Methods, Systems, And Computer Program Products For Determining An Originator Of A Network Packet Using Biometric Information

• US 20110119376A1
• Filed: 01/21/2011
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scenera Mobile Technologies LLC (Scenera Research LLC)
• Original Assignee: Scenera Technologies LLC (Scenera Research LLC)
• Inventors: Bardsley, Jeffrey Scott, Horner, Richard Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,191,114 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• 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 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products for determining an originator of a network packet using biometric information are disclosed. A network packet is received from a network device. A header or a trailer of the network packet is analyzed to determine whether the header or trailer includes an identifier of biometric identification information of a network user. The network packet is identified as having originated from the network user if the header or trailer includes the identifier of biometric identification information of the network user. Identifying the network packet as having originated from the network user does not require reading a payload of the packet.

Claims

1. A method for determining an originator of a network packet using biometric information, the method comprising:

receiving a network packet from a network device;

analyzing at least one of a header and a trailer of the network packet to determine whether the at least one of a header and a trailer includes an identifier of biometric identification information of a network user; and

identifying the network packet as having originated from the network user if the header or trailer includes the identifier of biometric identification information of the network user, wherein identifying the network packet as having originated from the network user does not require reading a payload of the packet.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the identifier of biometric identification information identifies a fingerprint, an eye retina, an eye iris, a facial pattern, a voice pattern, or a hand measurement.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the identifier of the biometric identification information includes user credentials of the network user.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the identifier of biometric identification information links to stored biometric identification information.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the identifier of biometric identification information includes a hash of the biometric identification information in the network packet.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the identifier of biometric identification information indicates that the biometric identification information is in the payload of the network packet.

7. The method of claim 1 comprising retrieving the biometric identification information based on the biometric information identifier.

8. The method of claim 1 comprising performing an action in the network involving the biometric identification information.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein performing an action involving the biometric identification information includes at least one of:

providing a notification indicating receipt of a network packet associated with the network user;

displaying the biometric identification information on a display in the network;

logging the biometric identification information in a log file;

performing packet traffic analysis based on the biometric identification information;

establishing a communication session with a communication address associated with the biometric identification information;

removing the biometric identification information from the network packet; and

removing the biometric information identifier from the network packet.

10. A system for determining an originator of a network packet using biometric information, the system comprising:

a network interface configured for receiving a network packet from a network device; and

a biometric information retrieve function configured for;

analyzing at least one of a header and a trailer of the network packet to determine whether the at least one of a header and a trailer includes an identifier of biometric identification information of a network user; and

identifying the network packet as having originated from the network user if the header or trailer includes the identifier of biometric identification information of the network user, wherein identifying the network packet as having originated from the network user does not require reading a payload of the packet.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the biometric information retrieve function is configured for analyzing the at least one of a header and a trailer of the network packet to determine whether the biometric identification identifier identifies biometric identification information that identifies a fingerprint, an eye retina, an eye iris, a facial pattern, a voice pattern, or a hand measurement.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the biometric information retrieve function is configured for analyzing the at least one of a header and a trailer of the network packet to determine whether the biometric identification identifier includes user credentials of the network user.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the biometric information retrieve function is configured for analyzing the at least one of a header and a trailer of the network packet to determine whether the biometric identification identifier includes a link to stored biometric identification information.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the biometric information retrieve function is configured for analyzing the at least one of a header and a trailer of the network packet to determine whether the biometric identification identifier includes a hash of the biometric identification information.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the biometric information retrieve function is configured for analyzing the at least one of a header and a trailer of the network packet to determine whether the biometric identification identifier indicates that the biometric identification information is in the payload of the network packet.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the biometric information retrieve function is configured for retrieving the stored biometric identification information based on the biometric information identifier.

17. The system of claim 10 wherein the biometric information retrieve function is configured for performing an action in the network involving the biometric identification information.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein performing an action involving the biometric identification information includes at least one of:

providing a notification indicating receipt of a network packet associated with the network user;

displaying the biometric identification information on a display in the network;

logging the biometric identification information in a log file;

performing packet traffic analysis based on the biometric identification information;

establishing a communication session with a communication address associated with the biometric identification information;

removing the biometric identification information from the network packet; and

removing the biometric information identifier from the network packet.

19. A system for determining an originator of a network packet using biometric information, the system comprising:

means for receiving a network packet from a network device;

means for analyzing at least one of a header and a trailer of the network packet to determine whether the at least one of a header and a trailer includes an identifier of biometric identification information of a network user; and

means for identifying the network packet as having originated from the network user if the header or trailer includes the identifier of biometric identification information of the network user, wherein identifying the network packet as having originated from the network user does not require reading a payload of the packet.

20. A computer program product comprising computer executable instructions embodied in a computer readable medium for performing steps comprising:

receiving a network packet from a network device;

analyzing at least one of a header and a trailer of the network packet to determine whether the at least one of a header and a trailer includes an identifier of biometric identification information of a network user; and

identifying the network packet as having originated from the network user if the header or trailer includes the identifier of biometric identification information of the network user, wherein identifying the network packet as having originated from the network user does not require reading a payload of the packet.