Multifactor authentication from messaging systems

A user is assigned an initial risk score during a session with a messaging platform. During the session, the user attempts an operation with an external service. One or more additional authentication factors are requested from the user to dynamically lower the initial risk score. The lowered risk score is processed with the external service to perform the operation on behalf of the user during the session.

BACKGROUND

Individuals and businesses utilize a variety of messaging technologies to: socialize, communicate, and engage in business activities. Some of these messaging technologies include: email platforms, text platforms, instant messaging platforms, browser-based platforms, and a variety of social media platforms. Each specific type of messaging platform has its own set of interfaces and features, some of which may be device-type specific or may work better (with more features) on a given device type. Furthermore, most messaging platforms include their own Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) that permit automated and program-based interaction with features of the messaging platforms.

As a result, businesses have little useful metrics as to how consumers are using messaging platforms to engage in activities with the businesses beyond direct interactions between an individual and a business over a specific messaging platform. The problem with this is that the messaging activity by an individual prior to that individual engaging a business is essentially unknowable with present technology and technology approaches.

Moreover, when an individual is engaged in an active session with a messaging platform from which a business has never had activity with the individual before, the business has no way of reaching out to the individual for purposes of offering services or for purposes of engaging in business activity with the individual. This is true, even when the individual would otherwise be known to the business and accessible to the business over a different messaging platform for which the business has engaged the individual previously.

Still further, when users connect to messaging systems, each messaging system has its own authentication mechanism; some of which may provide strong authentication and some of which may provide weak authentication. The disparity between different messaging systems in terms of the strength of user authentication means that any integrated activity of the user within a particular messaging system may fail because the action a user is attempting to take may require stronger authentication than what the user was authenticated for within the particular messaging system.

Additionally, if the user is permitted to proceed with the action within the messaging system, fraud may result (such as when the user is not actually performing the action) or the user may have actually performed the action and subsequently repudiates the action alleging that the user never performed the action. Thus, very little integration between online services and messaging systems has occurred in the industry to date.

SUMMARY

In various embodiments, methods and a system for cross-multifactor authentication from message systems are presented.

According to an embodiment, a method for multifactor authentication from messaging systems is provided. Specifically, and in one embodiment, an initial risk score is assigned to a user upon login to a session with a messaging platform. A credential is requested from the user during the session in response to a user-requested operation with an external service. Finally, the initial risk score is dynamically lowered for the session and the user-requested operation is processed with the external service.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1Ais a diagram of a system100for multifactor authentication from a messaging system, according to an example embodiment. The system100is shown schematically in greatly simplified form, with only those components relevant to understanding of one or more embodiments (represented herein) being illustrated. The various components are illustrated and the arrangement of the components is presented for purposes of illustration only. It is to be noted that other arrangements with more or less components are possible without departing from the multifactor authentication from a messaging system techniques presented herein and below.

Moreover, various components are illustrated as one or more software modules, which reside in non-transitory storage and/or hardware memory as executable instructions that when executed by one or more hardware processors perform the processing discussed herein and below.

The techniques, methods, and systems presented herein and below for multifactor authentication from a messaging system can be implemented in all, or some combination of the components shown in different hardware computing devices having one or more hardware processors.

The system100includes: a messaging client110, a messaging platform120, a bot connector130, an identity management service140, a cross-platform integrator150, and at least one sensitive (network-based) online service150. The messaging platform120includes a messaging platform authenticator121. The bot connector130includes a messaging bot131.

The messaging client110can be processed on any processor-enabled device, such as but not limited to: a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a mobile phone, a tablet, a wearable processing device (watch, goggles, etc.), a processor-enabled vehicle interface within a vehicle, an intelligent appliance (light switch, lamp, garage door opener, refrigerator, television, stereo, etc.), a server, etc.

