Abstract:
A system and method is disclosed for the return of lost personal property. The system consists of identifying personal property with unique identification indicia. Placing the unique identification indicia on a tag with instructions on where to return the property of found, that a reward will be paid for its return and attaching that tag to the item of personal property. The information regarding the personal property, its owner and the unique identification indicia is maintained in a central registry database. Upon the finding of the lost property a finder would contact the database, make arrangements for return of the property and receive the reward upon the successful return of the lost property. The system in a preferred embodiment would operate through an Internet website and be designed to function over a very large geographical area such as the United States.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a system and method for identifying and recovering lost personal property and more particularly it relates to a method and system that can be used over a wide area geographical area for a substantial variety of personal property.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Each year millions of people lose millions of personal and business items they wish they could have returned to them. Although someone usually finds many of these lost items, they are often not returned to their original owners for a variety of reasons. Such reasons include: the fact that the items themselves are often not marked with information that clearly identifies the owner or how the item can be returned to the owner; that there is usually no clearly identifiable incentive for any finder to return the items; and that there is no easy mechanism by which such a finder can return the item to its original owner and redeem an incentive. Most people would wish to have any item that they own returned to them in the event of a loss. One obvious reason for this is that they do not want to go to the expense of having to replace the lost item. And even if they have sufficient insurance to cover the physical cost of goods, (which is not always the case), there is still the significant time, effort and inconvenience involved in having to find and shop for a replacement item, contact the insurance company and complete the insurance claims process, and hope to receive fair value from the insurers. In addition, many business and personal items have significant hidden value to their owners well in excess of the item&#39;s physical replacement value. For example, a laptop computer or personal organizer filled with data that the owner forgot to “back-up” has a value to that owner well in excess of its simple replacement value. Similarly, a pet, such as the family dog; a favorite bicycle; a briefcase full of business; a set of keys to one&#39;s home, business, or safe; each are of much more value to the original owner than their simple replacement cost.  
           [0003]    There are some existing systems that provide a means for return of lost items. One such system used in England provides for the return of lost keys. The owner of the keys buys a policy from the key registry system and is given a tag with a number on it that can be attached to the keys of the policyholder. When the keys are lost a person finding them returns them to a local police station. The police then inform the key registry system that they have a set of lost keys, the key registry matches them with the number in their system of a policyholder of the key registry according to the matched number. The key registry then either picks up the keys and returns them to the owner, instructs the police to whom to return the keys, or informs the policyholder where to reclaim their keys, and also pays the person who found the keys a small reward.  
           [0004]    A number of other systems have been proposed for the return of lost property under certain circumstances. One such system provides for the placing of a tag on an item of personal property, which asks anyone finding the item to take it a specific package delivery system. If the personal property is lost and then turned into the package delivery system the package delivery system can electronically read identifying information on the tag and thereby identify the owner and send it back to the owner. The owner then pays the fee set for its return. Another system provides a two-part tag that an owner of personal property can purchase from a central registry. The owner puts one of the tags on the item of personal property and retains the other in a safe place for future reference. The portion of the tag on the personal property asks anyone finding it to call the central registry and leave a telephone message with the tag number who they are and how the owner can recover the lost item form the finder. To message left by the finder of the lost article is identified by the number on the tag, the finder having been instructed to enter that number at sometime during the call. The owner of the lost item calls the central registry inputs the identifying tag number and can pick up the call left by the finder of the lost item and from the information left make contact with the finder for return of the item.  
           [0005]    A number of other systems exist that provide for the return of lost personal property. However, all of these systems including those described above suffer from a number of deficiencies that make them uneconomical and not suited for today&#39;s world. While some may provide for anonymity and all provide for a way of identifying the lost item none are adaptable to a cover a large area such as the entire United States or other large geographical areas. A person traveling on a long trip may take off in a plane from one airport and pass through several airports before reaching their final destination. If they lose an item on the trip they might not be able to place the exact spot he or she lost it. Thus, if one loses a personal computer in the main airport in Atlanta while traveling from Philadelphia to Denver he or she will generally never see it again or when they do receive it, it will be after a long delay and the computer typically will be damaged, etc. Even if the item is identified there might not be any incentive, or any easy way for the finder to determine the value of the incentive, or easy means of returning it to the owner. Also there is no way for the owner to increase the incentive in real time in order to increase the chance of a finder returning the item, and for the finder to quickly determine the increased incentive. All of the existing systems lack the ability to provide a quick and easy means of the owner and person finding the item to quickly make contact and easily return the item while providing the person that finds the lost item with some type of assurance that they will receive something for their effort. Additionally, none really provide a general-purpose asset registry that can handle a large variety of types of personal property.  
