(19) United States
(12) Patent Application Publication (io) Pub. No.: US 2003/0074556 Al
Chapman et al. (43) Pub. Date: Apr. 17,2003
(54) CHAIN OF CUSTODY SYSTEM AND METHOD
(76) Inventors: Charles B. Chapman, Escondido, CA (US); Winthrop D. Childers, San Diego, CA (US); Jerry R. Potts,
Escondido, CA (US)
Correspondence Address:
HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY
Intellectual Property Administration
P.O. Box 272400
Fort Collins, CO 80528-9599 (US)
(21) Appl. No.: 09/981,779
(22) Filed: Oct. 17, 2001
Publication Classification
(51) Int. CI.7 11041. 9 00
(52) U.S. CI 713/157
(57) ABSTRACT
An unimpeachable chain of custody system and method includes a confirmation authentication system that facilitates receiving and storing a communication signal that is indicative of an evidentiary item captured at a determined location and at a determined time. The confirmation authentication system and method further facilitates generating and transmitting a chain of custody confirmation signal to a transportable input system that the communication signal has been authenticated and stored for subsequent retrieval. The transportable input system includes a positioning device and a communication device that cooperate to facilitates generating and transmitting the communication signal in response to receiving the chain of custody confirmation signal. The transportable input system further facilitates generating an authentication signal that the communication signal was generated by the input system at about the determined location and at about the determined time so that the integrity of the received evidentiary item cannot be impeached.
