PROGRESSIVE AUTHENTICATION
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented process for establishing the authenticity of a user, comprising:
- using a computer to perform the following process actions;
inputting a plurality of pre-established authentication factors each of which corresponds to one or multiple attributes associated with the user, or historical patterns of one or more attributes associated with the user, or both, and each factor of which has a confidence level associated therewith that estimates a reliability of that factor in establishing the user'"'"'s authenticity;
inputting readings captured by one or more sensors, each sensor of which senses a one of said attributes associated with the user;
employing the inputted sensor readings to quantify each authentication factor confidence level;
establishing an overall confidence level based at least in part on a combination of the individual confidence levels associated with the plurality of authentication factors; and
designating a user to be authenticated whenever the established overall confidence level exceeds a prescribed authentication level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Progressive authentication is generally employed to establish the authenticity of a user, such as a user of a computing device, or a user that wants to access a proprietary data item, software application or on-line service. This can entail inputting authentication factors each of which corresponds to one or multiple attributes associated with the user, or historical patterns of one or more attributes associated with the user, or both, and a confidence level that estimates a reliability of the factor. Sensor readings captured by one or more sensors are also input. Each sensor senses a user attribute and are used to quantify each authentication factor confidence level. An overall confidence level is established based at least in part on a combination of the individual confidence levels. A user is then designated as being authentic whenever the established overall confidence level exceeds a prescribed authentication level. This process can be continuous with the overall confidence level being continually updated.
108 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented process for establishing the authenticity of a user, comprising:
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using a computer to perform the following process actions; inputting a plurality of pre-established authentication factors each of which corresponds to one or multiple attributes associated with the user, or historical patterns of one or more attributes associated with the user, or both, and each factor of which has a confidence level associated therewith that estimates a reliability of that factor in establishing the user'"'"'s authenticity; inputting readings captured by one or more sensors, each sensor of which senses a one of said attributes associated with the user; employing the inputted sensor readings to quantify each authentication factor confidence level; establishing an overall confidence level based at least in part on a combination of the individual confidence levels associated with the plurality of authentication factors; and designating a user to be authenticated whenever the established overall confidence level exceeds a prescribed authentication level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer-implemented process for establishing the authenticity of a user, comprising:
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using a computer to perform the following process actions; inputting a plurality of pre-established authentication factors each of which corresponds to one or multiple attributes associated with the user, or historical patterns of one or more attributes associated with the user, or both, and each factor of which has a confidence level associated therewith that estimates a reliability of that factor in establishing the user'"'"'s authenticity; continuously inputting readings captured by one or more sensors, each sensor of which senses a one of said attributes associated with the user; continuously employing the inputted sensor readings to quantify each authentication factor confidence level; establishing an overall confidence level based at least in part on a combination of the individual confidence levels associated with the plurality of authentication factors, and continuously updating the level; and deeming a user to be authentic as long as the current overall confidence level exceeds a prescribed authentication level. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer-implemented process for establishing the authenticity of a user in connection with the user accessing a feature or item, comprising:
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using a computer to perform the following process actions; inputting a plurality of pre-established authentication factors each of which corresponds to one or multiple attributes associated with the user, or historical patterns of one or more attributes associated with the user, or both, and each factor of which has a confidence level associated therewith that estimates a reliability of that factor in establishing the user'"'"'s authenticity; inputting readings captured by one or more sensors, each sensor of which senses a one of said attributes associated with the user; employing the inputted sensor readings to quantify each authentication factor confidence level; establishing an overall confidence level based at least in part on a combination of the individual confidence levels associated with the plurality of authentication factors; inputting a plurality of pre-established authentication thresholds which are associated with different items or features, or both, associated with a computing device, or set of data items, or an application software program, or a computer network online service, wherein an authentication threshold represents a threshold that the established overall confidence level has to exceed in order for the user to be allowed access to one of said items or features; and allowing a user access to each of said items or features, or both, that have an authentication threshold that is lower than the established overall confidence level. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification