System and method for enhancing self-service security applications

• US 8,881,245 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2012
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: O'Connor, Neil, Geary, Dara, McCormack, Tony
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAIFER HARRIMAN, DANT B
• Application Number:
  US13/630,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20140096196A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 726/4
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention may enable a user of an electronic device to setup a game-based environment within the electronic device that can be used as an authentication platform to prevent access by illegitimate or unauthorized users. The communication device may include a display screen, a processor, and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory may include a database and an instruction set. The database may store pre-defined access patterns that can be used in the authentication process. Further, the instruction set may include instructions executable by the processor to monitor inputs made by a new user in the game based environment. Furthermore, the instructions executable by the processor may match the inputs of the new user with the pre-defined access patterns to check the authentication of a new user.

Claims

1. An authentication system configured to enable a user to setup an interactive authentication environment on an electronic device for restricting unauthorized access, the system comprising:

a customization module configured to enable the user to customize and setup the interactive authentication environment on the electronic device;

one or more input mediums configured to enable the user to actively interact with the interactive authentication environment to define one or more access patterns within a three-dimensional virtual environment that are required to be imitated in order to gain authentication and to gain post-authentication access; and

a database to store the defined access patterns,

wherein the interactive authentication environment comprises a game-based three-dimensional virtual environment.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional virtual environment is a navigable virtual environment.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the interactive authentication environment includes a foreground, a background, and moveable objects.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device may enable the user to connect to a service via a network after gaining authentication.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the electronic device may enable the user to connect to the service via an IVR system.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the electronic device may enable the user to transfer from the IVR system to an assisted service system.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the input means includes a touch sensitive screen of the electronic device.

8. An authentication system configured to enable a user to actively interact with an interactive authentication environment for authentication and for gaining post-authentication access to data and applications, the system comprising:

one or more input mediums to enable the user to actively interact with the interactive authentication environment by providing a sequence of inputs, wherein the interactive authentication environment comprises a game-based three-dimensional virtual environment;

a monitoring module configured to monitor an input pattern from the sequence of inputs given by the user to the interactive authentication environment;

a decoding module configured to decode an instruction hidden in the input pattern by matching the input pattern with one or more pre-defined access patterns that had been defined within a three-dimensional virtual environment; and

an execution module configured to execute the decoded instruction hidden in the input pattern received from the user.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the three-dimensional virtual environment is a navigable virtual environment.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the interactive authentication environment includes a foreground, a background, and moveable objects.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the electronic device may enable the user to connect to a service via a network after gaining authentication.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the input means includes a touch sensitive screen of the electronic device.

13. A method of deploying an interactive authentication environment on an electronic device as a security application for enabling only legitimate users to gain authentication for accessing the electronic device and to gain post-authentication access to data and applications stored in the electronic device or in an enterprise database, the method comprising:

enabling a user to actively interact with the interactive authentication environment by providing an input pattern to gain authentication for access, wherein the interactive authentication environment comprises a game-based three-dimensional virtual environment;

authenticating the user to gain access on successful match of the input pattern with a pre-defined access pattern that had been defined within a three-dimensional virtual environment;

enable the user to actively interact further with the interactive authentication environment for gaining post-authentication data access by providing a second input pattern; and

authenticating the user to gain access to data or an application on successful match of the second input pattern with another pre-defined access pattern that had been defined within a three-dimensional virtual environment.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein enabling a user to interact with the interactive authentication environment includes enabling the user to interact via a touch sensitive screen of the electronic device with the interactive authentication environment.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the deploying of the interactive authentication environment includes customization and installation of the interactive authentication environment at the electronic device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the installation of the interactive authentication environment includes connection of the interactive authentication environment to a triggering event.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the second input pattern for post-authentication data access has lesser number of inputs in comparison with the input pattern received from the user to gain authentication for access.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the applications stored in the electronic device may enable the user to connect to one or more service providers via a network for access to an enterprise system.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the triggering event comprises interfacing with an IVR system of the enterprise to access enterprise data of the user.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein after accessing the IVR system, upon a second triggering event, the user is transferred to an assisted service system of the enterprise.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the transferring step comprises pre-qualification of an agent within the assisted service system that matches the user'"'"'s assistance needs or status.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the second authentication step comprises revealing certain high value agents to the user if the user'"'"'s status is at a pre-determined level.