As used herein, a “messaging platform” refers to the software, interfaces, APIs, processing devices, and network connectivity used to perform messaging communications by users. A messaging platform includes, by way of example only, email, Short Message Service (SMS) text, instant message, and social-media applications (e.g., Facebook™, Slack™, Twitter™, Instagram™, Snap Chat™, LinkedIn™, etc.).

As used herein, a “messaging bot” of “bot” refers to a software application that is designed to engage in messaging activities in an automated manner as an active or passive participant within multiple disparate messaging platforms. A messaging bot131is a logical participant in a given chat session (messaging session or dialogue) for any given messaging platform. Moreover, a messaging bot131is configured to perform a variety of pre-configured automated actions within messaging platforms and/or outside the messaging platforms.

In an embodiment, the messaging client110(is also referred to as a “messaging application (app)”110) includes no software changes or modifications for interaction with messaging bot131to be operational and perform the processing discussed herein and below. That is, from the perspective of the messaging platform120and the messaging app110, the messaging bot131(also referred to as “messaging bot131or bot131, herein) is a real user or participant (albeit the bot131is a logical participant).

In an embodiment, it is to be noted that the bot131need not processing on a same device as the corresponding messaging app110. So, all a user operating messaging app110need do is identify a participant of a chat session (initiated with messaging app110) as being messaging bot110(by directing a message within the messaging app110to a unique participant identifier associated with the bot131). The actually device that executes the bot131can be a server or cloud (set of logically cooperating servers).

In some embodiments, the bot131may process within the local processing contexts and on the devices that process the corresponding messaging apps110.

One benefit by retaining the bot131in a cloud processing environment is that any updates and enhancements to the bot131can be achieved without updates to the devices having the messaging app110. Furthermore, a single base version of the bot131can exist in the cloud and support multiple disparate users through use of user-customization profiles that include user-specific configurations of the bots131. In this manner, when a specific user identifies the bot131in the messaging app110, a cloud service can cause the base bot to be initiated and apply the that user's specific preferences/configurations to create a running instance of the bot131that is specific and customized to the user.

The bot131is configured to perform a variety of functions that are messaging platform120independent. That is, the bot131(through the bot connector130) is designed to interact with the user of the messaging app110from the messaging platform interface and interact with the user from a different messaging client associated with a different messaging platform of the user. The bot connector130acts as an intermediary from the variety of disparate messaging platforms and translates messaging platform specific interfaces into a generic bot-based interface that is recognized and processed by the bot131. Similarly, when the bot131responds in a generic bot-based interface, the bot connector130translates to a messaging-platform specific interface for deliver to the user in the messaging app110.

It is noted that a plurality of customized bots can be provided with each bot131customized to perform one or more specific functions. For ease of illustration only a single messaging platform120and bot131is shown in theFIG. 1A.

The system100permits user activity across messaging platforms and with sensitive online services160, which may or may not have interfaces associated with the messaging platforms. This is achieved through the processing of the identity management service140in connection with the bot connector and the messaging bot131.

Initially, a user accesses messaging client110and is promoted for a user-identifier and credential (such as a password, fingerprint, etc.) by the messaging platform authenticator121. The messaging platform authenticator121authenticates the user for access to the user's account with the messaging platform120.

When the user is logged in successfully to the messaging platform120, the event of successful login, an automated message sent from the messaging app100, or the user sent message through the messaging app110is detected or received by a bot connector130.

The bot connector130has access to at least two pieces of information from the user: an event or an assumption that an event existed indicating that the user is successfully logged into the messaging platform120, and a user identifier, which the user is identified by within the messaging platform120.

The user identifier for the messaging platform120is sent by the bot connector130to messaging bot131along with an indication that the user is logged into the messaging platform120through the messaging app110. The bot131relays the information to the identity management service140(using an identity management service Application Programming Interface (API)).

The identity management service140searches an index for identifying the messaging platform and for obtaining an initial risk score that is associated with the messaging platform authenticator121for the specific messaging platform120that the user is accessing through the messaging app110. This risk score is provided from the identity management service140back to the bot131. The session that the user has (through the initial log in through the messaging platform authenticator121) is maintained by the bot with the user being assigned the risk score provided by the identity management service140.

