Methods, systems, and products for authentication of users

• US 8,752,151 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2012
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Li, Kevin A., Meuninck, Troy C., Miller, Robert Raymond II, Pratt, James H., Schroeter, Horst J., Shahraray, Behzad
• Primary Examiner(s): Smithers, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US13/647,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20140101740A1
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 726/7
• US Class Current: 726/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• 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

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products authenticate users for access to devices, applications, and services. Skills of a user are learned over time, such that an electronic model of random subject matter may be generated. The user is prompted to interpret the random subject matter, such as with a drawing, physical arrangement, or performance. The user'"'"'s interpretation is then compared to the electronic model of the random subject matter. If the user is truly who they purport to be, their interpretation will match the electronic model, thus authenticating the user. If interpretation fails to match the electronic model, authentication may be denied.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving random subject matter sent from an authentication server to a client device for authentication of a user;

prompting the user to draw the random subject matter at the client device as a first attempt to authenticate the user;

receiving data describing a sketch of the random subject matter drawn by the user;

sending the data to the authentication server for comparison to a freehand model describing sketching skills of the user;

receiving a denial of the authentication indicating the data describing the sketch of the random subject matter failed to match the freehand model;

sending another random subject matter with the denial of the authentication; and

prompting the user to draw the another random subject matter as a second attempt to authenticate the user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising querying the authentication server for the random subject matter.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the data describing the sketch of the another random subject matter drawn by the user.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising sending the data describing the sketch of the another random subject matter to the authentication server for comparison to the freehand model.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising receiving the authentication.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the data describing the sketch comprises receiving touch screen data describing the sketch of the random subject matter inputted by the user on a touch screen of the client device.

7. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

retrieving sketching skills associated with a user;

receiving randomly selected subject matter for authentication of the user;

generating a freehand model of the randomly selected subject matter using the sketching skills associated with the user;

prompting the user to sketch the randomly selected subject matter;

receiving data describing the sketch of the randomly selected subject matter drawn by the user;

comparing the data to the freehand model of the randomly selected subject matter generated using the sketching skills associated with the user; and

authenticating the user in response to a match between the data and the freehand model of the randomly selected subject matter.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to query for the randomly selected subject matter.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to compare the randomly selected subject matter to the freehand model associated with the user.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to reject the randomly selected subject matter as too complicated for the sketching skills of the user.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to query for the freehand model associated with the user.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to determine the data satisfies a similarity threshold to the freehand model of the randomly selected subject matter.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to receive touch screen data describing the sketch of the randomly selected subject matter inputted by the user on a touch screen.

14. A memory storing instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

retrieving sketching skills associated with a user;

receiving randomly selected subject matter for authentication of the user;

generating a freehand model of the randomly selected subject matter using the sketching skills associated with the user;

prompting the user to sketch the randomly selected subject matter;

receiving data describing the sketch of the randomly selected subject matter drawn by the user;

comparing the data to the freehand model of the randomly selected subject matter generated using the sketching skills associated with the user; and

authenticating the user in response to the data matching the freehand model of the randomly selected subject matter.

15. The memory of claim 14, further comprising instructions for receiving touch screen data describing the sketch of the randomly selected subject matter inputted by the user on a touch screen.

16. The memory of claim 14, further comprising instructions for querying for the randomly selected subject matter.

17. The memory of claim 14, further comprising instructions for:

comparing the randomly selected subject matter to the freehand model associated with the user; and

rejecting the randomly selected subject matter as too complicated for the sketching skills of the user.

18. The memory of claim 14, further comprising instructions for determining the data satisfies a similarity threshold to the freehand model of the randomly selected subject matter.