System and Method of Authentication by Leveraging Mobile Devices for Expediting User Login and Registration Processes Online

[0001] The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/221,323 filed on Sep. 21, 2015.

[0002] The present invention relates generally to a means of authenticating an end user for the purpose of granting access to online accounts or computer resources protected by a sign-in process or for making electronic payments that require the user's explicit authorization. More specifically, the present invention is a system and method of authentication by leveraging mobile devices for expediting user login and registration processes online. The present invention allows a user to leverage portable or mobile computing devices and their native hardware sensors as a possession based authentication factor and the mobile device's own connectivity as an out-of-band communication channel to securely authenticate a remote user session so that the user can sign in to a website or application without having to manually key in login credentials such as the username or password.

[0003] In the Internet era, online authentication is typically carried out by asking the end user to input sign-in credentials that are generally made of a user identifier and password. Despite the widespread use of the username and password based authentication by online websites and applications this model is inherently flawed and is being gradually recognized by both the government and security industry as a major challenge to people navigating in the digital world. Online credential thefts have led to constant account compromises and mass data breaches around the world and around the clock. As a result, many websites now require their members to periodically update their passwords. Passwords are generally required to be long, unique and complex enough to the point that is nearly impossible to memorize more than just a few. This resulted in many users relying on other means to manage sensitive login credentials. For example, some users opt to write down passwords on paper or save them in unencrypted computer files or emails, essentially turning the knowledge based password authentication into possession based authentication. However, such practices often lack adequate safeguard to the access of critical information and thus inevitably lead to degraded security and poor user experience. On the other hand, massive amounts of user identify verification information is redundantly stored on countless servers all over the Internet, attracting hackers and nefarious online actors from every corner of the world. Consumers are left to the mercy of unknown security practices commissioned by hundreds of thousands of different website operators.

[0004] Numerous technological approaches have been attempted in addressing the challenges associated with securing online user accounts, including the use of two-factor authentications such as specialized hardware token, SMS text messaging or one-time password (OTP) token etc. While two-factor authentications significantly boost the security of online access, its wide adaptation has been largely limited by its cumbersome user experience and the additional cost associated with wide-range implementations. As personal smart mobile devices becoming increasingly popular and capable, several authentication solutions have resorted to taking advantage of the rich sensory of modern mobile devices such as the built-in camera or fingerprint scanner to replace the password. Despite the improved, frictionless user authentication experience delivered by these improved solutions, major security concerns continue to persist with these mobile assisted solutions. For example, one such solution was to present the end user a static QR code or an animated graphical wave, upon scanning of such image by the user using the mobile device's camera the user's sign-in session on the remote desktop computer will be authenticated automatically. Because users are not able to distinguish a legitimate image from one planted by a potential hacker, such solutions without additional preventive measures could easily subject its users to online phishing or image substitution attacks. Furthermore, most mobile device assisted authentication solutions existed today use certain type of unique device information or meta data as authentication credentials. As a result, such solutions are not only inherently weak in security but also only work with specific replying parties and require user to re-bind a new device in cases of physical device loss or theft.

[0005] Recent solutions tried to mitigate such risk by showing multiple numbers on user's mobile device and requiring the user to tap on the one that's also displayed on the user's desktop computer during the remote login session. Although such mitigating measurer can make it more difficult for nefarious actors to trick the users, patient and determined hackers are still able to target their victims since such solutions still rely on the user to key in account identifier to begin the login process. These mobile devices assisted authentication solutions usually use different custom technologies to integrate with specific websites, making it difficult if not impossible to adopt them for broader use.

[0006] The present invention addresses the following needs:

• • [0007] Offers a generic method that is able to remotely authenticate login sessions using user's mobile device with a security level that is as strong as or stronger than the existing two-factor authentication methods.
  • [0008] Offers a user experience that is simpler than the existing single-factor authentication methods.
  • [0009] Allows easy integration with any existing website so that end users don't need to download many different authentication apps for different websites.
  • [0010] Effectively address common security threats imposed by key loggers, password brute forcing and URL phishing etc.
  • [0011] Securely store user login credentials and identity information on each user's own mobile device as opposed to storing them in the databases of different web site operators.

