Verification method and apparatus

Abstract

A method of verifying the integrity of an item of value received at a destination location following transfer from a source at location is described. The method comprises carrying out one or more verification steps, at least one of which (26) comprises determining whether the time of arrival (22) of the item of value at the destination location satisfies a predetermined condition.

Description

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus to enable secure, auditable, efficient and cost effective movement of items of value.

The present invention will be described in the context of a retail application. It should be noted, however, that the invention could be applied in non-retail applications. Indeed the invention could be applied in any environment where items of value are transported and therefore exposed to risk of theft or tampering. Items of value in this context include bank notes, cheques, vouchers, stamps, fiscal stamps, coins, casino chips, lottery tickets, scratch cards and the like. The invention in its widest sense could also be envisaged to relate to other valuable items that are transported under secure conditions such as gemstones, precious metals and the like.

Items of value such as cash (coins and banknotes) are typically transported in a secure manner in tamper evident and secure containers. However it is known for individuals to open such containers without compromising the physical security measures. The recipient will then receive and accept the items not knowing that the container has been compromised.

GB-A-2280056 describes a security container containing a timer which incorporates a sensor for detecting motion of the container and which is operable to enable the timer to run only when the container is in motion. If the timer exceeds some predetermined value, then it is possible that the security container has been compromised.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a method of verifying the integrity of an item of value received at a destination location following transfer from a source location comprises carrying out one or more verification steps, at least one of which comprises determining whether the time of arrival of the item of value at the destination location satisfies a predetermined

There are a variety of ways in which the predetermined condition can be defined. For example, the verification process may be programmed to expect to receive the item of value at a certain absolute time. Thus for example it may be expecting a particular item of value between 6 pm and 7 pm on a particular day. This time may be set independently or, more commonly, will be communicated to the destination location, for example on or in a container holding the item of value.

Alternatively, the predetermined condition is determined in response to the time at which the item of value leaves the source location. Thus, once that time is known, the time of arrival of the destination location can be predicted and that part of the verification process will be satisfied if the item of value arrives within a predetermined tolerance of the expected time.

Details of the predetermined condition could be stored in a memory, for example having been communicated from the source location, the memory being sited at the destination location or in a separate host accessible both by the verification process and from the source location. In addition, or alternatively, details enabling the predetermined condition to be determined can be provided in association with the item of value. For example, the details could be provided on or in a package containing the item of value. This could be done by way of a code such as a bar code, it being preferred that the information is given in a covert manner. Alternatively, the information could be contained within a memory chip such as an RFID on or in the package.

The data enabling the predetermined condition to be determined could constitute the expected arrival time of the destination location, the time at which the item of value left the source location, and the like.

The item of value may be verified directly but typically will be secured within a package, the method condition, characterised in that the predetermined condition is defined by an absolute time period within which the item of value is expected.

The invention introduces an event timing process as a means to provide a measure of the risk that an item of value is no longer genuine, for example a container or package has been tampered with.

Claims

1. A method of verifying the integrity of an item of value received at a destination location following transfer from a source location, the method comprising carrying out one or more verification steps, at least one of which comprises determining whether the time of arrival of the item of value at the destination location satisfies a predetermined condition, characterised in that the predetermined condition is defined by an absolute time period within which the item of value is expected.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition comprises the expected length of time between the item of value leaving the source location and arriving at the destination location.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein details of the predetermined condition are stored in a memory at the destination location.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein details of the predetermined condition are provided in association with the item of value.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the item of value is secured within a package, the method comprising determining whether the time of arrival of the package at the destination location satisfies a predetermined condition.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the details of the predetermined condition are provided on or in the package.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein the package is tamper evident.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein details relating to the predetermined condition are communicated from the source location to the destination location.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the details comprise one or more of the time of departure from the source location, the expected time of arrival at the destination location, and the length of time between leaving the source location and arriving at the destination location.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the item of value comprises cash, for example coins and/or banknotes.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the source location comprises one of a retail till, retailer back office, cash-in-transit centre, and financial institution such as a bank.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the destination location comprises one of a retail till, retailer back office, cash-in-transit centre, and financial institution such as a bank.

13. Apparatus for verifying the integrity of an item of value received at a destination location following transfer from a source location, the apparatus comprising a verification system for carrying out one or more verification steps, at least one of which comprises determining whether the time of arrival of the item of value at the destination location satisfies a predetermined condition.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 for carrying out a method verifying the integrity of an item of value received at a destination location following transfer from a source location, the method comprising carrying out one or more verification steps at least one of which comprises determining whether the time of arrival of the item of value at the destination location satisfies a predetermined condition, characterised in that the predetermined condition is defined by an absolute time period within which the item of value is expected.

15. An item of value transfer system comprising apparatus according to claim 13 located at a destination location; and a source location from which items of value are transferred to the destination location.