PROXIMITY TO A LOCATION AS A FORM OF AUTHENTICATION

• US 20150302411A1
• Filed: 04/22/2014
• Published: 10/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Original Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Inventors: Bondesen, Laura Corinne, Harkey, Scott Lee
• Application Number:
  US14/258,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20150302411A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices

Abstract

Disclosed is a system and associated method of authenticating a transaction based at least partially on the location of a mobile device. The system typically includes a processor, a memory, and a transaction authentication module stored in the memory. The module is typically configured for: receiving a request from a user to complete a transaction; receiving geographic location information for a point-of-transaction associated with the transaction; receiving geographic location information for the mobile device associated with the user; determining whether the geographic location of the point-of-transaction is geographically proximate to the geographic location of the mobile device; and based at least partially on the geographic location of the point-of-transaction being geographically proximate to the geographic location of the mobile device, enabling the user to complete the transaction.

Claims

1. A system for authenticating transactions, comprising:

a computer apparatus including a processor and a memory; and

a transaction authentication module stored in the memory, executable by the processor and configured for;

receiving a request from a user to complete a first transaction;

determining that the first transaction corresponds to a first level of authentication, the first level of authentication permitting user authentication based at least partially on the geographic location of a transaction being geographically proximate to a mobile device associated with the user;

receiving geographic location information for a point-of-transaction associated with the first transaction;

receiving geographic location information for the mobile device associated with the user;

determining whether the geographic location of the point-of-transaction is geographically proximate to the geographic location of the mobile device;

based at least partially on the geographic location of the point-of-transaction being geographically proximate to the geographic location of the mobile device, determining that the user has satisfied the first level of authentication; and

based at least partially on the user satisfying the first level of authentication, enabling the user to complete the first transaction.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the transaction authentication module is configured for:

after determining that the user has satisfied the first level of authentication, receiving a request from a user to complete a second transaction;

determining that the second transaction corresponds to a second level of authentication, the second level of authentication permitting user authentication based at least partially on receiving authentication credentials from the user;

based at least partially on determining that the second transaction corresponds to the second level of authentication, prompting the user to provide the predefined authentication credentials;

receiving the predefined authentication credentials from the user;

based at least partially on receiving the predefined authentication credentials from the user, determining that the user has satisfied the second level of authentication; and

based the user satisfying the second level of authentication, enabling the user to complete the second transaction.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein:

the first transaction comprises initiating an ATM session;

the second transaction comprises withdrawing or transferring funds; and

the predefined authentication credentials comprises a PIN number associated with the user.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the transaction authentication module is configured for:

after determining that the user has satisfied the first level of authentication, receiving a request from a user to complete a third transaction;

determining that the third transaction corresponds to the first level of authentication; and

based the user satisfying the first level of authentication, enabling the user to complete the third transaction.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein:

the first transaction comprises initiating an ATM session; and

the third transaction comprises viewing an account balance.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein determining whether the geographic location of the point-of-transaction is geographically proximate to the geographic location of the mobile device comprises determining whether the geographic location of the mobile device is geographically located within a predetermined distance from the geographic location associated with the mobile device.

7. A computer program product for authenticating transactions, comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for:

receiving a request from a user to complete a first transaction;

determining that the first transaction corresponds to a first level of authentication, the first level of authentication permitting user authentication based at least partially on the geographic location of a transaction being geographically proximate to a mobile device associated with the user;

receiving geographic location information for a point-of-transaction associated with the first transaction;

receiving geographic location information for the mobile device associated with the user;

determining whether the geographic location of the point-of-transaction is geographically proximate to the geographic location of the mobile device;

based at least partially on the geographic location of the point-of-transaction being geographically proximate to the geographic location of the mobile device, determining that the user has satisfied the first level of authentication; and

based the user satisfying the first level of authentication, enabling the user to complete the first transaction.

8. The computer program product according to claim 7, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium has computer-executable instructions for:

after determining that the user has satisfied the first level of authentication, receiving a request from a user to complete a second transaction;

determining that the second transaction corresponds to a second level of authentication, the second level of authentication permitting user authentication based at least partially on receiving authentication credentials from the user;

based at least partially on determining that the second transaction corresponds to the second level of authentication, prompting the user to provide the predefined authentication credentials;

receiving the predefined authentication credentials from the user;

based at least partially on receiving the predefined authentication credentials from the user, determining that the user has satisfied the second level of authentication; and

based the user satisfying the second level of authentication, enabling the user to complete the second transaction.

9. The computer program product according to claim 8, wherein:

the first transaction comprises initiating an ATM session;

the second transaction comprises withdrawing or transferring funds; and

the predefined authentication credentials comprises a PIN number associated with the user.

10. The computer program product according to claim 7, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium has computer-executable instructions for:

after determining that the user has satisfied the first level of authentication, receiving a request from a user to complete a third transaction;

determining that the third transaction corresponds to the first level of authentication; and

based the user satisfying the first level of authentication, enabling the user to complete the third transaction.

11. The computer program product according to claim 10, wherein:

the first transaction comprises initiating an ATM session; and

the third transaction comprises viewing an account balance.

12. The computer program product according to claim 7, wherein determining whether the geographic location of the point-of-transaction is geographically proximate to the geographic location of the mobile device comprises determining whether the geographic location of the mobile device is geographically located within a predetermined distance from the geographic location associated with the mobile device.

13. A method for authenticating transactions, comprising:

receiving, via a computer processor, a request from a user to complete a first transaction;

determining, via a computer processor, that the first transaction corresponds to a first level of authentication, the first level of authentication permitting user authentication based at least partially on the geographic location of a transaction being geographically proximate to a mobile device associated with the user;

receiving, via a computer processor, geographic location information for a point-of-transaction associated with the first transaction;

receiving, via a computer processor, geographic location information for the mobile device associated with the user;

determining, via a computer processor, whether the geographic location of the point-of-transaction is geographically proximate to the geographic location of the mobile device;

based at least partially on the geographic location of the point-of-transaction being geographically proximate to the geographic location of the mobile device, determining, via a computer processor, that the user has satisfied the first level of authentication; and

based the user satisfying the first level of authentication, enabling, via a computer processor, the user to complete the first transaction.

14. The method according to claim 13, comprising:

after determining that the user has satisfied the first level of authentication, receiving a request from a user to complete a second transaction;

determining that the second transaction corresponds to a second level of authentication, the second level of authentication permitting user authentication based at least partially on receiving authentication credentials from the user;

based at least partially on determining that the second transaction corresponds to the second level of authentication, prompting the user to provide the predefined authentication credentials;

receiving the predefined authentication credentials from the user;

based at least partially on receiving the predefined authentication credentials from the user, determining that the user has satisfied the second level of authentication; and

based the user satisfying the second level of authentication, enabling the user to complete the second transaction.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein:

the first transaction comprises initiating an ATM session;

the second transaction comprises withdrawing or transferring funds; and

the predefined authentication credentials comprises a PIN number associated with the user.

16. The method according to claim 13, comprising:

after determining that the user has satisfied the first level of authentication, receiving a request from a user to complete a third transaction;

determining that the third transaction corresponds to the first level of authentication; and

based the user satisfying the first level of authentication, enabling the user to complete the third transaction.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein:

the first transaction comprises initiating an ATM session; and

the third transaction comprises viewing an account balance.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein determining whether the geographic location of the point-of-transaction is geographically proximate to the geographic location of the mobile device comprises determining whether the geographic location of the mobile device is geographically located within a predetermined distance from the geographic location associated with the mobile device.