SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR IDENTITY ATTRIBUTE VALIDATION

• US 20120233705A1
• Filed: 12/01/2010
• Published: 09/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SecureKey Technologies, Inc. (Gen Digital Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SecureKey Technologies, Inc. (Gen Digital Inc.)
• Inventors: Wolfond, Gregory, Roberge, Pierre Antoine, Engel, Patrick Hans, Ronda, Troy Jacob, Boysen, Andre Michel
• Granted Patent: US 8,863,308 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/29
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/335 for accessing specific resources, e.g. using Kerberos tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/42 using separate channels for security data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6272 by registering files or documents with a third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/73 by creating or determining hardware identification, e.g. serial numbers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/77 in smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0662 with particular pseudorandom sequence generator
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3213 using tickets or tokens, e.g. Kerberos network architectures or network communication protocols for entities authentication using tickets in a packet data network H04L63/0807
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3234 involving additional secure or trusted devices, e.g. TPM, smartcard, USB or software token network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using an additional device in a packet data network H04L63/0853
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3263 involving certificates, e.g. public key certificate [PKC] or attribute certificate [AC]; Public key infrastructure [PKI] arrangements network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using certificates in a packet data network H04L63/0823
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security

Abstract

A method of identity attribute validation at a computer server involves the computer server receiving an identity attribute validation request from a communication terminal. The computer server further receives a credential, and is configured with an attribute disclosure profile of attributes authorized for disclosure to the communication terminal. The computer server determines the validity of the credential, and provides the communication terminal with a response to the identity attribute validation request based on an outcome of the credential validity determination. The attribute validation response includes attributes data associated with the credential authorized for disclosure by the attribute disclosure profile but excludes attributes data associated with the credential not authorized for disclosure by the attribute disclosure profile.

Claims

1. A method of server-based identity attribute validation, comprising:

a computer server receiving an identity attribute validation request from one of a plurality of communication devices, and an identifier associated with the one communication device, the identity attribute validation request requesting at least one attribute for disclosure to the one communication device, the computer server further receiving a credential and being configured with at least one attribute disclosure profile, each said attribute disclosure profile being associated with a respective one of the communication devices and identifying at least one attribute authorized for disclosure to the associated communication device;

the computer server determining a validity of the credential and the received identifier, and using the received identifier to locate the attribute disclosure profile associated with the one communication device; and

the computer server providing the communication device with a response to the identity attribute validation request based on an outcome of the credential and identifier validity determination and a correlation between the at least one attribute of the identity attribute validation request and the at least one attribute of the located attribute disclosure profile, the attribute validation response including attribute data associated with the credential authorized for disclosure to the one communication device by the located attribute disclosure profile but excluding attribute data associated with the credential not authorized for disclosure to the one communication device by the located attribute disclosure profile.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the computer server receives the credential over a communication channel distinct from the identity attribute validation request.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the credential is associated with a hardware token, the computer server transmits a session token to the hardware token, and the credential validity determining step comprises the computer server verifying that the hardware token generated the credential from the session token.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the hardware token is configured with a private encryption key, the computer server is configured with a public encryption key corresponding to the private encryption key, and the step of verifying the credential comprises the computer server validating the credential with the public encryption key.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the attribute validation response anonymously identifies an authorized recipient of the hardware token.

11. A computer-readable medium carrying at least one identity attribute associated with a credential, an attribute disclosure profile of the identity attributes authorized for disclosure to a communication device, and computer program instructions stored thereon, the computer program instructions when executed by a computer causing the computer to perform the method of claim 1.