During the messaging platform session, the user through directing messages to the bot131may attempt to perform an operation with a sensitive online service160, such as a bank (as one example many others are foreseeable with the teachings presented herein). The message is obtained through the bot connector130translated to the generic bot interface and forwarded to the bot131. The bot131identifies the operation and the target sensitive online service160and provides that information to the identity management service140along with the current risk score associated with the user session.

The identity management service140searches a data store with an identifier for the target sensitive online service160and an identifier for the operation and obtains back a needed risk score for the user to perform the desired operation within the session. If the needed risk score is higher than or equal to the current risk score for the user session, the identity management service140responds back to the bot131with an indication that the bot can engage the sensitive online service160and proceed with the transaction with the online service160on behalf of the user. The bot131can then use an API of the online service160and perform the operation or the bot131can relay the transaction to the cross-platform integrator150for the cross-platform integrator150to translate the bot interface for the transaction into an online service specific interface (using the API of the online service160).

When the current risk score for the user session is higher than the needed risk score for the operation with the online service160, the identity management service140may either interact with the bot131(bot connector130) and the user through the messaging app110) to request a second and additional stronger form of user-authentication to dynamically lower the current risk score up to the needed risk score or below the needed risk score. Alternatively, the identity management service140may directly interact with the user through an out-of-band channel to obtain additional credentials from the user over that out-of-band channel (outside and external to the user's messaging session) for lowering the current risk score to the needed risk score or below the needed risk score. The credential type (fingerprint, voice print, additional identifier and password combination, token, etc.) can be identified in a data store retained for the sensitive online service160by the identity management service140(additional multifactor requirements). The identity management service140also maps user identifiers across messaging platforms and to the online services, such that the identity management service140is able to map the user identifier that the user is using for the messaging session to a user identifier recognized by the online service160for a valid user account of the user with the online service160.

Moreover, the messaging bot131and/or cross-platform integrator150, in an embodiment, is capable of establishing a secure and trusted relationship during communications that occur outside the session. The online service160is capable of accepting a risk score (defined by the online service160) and a valid user identifier to authenticate the operation. So, under these conditions, the identity management service140receives the additional credentials needed to move the current risk score for the user session to the needed score of the online service160and authenticates the user in real time and dynamically for performing the operation with the online service160. When this is done, the identity management service140dynamically lowers the current risk score to the needed risk score for the user during the session through communication with the bot131. Then, using the API of the online service160, the bot131or the cross-platform integrator150contacts the online service160with an identifier recognized for the user by the online service160along with the now-lowered current risk score for the user, and an identifier for the operation. The online service (being in the trusted relationship) performs the operation and returns the results to the bot131or the cross-platform integrator150. This is communicated back through to the user within the messaging platform120on the messaging app110during the user session with the messaging platform120.

In an embodiment of the last embodiment, it may be that the identity management service140is trusted by sensitive online service160, such that the needed risk score is an attestation token or statement that the sensitive online service160can independently authenticate for purposes of authenticating a user's request for the operation. Here, the online service160may include public-private key pairs with identity management service and the statement or token (signed, encrypted, etc.) can be independently validated by authentication mechanisms of the online service160. Alternatively, the online service160may include an interface (shown as the broken dashed line in theFIG. 1Abetween160and140) to independently validate the operation for the user and the provided risk score with the identity management service140. In these embodiments, the cross-platform integrator150or the bot do not have to be trusted in advance by the online service160, since the attestation token or statement by the identity management service140(provided by the bot or the cross-platform integrator150) is sufficient for the online service160to independently authentication the user request for the operation with the online service160.

