Dynamic authentication adaptor systems and methods

• US 9,652,919 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2015
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Ford, Daniel A., Chen, YuLing
• Primary Examiner(s): BLOUIN, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US14/693,689
• Publication Number:
  US 20160314635A1
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 340 57
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00 Individual registration on entry or exit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention provide for secure and flexible access to the contents of a smart package in the chain of transportation. In embodiments, access is automatically controlled by a security authentication adaptor based on an authentication mechanism that adapts to changing security environments during transportation. In embodiments, a level of required authentication is adjusted depending on situational, contextual awareness that is achieved via sensors coupled to a context state detector to monitor and detect a transportation state of the smart package. Based on the transportation state, a security state machine dynamically adjust a risk level associated with the transportation state and instructs an authentication module apply, in response to an authentication request, one or more authentication methods based on the risk level.

Claims

1. A dynamic authentication adaptor for protecting goods, the dynamic authentication adaptor comprising:

a context state detector coupled to a locking mechanism that is designed to secure access to a content of a package, the context state detector is configured to determine a context state of the package;

a security state machine coupled to receive the context state from the context state detector, the security state machine determines a risk level associated with that context state; and

an authentication module coupled to the security state machine, the authentication module determines one or more authentication methods based on the risk level and applies the one or more authentication methods.

2. The dynamic authentication adaptor according to claim 1, wherein context state detector comprises a sensor to detect a physical characteristic associated with the package.

3. The dynamic authentication adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the authentication module is configured to associate a plurality of security states with the one or more authentication methods.

4. The dynamic authentication adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the context state detector comprises at least one of a location sensor and a vibration sensor to detect a transportation state.

5. The dynamic authentication adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the package is a tamperproof design that is capable of being locked.

6. The dynamic authentication adaptor according to claim 1, wherein determining the risk level is based on one or more predetermined rules associated with the context state.

7. A method to protect access to the content of a package, the method comprising:

determining a context state of a package using one or more inputs;

assigning a risk level to the context state, the risk level being associated with the context state;

determining one or more authentication methods based on the risk level;

indicating to a user the one or more authentication methods; and

requiring a successful authentication using the one or more authentication methods based on the risk level to permit an enclosure to unlock.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising, in response to the context state being undetermined reverting to a default risk level.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein upon detection of predetermined number of failed authentication attempts, the package renders unusable its content.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the risk level is determined in predetermined intervals of time.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the context state comprises one of vibration data and location data.

12. The method according to claim 7, wherein determining the context state comprises detecting a tampering.

13. The method according to claim 7, wherein determining the context state comprises querying sensors that monitor one or more physical characteristics associated with the package.

14. The method according to claim 7, wherein the one or more authentication methods comprise a biometric authentication.

15. An enclosure comprising a dynamic authentication adaptor for protecting goods, the enclosure comprising:

a lock designed to secure access to a content of the enclosure;

a context state detector coupled to the lock and the enclosure, the context state detector configured to determine a context state of the enclosure;

a security state machine coupled to receive the context state from the context state detector, the security state machine determines a risk level associated with that context state; and

an authentication module coupled to the security state machine, the authentication module determines one or more authentication methods based on the risk level and applies the one or more authentication methods.

16. The enclosure according to claim 15, wherein the context state detector determines the risk level in response to detecting a predetermined event.

17. The enclosure according to claim 15, wherein the context state detector comprises a sensor to detect a physical characteristic associated with the enclosure.

18. The enclosure according to claim 15, wherein the context state detector comprises at least one of a location sensor and a vibration sensor to detect a transportation state.

19. The enclosure according to claim 15, wherein the authentication module is configured to associate a plurality of security states with the one or more authentication methods.

20. The enclosure according to claim 15, comprising a computing system to securely communicate with an external device.