Verification that a user attempting to access content is a human user

• US 9,356,923 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2015
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Slusar, Mark, Prchal, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): Avery, Jeremiah
• Application Number:
  US14/657,630
• Publication Number:
  US 20150195269A1
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/308 retaining data, e.g. retaining successful, unsuccessful communication attempts, internet access, or e-mail, internet telephony, intercept related information or call content
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

Abstract

An easier and less frustrating way of verifying that a user attempting to access content is a human user is provided. For example, data indicative of a request by a user to access content from a content server is received. An output of geographic data associated with a geographic region is generated. A task to be performed by the user to access the content is provided as a function of the generated output. The output and the task are transmitted to the content server for presentation to the user. Performance of the task by the user is substantially indicative of the user being a human user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a server, data indicative of a user input for content;

receiving, at the server, a location of a client device associated with the user input;

selecting, by the server, a task to be performed by the client device in exchange for access to the content, wherein the task is related to the location of the client device;

sending, from the server, the task to the client device; and

sending, from the server, the content to the client device, wherein completion of the task allows the client device to provide the content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the task includes machine incomprehensible instructions.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the task includes instructions to manipulate one or more sensors of the client device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the one or more sensors include a positioning device or an accelerometer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the content includes geographic data and the task includes instructions to sketch on the geographic data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the task includes instructions to draw a line between two geographic features in the content.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the task includes instructions to describe a geographic feature selected based on the location of the client device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the task includes a question to identify a building or a street at the location of the client device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the task requests a spoken response through the client device.

10. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least;

receive a geographic location of a client device and data indicative of a user request for content from the client device;

select an instruction to be performed by the client device for access to the content, wherein the instruction is related to the geographic location of the client device;

sending the instruction to the client device; and

sending the content to the client device, wherein completion of the instruction allows the client device to provide the content.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the instruction includes a machine incomprehensible instruction.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the instruction includes an instruction to manipulate one or more sensors of the client device.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the one or more sensors include a positioning device or an accelerometer.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the content includes geographic data and the task includes instructions to sketch on the geographic data.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the instruction includes directions to draw a line between two geographic features in the content.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the instruction includes directions to describe a geographic feature selected based on the location of the client device.

17. A method comprising:

sending, from a client device, data indicative of a user input to request content to a content server;

sending, from the client device, a location of the client device associated with the user input to the content server;

receiving, at the client device, a task from the content server, wherein the task is a function of the location of the client device; and

presenting the task on the client device,

wherein the content is provided based on an attempted performance of the task on the client device being successful.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

sending data indicative of the attempted performance of the task to the content server; and

receiving the content from the content server in response to the attempted performance being successful.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving a second user input as the attempted performance in response to the task;

determining whether the attempted performance is successful.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the content includes geographic data and the task includes instructions to sketch on the geographic data.