In another case, the online service160may not be a service, such as banking where credentials are of vital importance, for example, an airline company. In these situations, the user (through registration) may authorize the organization deploying the system100to (not store) by process on behalf of the user when requested credentials for the online service on an ass needed bases. Thus, the additional credentials provided by the user may be specific credentials that the user authenticates with to the online service160. The request for the lowered risk score becomes a request for the user's specific credentials with the on-line service160, and the cross-platform integrator150or bot131uses an existing an unmodified interface of the online service160to pose as the user and perform the operation (through an out-of-band communication (external to the user session with the messaging platform120)).

In an embodiment, the user may some of the user's accounts with the online services160utilizing the needed score approach while other of the user's accounts with other online services160permit the real time usage of the user's credentials for the bot131or cross-platform integrator150to pose as the user for dynamic operations initiated from the user session within the messaging platform120.

FIGS. 1B and 1Care diagrams of a sample processing flow for multifactor authentication from a messaging system, according to an example embodiment.

TheFIGS. 1B and 1Cshow a more detailed processing flow for raising a risk score of a user during a user session with a specific messaging platform to a need risk score recognized and/verifiable by an online service160for performing a sensitive operation on behalf of the user during the session with the online service160. It is noted that some components illustrated may not always be needed and as such the presented description is one embodiment.

Initially, the user accesses a messaging client110and is prompted to login to the user's existing account with a messaging platform120through a message and authentication provider121of the messaging platform. After successful login to the messaging platform120, the user sends an in-session sensitive operation. This is forwarded to the bot connector130along to the bot131(identified as dialogue service in theFIGS. 1B and 1C) and onto the identity management service140. Note that the user's identifier used for login and the type of messaging platform120are relayed to each of these entities during this processing.

The identity management service140then maps the messaging platform specific identifier for the user within the session to a global identity recognized and mapped to multiple known identifiers for the user on multiple messaging platforms and with the online service160. The identity management service140assigns an initial risk score and provides to the bot131for the user session. The bot sends the current risk score (6) and a recognized identifier for the user to the online service160. The bot131then receives a message that the risk score is too high for the operation requested by the user and additional factors of authentication are requested (multifactor authentication). The bot131sends this request to the bot connector130and it is translated into the format that is recognized by the messaging platform140and sent from the bot connector130to the messaging client110being operated by the user (not this request may request that the response be out-of-band or in band with the session). The additional factors to increase the risk score are then provided to the identity management service140and the user again sends the requested operation. The identity management service140computes a new risk score (3 in the diagram and lower than the initial risk score of 6). This new risk score is dynamically altered during the user session with the messaging platform140. The bot131again contacts the online service160with the new and lowered risk score (now 3). The online service160performs the requested operation and the results of success are communicated back in-session to the user on the messaging client110.

This illustrates how a user's assigned risk score can be dynamically lowered and how operations with online services160of the user can be initiated and results communicated from within a messaging platform of the user. This provides dynamic and changed multifactor authentication during and from a messaging platform during a messaging session. Thus, users can now perform a variety of non-messaging platform operations including those requiring enhanced security from within a messaging platform interface and during a messaging platform session, such as but not limited to, money transfers, payment for transactions, viewing confidential data, etc., and such operations can be authenticated by the online services160.

The embodiments presented in theFIGS. 1A-1Cand other embodiments are now discussed with reference to theFIGS. 2-4.

FIG. 2is a diagram of a method200for multifactor authentication from a messaging system, according to an example embodiment. The software module(s) that implements the method200is referred to as an “messaging risk manager.” The messaging risk manager is implemented as executable instructions programmed and residing within memory and/or a non-transitory computer-readable (processor-readable) storage medium and executed by one or more hardware processors of a hardware computing device. The processors of the device that executes the messaging risk manager are specifically configured and programmed to process the messaging risk manager. The messaging risk manager has access to one or more networks during its processing. The networks can be wired, wireless, or a combination of wired and wireless.

In an embodiment, the device that executes the messaging risk manager is the device or set of devices that process in a cloud processing environment.

In an embodiment, the device that executes the messaging risk manager is a server.

In an embodiment, the messaging risk manager is some combination of or all of: the bot connector130, the bot131, the identity management service140, and the cross-platform integrator150.

