record.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising selecting the portion of the aggregate physical object to correspond with a portion of the intermediate aggregate physical object that is to be opened or manipulated to separate the physical object from the intermediate aggregate.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising repeating said authentication of the physical object in association with separating the physical object from the intermediate aggregate.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing the indication in a different database record of the database system, wherein the different database record is linked to the database record.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of physical objects comprise bottles of wine, and the aggregate physical object comprises a case containing the bottles of wine.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of physical objects comprise first bottles of wine, second bottles of wine, a first case for the first bottles of wine, a second case for the second bottles of wine, and a shipping container for the first and second cases; and

wherein the aggregate physical object comprises the shipping container including the first and second cases each including the first bottles of wine and the second bottles of wine, respectively.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the physical object comprises a single one of the bottles of wine.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the physical object comprises a single one of the cases.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of physical objects comprises a microchip and a printed circuit board, and the aggregate physical object comprises a processing card, wherein the microchip is installed on a printed circuit board of the processing card.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising

for the physical object, defining an expected itinerary along a supply chain;

tracking the aggregate physical object along the supply chain to form a portion of an actual itinerary of the physical object in the database system;

querying the database system to detect a departure of the actual itinerary from the expected itinerary; and

reporting the detected departure to a user.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the departure comprises a failure to locate the aggregate physical object at an expected location along the expected itinerary.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the departure comprises locating either the aggregate physical object or one of the plurality of physical objects at a location that is not consistent with the expected itinerary.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising obtaining additional data for the aggregate physical object and storing information about the additional data in the database record.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the additional data comprises temperature data, acceleration data, humidity data, pressure data, or another measurement.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the additional data comprises location data.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the additional data comprises chain of ownership data.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the authenticating is associated with creation of the aggregate physical object.