Abstract:
Provided is a Captcha Access Control System (CACS) for generating an improved captcha that are based, in one described embodiment, upon a command in one format and a response in a different format, one or both of which are rendered in a format that is difficult for an automated system to interpret. A computer system or program to which a user is requesting access generates a textual or audible command. A video device captures the user&#39;s response and transmits the response to a response evaluation device. Based upon an analysis of the transmitted video and a comparison between the analyzed video and the command, the computer or program either enables access or denies access.

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The claimed subject matter relates generally to computer security and, more specifically, to a technique for preventing automated usage of computing resources. 
     SUMMARY 
     Provided are techniques for the improvement of computer security and quality of service. A Completely Automated Public Turing Test to Tell Computers and Humans Apart, or “captcha,” is a challenge-response test used in computing to determine whether a potential user of computing resources is a human or the result of automated software, or a “bot.” One simple example of a captcha is a box displayed on a computer screen that contains a number of characters that may be different sizes, different fonts, overlapping, partially obscured and/or set against a visually complicated background. The value of such a captcha is that current computer character recognition programs are unable to distinguish the individual characters and provide a correct response. On the other hand, the captcha is intended to be easily solved by a human user. 
     As the Inventors herein have recognized, captchas suffer from a number of accessibility issues as well as circumventions associated with artificially intelligent character recognition programs. For example, a user who is blind typically may rely upon a program that reads alternative text, or a caption, transmitted in conjunction with an image to which the blind user can listen. Obviously, such a program would defeat the purpose of a captcha, although often a captcha will provide the option of delivering an audio sample. Further, a captcha that is simple enough for a character recognition program would be simple enough for most automated systems to understand. A user who is deaf would also experience similar problems with captcha that are primarily audible in nature. In addition, as computers and computer recognition programs have become more sophisticated and powerful, captchas must also become more difficult for a human to read or hear. 
     Provided is a Captcha Access Control System (CACS) for generating improved captcha that are based, in one described embodiment, upon a command and a response in a rich media format that is difficult for an automated system to simulate. Examples of rich media are digitally encoded audio or video information or the combination of these media with each other and/or with simple textual information. In other words, the term “rich media” includes, but is not limited to video, audio or other type of media difficult for a computer to generate, possibly combined with other types of media such as text. The term “difficult for a computer to generate” implies the use of some “real world” sensory information (taste, touch, see, smell, hear) digitally encoded in a response. 
     In the following examples, a computer system or program to which a user is requesting access generates a textual or audible command, e.g. “raise your right hand.” A video device captures the user&#39;s response and transmits the response to a response evaluation device. Based upon an analysis of the transmitted video and a comparison between the analyzed video and the command, the computer or program either enables access, i.e. to a human user, or denies access, i.e. to an automated program, or bot. It should be noted that the disclosed technology is not limited to textual commands and video responses but, as those with skill in the computing arts should appreciate, there are many possible forms that the initial command and responding action could take other than text and video. For example, the command could be graphical and the response could be audible. 
     This summary is not intended as a comprehensive description of the claimed subject matter but, rather, is intended to provide a brief overview of some of the functionality associated therewith. Other systems, methods, functionality, features and advantages of the claimed subject matter will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A better understanding of the claimed subject matter can be obtained when the following detailed description of the disclosed embodiments is considered in conjunction with the following figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an example of a computing system architecture that may implement the claimed subject matter. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a Captcha Access Control System (CACS), first introduced in  FIG. 1 , in more detail. 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart of a Setup CACS process that may implement one aspect of the claimed subject matter. 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart of an Access Resource process that may implement a second aspect of the claimed subject matter. 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart of an Execute Captcha process that may implement a third aspect of the claimed subject matter. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the present invention may be embodied as a system, method or computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer readable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon. 
     One embodiment, in accordance with the claimed subject, is directed to a programmed method for preventing unauthorized access to a computing resource. The term “programmed method”, as used herein, is defined to mean one or more process steps that are presently performed; or, alternatively, one or more process steps that are enabled to be performed at a future point in time. The term “programmed method” anticipates three alternative forms. First, a programmed method comprises presently performed process steps. Second, a programmed method comprises a computer-readable medium embodying computer instructions, which when executed by a computer performs one or more process steps. Finally, a programmed method comprises a computer system that has been programmed by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof, to perform one or more process steps. It is to be understood that the term “programmed method” is not to be construed as simultaneously having more than one alternative form, but rather is to be construed in the truest sense of an alternative form wherein, at any given point in time, only one of the plurality of alternative forms is present. 
     Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may be utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readable storage medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. 
     A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signal with computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may take any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, electromagnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium that is not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. 
     Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing. 
     Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of the present invention may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The program code may execute entirely on the user&#39;s computer, partly on the user&#39;s computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user&#39;s computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user&#39;s computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). 
     Aspects of the present invention are described below with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other devices to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     Turning now to the figures,  FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a computing system architecture  100  that may implement the claimed subject matter. A client system  102  includes a central processing unit (CPU)  104 , or “processor,” coupled to a monitor  106 , a keyboard  108 , a mouse  110  and a camera  112 , which together facilitate human interaction with computing system  100  and client system  102 . Also included in client system  102  and attached to CPU  104  is a data storage component  114 , which may either be incorporated into CPU  104  i.e. an internal device, or attached externally to CPU  104  by means of various, commonly available connection devices such as but not limited to, a universal serial bus (USB) port (not shown). In this example, data storage  114  is illustrated storing an operating system (OS)  116 , which controls the operation of CPU  104  and the remainder of client system  102 . 
     Client system  102  and CPU  104  are connected to the Internet  120 , which is also connected to server computer  122 . Although in this example, client system  102  and server  122  are communicatively coupled via the Internet  120 , they could also be coupled through any number of communication mediums such as, but not limited to, a local area network (LAN) (not shown). Further, it should be noted there are many possible computing system configurations, of which computing system  100  is only one simple example. Although not shown, like client system  102 , server  122  also includes a CPU, a monitor, a keyboard, a mouse and an OS. 
     Server  122  is coupled to a data storage  124 , which like data storage  114 , may either be incorporated into server  122  i.e. an internal device, or attached externally to server  122  by means of various, commonly available connection devices such as but not limited to, a universal serial bus (USB) port (not shown). Stored on data storage is an application  126  and a Captcha Access Control System  128 . Application  126  is employed through the Specification as an example of an application to which a user may request access via server  122 , to which access is controlled by CACS  128 . It should be noted that a typical computing system would include more than one application, but for the sake of simplicity only one is shown. In addition, computing entities other than applications may employ the disclosed techniques to control access. For example, CACS  128  may be employed by a server  124  to control access to a website (not shown). CACS  128  is described in more detail below in conjunction with  FIGS. 2-5 . 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of CACS  128 , first introduced in  FIG. 1 , in more detail. In this example, CACS  128  is stored on data storage  124  ( FIG. 1 ) and executed on server  122  ( FIG. 1 ). Of course, CACS  128  could also be stored and executed on another remote computing system (not shown) to control access to resources of server  122  by users such as client system  102 . CACS  128  includes an input/output (I/O) module  140 , a CACS Configuration module  142 , a CACS Control module  144  and a CACS data cache component  146 . It should be understood that the representation of CACS  128  in  FIG. 2  is a logical model. In other words, components  140 ,  142 ,  144 ,  146  and other components described below may be stored in the same or separate files and loaded and/or executed within system  100  either as a single system or as separate processes interacting via any available inter process communication (IPC) techniques. 
     I/O module  140  handles communication CACS  128  has with other components of computing system  102  and system  100 . CACS configuration module  142  stores parameters defined by an administrator to control the setup and operation of CACS  128 . Examples of such configuration parameters include, but are not limited to, security settings, display options and so on. In addition, parameters may be defined that list potential users, applications and computing hosts and corresponding levels of security and specific implementations of the claimed technology. 
