Method and apparatus for generating one-time passwords

A method and apparatus are provided to allow a user of a communications device to utilize one-time password generators for two-way authentication of users and servers, i.e., proving to users that servers are genuine and proving to servers that users are genuine. The present invention removes the need for a user to have a separate physical device, e.g., token, per company or service, reduces the cost burden on the companies and allows for two-way authentication via multiple access methods, e.g., telephone, web interfaces, automatic teller machines (ATMs), etc. Also, the present invention may be utilized in consumer and enterprise applications.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to the art of authentication, and more particularly to a method of providing two-way authentication of passwords used for user applications.

BACKGROUND

Commercial one-time password generators have been widely used in industry for over a decade, but have not seen widespread use in consumer applications such as online banking and brokerage account management, especially within the United States. The use of one-time passwords for access to sensitive information eliminates both the need for a user to remember passwords that are difficult to guess and the tendency for users to use the same password for multiple accounts and never change passwords. However, it requires a user and an entity, e.g., a bank or brokerage firm, that is authenticating the user to both have access to the same sequence of one-time passwords.

In a token based approach, a company may provide a token to the user as part of a two-part authentication process for accessing a single account. A token is a device or software that contains one or more sequence generators. A sequence generator is an algorithm that generates a pseudorandom sequence of numeric or alpha-numeric values of 6 to 8 digits. The sequence generator uses the current value to compute the next value.

A server generates and maintains the same pseudorandom sequence generated by the token. Each value remains valid for a short time period, e.g., one minute. The user may be authenticated by entering a static personal identification number (PIN) along with the current value from the sequence generator as a password when accessing the entity. The PIN prevents someone else from using the token to access a user's account. The server will verify that the value entered by the user, combined with the pin, matches the current value in the sequence.

Disadvantageously, the cost of providing a token to each customer makes the use of tokens unappealing to businesses having a large customer base. Also disadvantageously, administrative issues, such as a) how to deal with lost or stolen tokens, b) aging tokens that must be replaced periodically, c) tokens that become out-of-synch with the server, and d) tokens that stop working prior to the expiration date as its power supply dies, make the use of tokens unappealing to some businesses. Further disadvantageously, the need to have a separate token or device per account is unappealing from the customer's perspective, no matter how compact the device is physically.

An alternative to providing a token to customers is to use some form of out-of-band communication, such as Short Message Service (SMS), to provide consumers with one-time passwords. Disadvantageously, this alternative relies on the out-of-band communication, which may fail, become slow or vulnerable to attacks.

SUMMARY

It has been recognized, in accordance with the principles of the invention, that the problems of the prior art can be overcome by a technique that allows a user of a communications device to utilize one-time password generators for two-way authentication of users and servers, i.e., proving to users that servers are genuine and proving to servers that users are genuine. More specifically, the present invention provides a method having the steps of a) generating a pseudorandom sequence of values from one of multiple sequence generators in a communications device, wherein each of the multiple sequence generators provides access to a different one of the one or more accounts of the user, and b) transmitting a personal identification number (PIN) concatenated with the pseudorandom sequence of values to a server having a sequence generator assigned to the user.

Also, the present invention provides a communications device operable to a) generate a pseudorandom sequence of values from one of multiple sequence generators in the communications device, wherein each of the multiple sequence generators provides access to a different one of one or more accounts of a user and b) transmit a personal identification number (PIN) concatenated with the pseudorandom sequence of values to a server having a sequence generator assigned to the user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention allows a user of a communications device to utilize one-time password generators for two-way authentication of users and servers, i.e., proving to users that servers are genuine and proving to servers that users are genuine. Also, the present invention removes the need for a user to have a separate physical device, e.g., token, per company or service, reduces the cost burden on the companies, and allows for two-way authentication via multiple access methods, e.g., telephone, web interfaces, automatic teller machines (ATMs), etc. Furthermore, the present invention may be utilized in consumer and enterprise applications.

For ease of explanation, the method of the present invention will be explained in the context of a communications device which may be a small, light-weight portable mobile telephone, e.g., pocket telephone, capable of sending and receiving voice calls, email, short message service (SMS), microbrowser messages or text messaging. In one embodiment, the present invention may be implemented as an add-in application on the mobile telephone and operate in conjunction with an existing application resident on the mobile telephone. In an alternative embodiment, the present invention may be implemented as an enhancement to an existing application on the mobile telephone. In yet another embodiment, the present invention may be implemented as a replacement for an existing application on the mobile telephone.

It will be readily understood that the method of the present invention is not limited to a mobile “pocket” telephone. In another embodiment of the invention, the communications device may be a mobile telephone installed in an engine-driven vehicle and supplied with current from the vehicle electrical system. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the communications device may be a personal digital assistance (PDA) device, a two-way pager, a notebook computer, a portable media player that allows an addition of executable programs, or other suitable handheld communications devices. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the device may be a simple user interface that can reset, initialize and select sequence generators.