At210, the messaging risk manager assign an initial risk score to a user upon login to a session with a messaging platform.

According to an embodiment, at211, the messaging risk manager determines the initial risk score based on a strength of authentication that is assigned to the messaging platform.

At220, the messaging risk manager requests a credential from the user during the session in response to the user sending a user-requested operation for processing by an external service. The external service is not part of the messaging platform and may not even include any interface for interacting with message sent from the messaging platform.

In an embodiment, at221, the messaging risk manager determines a credential type for the credential that is requested of the user based on a needed risk score for performing the operation with the external service. In other words, depending upon the strength of authentication a different credential may be requested of the user, such as a different password from what the user used to authentication for the messaging platform session, a fingerprint, a voice print, etc.

In an embodiment, at222, the messaging risk manager determines the credential type for the credential that is requested of the user based on the external service. In other words, the risk score needed by different external services may vary, such that the lower the risk score the stronger the credential type and requested credential.

In an embodiment, at223, the messaging risk manager determines the credential type for the credential that is being requested of the user based on a response received from the external service when the messaging risk manager attempts to perform the operation on behalf of the user using the initial risk score assigned to the user for the session with the messaging platform.

At230, the messaging risk manager dynamically lowers the initial risk score for the session in response to validation of the requested credential and the messaging risk manager performs the operation on behalf of the user with the external service.

In an embodiment, at231, the messaging risk manager authenticates the credential received from the user through in-band session communications. That is, the bot131is used to send an in-session messaging platform message to the user requesting the credential for authentication.

In an embodiment, at232, the messaging risk manager authenticates the credential received from the user through out-of-band session communications. Here, the out-of-band communication to request and receive the credential may be a requirement associated with the external service or may be necessary to ensure that the initial risk score is low enough for performing the operation. So, it may not just be the type of credential that can affect lowering the risk score but it may also be the channel communication that affects lowering the risk score in combination with the credential type.

In an embodiment, at233, the messaging risk manager determines that a current risk score (after lowering the initial risk score) is still insufficient for performing the operation with the external service. In response, the messaging risk manager requests from the user and validates a second credential from the user during the session and then lowers the current risk score and performs the operation with the external service. This may occur when the messaging risk manager did not use a sufficiently strong credential at220or when conditions have changed with the external service since the credential was requested such that a further lowered risk score is needed from the user for the external service to perform the operation.

In an embodiment, at234, the messaging risk manager produces a current score for the session when lowering the initial risk score and performs the operation with the external service using the current score.

According to an embodiment, at235, the messaging risk manager performs the operation by processing a native API of the external service for interacting with the external service.

In an embodiment of235and at236, the messaging risk manager processes the API in out-of-band session communications (using a different channel from the session of the messaging platform).

According to an embodiment, at240, the messaging risk manager provides a status indication for performing the operation back to the user within the session and the messaging platform using in-session and messaging platform communications.

In an embodiment, at250, the messaging risk manager provides results returned from the external service in response to performing the operation back to the user within the session and the messaging platform using in-session and messaging platform communications.

In an embodiment, at260, the messaging risk manager processes additional operations with the external service as communicated within the session by the user during the session with the lowered initial risk score.

FIG. 3is a diagram of another method300for multifactor authentication from a messaging system, according to an example embodiment. The software module(s) that implements the method300is referred to as an “cross-platform authenticator.” The cross-platform authenticator is implemented as executable instructions programmed and residing within memory and/or a non-transitory computer-readable (processor-readable) storage medium and executed by one or more hardware processors of a hardware device. The processors of the device that executes the cross-platform authenticator are specifically configured and programmed to process the cross-platform authenticator. The cross-platform authenticator has access to one or more networks during its processing. The networks can be wired, wireless, or a combination of wired and wireless.

The cross-platform authenticator presents another and in some ways enhanced perspective of the method200.

