Apparatus, system, and method for sequenced biometric authentication

• US 8,605,959 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kangas, Dan, Kangas, Regina Dawn
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Kimyen
• Assistant Examiner(s): HU, FRED H.
• Application Number:
  US12/340,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20100158327A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,814 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 382/124
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/316 by observing the pattern of computer usage, e.g. typical user behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/75 Organisation of the matching processes, e.g. simultaneous or sequential comparisons of image or video features; Coarse-fine approaches, e.g. multi-scale approaches; using context analysis; Selection of dictionaries
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/12 Fingerprints or palmprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1306 non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1335 Combining adjacent partial images (e.g. slices) to create a composite input or reference pattern; Tracking a sweeping finger movement
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/14 With a sequence of inputs of different identification information
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for multi-factor authentication using a biometric scanner. The apparatus includes an input module that receives a biometric scan and a verification sequence that are entered by a user using a biometric reader. The verification sequence may be a fingerprint scanned at multiple angles, or can be a series of symbols entered using the biometric scanner. A matching module compares the biometric scan with authenticated biometric scans stored in a data store and determines whether or not there is a matching authenticated biometric scan. The matching module also compares the verification sequence with an authenticated verification sequence that is stored in the data store. If both the biometric scan and the verification sequence match, an authentication module authenticates the user to the system. The user may enter the verification sequence by linearly or angularly displacing his finger on the biometric reader.

Claims

1. An apparatus for authenticating a user using a fingerprint reader, the apparatus comprising:

an input module, comprising a fingerprint reader, that receives at least one biometric scan and a verification sequence entered by a user through the fingerprint reader that reads one or more of fingerprint ridge minutiae and fingerprint ridge patterns, the biometric scan comprising a fingerprint, wherein the verification sequence comprises a set of symbols entered using the fingerprint reader, each symbol entered by the user through one of linear motion and angular motion on the fingerprint reader while a finger of the user moves while being in contact with the fingerprint reader, each symbol comprising one or more of a number, a letter, an icon, and a sound;

a feedback module that provides one or more of visual feedback and audio feedback to the user, the visual and audio feedback configured to allow the user to determine when the linear or angular motion corresponds to a symbol for selection, the visual feedback comprising an electronic display displaying the set of symbols and a visual indicator on the electronic display, wherein the linear or angular motion on the fingerprint reader moves one or more of the set of symbols with respect to the visual indicator and the visual indicator with respect to the set of symbols such that the visual feedback indicates when the linear motion or angular motion on the fingerprint reader corresponds to a symbol of the set of symbols for selection, the electronic display being a separate device from the fingerprint reader, the audio feedback comprising an audio signal that indicates when the linear motion or angular motion corresponds to each symbol of the set of symbols;

a matching module that validates the user entering the biometric scan, wherein validation comprises;

comparing one or more of fingerprint ridge minutiae and fingerprint ridge patterns of the at least one biometric scan with one or more of fingerprint ridge minutiae and fingerprint ridge patterns of one or more authenticated biometric scans stored in a data store, the authenticated biometric scans comprising a fingerprint, and validating the biometric scan in response to the biometric scan matching at least one authenticated biometric scan;

comparing the verification sequence entered by the user using the fingerprint reader with an authenticated verification sequence stored in the data store and validating the verification sequence in response to the verification sequence matching the authenticated verification sequence; and

an authentication module that authenticates the user to a system in response to the matching module validating the verification sequence against the authenticated verification sequence and further in response to the matching module validating the biometric scan against the authenticated biometric scan.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint reader is further configured to measure displacement of a finger on the fingerprint reader.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the fingerprint reader is one of an area fingerprint reader and a swipe fingerprint reader.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the user enters the verification sequence through displacement of a finger on the fingerprint reader, the displacement moving through the set of symbols to a particular symbol.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein displacement is one of angular displacement of the finger from a neutral position on the fingerprint reader and linear displacement of the finger from the neutral position on the fingerprint reader.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the feedback module that inserts a symbol associated with a particular displacement into the verification sequence in response to one of a change in direction of displacement and a completion of an interval with no change in the direction of displacement.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the modules are implemented at the device driver level of a host computer.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the symbols are numbers and the feedback module comprises a display of numbers on a lock and wherein one or more of linear and angular displacement on the biometric scanner causes numbers on the display of the lock to rotate.

8. An apparatus for authenticating a user using a sequence of biometric scans, the apparatus comprising:

an input module that receives a fingerprint scan and a verification sequence entered by a user through a fingerprint reader that reads one or more of fingerprint ridge minutiae and fingerprint ridge patterns, wherein the verification sequence comprises a set of symbols entered by the user through one of linear motion and angular motion on the fingerprint reader while a finger of the user moves while being in contact with the fingerprint reader, each symbol comprising one or more of a number, a letter, an icon, and a sound;

a feedback module that provides one or more of visual feedback on a display and audio feedback through a speaker to the user, the visual and audio feedback configured to allow the user to determine when the linear or angular motion corresponds to a symbol for selection, the visual feedback comprising an electronic display displaying the set of symbols and a visual indicator on the electronic display, wherein the linear or angular motion on the fingerprint reader moves one or more of the set of symbols with respect to the visual indicator and the visual indicator with respect to the set of symbols such that the visual feedback indicates when the linear motion or angular motion on the fingerprint reader corresponds to a symbol of the set of symbols for selection, the electronic display being a separate device from the fingerprint reader, the audio feedback comprising an audio signal that indicates when the linear motion or angular motion corresponds to each symbol of the set of symbols;

a matching module that validates the verification sequence against an authenticated verification sequence comprising a sequence of symbols, wherein validation comprises;