FIG. 1shows an illustrative view of a mobile telephone arranged in accordance with the principles of the invention. As shown inFIG. 1, mobile telephone100has an internal area10, display20, and Administrative Screen30. Multiple instances of a sequence generator, i.e., Generator1, Generator2and Generator N, reside in internal area10of mobile telephone100. The output, i.e., a current sequence value and the previous sequence value, of each active sequence generator is shown on display20along with the name of a company having an account of the user. The user interface of mobile telephone100may include an audio interface, such as a microphone and speakers, a visual interface, such as display20, and a user input interface, such as a keyboard or touch pad. Mobile telephone100is capable of sending and receiving voice calls, email messages, short message service (SMS), microbrowser messages or text messaging. Also, mobile telephone100may load Internet web pages and transfer files with servers.

The multiple instances of the sequence generator may be based on a standard algorithm such as the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). Each sequence generator encrypts a seed, i.e., an initial string of digits, with AES using a 16 byte key supplied by the user to the sequence generator to produce a separate pseudorandom sequence of alphabetical, numeric or alpha-numeric values of 6 to 8 digits. Also, each sequence generator computes the next value, i.e., a different pseudorandom sequence of values, after a predetermined interval, e.g., 30 seconds, which may be variable by the user. Illustratively, one method to compute the next value is to have AES repeatedly encrypt the output of a previous encryption step, starting with the seed. This resulting ciphertext is then converted into a 6 to 8 digit value to be displayed to the user.

The multiple instances of the sequence generator on mobile telephone100may be used to access multiple accounts of a user. The user may assign each one of the multiple instances of the sequence generator to one or more service entities, e.g., banks, brokerage firms, etc., having an account of the user via Administrative Screen30on mobile telephone100. Illustratively, Administrative Screen30shows that Generator1has been assigned to Bank1. Generator2, shown in internal area20, corresponds to Bank2. Generator N has not been assigned. Also, assignment requires the user to provide an administrator of a server for a particular service entity a) a seed to a specific sequence generator on mobile telephone100, b) a key for the specific generator and c) a current sequence value displayed by the specific sequence generator, in order to initiate the process and to synchronize the specific sequence generator with the server of the service entity running a sequence generator for each customer. Furthermore, the server is required to store the user's login identification (ID) and PIN. In a sense, the user provides a token to the service entity as opposed to the service entity providing a token to the user as in the prior art. The user's one-time password consists of a personal identification number (PIN) of the user concatenated with the current sequence value displayed by the sequence generator.

The present invention provides a verification algorithm to account for some time variance between the sequence generator and a server, since the server may drift over time and not be synchronized with the sequence generator to the exact second.

The present invention may have an executable program which is loaded into a memory, not shown, of mobile telephone100when mobile telephone100is turned on. The executable program provides access to sequence generators that have been preconfigured by the user on mobile telephone100. The user may view the sequence generators on display20, and a scroll bar or a similar device may be used to view entries that do not fit entirely in display20. The user may select the sequence generator by pressing keys on a handset of mobile telephone100, or by touching a touch screen on display20or, if mobile telephone100has speech recognition capabilities, then the user may select the sequence generator via a voice response.

Mobile telephone100may allow the user to reseed/reset the sequence generator so that the sequence generator may be reused with a second service entity, upon closing an account with a first service entity. Also, the user may use the one-time passwords for any access method the service entity supports, such as a toll free telephone dial-in line, automatic teller machines (ATMs), and a web interface. The user may enter the pseudorandom sequence value manually or have the sequence generator automatically communicate a number, depending on the capabilities of both the sequence generator and the interface into which it is entered.

FIG. 2shows an illustrative call flow for a method of operating the present invention arranged in accordance with the principles of the invention. Specifically,FIG. 2illustrates one way authentication of a user by a server.

At1, using a web browser of a computer or a mobile telephone capable of web browsing, the user requests a service entity's login page.

At2, the web server provides the service entity's login page.

At3, upon seeing the login page, the user accesses a mobile telephone, e.g., mobile telephone100, having multiple sequence generators, locates the sequence generator corresponding to the service entity, selects the sequence generator by pressing keys on a handset of mobile telephone100or via a voice response, reads the pseudorandom sequence value on the display, e.g., display20, of mobile telephone100generated by the sequence generator, and enters his login ID and one-time password, i.e., a PIN concatenated with the current sequence value, on the service entity's login page. If mobile telephone100is resident with client, the random digit part of the one-time password may be populated automatically in the client, and the user enters the PIN portion only along with the login ID.

At4, the client sends the user's login ID and one-time password to the web server.

At5, the web server sends the user's login ID and one-time password to the service entity's server. The service entity's server will determine if there is a difference between the received login ID and one-time password and the stored login ID and server generated one-time password.

At6, the service entity's server sends a message to the web server indicating success, i.e., confirmation of authentication, or failure of login.

At7, the web server sends the client either the desired web page or a message indicating failure of login.

