System and method for tracking authenticated items

Abstract

A system for tracking an authenticated item is provided. The system includes an authentication device affixed to the item. An item registration system receives authentication device data from the authentication device and associated item data and stores the authentication device data and the associated item data. An owner registration system receives owner registration data after a buyer has acquired the item. A buyer verification system receives the authentication device data, the associated item data and the owner registration data and stores buyer verified data if the associated item data correlates to the owner registration data, such as if the external tag number or event data entered by the owner matches external tag number or event data for the item.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method for inventory management comprising:
 electronically reading identification number data from an identification tag that uniquely identifies the identification tag;   electronically accessing a database structure having a plurality of records, each record having one or more fields for each of an identification tag number and chain of custody data;   electronically determining whether the identification number data is stored in the database structure for a first record;   electronically displaying the chain of custody data associated with the first record if the identification number data is stored in the database structure for the first record;   electronically modifying the chain of custody data to add a first state identifier; and   electronically modifying the chain of custody data to add a second state identifier after a predetermined event.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the first state identifier comprises a location associated with the identification tag. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the second state identifier comprises an owner associated with an item that the identification tag is affixed to. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the first state identifier comprises a time that an item that the identification tag is affixed to has been checked out. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the second state identifier comprises a time that an item that the identification tag is affixed to has been checked in. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the second state identifier comprises a time that an item that the identification tag is affixed to has been checked in. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23  wherein electronically modifying the chain of custody data to add the second state identifier after the predetermined event comprises:
 determining whether an item that the identification tag is affixed to has been acquired by a third party; and 
 storing a name of the third party if the item that the identification tag is affixed to has been acquired by the third party. 
 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 23  wherein electronically modifying the chain of custody data to add the second state identifier after the predetermined event comprises:
 determining whether an item that the identification tag is affixed to has been acquired by a third party; and 
 storing a location of the item that the identification tag is affixed if the item that the identification tag has been affixed to has not been acquired by the third party. 
 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the second state identifier represents that an item has been checked in after being used in the event. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the second state identifier represents that an item has been checked in and was not used in the event. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the second state identifier represents that an item has been checked out after being used in the event and acquired by a third party. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the second state identifier represents that an item has been checked in after being used in the event and has not been acquired by a third party. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising electronically modifying the chain of custody data to add a third state identifier after the predetermined event. 
     
     
         36 . The method of claim  21  further comprising electronically modifying the chain of custody data to add a third state identifier after the predetermined event, wherein the third state identifier represents a custodian of an item that the identification tag is affixed to. 
     
     
         37 . The method of claim  21  further comprising electronically modifying the chain of custody data to add a third state identifier after the predetermined event, wherein the second state identifier represents a location of the event and the third state identifier represents an owner of an item that the identification tag is affixed to. 
     
     
         38 . The method of claim  21  further comprising electronically modifying the chain of custody data to add a third state identifier after the predetermined event, wherein the second state identifier represents a location of the event and the third state identifier represents a custodian of an item that the identification tag is affixed to. 
     
     
         39 . The method of claim  21  further comprising electronically reading the identification number data from the identification tag that uniquely identifies the identification tag prior to electronically modifying the chain of custody data to add the second state identifier after the predetermined event. 
     
     
         40 . The method of claim  21  further comprising electronically reading the identification number data from the identification tag that uniquely identifies the identification tag prior to electronically modifying the chain of custody data to add the third state identifier after the predetermined event. 
     
     
         41 . The method of claim  21  further comprising electronically reading the identification number data from the identification tag that uniquely identifies the identification tag as part of a check-in process prior to electronically modifying the chain of custody data to add the third state identifier after the predetermined event. 
     
     
         42 . The method of claim  21  further comprising electronically reading the identification number data from the identification tag that uniquely identifies the identification tag as part of an inventory process prior to electronically modifying the chain of custody data to add the third state identifier after the predetermined event.