In an embodiment, the cross-platform authenticator is some combination of or all of: the bot connector130, the bot131, the identity management service140, the cross-platform integrator150, and the method200.

In an embodiment, the device that executes the cross-platform authenticator is a server.

In an embodiment, the device that executes the cross-platform authenticator is a cloud processing environment.

At310, the cross-platform authenticator identifies a user signed into a session of a messaging platform for in-session messaging platform communications.

At320, cross-platform authenticator assigns a risk score for the session in response to a type of messaging platform assigned to the messaging platform. This risk score is associated with the user and the user's session can be dynamically changed during the session by the cross-platform authenticator.

According to an embodiment, at321, the cross-platform authenticator assigns the risk score based on an authentication mechanism processed by the messaging platform. That is, the cross-platform authenticator maintains message platform types and initial risk scores based on the type of authentication used by each of the messaging platforms. In this way, when a user first logs into a session with the messaging platform, the session and user are assigned a pre-defined initial risk score. This is relevant because different messaging platforms may have weak authentication requirements as opposed to other messaging platforms.

At330, the cross-platform authenticator receives an in-session operation request for an operation with an external service from the user. The operation is received through an in-session messaging platform message sent initially from the user and processed to the cross-platform authenticator in the manners discussed above with theFIGS. 1A-1C.

At340, the cross-platform authenticator determines an acceptable risk score for the external service to securely process the operation on behalf of the user.

At350, the cross-platform authenticator obtains at least one authentication factor (credential) from the user during the session. That is, the cross-platform authenticator requests and receives one or more requested authentication factors from the user that ensures (if authenticated by the cross-platform authenticator) that the acceptable risk score can be dynamically changed for the user during the session for the cross-platform authenticator to perform the operation with the external service on behalf of the user.

According to an embodiment, at351, the cross-platform authenticator determines the authentication factor(s) based on an assigned strength of authentication associated with the external service and its authentication mechanism.

At360, the cross-platform authenticator modifies the risk score to a new risk score (that is lower than the original risk score) upon successful authentication of the authentication factor(s).

At370, the cross-platform authenticator processes the operation with the external service on behalf of the user during the session using the new risk score.

In an embodiment, at371, the cross-platform authenticator provides the new risk score along with an identifier for the operation and an identifier for the user to the external service for processing the operation on behalf of the user.

In an embodiment, at372, the cross-platform authenticator provides an authentication attestation recognized by the external service along with an identifier for the operation and an identifier for the user to the external service for processing the operation on behalf of the user.

FIG. 4is a diagram of another system400for multifactor authentication from a messaging system, according to an example embodiment, according to an example embodiment. The system400includes a variety of hardware components and software components. The software components of the system400are programmed and reside within memory and/or a non-transitory computer-readable medium and execute on one or more hardware processors of a hardware device. The system400communicates one or more networks, which can be wired, wireless, or a combination of wired and wireless.

In an embodiment, the system400implements all or some combination of the processing discussed above with theFIGS. 1A-1C and 2-3.

In an embodiment, the system400implements, inter alia, the method200of theFIG. 2.

In an embodiment, the system400implements, inter alia, the method300of theFIG. 3.

The system400includes a server401and the server including a cross-platform authenticator402.

Cross-platform authenticator402is configured to: 1) execute on at least one hardware processor of the server401; 2) dynamically upgrade an authentication level of a user during a session with a messaging platform from an original authentication level assigned for the session, and 3) process a user-requested operation with an external service during the session using the upgraded authentication level.

In an embodiment, cross-platform identity authenticator402is further configured to: 4) provide results from the external service back to the user during the session and within the messaging platform.

In an embodiment of the last embodiment, the cross-platform authenticator402is further configured to: 5) further upgrade the upgraded authentication level to a new authentication level in response to a different user-requested operation with a different external service during the session using the new authentication level.

In an embodiment, the cross-platform identity authenticator402is all or some combination of: the bot connector130, the bot131, the identity management service140, the cross-platform integrator150, the method200, and the method300.