Secure platform and data repository for fur or skin commodities

Abstract

A method of tracking a provenance of a fur or a leather skin includes providing at least one of an animal, a fur pelt, and a leather skin, removing a DNA sample from the at least one of the animal, the fur pelt, and the leather skin, and storing the DNA sample. The DNA sample and DNA information is stored in a DNA repository that may be securely accessed by authorized individuals through a networked device, such as a computer, smart phone, or tablet. The method further includes assigning a globally unique identifier number to the at least one of the animal, the fur pelt, and the leather skin and storing the identifier number. The method further includes selling the at least one of the animal, the fur pelt, and the leather skin and storing sale information and associating the sale information with at least one of the identifier number and the DNA sample.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of confirming a provenance of a fur, a leather skin, a reptile skin, or an ostrich skin, the method comprising:
 receiving a first DNA sample from an animal;   receiving an identifier number assigned to the animal;   electronically storing information associated with the first DNA sample in a computer-based system;   electronically storing the identifier number in the computer-based system;   associating the identifier number with the information associated with the first DNA sample in the computer-based system;   receiving a second DNA sample from at least one of a fur pelt, a leather skin, a reptile skin, and an ostrich skin;   electronically comparing information associated with the second DNA sample to the information associated with the first DNA sample with a processing device, wherein the processing device is selected from the group consisting of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a server, a tablet, a smart phone, a cell phone; and   electronically verifying the information associated with the second DNA sample matches the information associated with the first DNA sample with the processing device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electronically storing of the information associated with the first DNA sample includes electronically storing the information associated with the first DNA sample in a blockchain employing a consensus mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the electronically storing the identifier number includes updating the blockchain. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising electronically storing sale information in the computer-based system and electronically associating the sale information with at least one of the identifier number and the first DNA sample in the computer-based system. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electronically storing of the information associated with the first DNA sample includes electronically storing the information associated with the first DNA sample in a database. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the information associated with the first DNA sample is stored in a database using at least one of spanning tree protocol, homomorphic encryption, Internet key exchange, IPsec, Kerberos, point-to-point protocol, off-the-record messaging, transport layer security, and ZRTP. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein assigning of an identifier number includes generating a random number in a number sequence and checking if the generated random number is on an issued list. 
     
     
         8 . A method of confirming a provenance of a fur, a leather skin, a reptile skin, or an ostrich skin, the method comprising:
 receiving a first DNA sample;   storing the first DNA sample;   assigning an identifier to the first DNA sample;   electronically storing the identifier in a computer-based system;   receiving a second DNA sample from at least one of a fur pelt, a leather skin, a reptile skin, and an ostrich skin;   electronically comparing information associated with the second DNA sample to information associated with the first DNA sample with a processing device, wherein the processing device is selected from the group consisting of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a server, a tablet, a smart phone, a cell phone; and   electronically verifying the information associated with the second DNA sample matches the information associated with the first DNA sample with the processing device.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the receiving of the first DNA sample includes removing the first DNA sample from an animal. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising electronically storing sale information in the computer-based system. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising electronically associating the sale information with at least one of the identifier and the first DNA sample in the computer-based system. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising selling the at least one of the fur pelt, the leather skin, the reptile skin, and the ostrich skin through an auction. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the auction is run according to a second price algorithm. 
     
     
         14 . A method of confirming a provenance of a fur, a leather skin, a reptile skin, or an ostrich skin, the method comprising:
 receiving first DNA information;   electronically storing the first DNA information in a computer-based system;   receiving second DNA information associated with at least one of a fur pelt, a leather skin, a reptile skin, and an ostrich skin;   electronically comparing the second DNA information to the first DNA information with a processing device; and   electronically verifying the second DNA information matches the first DNA information with the processing device.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the electronically storing of the first DNA information includes electronically storing the first DNA information in a blockchain employing a consensus mechanism. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the electronically storing of the first DNA information includes electronically storing information the first DNA information in a database. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising physically embedding an identifier in the at least one of the fur pelt, the leather skin, the reptile skin, and the ostrich skin. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the physically embedding the identifier includes one of printing and spraying the identifier on the at least one of the fur pelt, the leather skin, the reptile skin, and the ostrich skin. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the physically embedding the identifier includes embedding a radio frequency identification device in the at least one of the fur pelt, the leather skin, the reptile skin, and the ostrich skin. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first DNA information is associated with a first DNA sample removed from an animal.