Methods, systems, and products for identity verification

• US 8,116,751 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2007
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Aaron, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEHRA, INDER P
• Application Number:
  US11/710,319
• Publication Number:
  US 20080207220A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,817 Days
• Field of Search: 455/420, 455/456.1, 455/466, 704/246, 704/E17
• US Class Current: 455/415
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for identification verification. Location information is acquired. The location information is compared to historical location information. When the location information favorably compares to the historical location information, then an identity associated with the location information is verified.

Claims

1. A method of verifying identity, comprising:

acquiring recent global positioning system location information for a device;

chronologically arranging the recent global positioning system information to describe a route;

querying a database that associates the device to historical routes;

retrieving a historical route from the database;

comparing the recent global positioning system location information to the historical route;

determining the route matches the historical route; and

verifying the identity of a current user of the device based on a match between the route and the historical route.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising scoring a difference between the route and the historical route.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising comparing the score to a threshold.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein when the score equals or exceeds the threshold, then verifying that the route matches the historical route.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising sending a verification message that verifies the identity.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a request to verify the identity.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the route does not match the historical route, then declining to verify the identity.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising applying a set of rules that determines how strictly the route is compared to the historical route.

9. A system for verifying identity, comprising:

a processor executing code stored in memory that causes the processor to;

receive a request to verify an identity of a user of a device;

acquire recent global positioning system location information associated with the device;

chronologically arrange the recent global positioning system information to describe a route;

query a database that associates the device to historical routes;

retrieve a historical route from the database;

compare the route to the historical route;

determine the route matches the historical route; and

verify the identity of the user based on a match between the route and the historical route.

10. The system according to claim 9, further comprising code that causes the processor to:

receive a scoring algorithm with the request; and

compute a score from the scoring algorithm describing a comparison between the route and the historical route.

11. The system according to claim 10, further comprising code that causes the processor to compare the score to a threshold.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein when the score equals or exceeds the threshold, then the code that causes the processor to verify the identity of the user associated with the device.

13. The system according to claim 9, further comprising code that causes the processor to send a verification message that verifies the identity in response to the request.

14. The system according to claim 9, further comprising code that causes the processor to receive multiple scoring algorithms with the request.

15. The system according to claim 9, wherein when the route does not match the historical route, then the code causes the processor to decline to verify the identity of the user.

16. The system according to claim 9, further comprising code that causes the processor to apply a set of rules that determines how strictly the route is compared to the historical route.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer-readable instructions for performing a method of verifying identity, the method comprising:

receiving a request to verify an identity of a user of a device;

acquiring recent global positioning system location information associated with the device;

chronologically arranging the recent global positioning system information to describe a route;

querying a database that associates the device to historical routes;

retrieving a historical route from the database;

comparing the route to the historical route;

determining the route matches the historical route; and

verifying the identity of the user of the device based on a match between the route and the historical route.

18. The computer readable medium according to claim 17, further comprising instructions for scoring a difference between the route and the historical route.

19. The computer readable medium according to claim 18, further comprising instructions for comparing a score to a threshold.

20. The computer readable medium according to claim 19, further comprising instructions for:

i) when the score equals or exceeds the threshold, then verifying the identity of the user, and

ii) when the score is less than the threshold, then declining to verify the identity of the user.