Method and system for authentication

Abstract

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.