           [0006]    Thus, what is needed is a system and method that can provide for the safe and expeditious return of lost personal property. A system that allows the owner of the personal property to remain anonymous to the finder of the lost item but still provide an incentive to return the lost item in the form of a reward payed to the finder of the lost item. Such a system should also provide for some means of assuring the return of the lost item in a relatively undamaged state. Additionally, such a system must be flexible and allow for user interaction and be capable of functioning effectively over an extremely large geographic area.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0007]    It is an objective of the present invention to provide a method and system for the safe and expeditious return of lost personal property. It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a system that maintains the anonymity of the owner of the lost personal property and also prompts the finder of lost property to return the lost property by offering a reward. It is yet another objective to provide a system and method for the return of lost property in relatively undamaged state. It is yet a further objective to provide a flexible system and method that allows for user interaction and capable of functioning over an extremely large geographic area.  
           [0008]    The invention accomplishes these and other objectives by providing a system for identifying items of personal property and providing for their safe and expeditious return to the owner of the personal property, the system having: 1) a central asset registry having a database of items of personal property of various individuals each of said items of personal property is identified by a unique identifying indicia, said unique identifying indicia of each item of personal property being linked to a specific owner; 2) a tag attached to each item of personal property registered with said asset registry, said tag having said unique identifying indicia emblazoned thereon that corresponds to said unique identifying indicia associated with said item of personal property in said database of said asset registry, said tag also having contact information for said asset registry and a promise of a reward to an individual who notifies said asset registry and turns in the lost item to said asset registry; 3) said asset registry and said associated database being generally accessible over a public communication network; 4) wherein upon losing a registered item of personal property, an owner of said lost item of registered personal property can notify said asset registry system to list on said database in a searchable format said item of registered personal property searchable by one or more of the is following indicia: owner, unique identifying indicia, description of the property lost and location the item was lost; and 5) wherein said owner has an option of modifying within certain preset parameters a reward to be offered for return of the lost registered item of personal property and the condition in which the lost item must be returned in order to receive all or part of said reward.  
           [0009]    In another aspect of the present invention it provides a method for assuring the return of lost items of personal property, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing for the listing of items of personal property on a searchable database; b) assigning a unique identification indicia to each of said items of personal property, which unique identification indicia can be used to quickly identify said personal property to which said unique identifying indicia is assigned; c) attaching in a secure but detachable fashion a tag to said item of personal property, said tag having said unique identification indicia thereon as well as information on how to contact a central registry if one finds said item of personal property with said tag attached and offering an reward to anyone who finds and returns said item of personal property to said central registry; d) having an owner of said personal property contact said central registry and list said item of personal property as lost in the event that said item of personal property is lost; e) posting at an internet website of said central asset registry the fact said item of personal property has been lost; f) receiving a communication from a finder claiming to have found said lost item of personal property; g) verifying with said database that said item of personal property found by said finder is that listed on said database by confirming a match between said unique identification indicia on said tag and said unique identification indicia of said item of personal property listed in said database; h) making arrangements with said finder of said item of personal property to said asset registry; i) receiving by said central registry said item of personal property found; j) returning said item of personal property to said owner; and k) paying a preset reward to said finder.  
           [0010]    In a further aspect of the method of present invention it includes the steps of a) after receiving return of said item of personal property inspecting said item of personal property for damages; b) having the central registry determine if any damage has occurred to the item of returned personal property; c) determining if the owner of said personal property will accept return of said personal property with any damage discovered; d) returning said personal property to said finder if it is determined said owner will not accept said personal property in its inspected state and not paying said reward or sending said personal property to said owner and paying said reward to said finder if said personal property will be accepted by said owner in its inspected state and sending the reward to said finder.  
