Advanced authentication technology for computing devices

• US 9,262,603 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2011
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dow, Eli M., Laser, Marie R., Sheppard, Sarah J., Yu, Jessie
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ashok
• Assistant Examiner(s): POTRATZ, DANIEL B
• Application Number:
  US13/278,727
• Publication Number:
  US 20130104227A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,579 Days
• Field of Search: 713/182, 382/115, 382/116, 726/16, 726/17, 726/19
• 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 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation

Abstract

Receiving an input authentication pattern, the input authentication pattern including non-alphanumeric input data. Determining if the input authentication pattern matches a previously stored authentication pattern. Providing access to a computing resource if the input authentication pattern matches the previously stored authentication pattern.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a first non-alphanumeric input authentication pattern at a first section comprising a first spatial region of a plurality of spatial regions of a single touch screen of a computer, the touch screen being divided into the plurality of spatial regions, wherein each of the plurality of spatial regions does not overlap any of the remaining spatial regions of the touch screen, the first section being associated with a first input style, wherein the first spatial region is located in a top portion of the single touch screen, and wherein the first input style comprises a swipe of a motion-based pattern;

receiving a second non-alphanumeric input authentication pattern at a second section of the touch sensitive input device, the second section comprising a second spatial region of the plurality of spatial regions of the touch screen that is distinct from the first spatial region and being associated with a second input style that is different than the first input style, wherein the second spatial region is located in a bottom portion of the single touch screen, such that the entirety of the second spatial region is located underneath the entirety of the first spatial region, and wherein the second input style comprises a series of taps received by the second portion of the touch screen, such that the series of taps are received nearly simultaneously with the swipe of the motion based pattern;

determining, on the computer, that the first non-alphanumeric input authentication pattern and the second non-alphanumeric input authentication pattern match a previously stored authentication pattern; and

providing access to a computing resource responsive to determining that the first non-alphanumeric input authentication pattern and the second non-alphanumeric input authentication pattern match the previously stored authentication pattern.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the previously stored authentication pattern includes a temporal pattern, and the determining includes comparing the temporal pattern of the previously stored authentication pattern and time between the first non-alphanumeric input authentication pattern and the second non-alphanumeric input authentication pattern.

3. A computer system comprising:

a computer processor;

an input mechanism comprising a single touch screen divided into a plurality of spatial regions, wherein each of the plurality of spatial regions does not overlap any of the remaining spatial regions of the touch screen;

the computer system configured to;

receive a first non-alphanumeric input authentication pattern at a first section of the touch screen, the first section comprising a first spatial region of the plurality of spatial regions, the first section being associated with a first input style, wherein the first spatial region is located in a top portion of the single touch screen, and wherein the first input style comprises a swipe of a motion-based pattern;

receive a second non-alphanumeric input authentication pattern at a second section of the touch screen, the second section comprising a second spatial region of the plurality of spatial regions of the touch screen that is distinct from the first spatial region and being associated with a second input style that is different than the first input style, wherein the second spatial region is located in a bottom portion of the single touch screen, such that the entirety of the second spatial region is located underneath the entirety of the first spatial region, and wherein the second input style comprises a series of taps received by the second portion of the touch screen, such that the series of taps are received nearly simultaneously with the swipe of the motion based pattern;

determine that the first non-alphanumeric input authentication pattern and the second non-alphanumeric input authentication pattern match a previously stored authentication pattern; and

provide access to a computing resource responsive to determining that the first non-alphanumeric input authentication pattern and the second non-alphanumeric input authentication pattern match the previously stored authentication pattern.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the previously stored authentication pattern includes a temporal pattern, and the determining includes comparing the temporal pattern of the previously stored authentication pattern and time between the first non-alphanumeric input authentication pattern and the second non-alphanumeric input authentication pattern.

5. A computer program product comprising:

a tangible non-transitory storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method comprising;

receiving a first non-alphanumeric input authentication pattern at a first section comprising a first spatial region of a plurality of spatial regions of a single touch screen of a computer, the touch screen being divided into the plurality of spatial regions, wherein each of the plurality of spatial regions does not overlap any of the remaining spatial regions of the touch screen, the first section being associated with a first input style, wherein the first spatial region is located in a top portion of the single touch screen, and wherein the first input style comprises a swipe of a motion-based pattern;

receiving a second non-alphanumeric input authentication pattern at a second section of the touch sensitive input device, the second section comprising a second spatial region of the plurality of spatial regions of the touch screen that is distinct from the first spatial region and being associated with a second input style that is different than the first input style, wherein the second spatial region is located in a bottom portion of the single touch screen, such that the entirety of the second spatial region is located underneath the entirety of the first spatial region, and wherein the second input style comprises a series of taps received by the second portion of the touch screen, such that the series of taps are received nearly simultaneously with the swipe of the motion based pattern;

determining, on the computer, that the first non-alphanumeric input authentication pattern and the second non-alphanumeric input authentication pattern match a previously stored authentication pattern; and

providing access to a computing resource responsive to determining that the first non-alphanumeric input authentication pattern and the second non-alphanumeric input authentication pattern match the previously stored authentication pattern.

6. The computer program product of claim 5, wherein the previously stored authentication pattern includes a temporal pattern, and the determining includes comparing the temporal pattern of the previously stored authentication pattern and time between the first non-alphanumeric input authentication pattern and the second non-alphanumeric input authentication pattern.