[0012] The present invention accomplishes the following goals:

• • [0013] Unlike many other algorithm-based security tokens, the AICs used in the present invention are randomly generated and thus the security strength of the AIC is not hinged on any algorithm.
  • [0014] Unlike many other security tokens, the AICs themselves are not the secrets used to authenticate the end user. Knowing the AIC associated with a given device would only allow someone to initiate the authentication request. The user still needs to approve the request before the actual identity verification data can be used to authenticate the remote login session.
  • [0015] Even the communicate server or its communication channel is compromised, the users are still not exposed to elevated risk since the communication server is not involved in delivering the user identity verification data.
  • [0016] Instead of relying on the end user to verify a website URL the system will automatically check and ensure authentication response can only be submitted at the digital address specified in the user identity verification record, to effectively combat phishing attacks.
  • [0017] Since the end user is not required to key in password during the authentication process spyware such as key logger will be ineffective in stealing user's login credentials.

[0036] All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0037] The present invention is a system and method of authentication by leveraging mobile devices for expediting user login and registration processes online. A diagram and the overall process that is followed by the present invention are shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2A, and FIG. 2B, while secondary processes that are followed by the present invention are shown in FIGS. 3-16.

[0038] Within the system of the present invention, at least one remote server is utilized to host a relying party with a login feature (Step A). The present invention utilizes a portable computing device such as, but not limited to, a smartphone, a smartwatch, a tablet computer, or similar device. The portable computing device is associated to an authentication initiation code (AIC) and stores a secure vault of personal identification data (Step B). Within the context of the present invention, the secure vault of personal identification data is solely managed by the portable computing device and no personal identification data needs to be stored by the relying party. However, the present invention may be integrated with legacy websites that manage their own member databases.

[0039] The overall process that is followed by the method of the present invention is herein discussed. The AIC is displayed with the portable computing device and is utilized when accessing the relying party (Step C). Within the context of the present invention, the AIC is a numerical code that is displayed on the portable computing device. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the AIC is displayed through an application that is installed on the portable computing device. A user entry is received through the login feature with the remote server when accessing the relying party (Step D). The login feature is accessed via a user agent on a different computing device such as a desktop computer or a laptop computer. The user agent is an interface that allows the user to interact with the relying party, such as a web browser. An authentication request is sent from the remote server to the portable computing device if the user entry is the AIC (Step E). More specifically, the AIC is inputted through the login feature when accessing the relying party in lieu of entering a traditional username and password combination. After the authentication request is sent to the portable computing device, the secure vault on the portable computing device is searched in order to locate user verification data for the relying party (Step F). The user verification data is the key information that ultimately grants the user login at the relying party. The user verification data may include a correct sign-in credential, a cryptographic hash, or a digital signature that is verifiable by the authentication server or the relying party depending on the specific configuration of the solution. The user is prompted to approve or deny the authentication request with the portable computing device if the user verification data for the relying party is found within the secure vault (Step G). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the user receives a push notification alert through the application installed on the portable computing device prompting to approve or deny the authentication request. The user verification data is sent from the portable computing device to the remote server in order to grant access to restricted portions of the relying party if the authentication request is approved through the portable computing device (Step H). The user verification data enables the user to access the restricted portions of the relying party. It is understood that the user is not required to provide any information to the relying party aside from the AIC at any point in the previously discussed process. If the authentication request is denied or ignored, the user's session is terminated.