     CACS Control module  144  stored the logic that controls the operation of CACS  128 . Examples of logic modules that may be included in module  144  include an Instruction Generation Engine (IGE)  148 , an Image Recognition module  150  and CACS Matching Algorithms  152 . Although these particular examples are related to the generation of textual commands and video actions, those with skill in the art should appreciate that similar modules could be deployed with respect to other types of commands and actions. 
     IGE  148  generates commands that are transmitted to a user that has requested access to a CACS  128  controlled resource. Image recognition module  150  analyzes an action that CACS  128  has received in response to a command generated by IGE  148 . CACS MA module  152  determines whether or not the action analyzed by module  150  correlates to the command generated by IGE  148 . The operations of modules  144 ,  148 ,  150  and  152  are described in more detail below in conjunction with  FIGS. 3-5 . 
     CACS Data Cache  146  is a data repository for information, including settings and lists that CACS  128  requires during operation. Examples of the types of information stored in cache  146  include, but are not limited to, specific commands employed in conjunction with IGE  148 , corresponding patterns associated with the processing of modules  150  and  152 , with each action correlated with a particular acceptable action based upon the patterns, and a list of computing systems of resources that are configured to employ CACS  128  to control access. In addition, cache  146  may store intermediate results associated with the processing of CACS  128 . 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart of a Setup CACS process  200  that may implement one aspect of the claimed subject matter. In this example, logic associated with process  200  is stored on data storage  124  ( FIG. 1 ) as part of CACS  128  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and executed on the processor associated with server  122 . In the alternative, process  200 , as well as CACS  128  may be incorporated into application  126  ( FIG. 1 ) or the OS of server  122 . 
     Process  200  starts in a “Begin Setup CACS” block  202  and proceeds immediately to a “Define Command” block  204 . During block  204 , an administrator of CACS  128  defines a command that a user requesting access to, in this example, application  118  ( FIG. 1 ). Examples of commands, each of which may ultimately be delivered via text, audio or video, include, but are not limited to, “raise you left hand,” “wave your hand over your head” or “stand up and dance.” During a “Define Action” block  206 , the administrator programmatically defines an action that corresponds to the command defined during block  204 . For example, for the command “raise your left hand,” the defined action may be an indication of an upward movement along the right side of a series of video frames; for “wave you hand over your head,” the defined action may be an indication of movement back and forth across the top of a series of video frames. In addition to video type responses to actions, other rich media responses are contemplated. Those with skill in the programming arts should understand the image and other rich media recognition algorithms necessary to define such actions. It is also contemplated that a graphical user interface (GUI) be provided to facilitate the definition of such actions. 
     It should also be understood that neither commands nor actions are limited to text and video. For example a command may be an audible cue, such as “Say Hey!” and the corresponding action may be defined with respect to voice recognition logic to detect an appropriate audible response. In other words, both the command and the expected action may be encoded in rich media formats. 
     During a “More Commands?” block  208 , process  200  determines whether or not the user has indicated that more command/action pairs are to be defined. If so, control returns to block  204  and processing continues as described above. If not, process  200  proceeds to a “Save CA Pairs” block  210  during which the command/action pairs defined during iterations through blocks  204  and  206  are saved to memory associated with CACS  128  (see element  142 ,  FIG. 2 ). Finally, control proceeds to an “End Setup CACS” block  219  in which process  200  is complete. 
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart of an Access Resource process  250  that may implement a second aspect of the claimed subject matter. Like process  200  ( FIG. 3 ), logic associated with process  250  is stored on data storage  124  ( FIG. 1 ) as part of CACS  128  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and executed on server  122 . In the alternative, process  250 , as well as CACS  128  may be incorporated into application  126  ( FIG. 1 ). In this example, either a user or an automated program (not shown) is accessing application  128 , which utilizes the protection from unauthorized access provided by the claimed subject matter. 
