System and method of verifying a number of a mobile terminal

• US 9,160,736 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2014
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synchronoss Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synchronoss Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Singh, Sumeet Sohan
• Primary Examiner(s): Arani, Taghi
• Assistant Examiner(s): LYNCH, SHARON S
• Application Number:
  US14/586,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20150113624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 287 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/00 Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/43 wireless channels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/16 Obfuscation or hiding, e.g. involving white box
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 received data contents, e.g. message integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/10 Integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/61 Time-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

A client device is coupled with a server. The client device prompts a user to enter a number associated with a mobile device, which can be the client device, and generates data including a code. The code is typically hidden from the user when the code is generated and is saved on the client device. The client device transmits the number entered by the user and the code generated by the client device to the server, which sends a message, including the code, to the mobile device associated with the number. The client device prompts the user to enter the code included in the message. Validity of the number is based on one or more factors, including the accuracy of the code entered by the user. In addition, validity of the number can also be based on whether the second user input was entered within a predetermined time limit.

Claims

1. A client device comprising:

a processor and a memory; and

an application stored in memory and executed by the processor, the application for;

generating, on the client device, data including a code which is hidden from a user of the client device;

storing a copy of the code on the client device before the code is transmitted to a server;

transmitting, from the client device, the code and a first input entered by the user to the server, wherein the code and first input are not stored on the server and the first input includes a number associated with a mobile terminal, and wherein the server is configured to thereafter, using the first input, send a descriptive message including the code received from the client device to a target device associated with the first input;

prompting, on the client device, for the user to enter the code as displayed on the target device;

obtaining, on the client device, a second input entered by the user; and

determining, on the client device, validity of the first input by comparing the second input with the copy of the code stored on the client device.

2. The client device of claim 1, wherein the client device is the target device associated with the first input.

3. The client device of claim 1, wherein the client device is one of a network-enabled device and a wireless communication device.

4. The client device of claim 1, wherein the code comprises a random alphanumeric string.

5. The client device of claim 1, wherein the code is unknown to the user when the code is generated.

6. The client device of claim 1, wherein the application is also for saving the data generated and a first date and time stamp, wherein the first date and time stamp is associated with the time of transmission of the code and the first input entered by the user to the server.

7. The client device of claim 6, wherein determining validity of the first input includes comparing the second input with the code.

8. The client device of claim 7, wherein determining validity of the first input further includes comparing a second date and time stamp with the first date and time stamp, wherein the second date and time stamp is associated with when the second input is obtained.

9. The client device of claim 1, further comprising, before generating data including a code, prompting the user to enter a number associated with a mobile terminal and obtaining the first input entered by the user.

10. The client device of claim 1, wherein the application is also for saving the first input and communicating with another server that the first input has been verified.

11. The client device of claim 1, wherein the code and the first input are simultaneously transmitted to the server.

12. The client device of claim 1, wherein the code is sent directly from the server to the device associated with the first input.

13. A client device comprising a circuit configured to:

generate, on the client device, data including a code hidden from a user of the client device;

store a copy of the code on the client device before the code is transmitted to a server;

generate, on the client device, a transmission data stream, including the code and a first user input, to be transmitted to the server, wherein the code and first user input are not stored on the server and the first user input includes a number associated with a mobile terminal, and wherein the server is configured to thereafter, using the first user input, send a descriptive message including the code received from the client device to a target device associated with the first user input;

prompt, on the client device, for the user to enter a code displayed on the client device;

obtain, on the client device, a second user input entered by the user; and

determine, on the client device, validity of the first input by comparing the second input with the copy of the code stored on the client device.

14. The client device of claim 13, wherein the client device is the device associated with the first user input.

15. The client device of claim 13, wherein the second user input is obtained after the device associated with the first user input receives the code from the server.

16. The Client device of claim 13, wherein at least one factor also includes whether the second user input was obtained within a predetermined time limit.

17. The client device of claim 13, wherein the circuit is also configured to receive the data stream from the server, wherein the data stream from the server includes the code.

18. A system for verifying a mobile number, the system comprising:

a network;

at least one server communicatively coupled to the network; and

at least one client device communicatively coupled to the network, wherein each client device includes a processor, a memory and instructions stored therein, wherein the instructions when executed cause that client device to;

generate, on the client device, data including a code hidden from a user of the client device;

store a copy of the code on the client device before the code is transmitted to a server;

transmit, from the client device, a first data stream, including the code and a first user input, to one of the at least one server, wherein the code and first user input are not stored on the server and the first user input is a unique identifier of the target device, and wherein the at least one server is configured to, after receiving the first data stream from the client device, send a descriptive message including the code to a target device associated with the first user input;

prompt, on the client device, the user to enter the code as displayed on the target device;

obtain, on the client device, a second user input; and

determine, on the client device, validity of the first user input by comparing the second input with the copy of the code stored on the client device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the one of the at least one server is an echo server.