6. An issuer server comprising:

at least one attribute disclosure profile, each said attribute disclosure profile being associated with one of a plurality of communication devices and identifying at least one attribute authorized for disclosure to the associated communication device; and

an identity attribute validation request processor configured to receive from one of the communication devices an identity attribute validation request and an identifier associated with the one communication device, the identity attribute validation request requesting at least one attribute for disclosure to the one communication device, and to further receive a credential, the identity attribute validation request processor being further configured to determine a validity of the received credential and the identifier, to use the received identifier to locate the attribute disclosure profile associated with the one communication device, and to provide the communication device with a response to the identity attribute validation request based on an outcome of the credential and identifier validity determination and a correlation between the at least one attribute of the identity attribute validation request and the at least one attribute of the located attribute disclosure profile, the attribute validation response including attribute data associated with the credential authorized for disclosure to the one communication device by the located attribute disclosure profile but excluding attribute data associated with the credential not authorized for disclosure to the one communication device by the located attribute disclosure profile.

7. The issuer server according to claim 6, wherein the computer server receives the credential over a communication channel distinct from the identity attribute validation request.

8. The issuer server according to claim 6, wherein the credential is associated with a hardware token, and the identity attribute validation request processor is configured to transmit a session token to the hardware token, and to determine the validity of the credential by verifying that the hardware token generated the credential from the session token.

9. The issuer server according to claim 8, wherein the hardware token is configured with a private encryption key, the issuer server is configured with a public encryption key corresponding to the private encryption key, and the identity attribute validation request processor is configured to verify the credential by validating the credential with the public encryption key.

10. The issuer server according to claim 6, wherein the identity attribute validation request processor is configured to determine the validity of the credential by verifying that the credential is still in force.

12. (canceled)

13. A method of terminal-based identity attribute validation, comprising:

a communication terminal receiving a credential from a hardware token interfaced with the communication terminal, and transmitting to a computer server the credential, an identifier associated with the communication terminal, and an identity attribute validation request, the communication terminal being configured with an attribute disclosure profile identifying at least one attribute authorized for disclosure to the communication terminal;

the communication terminal receiving a response to the identity attribute validation request from the computer server, the attribute validation response being based on an outcome of a determination of validity of the credential and the identifier by the computer server;

in accordance with the attribute validation response, the communication terminal using the attribute disclosure profile to interrogate the hardware token for attribute data associated with the credential authorized for disclosure to the communication terminal but excluding attribute data associated with the credential not authorized for disclosure to the communication terminal; and

the communication terminal generating an authorization signal in accordance with a correlation between the authorized attribute data and a predetermined criterion.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the step of interrogating the hardware token for the authorized attribute data comprises querying the hardware token only for the attribute data authorized by the attribute disclosure profile.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the attribute validation response includes further attribute data authorized for disclosure to the communication terminal but excludes the attribute data not authorized for disclosure to the communication terminal.

19. A computer-readable medium carrying computer program instructions stored thereon, the computer program instructions when executed by a computer causing the computer to perform the method of claim 13.

16. A validation terminal comprising:

a credential interface configured to interface with a hardware token;

an attribute disclosure profile identifying at least one attribute authorized for disclosure to the validation terminal; and

an identity attribute validation processor configured to (1) receive a credential from the hardware token, (2) transmit to a computer server the credential, an identifier associated with the validation terminal, and an identity attribute validation request, (3) receive a response to the identity attribute validation request from the computer server, the attribute validation response being based on an outcome of a determination of validity of the credential and the identifier by the computer server, (4) in accordance with the attribute validation response, use the attribute disclosure profile to interrogate the hardware token for attribute data associated with the credential authorized for disclosure to the communication terminal but excluding attribute data associated with the credential not authorized for disclosure to the communication terminal, and (5) generate an authorization signal in accordance with a correlation between the authorized attribute data and a predetermined criterion, the attribute validation response being based on an outcome of a determination of validity of the credential by the computer server.

17. The validation terminal according to claim 16, wherein the identity attribute validation processor is configured to interrogate the hardware token for the authorized attribute data by querying the hardware token only for the attribute data authorized by the attribute disclosure profile.

18. The validation terminal according to claim 16, wherein the attribute validation response includes further attribute data authorized for disclosure to the communication terminal but excludes the attribute data not authorized for disclosure to the validation terminal.

20. (canceled)