           [0011]    In yet a further aspect of the method of the present invention it provides the additional steps of a) having said owner of said property listed with said central registry pay a periodic subscription fee for registering said property with said central registry; see later AOL points; and b) having said owner of said property listed with said central registry pay a return fee upon the return through said registry of said personal property if it has been lost. In another alternative of the apparatus or method of this invention, it may be used by a large Internet service provider, or by a corporation such as an insurance company or similar organization, as one of various services afforded by that service provider. The invention could be offered either as a free of charge service, as a service for an additional charge, or as part of a bundle of different services being offered for a fee. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    The invention will be better understood by an examination of the following description, together with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a schematic block type diagram of the major functional components of the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a basic database structure of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a view of what a home web page of the present invention might look like;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a schematic block type diagram of various internet communication alternatives a preferred embodiment of the present invention might have;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 provides various forms of the unique identifying indicia the present invention might use;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a view of two versions of the tags the present invention would use; and  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 is a flow chart of one mode of operation of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0020]    As noted above the Asset Registry and Recovery system  20  of the present invention provides a system for the recovery of lost property. It provides a unique method of identifying various pieces of personal property and providing a system for their return when lost and the payment of a reward to the Finder of the lost article. The basic components of the Asset Registry and Recovery system  20  are depicted in FIG. 1. These basic components include databases  21  that, as will be discussed in detail below, contain information on registered property, unique identifying identification indicia, information on the owner of the property as well as other pertinent information. The system has an administrative unit  23  that operates the system and controls it&#39;s functioning. The administrative unit  23  would be operated by among others, by employees, executive personal and technology people who would maintain the computers, communication and other hard ware and software systems of the overall system. As will be discussed below these people will be operating the Asset Registry and Recovery system  20  (the System) personal property. This information would include contact and other personal information on the Finder as well as a list of all those items the Finder has found and returned, and the rewards paid. One of the purposes of sub-database is to protect against the possibility someone might steal personal property registered with System and then return it for the reward offered for its safe return. Thus, the system would keep a record which could be use to find a pattern of suspicious activity by any purported finders.  
         [0021]    Finders, Owners as well as the public in general will be able to contact the System through a toll free telephone connection  25  (FIG. 1). Naturally, the system could and would also most likely use non-toll free numbers. However, in the preferred embodiment toll free numbers are used to make it easier for Owners and Finders to contact the System at any time and place when necessary. When the System is contacted by telephone the person will either reach an automated system or an individual. If it is an automated system they wilt be given a series of prompts to provide information. For example an Owner of property registered might contact the system and check on the status of lost property by putting in the unique identifying indicia for the lost property and the System can leave a prerecorded status message that is periodically updated. The Owner might contact the system in order to report that an asset has been lost. This may be done by first entering the unique identifying indicia followed by a secret code number provided to the Owner at the time of initial registration with the system. The Owner would then be given the option to indicate that the asset has been lost, by selecting such an option from a touch-tone menu. The owner could thereby report an asset lost very quickly, whilst following up with more details later when they have access to the Internet. The Owner might contact the system in order to increase or decrease the amount of the reward. This may be done by first entering the unique identifying indicia followed by a secret code according to the rules or concepts set forth herein.  
         [0022]    Communication, in most cases, with the system would be through a toll free telephone connection  25  or via an Internet website  27 . In most cases Owners  29  of personal property will be communicating with the System regarding the registration of personal property, changes in registration and lost property. Additionally, Finders  31  will also be communicating with the System over the Internet through the Internet website  27  or by telephone  25 . Finally, personal property  33  registered with the System will have a tag  35  attached to it that will have unique identifying indicia as well as instructions on how to contact the System  20  if the property is found and that a reward is available to the finder.  
         [0023]    Databases  21  will in a sense be several databases with interrelated information. It will consist of a sub-database  41  (FIG. 2) of the personal property registered with the is System. The registered personal property will have a unique identifying indicia linked to it. It will also have a sub-database  43  of information regarding owners of registered personal property. This information will be crossed indexed with the personal property listed in sub-database  41  as to owner, etc. Once an item of personal property is lost it will be listed as lost in sub-database  45 . Sub-database  45  naturally would describe the property lost, perhaps include information on the location the property was lost as well as the time of loss. A picture of the property might also be included for viewing by those who connect to the site over the Internet.  
         [0024]    Additionally, the basic System will have a sub-database  47  of information on Finders. Finders are individuals who find the items of lost personal property and return them to the asset registry for the reward to be given for returning the lost item of number provided to the Owner at the time of initial registration with the system. The Owner would then be given the option to choose to increase or decrease the reward by keying in a new amount using the telephone keypad. Finders might also contact the system to find out the extent of a reward, and instructions on how to obtain the reward. The Finder would be able to enter the unique identifying indicia on an item they have found and then choose an option using the touch-tone telephone indicating that they have found the item with that particular Tag attached, and request information on the amount of the reward, and on instructions on how to obtain the reward.  
         [0025]    The automated system would naturally include the option of contacting an employee of the System. In most instances the employee contacted would be at a computer with access to the databases of the System. The employee could enter new information from a new customer, enter changes in information on for an existing owner, etc. Additionally, the employee would make arrangements with a Finder for the return of property to that has been found, for payment of the reward, etc.  