[0040] With reference to FIG. 3, a sub-process for the method of the present invention is herein discussed. A communication server is communicably coupled in between the remote server and the portable computing device (Step I). The communication server is utilized to provide the AIC through the portable computing device. With reference to FIG. 6, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the communication server and the portable computing device are communicably coupled to each other through a secure communication channel using a (wide area network) WAN transport with Secure Socket Layer (SSL) or Transport Layer Security (TLS) enabled. A unique hardware communication ID of the portable computing device is registered on the communication server in order to associate the portable computing device with the unique hardware communication ID and a unique AIC (Step J). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a random sequence of numerical digits is generated with the communication server and assigned as the AIC of the portable computing device (Step K and Step L). The AIC is unique to the portable computing device and is utilized during user entry to the relying party in lieu of a traditional username and password combination. The random sequence of numerical digits is sent from the communication server to the portable computing device, allowing the AIC to be viewed on the portable computing device (Step M).

[0041] With reference to FIG. 4, the AIC of the portable computing device is regularly updated and refreshed by executing multiple iterations of Step K through Step M in order to update the AIC of the portable computing device. A constant quantity for the random sequence of numerical digits may be maintained between the multiple iterations of Step K through Step M. More specifically, each random sequence of numerical digits may be of the same length (for example, 10 digits in length). Alternatively, with reference to FIG. 5, a variable quantity for the random sequence of numerical digits may be maintained between the multiple iterations of Step K through Step M. In the case of a variable quantity, each random sequence of numerical digits may be of a different length (for example, three digits to 10 digits in length). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the time interval for the AIC to be refreshed directly correlates to the length of the AIC. More specifically, an AIC that is shorter and less complex is refreshed more frequently while an AIC that is longer and more complex is refreshed less frequently.

[0042] With reference to FIG. 7, another sub-process for the method of the present invention is herein discussed. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a hosting device and an authentication server are provided as the at least one remote server. The hosting device hosts the relying party while the authentication server manages the login feature for the relying party. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the authentication server is an Identity Provider (IdP). The user is prompted to reroute from the relying party to the login feature with the authentication server during Step D. The login feature is used when inputting the AIC in order to request access to the relying party. An active session ID is generated for the user entry with the relying party, before the user entry is rerouted from the relying party to the login feature with the authentication server. The active session ID and the user entry are received through the login feature with the authentication server during Step D, thus associating the active session ID with the user entry through the login feature. The active session ID, the user entry, and a digital return address for the relying party are compiled into the authentication request with the authentication server. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the digital return address is the Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) of the relying party. The authentication request is sent from the authentication server to the communication server after Step E. The active session ID, the user entry, and the digital return address are thus transmitted from the authentication server to the communication server.

[0043] With reference to FIG. 8, an additional sub-process for the method of the present invention is herein discussed. The authentication request is received with the communication server during Step E. The authentication request includes a specific session ID, the user entry, and the digital return address. The specific session ID and the digital return address are recompiled into the authentication request with the communication server. More specifically, the communication server “unpacks” the authentication request that is received from the authentication server and resolves the portable computing device's hardware communication ID by the AIC. The authentication request is then sent from the communication server to the portable computing device identified by the hardware communication ID during Step E if the user entry matches the AIC associated to the portable computing device. With reference to FIG. 9, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the communication server sends the authentication request as a push notification payload to the portable computing device over an out-of-band communication channel. The out-of-band communication channel serves as a separate authentication channel that provides an additional layer of security for the authentication process. The portable computing device is then utilized in order to locate user verification data for the relying party.

[0044] With reference to FIG. 10, a subsequent sub-process for the method of the present invention is herein discussed. A plurality of login credentials is provided within the secure vault. Each login credential is associated with a digital address in the form of a URI. More specifically, each login credential is utilized to log into a corresponding relying party at the digital address specified by the URI. The digital address is utilized in order to identify the relying party to which the user is attempting to gain access. The authentication request is received with the portable computing device during Step E and includes the specific session ID and a digital return address. The digital return address is compared to the digital address for each of the plurality of login credentials during Step F in order to identify a matching credential amongst the plurality of login credentials. The matching credential is key information that ultimately grants the user login at the relying party. The matching credential and the specific session ID are compiled into the user verification data with the portable computing device before Step H. The user verification data is forwarded from the portable computing device to the digital return address through the authentication server during Step H. The user verification data is thus able to grant the user login at relying party.

