AUTHENTICATION VIA A DEVICE

• US 20100218249A1
• Filed: 02/25/2009
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bathiche, Steven N., MacLaurin, Matthew B., Wilson, Andrew D., Izadi, Shahram, Morris, Meredith June, Benko, Hrvoje, Butler, David Alexander, Hodges, Stephen E., Westerinen, William J., Hoover, Paul Armistead, Whitten, Arthur T., LeProwse, Shawn R., Sands, Ian M., Thompson, Peter B., Kunz, William Ben
• Application Number:
  US12/392,405
• Publication Number:
  US 20100218249A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/19
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/805 Lightweight hardware, e.g. radio-frequency identification [RFID] or sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3226 using a predetermined code, e.g. password, passphrase or PIN network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using passwords in a packet data network H04L63/083
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/68 Gesture-dependent or behaviour-dependent

Abstract

The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates authentication of a user in a surface computing environment. A device or authentication object can be carried by a user and employed to retain authentication information. An authentication component can obtain the authentication information from the device and analyze the information to verify an identity of the user. A touch input component can ascertain if a touch input is authentication by associating touch input with the user. In addition, authentication information can be employed to establish a secure communications channel for transfer of user data.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates authentication of a user in a surface computing environment, comprising:

an authentication component that obtains authentication information from at least one device uniquely associated with a user, the authentication component determines an identity of the user based at least in part on the authentication information; and

a touch input component that associates a touch input with the user to ascertain if the touch input is authenticated.

2. The system of claim 1, the touch input component associates the touch input with the user based at least in part on a location of the device and a location of the touch input on a surface in the surface computing environment.

3. The system of claim 2, the touch input component determines the location of the device based upon a visual observation of the device placed on the surface.

4. The system of claim 3, the touch input component generates an authenticated region on the surface around the device placed on the surface.

5. The system of claim 4, the touch input component associates touch input within the region with the user uniquely associated with the device placed on the surface.

6. The system of claim 1, the touch input component obtains touch input that includes a signal modulated with the authentication information from the at least one device.

7. The system of claim 6, the touch input component extracts the authentication information from the touch input and matches the extracted information to information obtained by the authentication component.

8. The system of claim 7, the touch input component associates touch input with the user associated with the at least one device upon successful matching of information.

9. The system of claim 6, the authentication component obtains authentication information from the at least one device via a capacitively coupled electrical signal modulated with the information.

10. The system of claim 6, the authentication component obtains authentication information from the at least one device via a visible signal modulated with the information.

11. The system of claim 1, the authentication component obtains authentication information from the at least one device via a vibration pattern modulated with the information.

12. The system of claim 1, the authentication component obtains authentication information from the at least one device via textual input.

13. The system of claim 1, the authentication component obtains authentication information from the at least one device via a near field communication channel.

14. The system of claim 1, the authentication component employs the obtained authentication information to create a secure communication channel between a surface in the surface computing environment and the at least one device.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein a color is assigned to the user such that visual feedback in the assigned color informs the user that touch points are authenticated.

16. The system of claim 1, the at least one device is a mobile device.

17. A method that facilitates authenticated interactions with surface computing equipment in a surface computing environment, comprising:

obtaining authentication information from at least one authentication object uniquely coupled to a user;

analyzing the authentication information to ascertain and verify an identity of at least one of the user or the authentication object; and

employing at least one of the authentication information or location of the authentication object relative to a surface of the surface computing equipment to authenticate touch input received by the surface.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising establishing a secure communication channel between the authentication object and the surface computing equipment.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising generating an authenticated region around the authentication object placed on the surface of the surface computing equipment.

20. A system that enables authentication of a user in a surface computing environment via a device, comprising:

means for receiving authentication information from at least one device carried by a user;

means for verifying an identity of the user based at least in part on the received authentication information;

means for transferring user data to a surface in the surface computing environment; and

means for associating touch point with at least one of the device or the user.