         [0026]    Additionally, the preferred embodiment of the System will be accessible via an Internet website  51  (FIG. 3). The site  51  would provide information on the services offered by the system, their cost, etc.  51 A to  51 E provide simple examples of additional pages that can be accessed from the main web page  51 . Additionally, the System would provide limited access to the sub-databases of the System. Access to the sub-databases would be dependent on the status of the person seeking access. For instance Owners would be given passwords to access certain portions of the information in the databases concerning their property and personal information. This could include the ability to add pictures of the personal property, change the unique identifying indicia from one piece of personal property to another, etc. It may give Owners the ability to change certain of their personal details on the database, such as changes in address, phone numbers, email addresses, etc. It might also include the ability to change the amount of the reward offered for the return of personal property. However, as will be explained below the rewards offered would have a minimum amount below which they cannot be reduced.  
         [0027]    Finders will be able to contact the System through the website to access the database of lost personal property, they may be able to check the value of the reward being offered for the item they have found by entering the identifying information on the tag, notify the system that the item has been found and by whom, make arrangements for return of a lost item and receive payment of the reward. The general public will also be able to access the database of lost personal property as well as obtain information on the System and its services. For example the general public may be able to search the database for items reported lost in specific locales, and find details of rewards being offered for such items.  
         [0028]    Actual communication with the System by Finders and Owners to “talk” to an employee of the System rather than just view the website  25  can be conducted in a variety of forms. Naturally, use of standard e-mail  71  (FIG. 4) by Owners  73 , Finders  75  and the Public  77  would be available. However, a variety of other real time or near real time systems could be used, such as instant messenger  81 , internet relay chat  83  and IRQ  85 . These systems, their implementation and functioning are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. In any event such a direct connection would facilitate communication by Owners and Finders with the system.  
         [0029]    One of the key aspects of the present invention, as noted above, is that each piece of personal property registered with the system will have its own unique identifying indicia  91  (FIG. 5). Unique identifying indicia  91  in the preferred embodiment could be a number  93 , letters in a specific sequence  95 , an alphanumeric combination  97  or some other type of symbols  99 . In the preferred embodiment it would be a number  93  or alphanumeric combination  97 . The number  93  or alphanumeric combination  95  would naturally have to be of sufficient length to allow for registration of a large number of items of personal property.  
         [0030]    Another key aspect of the invention is the tag  101  (FIG. 6) attached to each item of personal property. Tag  101  will have the unique identifying indicia on it, in the example shown is in the form an alphanumeric combination  103 . Tag  101  will also include a request such as “Please contact Asset Registry for return”  105 . Tag  101  will also include a telephone number  107 , in the preferred embodiment a toll free number and a website  111  to contact. Additionally, in the preferred embodiment Tag  101  will include a statement that “A reward will be paid for return of the property”  111 . Thus, when a Finder finds the lost property, upon review of tag  101  the Finder will know whom to contact and how. Additionally, they will be apprised of the fact a reward is offered for the safe return of the item of personal property.  
         [0031]    Tag  101  can be attached to the personal property registered in a variety of ways. Tag  101  is on a thin flexible sheet of material, such as plastic, paper or other similar material. Tag  101  would have an adhesive film on its reverse side, not shown, that would allow for its secure attachment to a surface of the item of personal property to be protected. It might be a personal computer, personal digital assistant, other personal electronic device, etc. Naturally, for different items of personal property different means of attaching the tag will be used. Tag  113  might be attached to a key or set of keys. Tag  113  might be made of metal, strong and durable plastic, some type of composite material or any other suitable material. Tag  113  could be attached to the key or set of keys, not shown, by link  115  that connects to Tag  113  through eyelet  117 . Tag  113  may be attached in a similar manner to a golfing bag and clubs, a pet collar, luggage and the like. Metal clips of various designs, such as those used in climbing (karabiners), leather or similar straps with holes, and buckles often used as nametags attached to Luggage, etc. can attach the tags to the item of personal property. The identifying information on the Tag may be transferred onto the item by etching, marking, inking, etc if the Tag itself cannot be attached, and the Tag can be held at home. Tags may be made of luxury fabrics to match luxury items like briefcases. Tags may be designed in unique and unusual designs for fun (e.g. heart shapes, or golf ball shapes).  