     Process  250  starts in a “Begin Access Resource” block  252  and proceeds immediately to a “Receive Request” block  244 . During block  204 , application  126  has received a request for access. During an “Access Control?” block  256 , process  250  determines whether or not application  126  is configured for access control. If so, process  250  proceeds to a “V_Captcha” block  258  during which process  250  determines whether or not application  126  is configured to implement the disclosed techniques, which in this example is a video-based captcha, or “V_captcha.” If not, process  250  proceeds to an “Execute Alterative Control” block  260  during which a standard captcha or other access control technique is executed. If during block  258 , process  250  determines that V 13  captcha techniques are implemented, control proceeds to an “Execute V_Captcha” block  262 . During block  262 , the claimed subject matter is executed to determine a status, either “Access Success” or “Access Fail” (see process  300 ,  FIG. 5 ). 
     Once execution of block  260  or block  262  has completed, control proceeds to an “Access Permitted?” block  264  during which process  250  determines if an Access Success code has been received. If not process  250  proceeds to a “Transmit Message” block  266  during which a message indicating that access has been denied is transmitted to the entity that sent the request received during block  254 . If during block  264 , process  250  determines that the access status is Access Success or, during block  256 , process  250  has determined that no access controls have been implemented, control proceeds to an “Enable Access” block  268  during which the user who transmitted the request received during block  254  is permitted access to, in this example, application  126 . Finally, once processing has completed with respect to blocks  266  or  268 , control proceeds to an “End Access Resource” block  269  in which process  250  is complete. 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart of an Execute V_Captcha process  300  that may implement a third aspect of the claimed subject matter. Like process  200  ( FIG. 3 ) and process  250  ( FIG. 4 ), logic associated with process  300  is stored on data storage  124  ( FIG. 1 ) as part of CACS  128  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and executed on server  122 . In the alternative, process  200 , as well as CACS  128  may be incorporated into application  126  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     Process  300  starts in a “Begin Execute V_Captcha” block  302  and proceeds immediately to a “Select CA Pair” block  304 . During block  304 , process  300  selects a command/action (C/A) pair (see  204  and  206 ,  FIG. 3 ) to present in response to an access request (see  254 ,  FIG. 4 ). During a “Transmit Command” block  306 , the command portion of the CA pair selected during block  304  is transmitted to the entity that initiated the request. As mentioned above, there are several formats that the transmitted command can take such as, but not limited, text-based instructions displayed on the, in this example, monitor  106  ( FIG. 1 ) of client system  102  ( FIG. 1 ), audible instructions played on audible instructions played on speakers (not shown) of client system  102 , video instructions displayed on monitor  104  or combinations of different media types. As mentioned above, the selection of a particular command/action pair may be defined by the configuration of CACS  128  (see element  142 ,  FIG. 2 ). 
     Once a command has been transmitted, the entity that has requested access has a period of time to respond with a reply. In this example, the reply would be a physical action, such as the waving of a hand, captured in a video format by camera  112  ( FIG. 1 ) of client system  102 . In the alternative, the response could be a spoken word or phrase captured by a microphone (not shown) or any other rich media response that would be difficult for an automated process to generate based upon the given command. Of course, the command may also be rendered in a rich media format that would make it difficult for an automated program to analyze the exact nature of the request. 
     Once the response action has been transmitted, control of process  300  proceeds to a “Receive Action” block  308  during which the response is received by server  122 . During an “Analyze Action” block  310 , process  300  parses the action by applying an appropriate technology to determine the nature of the response (see). For example, with respect to a video response, image processing logic may be applied (see element  150 ,  FIG. 2 ). During a “Compare C and A” block  312 , the command transmitted during block  306  is compared with the corresponding action of the CA pair selected during block  304  in light of the analysis executed during block  310 . 
     During a “C and A Match?” block  314 , process  300  determines whether or not the received action meets the minimum requirement of a “correct answer” (see  204  and  206 ,  FIG. 3 ). If so, during a “Set Status Success” block  316  a status parameter is set to a value of “Success.” If not, during a “Set Status Fail” block  318 , the status is set to a value of “Fail.” Finally, control proceeds to an “End Execute V_Captcha” block  319  in which process  300  is complete. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 
     The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.