SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SECURE AUTHENTICATION USING A WATERMARK

• US 20130124415A1
• Filed: 11/09/2012
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Mardikar, Upendra S.
• Application Number:
  US13/673,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20130124415A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/44
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices for authenticating a user using a watermark are provided. A device for authenticating a user includes one or more processors configured to prepare information including a watermark and a request for user credentials in response to a request for service requiring authentication, wherein the watermark comprises at least one of an image, text, a sound, a photo, and a combination thereof that is chosen by the user, and match received user credentials to stored user credential information. The device also includes a network interface component coupled to a network, the network interface component configured to receive the request for the service requiring authentication, and transmit the information including the watermark and the request for user credentials. The device further includes a memory, the memory storing the user credential information for matching to received user credentials.

Claims

1. A device for authenticating a user, comprising:

one or more processors configured to;

prepare information including a watermark and a request for user credentials in response to a request for service requiring authentication, wherein the watermark comprises at least one of an image, text, a sound, a photo, and a combination thereof that is chosen by the user; and

match received user credentials to stored user credential information;

a network interface component coupled to a network, the network interface component configured to;

receive the request for the service requiring authentication; and

transmit the information including the watermark and the request for user credentials; and

a memory, the memory storing the user credential information for matching to received user credentials.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the user credentials comprise at least one of a user name, an account name, a password, a personal identification number (PIN), and a combination thereof.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein if the received user credentials match the stored user credential information the user is authenticated by the device and allowed access to the requested service.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the request for the service requiring authentication is received from a merchant server.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the request is sent from the merchant server for processing a payment for goods purchased from the merchant server by the user.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the transmitted watermark is presented to the user on a user device without taking the user away from a current application being executed by the user device.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions for execution by one or more processors that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to perform a method for authenticating a user, the method comprising:

receiving a request for a service that requires authentication;

transmitting information including a watermark and a request for user credentials, wherein the watermark comprises at least one of an image, text, a sound, a photo, and a combination thereof that is chosen by the user;

determining if received user credentials match stored user credential information, if user credentials are received; and

authenticating the user and allowing the request for service if the received user credentials match the stored user credential information.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the user credentials comprise at least one of a user name, an account name, a password, a personal identification number (PIN), and a combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein if the received user credentials match the stored user credential information the user is authenticated by the device and allowed access to the requested service.

10. The method of claim 7, receiving a request for service requiring authentication comprises receiving the request for service from a merchant server.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving the request from the merchant server comprises receiving the request for processing a payment for goods purchased from the merchant server by the user.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein transmitting information including a watermark comprises transmitting the watermark to a user device and displaying the watermark to the user on the user device without taking the user away from a current application being executed by the user device.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions for execution by one or more processors that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to perform a method for authenticating a user, the method comprising:

transmitting a request for service;

receiving information including a request for user credentials and a watermark, the watermark having been chosen by the user;

displaying the received watermark to the user; and

transmitting received user credential information if user enters the credential information in response to the watermark being an expected watermark, wherein the user does not enter the credential information if the watermark is not an expected watermark.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein displaying the received watermark comprises displaying at least one of an image, text, a photo, and a combination thereof.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein displaying the received watermark comprises playing a sound.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein transmitting received user credential information comprises transmitting at least one of a user name, an account name, a password, a personal identification number (PIN), and a combination thereof.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein transmitting a request for service comprises transmitting a request to process a payment with a payment process server.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the payment comprises a payment for items being purchased from a merchant server.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein displaying the watermark comprises displaying the watermark as an overlay to currently displayed content.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein displaying the watermark comprises displaying the watermark as a pop-up separate from currently displayed content, without taking the user away from the currently displayed content.