Patent ID: 8156338

Claim:
A method for an authentication service of an electronic system to verify a token value submitted by a user to such authentication service when requesting access to the electronic system to perform an electronic transaction thereat, the token value representing that the user is in possession of an electronic item known to the authentication service, the method comprising the authentication service: downloading an authenticator application to the electronic device via a browser on the electronic device; receiving, via the authenticator application, the token value based on the correct current time as part of a request for access from the user; obtaining an authentication nonce comprising a current time value from a clock on the electronic item; wherein obtaining the current time value further comprises sending a message to a time service, receiving therefrom a correct time, and updating the clock with such received correct time, the current time value representing an accumulation of time based on such received correct time; retrieving predetermined indicia of the electronic item from the database; combining the obtained authentication nonce and the retrieved indicia of the electronic item to generate a verification token value; and comparing the received token value with the verification token value, and if a match is found, allowing the access by the user to the electronic system.