AUTOMATED IDENTITY ASSESSMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM

• US 20160021083A1
• Filed: 06/24/2015
• Published: 01/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3fish Ltd.
• Original Assignee: 3fish Ltd.
• Inventors: Wyn-Harris, Jeremy
• Granted Patent: US 9,602,495 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/316 by observing the pattern of computer usage, e.g. typical user behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/12 Applying verification of the received information cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

A method, system and software for assessing an entity (15) at a first user terminal (13) connected to a data network (10). A control system (11) is used to receive an access request (101) from the entity (15) or an assessing user (16) at a second user terminal (14). The control system (11) invokes or facilitates transmission of a time-delimited sequence of unpredictable prompts (18) to the entity (15) for a performance of visible prompted actions (20). A video recording (21) of the prompted action performance is stored in a data store (61) and the control system performs an automated assessment of the video recording (21) by a gesture recognition system (67d) and generates an assessment signal respectively including a positive or negative indication of whether or not said entity (15) validly performed said prompted actions.

Claims

1. A method of assessing an entity at a first user terminal connected to a data network, the data network including one or more user records collectively forming a “

user account”

in a database in a data store accessible by the control system and wherein said user account includes a set of identifying characteristics relating to a registered user, said control system including a gesture recognition system, said control system operable to perform the method of assessing an entity, including;

a) receiving an access request from at least one of;

said entity;

an assessing user at a second user terminal connected to the data network;

b) invoking or facilitating transmission of a time-delimited sequence of unpredictable prompts to said entity for prompting a performance of visible prompted actions;

c) invoking storage or transmission of at least one video recording of said prompted action performance from said entity to said gesture recognition system;

d) performing an automated assessment of said video recording and generating an assessment signal indicative of said assessment, wherein said automated assessment includes;

assessment by the gesture recognition system, the assessment signal respectively including a positive or negative indication of whether or not said entity validly performed said prompted action.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data network includes a “

social network”

formed from connections between multiple users connected to the data network, said social network embodied in related data records in a database, each data record corresponding to a registered user or a user terminal.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said automated assessment includes assessment by a facial recognition system to analyse the entity'"'"'s face with respect to an identifying characteristic in an accessed user account, said assessment signal respectively including a positive or negative indication of whether or not said entity is assessed as having a facial characteristic the same or similar to said identifying characteristic.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said gesture recognition system is capable of facial recognition and said automated assessment includes assessment to analyse the entity'"'"'s face with respect to an identifying characteristic in an accessed user account, said assessment signal respectively including a positive or negative indication of whether or not said entity is assessed as having a facial characteristic the same or similar to said identifying characteristic.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the time delay between pairs of consecutive prompts differ.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the time delay between pairs of consecutive prompts are of an unpredictable length within a predetermined range.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at step b) the control system invokes the prompt by providing computer-executable code or computer-readable data to software on the first user terminal which then generates the prompt accordingly.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data store for storing the video recording is provided separately to a user data store containing a database of user account records.

9. The method of claim 1, whereupon the control system receiving a negative assessment signal, said control system makes a negative classification and performs at least one of the following procedures:

a) records to an accessed user account that the entity has had a negative classification;

b) invokes a warning notification for other users attempting to communicate with the entity that a negative classification has occurred;

c) blocks the entity from communication with other users;

d) suspends or cancels an accessed user account;

e) sends a warning notification to a network administrator or other authority to investigate the entity and/or negative assessment;

f) selectively restricts the type of communication allowed between the entity and other users;

g) selectively restricts the type of access allowed or the extent of access.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said automated assessment includes assessment by a facial recognition system to analyse the entity'"'"'s face with respect to an identifying characteristic in an accessed user account, said assessment signal respectively including a positive or negative indication of whether or not said entity is assessed as having a facial characteristic the same or similar to said identifying characteristic.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said gesture recognition system is capable of facial recognition and said automated assessment includes assessment to analyse the entity'"'"'s face with respect to an identifying characteristic in an accessed user account, said assessment signal respectively including a positive or negative indication of whether or not said entity is assessed as having a facial characteristic the same or similar to said identifying characteristic.

10. A control system for facilitating entity assessment of an entity at a first user terminal connected to a data network, said data network including one or more user records collectively forming a “

user account”

in a database in a data store accessible by the control system and wherein said user account includes a set of identifying characteristics relating to a registered user, said control system including a gesture recognition system, said control system programmed to perform the following procedures;

a) receiving an access request from at least one of;

said entity;

an assessing user at a second user terminal connected to the data network;

b) invoking or facilitating transmission of a time-delimited sequence of unpredictable prompts to said entity for prompting a performance of visible prompted actions;

c) invoking storage or transmission of at least one video recording of said prompted action performance from said entity in a data store to said gesture recognition system;

d) performing an automated assessment of said video recording and generating an assessment signal indicative of said assessment, wherein said automated assessment includes;

assessment by the gesture recognition system, the assessment signal respectively including a positive or negative indication of whether or not said entity validly performed said prompted action.

11. The control system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the data network includes a “

social network”

formed from connections between multiple users connected to the data network, said social network embodied in related data records in a database, each data record corresponding to a registered user or a user terminal.

14. The control system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the control system at least partially controls data transmission between said user terminals via the data network.

15. The control system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the time delay between pairs of consecutive prompts differs.

16. The control system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the time delay between pairs of consecutive prompts are of an unpredictable length within a predetermined range.

17. The control system as claimed in claim 10, wherein at step b) the control system invokes the prompt by providing computer-executable code or computer-readable data to software on the first user terminal which then generates the prompt accordingly.

18. The control system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the data store for storing the video recording is provided separately to a user data store containing a database of user account records.

19. The control system as claimed in claim 10, configured to use the assessment signal to classify, or contribute to a determination to classify said entity and wherein said classification of the entity is determined by the assessment signal and wherein said assessment signal respectively includes a positive or negative indication of whether or not said entity validly performed said prompted action.

20. A computer program for assessing an entity at a first user terminal connected to a data network, said data network including one or more user records collectively forming a “

user account”

in a database in a data store accessible by the control system and wherein said user account includes a set of identifying characteristics relating to a registered user, said control system including a gesture recognition system and facial recognition system, said computer program embodied in computer-readable instructions executable by a control system to perform the steps of;

a) receiving an access request from at least one of;

said entity;

an assessing user at a second user terminal connected to the data network;

b) invoking or facilitating transmission of a time-delimited sequence of unpredictable prompts to said entity for prompting a performance of visible prompted actions;

c) invoking storage or transmission of at least one video recording of said prompted action performance from said entity in a data store to said gesture recognition system;

d) performing an automated assessment of said video recording and generating an assessment signal indicative of said assessment, wherein said automated assessment includes;

assessment by the gesture recognition system, the assessment signal respectively including a positive or negative indication of whether or not said entity validly performed said prompted action.