Authentication systems and methods

1. A system, comprising:

an immutable token reader including

a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium;

a processor in communication with the machine-readable storage medium;

communication circuitry in communication with the processor; and

a plurality of sensors in communication with the processor, each of the plurality of sensors configured to generate electrical signals in response to receiving wave energy,

wherein the processor is configured to

control acquisition of data from an object using at least a subset a the plurality of sensors, wherein data acquired by the subset of the plurality of sensors includes data acquired from one or more indelible markers of the object,

apply weights to the data acquired by the subset of the plurality of sensors to generate weighted values,

calculate a first authentication value for determining whether the object is an authentic real thing (“ART”) based on the weighted values, and

cause the communication circuitry to transmit an authentication request including the first authentication value to a first authentication entity.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors includes at least one of a camera, an RFID reader, and a microphone.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the communication circuitry includes circuitry configured to transmit over a cellular network or circuitry configured to transmit over a wireless computer network.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to

process a message received by the communication circuitry from the authentication entity, the message identifying whether the object is ART; and

cause a notification to be generated identifying whether the object is ART.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the notification is at least one of an audible, visual, or tactile notification.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein different weights are applied to data obtained from different sensors.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to

process a message received by the communication circuitry from the authentication entity, the message identifying that additional data acquisition is required to determine whether the object is ART; and

cause a notification to be generated requesting additional data acquisition.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising the first authentication entity, wherein the first authentication entity configured to receive the authentication request from the immutable token reader and to compare the first authentication value to a second authentication value stored locally at the first authentication entity to determine whether the object is ART.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a second authentication entity in communication with the first authentication entity, the second authentication entity configured to receive the first authentication value from the first authentication entity and to compare the first authentication value to a third authentication value stored locally at the second authentication entity.

10. An authentication method, comprising:

performing a plurality of data acquisition processes on an object using sensors configured to generate electrical signals in response to receiving wave energy, wherein data acquired by the subset of the plurality of sensors includes data acquired by the sensors from one or more indelible markers of the object;

applying weights to data acquired during the plurality of data acquisition processes to generate weighted values;

calculating an authentication value for determination whether the object is an authentic real thing (“ART”) based on the weighted values; and

transmitting an authentication request including the authentication value to an authentication entity.

11. The authentication method of claim 10 , further comprising:

processing a message received from the authentication entity, the message identifying whether the object is ART; and

generating a notification identifying whether the object is ART.

12. The authentication method of claim 11 , wherein generating the notification includes displaying a notice on a display.

13. The authentication method of claim 11 , wherein generating the notification includes emitting a sound from a speaker.

14. The authentication method of claim 11 , wherein generating the notification includes causing a vibration.

15. The machine readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein generating the notification includes causing a vibration.

16. The authentication method of claim 10 , further comprising:

processing a message received from the authentication entity, the message identifying that additional data acquisition is required to determine whether the object is ART; and

generating a notification requesting additional data acquisition.

17. A non-transitory machine readable storage medium encoded with program code, wherein when the program code is executed by a processor, the processor performs a method, the method comprising:

controlling acquisition of data from an object using sensors configured to generate electrical signals in response to receiving wave energy, wherein data acquired by the sensors comprises data acquired from one or more indelible markers of the object;

applying weights to the data acquired by the sensors to generate weighted values;

calculating an authentication value for determining whether the object is an authentic real thing (“ART”) based on the weighted values; and

transmitting an authentication request including the authentication value to an authentication entity.

18. The machine readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the method further includes:

processing a message received from the authentication entity, the message identifying whether the object is ART; and

generating a notification identifying whether the object is ART.

19. The machine readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein generating the notification includes displaying a notice on a display.

20. The machine readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein generating the notification includes emitting a sound from a speaker.