comparing one or more of fingerprint ridge minutiae and fingerprint ridge patterns of the fingerprint scan received by the input module from the user with one or more of fingerprint ridge minutiae and fingerprint ridge patterns of a stored fingerprint scan that is part of the authenticated verification sequence and comparing the set of symbols and associated sequence received by the input module from the user using the fingerprint reader with a stored set of symbols and associated sequence that are part of the authenticated verification sequence;

determining that the verification sequence matches the authenticated verification sequence in response to each fingerprint scan and the set of symbols and associated sequence matching the fingerprint scan and the set of symbols and associated sequence in the authenticated verification sequence; and

an authentication module that authenticates the user in response to the matching module validating the verification sequence against the authenticated verification sequence.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein validating the verification sequence further comprises determining that the number of symbols in the verification sequence is equal to the number of symbols in the authenticated verification sequence.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the fingerprint reader is one of an area fingerprint reader and a swipe fingerprint reader.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the symbols are numbers and the feedback module comprises a display of numbers on one or more of a display of

a lock wherein one or more of linear and angular displacement on the biometric scanner causes numbers on the display of the lock to spin,

a row of numbers wherein one or more of linear and angular displacement on the biometric scanner selects one or more a number in the display of the row of numbers, and

numbers on a keypad wherein one or more of linear and angular displacement on the biometric scanner selects one or more numbers on the display of the keypad.

12. A system for authenticating a user using a fingerprint reader, the system comprising:

a fingerprint reader that obtains a biometric scan and a verification sequence entered by a user, the biometric scan comprising a fingerprint, the fingerprint reader reading one or more of fingerprint ridge minutiae and fingerprint ridge patterns wherein the verification sequence comprises a set of symbols, each symbol entered by the user through one of linear motion and angular motion on the fingerprint reader while a finger of the user moves while being in contact with the fingerprint reader, each symbol comprising one or more of a number, a letter, an icon, and a sound;

an input module that receives the biometric scan and the verification sequence entered by the user;

a feedback module that provides one or more of visual feedback and audio feedback to the user, the visual and audio feedback configured to allow the user to determine when the linear or angular motion corresponds to a symbol for selection, the visual feedback comprising an electronic display displaying the set of symbols and a visual indicator on the electronic display, wherein the linear or angular motion on the fingerprint reader moves one or more of the set of symbols with respect to the visual indicator and the visual indicator with respect to the set of symbols such that the visual feedback indicates when the linear motion or angular motion corresponds to a symbol of the set of symbols, the electronic display being a separate device from the fingerprint reader, the audio feedback comprising an audio signal that indicates when the linear motion or angular motion corresponds to each symbol of the set of symbols;

a matching module that validates the user entering the biometric scan, wherein validation comprises;

comparing one or more of fingerprint ridge minutiae and fingerprint ridge patterns of the biometric scan with one or more of fingerprint ridge minutiae and fingerprint ridge patterns of one or more authenticated biometric scans stored in a data store, the one or more authenticated biometric scans comprising one or more fingerprints, and validating the biometric scan in response to the biometric scan matching the authenticated biometric scan;

comparing the verification sequence entered by the user using the fingerprint reader with an authenticated verification sequence stored in the data store and validating the verification sequence in response to the verification sequence matching the authenticated verification sequence; and

an authentication module that authenticates the user to a system in response to the matching module validating the verification sequence against the authenticated verification sequence and further in response to the matching module validating the biometric scan against the authenticated biometric scan.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the electronic display comprises a monitor and the symbols are displayed on the monitor.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the electronic display comprises a monitor for providing visual feedback and the system comprises one or more speakers for providing the audio feedback.

15. A method for authenticating a user using a fingerprint reader, the method comprising:

receiving a biometric scan and a verification sequence entered by a user through a fingerprint reader, the fingerprint reader reading one or more of fingerprint ridge minutiae and fingerprint ridge patterns, the biometric scan comprising a fingerprint, wherein the verification sequence comprises a set of symbols entered using the fingerprint reader, each symbol entered by the user through one of linear motion and angular motion on the fingerprint reader while a finger of the user moves while being in contact with the fingerprint reader, each symbol comprising one or more of a number, a letter, an icon, and a sound;

providing one or more of visual feedback and audio feedback to the user, the visual and audio feedback configured to allow the user to determine when the linear or angular motion corresponds to a symbol for selection, the visual feedback comprising an electronic display displaying the set of symbols and a visual indicator on the electronic display, wherein the linear or angular motion on the fingerprint reader moves one or more of the set of symbols with respect to the visual indicator and the visual indicator with respect to the set of symbols such that the visual feedback indicates when the linear motion or angular motion corresponds to a symbol of the set of symbols, the electronic display being a separate device from the fingerprint reader, the audio feedback comprising an audio signal that indicates when the linear motion or angular motion corresponds to each symbol of the set of symbols;

comparing one or more of fingerprint ridge minutiae and fingerprint ridge patterns of the biometric scan with one or more of fingerprint ridge minutiae and fingerprint ridge patterns of one or more authenticated biometric scans stored in a data store, the authenticated biometric scans comprising a fingerprint;

validating the biometric scan in response to the biometric scan matching an authenticated biometric scan;

comparing the verification sequence entered by the user using the fingerprint reader with an authenticated verification sequence stored in the data store;

validating the verification sequence in response to the verification sequence matching the authenticated verification sequence; and

authenticating the user to a system in response to validating the verification sequence against the authenticated verification sequence, and further in response to validating the biometric scan against the authenticated biometric scan.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the user enters the verification sequence through displacement of a finger on the fingerprint reader, the displacement moving through the set of symbols to a particular symbol.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein displacement is one of angular displacement of the finger from a neutral position on the fingerprint reader and linear displacement of the finger from the neutral position on the fingerprint reader.