Patent ID: 8918844
Filing Date: 2014-12-23
Classification: G06F,H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method of authenticating a user requesting access to resources, the method comprising: obtaining, by a server and from a first device, i) a first dataset containing values of a set of external environmental factors as observed from the first device, and ii) a second dataset containing values of the set of external environmental factors as observed from a second device, the set of external environmental factors representing external environmental conditions and activities taking place within a vicinity of the first device and the second device; receiving, by the server, a request to access the resources; in response to the request, performing, by the server, a comparison operation on the first dataset and the second dataset, the comparison operation producing a comparison result that is indicative of whether the first dataset and the second dataset are matched to within a predetermined tolerance; granting, by the server, the user access to the resources when the comparison result is indicative of the first dataset and the second dataset being matched to within the predetermined tolerance; and not granting the user access to the resources when the comparison result is not indicative of the first dataset and the second dataset being matched to within the predetermined tolerance; wherein the method further comprises, prior to obtaining the first dataset and the second dataset from the first device, sending an application to the first device, the application containing code including instructions which, when executed by a processor of the first device, cause the first device to i) receive the values of the set of external environmental factors as observed by the first device, and ii) receive the values of the external environmental factors as observed by the second device from the second device, wherein the comparison operation is performed by the server on the values of the environmental factors as observed by the first device and the values of the environmental factors as observed by the second device.