At8, upon a successful login, the user may continue a session.

FIG. 3shows another illustrative call flow for a method of operating the present invention arranged in accordance with the principles of the invention. Specifically,FIG. 3illustrates two way authentication in which the user is authenticated, followed by authentication of the server.

At1, using a web browser of a computer or a mobile telephone capable of web browsing, the user requests a service entity's login page.

At2, the web server provides the service entity's login page.

At3, upon seeing the login page, the user accesses a mobile telephone, e.g., mobile telephone100, having multiple sequence generators, locates the sequence generator corresponding to the service entity, selects the sequence generator by pressing keys on a handset of mobile telephone100or via a voice response, reads the pseudorandom sequence value on the display, e.g., display20, of mobile telephone100generated by the sequence generator, and enters his login ID and one-time password, i.e., a PIN concatenated with the current sequence value, on the service entity's login page. If mobile telephone100is resident with client, the random digit part of the one-time password may be populated automatically in the client, and the user enters the PIN portion only along with the login ID.

At4, the client sends the user's login ID and one-time password to the web server.

At5, the web server sends the user's login ID and one-time password to the service entity's server. The service entity's server will determine if there is a difference between the received login ID and one-time password and the stored login ID and server generated one-time password.

At6, the service entity's server sends a message to the web server indicating success, i.e., confirmation of login authentication, or failure of login. Also, if the login is successful, the service entity's server sends the web server the next sequence value generated, i.e., a one-time password, on the server's sequence generator corresponding to the user.

At7, the web server sends a message to the client indicating success or failure of login. Also, if the login is successful, the web server sends the client the one-time password generated by the service entity's server.

At8, the user compares the one-time password generated by the service entity's server to the next sequence value generated by the sequence generator on mobile telephone100. If there is not a difference, then the web server is authenticated. If there is a difference, an indication, e.g., a visual or audible alert, may be displayed on mobile telephone100. The one-time password generated by the service entity's server may be compared automatically.

At9, upon a successful login, the user may continue a session.

FIG. 4shows yet another illustrative call flow for a method of operating the present invention arranged in accordance with the principles of the invention. Specifically,FIG. 4illustrates two way authentication in which the server is authenticated, followed by authentication of the user. This method of operating the present invention prevents phishing attacks in which someone attempts to direct the user to a fake web site. However, phishing is only one reason for performing two-way authentication in this manner.

At1, using a web browser of a computer or a mobile telephone capable of web browsing, the user requests a service entity's login page.

At2, the web server provides the service entity's login page.

At3, upon seeing the login page, the user enters his login ID on the service entity's login page.

At4, the client sends the user's login ID to the web server.

At5, the web server sends the user's login ID to the service entity's server. The service entity's server will determine the sequence generator at the service entity's server that corresponds to the user login ID. Upon determining the sequence generator, the service entity's server obtains the current sequence value, i.e., one-time password, from the sequence generator.

At6, the service entity's server sends the one-time password to the web server.

At7, the web server sends the service entity's server one-time password to the client.

At8, the user compares the one-time password generated by the service entity's server to the current sequence value generated and displayed on mobile telephone100. If there is a difference, then the web server is not authenticated and the user leaves the web site. If the values are identical, then the web server is authenticated via a confirmation message. If mobile telephone100is resident with client, the service entity's server one-time password may be checked automatically.

At9, the user enters a PIN concatenated with the next sequence value generated by the sequence generator on mobile telephone100as the one-time password. If mobile telephone100is resident with client, the random digit part of the one-time password may be populated automatically in the client, and the user enters the PIN portion only.

At10, the client sends the user's one-time password to the web server.

At11, the web server sends the user's login ID and the one-time password to the service entity's server.

At12, the service entity's server will authenticate the user by determining if there is a difference between the received login ID and one-time password and the stored login ID and server generated one-time password. Then, the service entity's server sends a message to the web server indicating success, i.e., confirmation of authentication, or failure of login.

At13, the web server sends the client the web page or a message indicating failure of login.

At14, upon a successful login, the user may continue a session.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the mobile telephone display may have features that allow the user to limit a malicious person from seeing a displayed sequence value. Illustratively, the sequence values may be visible only for a short while when the user presses a button on the user input interface. Also illustratively, when performing server authentication, the user may enter the sequence value sent by the server into the mobile telephone and the mobile telephone may output a success or failure indication, instead of displaying the sequence value. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention may be used solely for server authentication using biometrics or a public/private key.

In practice, wireless telecommunications system processes are implemented in computer software using high-performance processors and high-capacity storage elements such as hard disk subsystems. The computer program code that implements particular telecommunications system functions is stored on computer-readable media, such as the hard disk system, and executed by the processor.

The steps or operations described herein are intended as examples. There may be many variations to these steps or operations without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, the steps may be performed in a different order, or steps may be added, deleted, or modified.

The foregoing merely illustrates the embodiments of the invention. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements, which, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention, and are included within its spirit and scope.