Multiple user authentications on a communications device
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for authenticating a user of a communications device, using strong authentication credentials without requiring re-entry of the strong authentication credentials, the method comprising:
- receiving from the user a first request to be authenticated based on strong authentication credentials provided by the user, the strong authentication credentials for authenticating the user;
upon determining that the strong authentication credentials of the first request are not associated with a biometric of the user,requesting input of a biometric characteristic from the user, the biometric characteristic being different from the strong authentication credentials and input after the strong authentication credentials are received;
receiving a first biometric characteristic from the user;
associating the strong authentication credentials of the first request and the first biometric characteristic;
storing the strong authentication credentials of the first request and the first biometric characteristic on the communications device; and
authenticating the user using the strong authentication credentials of the first request;
receiving from the user a second request to be authenticated based on the first biometric characteristic; and
determining whether the first biometric characteristic of the second request matches the first biometric characteristic associated with the strong authentication credentials of the first request;
upon determining that the first biometric characteristic of the second request matches the first biometric characteristic associated with the strong authentication credentials of the first request,retrieving the strong authentication credentials associated with the received first biometric characteristic; and
authenticating the user using the retrieved strong authentication credentials.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communications device provides a biometric reader to authenticate users onto the communications device based on a single biometric input. The communications device maintains a local copy of the strong authentication credentials, such as a user identification and password, and the biometrics which were previously input by users of the communications device. Then, rather than requiring re-entry of the strong authentication credentials to authenticate (or re-authenticate) these users onto the communications device, the communications device is able to authenticate the users based on the input of the appropriate biometric. When a biometric input is received, the communications device identifies the locally stored strong authentication credentials that is associated with the input biometric, and uses the locally stored strong authentication credentials to authenticate the user.
22 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for authenticating a user of a communications device, using strong authentication credentials without requiring re-entry of the strong authentication credentials, the method comprising:
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receiving from the user a first request to be authenticated based on strong authentication credentials provided by the user, the strong authentication credentials for authenticating the user; upon determining that the strong authentication credentials of the first request are not associated with a biometric of the user, requesting input of a biometric characteristic from the user, the biometric characteristic being different from the strong authentication credentials and input after the strong authentication credentials are received; receiving a first biometric characteristic from the user; associating the strong authentication credentials of the first request and the first biometric characteristic; storing the strong authentication credentials of the first request and the first biometric characteristic on the communications device; and authenticating the user using the strong authentication credentials of the first request; receiving from the user a second request to be authenticated based on the first biometric characteristic; and determining whether the first biometric characteristic of the second request matches the first biometric characteristic associated with the strong authentication credentials of the first request; upon determining that the first biometric characteristic of the second request matches the first biometric characteristic associated with the strong authentication credentials of the first request, retrieving the strong authentication credentials associated with the received first biometric characteristic; and authenticating the user using the retrieved strong authentication credentials. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 19)
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9. A computer-readable media that is not a signal encoded with computer executable instructions for authenticating a user of a communications device, by a method comprising:
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for each of a plurality of strong authentication credentials, receiving from the user an indication of the strong authentication credentials; and upon determining that a biometric characteristic is not associated with the strong authentication credentials, requesting the user to input a biometric characteristic; and receiving from the user a biometric characteristic to associate with the strong authentication credentials; maintaining a list of the strong authentication credentials and, for each strong authentication credentials, the associated biometric characteristic; receiving a biometric characteristic from a user; and upon determining the existence of strong authentication credentials associated with the received biometric characteristic in the list, retrieving from the list the strong authentication credentials associated with the received biometric characteristic; and authenticating the user using the retrieved strong authentication credentials associated with the received biometric characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20)
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17. A communications device for authenticating a user, the communications device comprising:
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a memory storing computer-executable instructions of; a component that receives from the user either strong authentication credentials or a biometric characteristic of the user; a component that, when the strong authentication credentials are received and when the received strong authentication credentials are not associated with a biometric of the user, requests input of the biometric characteristic from the user; and in response to the request, receives the biometric characteristic from the user; and stores the strong authentication credentials in association with the biometric characteristic; a component that, when the biometric characteristic is received, retrieves the strong authentication credentials stored in association with the biometric characteristic; and a component that authenticates the user using the received strong authentication credentials when the strong authentication credentials are received from the user and with the retrieved strong authentication credentials when the biometric characteristic is received from the user; and a processor for executing the computer-executable instructions stored in the memory. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification