Cognitive-based loon process for computing device

• US 20110162067A1
• Filed: 12/15/2010
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bruce David Jankowski, Dustin Matthew Engelhaupt, Laird H. Shuart, Marcia L. Shuart, Sharon Elizabeth Jankowski
• Original Assignee: Bruce David Jankowski, Dustin Matthew Engelhaupt, Laird H. Shuart, Marcia L. Shuart, Sharon Elizabeth Jankowski
• Inventors: Jankowski, Sharon Elizabeth, Jankowski, Bruce David, Shuart, Laird H., Engelhaupt, Dustin Matthew, Shuart, Marcia L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,672,335 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication

Abstract

A method of user logon to a computing device or computer system that, distinct from requiring entry of a set of known logon credentials such as a username and password, introduces an additional thought-directed user interface whereby the user must respond to one or more prompts that measure the user'"'"'s cognitive function at the time of logon or during an active logon session. The user'"'"'s responses to these prompts are evaluated for several purposes, including determining whether the user demonstrates the required level of cognitive function to gain access to the computer system or continue an active logon session. The user'"'"'s responses and associated data may also be stored and retrieved at a later time for various purposes, including determining whether and to what extent the user'"'"'s level of cognitive function is improving, diminishing, or remaining static over time.

Claims

1. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium tangibly embodying a computer-readable program, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on a computer or other computing device with internet and/or intranet connectivity causes the computer or other computing device to:

prompt the user with a set of one or more random cognitive logon variables;

receive input from the user in the form of a response to each variable;

determine the accuracy of each response received from the user;

transform the accurate responses into cognitive logon credentials;

generate data output regarding the accuracy of the user'"'"'s responses and other associated information;

initiate prescribed actions based on the accuracy of the user'"'"'s responses, including instructing the computer system to grant or deny the user access to all or part of the computer system; and

store data in, and retrieve data from, a target storage area.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein, during an active logon sessions, the computer further prompts the user with a series of one or more random cognitive logon variables at certain regular, periodic, or user-initiated intervals.

3. The computer program product of claim 1 or 2, wherein the computer is instructed to grant or deny the user access to part or all of the computer system or permission to continue an active logon session with or without restrictions based on the accuracy of the user'"'"'s responses to the random cognitive logon variables.

4. The computer program product of claim 3, wherein the required number of accurate responses to random cognitive logon variables is expressed as a numeric score, either in the form of a raw number representing the total number of cognitive logon credentials or in the form of a percentage figure representing the total number of cognitive logon credentials divided by the total number of cognitive variables presented to the user.

5. The computer program product of claim 3, wherein the decision to grant or deny the requested access or permission is based on the user'"'"'s numeric score with respect to:

(a) all cognitive variables presented to the user, without regard to specific skills categories or subcategories of cognitive variables;

(b) only specific skills categories or subcategories of cognitive variables;

or (c) a combination of the foregoing.

6. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the aggregated data output generated by the computer over the course of repeated logon sessions is used to identify and establish the user'"'"'s baseline level of cognitive function.

7. The computer program product of claim 3, wherein the required numeric score is based on an expected response time from the user and the user'"'"'s actual numeric score may be adjusted based on the user'"'"'s actual response time.

8. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the user'"'"'s responses to the cognitive variables for a particular logon session or sessions are measured against the user'"'"'s baseline level of cognitive function to determine whether and to what extent the user'"'"'s cognitive level is improving, diminishing, or remaining static over a period of time.

9. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein, at the time of logon or during an active logon session, the user is additionally presented with a series of one or more outside cognitive variables, which are treated in the same manner as random cognitive logon variables except that the accurate responses are transformed into outside credentials and are not used as a basis for granting or denying the user access to the computer system or permission to continue an active logon session.

10. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the user'"'"'s baseline level of cognitive function and the user'"'"'s individual, segmented, and/or aggregated responses to the random cognitive logon variables and associated data output, when accumulated over a period of multiple logon sessions, form the basis for one or more cognitive biometrics.

11. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the user'"'"'s cognitive biometrics are used as a basis for recognizing, authenticating, and/or authorizing the user and granting or denying the user access to all or part of the computer system or permission to continue an active logon session with or without restrictions.

12. The computer program product of claim 1, whereby an unknown shared secret is created between the user and the computer system for authentication and/or authorization purposes.

13. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein upon the creation of a cognitive logon credential, the user and the computer system interface have each exercised thought-directed control.

14. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein each time a cognitive logon credential is created, a meeting of the minds has occurred between the user and the computer system, and the interface has read what was in the user'"'"'s thoughts and mind at the exact moment the user made his response.

15. The computer program product of claim 1, whereby the computer system, in selecting the random cognitive logon variables with which to prompt the user, has indirectly delineated the accurate responses that ultimately must exist in the brain and mind of the user, if only momentarily, for the user to be able to provide the accurate responses to create the required cognitive logon credentials, thereby comprising a thought-directed user interface.

16. The computer program product of claim 1, whereby the user'"'"'s cognitive biometrics will provide insight into the user'"'"'s brain processes by means of the neural coding and decoding information associated with the user'"'"'s responses, and, as a result, the computer will effectively demonstrate machine learning (i.e. artificial intelligence) by automatically recognizing computer patterns and making intelligent decisions based on empirical data regarding the user, which such learning may also be utilized in machine-to-machine interactions.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the processes that comprise the thought-directed user interface create an additional layer of security for the user and for the computing device and its systems, applications, directories, and files.