         [0032]    In another aspect of the invention a second tag with the unique identifying indicia can be attached to the item of personal property in an inaccessible position. This would be a means of protecting against theft of the item of personal property. This would allow for its identification if stolen and the visible tag has been removed.  
         [0033]    Owners of personal property will be able to register most any item of personal property with the System of the present invention. These can be keys, portable computers, electronic devices, pets, books etc. Additionally, Owners in a preferred version of the invention will be able to set the amount of the reward to be paid upon the finding and return of the personal property. The System will in a preferred embodiment set minimum amounts for the rewards based on the value of the personal property. For instance, for a personal computer the minimum reward might be $100; however, the Owner might set the reward at $500 because of the quality of the computer or simply because it has important information on it. But, if the Owner later decides that the reward is too much he or she can contact the System via any of the means described above and reduce the reward or increase it. However, the Owner will not be able to decrease the reward below $100. The reason for this is to create in the mind of the public and potential Finders the assurance that they will always receive a reward for returning a lost item. The exception to always paying a reward might be in those situations where the owner has advised the System that if the item is damaged significantly he or she dos not want it and to return the damage property to the Finder. In such situations no reward would be paid and the Finder would become the new owner by default.  
         [0034]    Additionally, in another variation of the invention an Owner can include the requirement that an item of personal property registered with the System only be returned if it is not damaged or not substantially damaged. Thus, the System when such a requirement exists, will inspect the item of personal property upon its return and if it is damaged more than the Owner finds acceptable, and the Owner does not want it the item of personal property will be returned to the Finder and no reward will be paid.  
         [0035]    In a preferred embedment of the invention the Owner registering personal property with the System will enter into a contract with the System whereby the Owner will pay a small yearly subscription fee for registering with the System various items of personal property. The fees would be based on the number of items of personal property registered with the System. Additionally, when an item of personal property registered with the System is lost and then found and returned through the System the Owner will pay a return fee. This fee might be a percentage of the reward paid to the Finder. Naturally, the Owner will also be responsible for paying the reward.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 7 is flow chart of one preferred mode of operation of the system. Initially, an Owner will register  201  one or more items of personal property in the database of the System. The System will assign  203  unique identification indicia to each item of registered property. Additionally, a tag with the unique identification indicia will be sent to the Owner and attached  205  to each piece of registered personal property. Naturally, the tag with the unique identification indicia that correctly identifies a piece of personal property will be attached to it. The Owners of personal property listed in the database will pay  207  a periodic subscription fee for the service. In most instances this fee would be paid on a yearly basis. The invention in both its system forms, and method forms, could be used by Internet service providers, Insurance companies or similar type of organizations. The System of the present invention could be offered as a free giveaway service, as part of a bundle of several services, or as an add on service. Naturally, the Internet service provider, Insurance company, etc. could charge fees if they so chose.  
         [0037]    While an Owner&#39;s personal property is listed on the Database the Owner will be is able to change  209  the amount of the reward. However, as noted above they will not be able to reduce it below a preset amount. Also, the Owners will be allowed to change  211  selected personal information, the description of the property or move the tag to different personal property. This might occur if the Owner sells or other wise disposes of personal property.  
         [0038]    If personal property listed with the System is lost the Owner would notify  213  the System of the loss of the property. The property lost would them be listed  215  in a lost property sub-database. When a Finder finds what appears to be registered property they will contact  217  the System and so advise the System. The System would then verify that the Finder has indeed found lost property listed with the system by matching  219  the unique identification indicia given by the Finder with the unique identification indicia of property registered with the system. The System would then make arrangements for return  221  of the property to the System. Once the property is received by the System it will inspect  223  it for damage. If the System determines the property damaged beyond  225  what the Owner finds acceptable  227  it will return  229  the property to the Finder and not pay the reward. On the other hand if the System finds the property is not damaged  225  beyond what the Owner would find acceptable  231  it will send  233  it to the Owner. The System will then pay  235  the reward to the Finder. The Owner will be responsible for reimbursing the System for payment  237  of the reward. Additionally, the Owner will have to pay the System a return fee  239  which might be a percentage of the reward or some other agreed to sum. Often there may be situations where a Finder finds tagged lost personal property registered with the System which the Owner has not yet realized is lost, or has not had time to notify the registry of its loss. The System would certainly not have any problems in handling such situations. The Finder upon contacting the System would still be able to find out what the amount of the reward is. The System would upon is being contacted by the Finder determine the Owner has not yet notified the System of the loss. The System would then notify the Owner of the apparent loss and make the usual arrangements for its return.  
         [0039]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it wilt be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made to it without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.