System and method for automatically detecting and then self-repairing corrupt, modified or non-existent files via a communication medium

• US 9,215,211 B1
• Filed: 06/16/2014
• Issued: 12/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Citibank (South Dakota) NA (Citigroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Citibank (South Dakota) NA (Citigroup Incorporated)
• Inventors: Vlcan, Steve, Bakshi, Bikram Singh
• Primary Examiner(s): Moorthy, Aravind
• Application Number:
  US14/305,381
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 726/13, 713/187
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/565 by checking file integrity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/64 Protecting data integrity, e.g. using checksums, certificates or signatures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/645 using a third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/034 Test or assess a computer or a system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0245 Filtering by information in the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0281 Proxies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

A system and method of guaranteeing the presence of secure and tamper-proof remote files over a distributed communication medium, such as the Internet, is provided. The system and method automatically detects, and then self-repairs corrupt, modified or non-existent remote files. The method first performs an integrity check on a remote file and then determines whether the integrity check passed. If the integrity check passed, then the user goes through the authentication process as normal. If the integrity check fails, then the present invention redirects to an install module in order to prepare to reinstall the remote file. Via the install module, the present invention then reinstalls the remote file and the user is then taken through the authentication process as normal.

Claims

1. A method for installing a file at a remote location, the method comprising:

determining, by a computer, whether the file is the same as a previously downloaded file;

when the file is not the same as the previously downloaded file, reinstall, by the computer, the previously downloaded file, wherein reinstalling the previously downloaded file comprises;

redirecting, by the computer, to an install module by a redirect module when the file is not the same as the previously downloaded file, wherein redirecting to the install module comprises;

modifying, by a computer, an address of the install module by the redirect module to include a parameter to indicate a remote location for installation; and

installing, by a computer, the previously downloaded file by the install module at the remote location via a network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein installing the remote file comprises:

generating, by a computer, an installation web page, by the install module, based on a request from the remote location;

communicating, by a computer, the installation web page, via the communication medium, to the remote location; and

installing, by a computer, the remote file at the remote location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the network is the Internet.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the network is a local network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the network is a wireless network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote location is an authentication control component.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

producing, by a computer, a request by an authentication module based on the modified address that indicates the remote location for installation; and

communicating, by a computer, the request by the authentication module to the install module in a login page that attempted to instantiate the file at the remote location.

8. A method for installing a file at on a cellular device, the method comprising:

determining, by a computer, whether the file is the same as a previously downloaded file;

when the file is not the same as the previously downloaded file, reinstall, by the computer, the previously downloaded file, wherein reinstalling the previously downloaded file comprises;

redirecting, by the computer, to an install module by a redirect module when the file is not the same as the previously downloaded file, wherein redirecting to the install module comprises;

modifying, by a computer, an address of the install module by the redirect module to include a parameter to indicate installation on the cellular device; and

installing, by a computer, the previously downloaded file by the install module on the cellular device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein installing the remote file comprises:

generating, by the computer, an installation page, by the install module, based on a request from the cellular device;

communicating, by the computer, the installation page, via the communication medium, to the cellular device; and

installing, by the computer, the remote file at the cellular device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the communication medium is the Internet.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the communication medium is a local network.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the communication medium is a wireless network.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the remote location is an authentication control component.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

producing, by the computer, a request by an authentication module based on the modified address that indicates installation on the cellular device; and

communicating, by the computer, the request by the authentication module to the install module in a login page that attempted to instantiate the file at the cellular device.