[0045] With reference to FIG. 11, a security feature is utilized for the portable computing device in order to prevent unauthorized access to the portable computing device. The security feature may include, but is not limited to, a fingerprint scanning sensor and a location sensor. In the case of a location sensor, the security feature may prevent access to the secure vault if the portable computing device has traveled from an established location. The user is prompted to execute the security feature with the portable computing device before being granted access to the secure vault. Access to the secure vault with the portable computing device is granted if the security feature is executed with the portable computing device, verifying that the user satisfied the security feature.

[0046] With reference to FIG. 12, an additional sub-process for the method of the present invention is herein discussed. The user verification data is received with the authentication server after the user verification data is sent from the portable computing device to the remote server. As previously discussed, the user verification data includes a specific session ID and a matching credential. In one embodiment, the matching credential is sent from the authentication server to the relying party if the specific session ID matches the active session ID. Access is granted to the restricted portions of the relying party by inputting the matching credential into the relying party with the hosting device. With reference to FIG. 17, in another embodiment, the matching credential is verified not transmitted to the relying party, instead it is verified at with the authentication server itself, which will then forward a verification confirmation to the relying party instead of the actual matching credential. It is important to note that in the later embodiment, the matching credential is not stored by the relying party, hence reducing the risk of credential breach at the relying parties.

[0047] With reference to FIG. 13, an anti-spoofing visual may be utilized to further enhance the security of the present invention. The anti-spoofing visual is randomly generated with the authentication server. The anti-spoofing visual may be a random word or graphical image that is assigned to the active session. The anti-spoofing visual is graphically integrated into the login feature before Step D. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the anti-spoofing visual is positioned adjacent to the AIC entry field in the login feature. The anti-spoofing visual is sent from the remote server to the portable computing device for user verification. The anti-spoofing visual is displayed with the portable computing device before Step G. As such, the user may verify the anti-spoofing visual that is displayed on the login feature against the anti-spoofing visual that is displayed on the portable computing device in order to ensure that the remote session has not been replaced or tampered with.

[0048] With reference to FIG. 14, in some embodiments of the present invention, the at least one secure vault can be a plurality of secure vaults, each of which is accessible through a security feature. The plurality of secure vaults is searched through with the portable computing device during Step F in order to locate the user verification data for the relying party within a specific vault from the plurality of secure vaults. The user is prompted to execute the security feature for the specific vault with the portable computing device in order to gain access to the specific vault. The security feature for each of the plurality of secure vaults may vary. Access to the user verification data is granted with the portable computing device if the security feature for the specific vault is executed with the portable computing device. It is important to note that access is only granted to the specific vault for which the security feature is executed.

[0049] At least one anti-tamper token is generated with the remote server before the user entry is received through the login feature. The anti-tamper token is utilized to provide an additional layer of security to the user entry. The anti-tamper token is sent alongside the authentication request and the response to ensure the integrity of the system against tampering, replay or MiM (Man-in-the-Middle) attacks, etc.

[0050] With reference to FIG. 15, a plurality of password-entry characters is utilized by the portable computing device and is utilized by the user when inputting the user verification data. The user is prompted to enter the user verification data for the relying party by simultaneously displaying the plurality of password-entry characters with the portable computing device. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of password-entry characters is displayed in the form of a specialized keyboard on the portable computing device. The user verification data is received for the relying party as selected keystrokes of the plurality of password-entry characters through the portable computing device. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the specialized keyboard is designed in a manner such that the user may conveniently input complex credentials.

[0051] With reference to FIG. 16, the user verification data may also be based on a public key infrastructure (PKI) digital signature. The PKI digital signature for a given public key can only be generated using the corresponding private key stored in the portable computing device. Thus, the PKI digital signature can be integrated into the present invention as the user identity verification data.

[0052] Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed.