Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to client-server technology, and more specifically, to biometric authentication using a server. 
     BACKGROUND 
     As more and more information is moving into electronic form, encryption is becoming more common. One prior art method of encryption is public key encryption—an encryption scheme in which each person gets a pair of keys, called the public key and the private key. Each person&#39;s public key is published while the private key is kept secret. Messages are encrypted using the intended recipient&#39;s public key and can only be decrypted using the recipient&#39;s private key. Messages are signed using the sender&#39;s public key and can only be decrypted using the sender&#39;s public key. The need for sender and receiver to share secret information (keys) via some secure channel is eliminated—all communications involve only public keys, and no private key needs to be transmitted or shared. Public-key cryptography can be used for authentication (digital signatures) as well as for privacy (encryption). Other encryption schemes, such as symmetric key encryption rely on an exchange of keys. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram of a prior art network. The client  110  connects to a server  130  through network  140 . A certification authority  150  provides a private/public key pair for the user. The certification authority  150  further provides certificate  115  to the client. The certificate  115  is a copy of the user&#39;s public key, signed by the certification authority  150 , to prove its authenticity. The certificate  115  and the user&#39;s private key  120  are stored on the client system  110 . Private keys generally are 64 bit numbers or larger and users do not memorize their keys. Because computer systems are rarely truly secure, the key may be taken from a computer system. In order to prevent this, the key may be stored in a password protected file. However, passwords may be broken. Additionally, the system is only as secure as the least secure level. For one embodiment, the user types in the password  125 , to release the private key  120 , so the user can use the private key. 
     Client II  160  illustrates the same user roaming, i.e. on a different computer system, connecting to a server  130  through the network  140 . Client II  160  does not have the user&#39;s private key or certificate. Therefore, the user has to carry a smart card or diskette  170  on which the user&#39;s certificate and private key are stored. Again, the certificate and private key may be protected by a password. However, smart cards can be lost, and require a user to remember to carry something. 
     Furthermore, generally the keys are stored on a computer system, and are thus connected to the computer system, rather than an actual user. In the prior art, a user could pass to an impostor his or her password, accidentally or on purpose, and that impostor could then “prove” that he or she was the user. 
     Furthermore, because each user&#39;s private key is stored on his or her computer system, administering the keys is difficult. 
     In addition, a single mistake, i.e. accidentally granting access to an unauthorized user, permanently breaches the security of the private-public key pair, since the private key is revealed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A method of providing a certificate from a client to a server is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a request for a certificate from the server and forwarding the request to a biometric certification server (BCS). The method further includes receiving a biometric identification from the client and forwarding the biometric identification to the BCS. If the biometric identification matches a registered user on the BCS, receiving a certificate including a public key of the client certified by the BCS, and forwarding the certificate to the server, thereby identifying the client to the server. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of a prior art network. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of one embodiment of a network including crypto-proxying system. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of one embodiment of a client system enabled to use crypto-proxying. 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram of one embodiment of a crypto-proxying server. 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart of one embodiment of an enrollment process. 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart of one embodiment of readying a server to accept crypto-proxying. 
         FIGS. 7A-C  are a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of using a crypto-proxying service. 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart of one embodiment of using dynamic certification. 
         FIG. 9  is a flowchart of one embodiment of invoking a cryptographic function by a user. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A crypto-server system is described. Server-side crypto-proxying is a form of PKI where a user&#39;s private key is stored on a central server, and never released, even to the user. When a user needs his or her private key to perform an operation (encryption, signing, identification), the user&#39;s client machine creates a secure connection to the crypto-server, authenticates the user to the crypto-server, and sends the data to be encrypted/signed to the crypto-server. After the crypto-server successfully authenticates the user, the crypto-server performs the encryption/signature operation requested, and sends the resulting data back to the client machine. This permits the user to roam between machines, and prevents the user from accidentally revealing his or her key to others. Furthermore, this makes key management and administration easy, and permits time-stamping and key archiving/retiring. All of these features make the crypto-server an excellent tool. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of one embodiment of a network including crypto-proxying system. A client  210  is connected to a server  240  through a network  230 . If the client  210  wants to perform an operation that requires the user&#39;s private or public key, i.e. identification/encryption/signature, the client&#39;s certification logic  215  is invoked. The certification logic  215  contacts the crypto-server  250 . The crypto-server  250  includes a biometric database  260 . The crypto-server  250  requests biometric identification from the client  210 . The client system  210  includes a biometric sensor  220 . When the user places his or her fingerprint, or other biometric area over the sensor  220 , the information is sent to the crypto-server  250 . The crypto-server  250  then determines whether the user is a known user. If the user is a known user, the crypto-server  250  provides the requested crypto-data, either from the CKS database  270 , or by generating a one-time key pair, as will be described below. 
     For one embodiment, the network may be the Internet. Alternatively, the network  230  may be a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), or another type of network. For one embodiment, the crypto-server  250  may be located within the LAN, WAN, or corporation. Thus, a company may install its own crypto-server  250 , to simplify internal key management. 
     For another embodiment, the client  210  and crypto-server  250  may be on the same computer system. The client  210  may invoke the crypto-server  250  when logging on to another server, when writing e-mail, or for another reason when crypto-data is needed. 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of one embodiment of a client system enabled to use crypto-proxying. The certification logic  215  in the client system includes a crypto-API (application user interface)  310 . 
     For one embodiment, the crypto-API  310  is the crypto-API  310  offered by Microsoft in Microsoft Windows environments. 
     The crypto-API  310  provides a flexible means of developing cryptography applications. All communication with a cryptographic service provider (CSP) occurs through these functions provided by the crypto-API  310 . Each CSP  340 ,  350 ,  360  is an independent module that performs all cryptographic operations. At least one CSP  340 ,  350 ,  360  is used with each application that uses cryptographic functions. If more than one CSP is in the system, the one to use can be specified in the Crypto-API  310  cryptographic function calls. For one embodiment, the certification logic  215  may set the default CSP to the Crypto-Server CSP  360 . In this way, whenever cryptographic services are called for, unless another CSP is specified, the crypto-server CSP  360  is invoked. 
     The crypto-API  310  may link to other CSPs  340 , to a CSP supporting smart cards  350 . However, for one embodiment, the crypto-server CSP  360  is made the default CSP. 
     The crypto-API  310  is invoked whenever an application, such as a browser  320 , e-mail application  330 , or other application  370  invokes a cryptographic service. For example, the crypto-API  310  may be invoked by the user signing a document being created with his or her private key, by a user identification needed by a server accessed through browser  320 , by using the user&#39;s private key to decrypt an encrypted email received through e-mail application  330 . Other uses of cryptographic processes in the computer system of the present invention may also invoke the crypto-API  310 . 
     The crypto-API  310  invokes the default CSP  360 , unless the application invoking the crypto-API  310  specifies another CSP. When the crypto-server CSP  360  is invoked, a secure connection is established with the crypto-server  250 . The crypto-server  250  requests biometric identification of the user. For one embodiment, the sensor  220  may be coupled to the system, and through it to the crypto-server CSP  360 . The user&#39;s biometric data is then sent, in some format, to the crypto-server  250 . The crypto-server  250  performs the cryptographic functions requested by an application. The system on which the user resides never receives the user&#39;s private key. In this way, by invoking the crypto-server CSP  360  through the crypto-API  310 , cryptographic services can be provided to a user without disclosing, even to the user, the private key data. 
     For another embodiment, in another system, the crypto-server hook may be inserted into the system in some other way. Generally, the crypto-server hook is invoked whenever a cryptographic service is accessed by a user. In this way, the user can perform cryptographic functions, while maintaining the security of the user&#39;s private key data. 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram of one embodiment of a crypto-server. The crypto-server  250  includes a user self-registration/management interface  420  to permit a user to register and to administer his or her account. The user interface  420  is coupled to the registration engine  425 , which permits the user to register, as well as add or delete biometric information and otherwise alter his or her account. The registration engine  425  is coupled to the database engine  470 , which stores the data received from the user in the appropriate databases. The registration process is described in more detail below with respect to  FIG. 5 . 
     The crypto-server  250  further includes an administration management interface  430 . The administration interface  430  is coupled to the management engine, which permits an administration access to the crypto-server  250 . For one embodiment, administration interface  430  can only be accessed from specific computers. For one embodiment, the administrative functions do not permit the administrator to access the keys or biometric information stored in the databases. Thus, the administrator, can not alter a user&#39;s account. 
     The crypto-server  250  includes a crypto-proxy interface  410 . The crypto-proxy interface  410  is used by the crypto-server hook in the user&#39;s system, to invoke the services of the crypto-server  250 . The crypto-proxy interface  410  is coupled to a cryptographic engine  440 . The cryptographic engine  440  performs the cryptographic services requested by the user. The cryptographic engine  440  uses the user&#39;s private/public keys from the persistent key repository  490  to sign documents and/or decrypt documents. The cryptographic engine  440  further may use the dynamic key engine  460  to generate a dynamic key pair, temporarily stored in the disposable key repository  480 . This dynamic key pair may be used, as will be described below, for user authentication to web sites, or other situations where a dynamic key is more appropriate. The cryptographic engine  440  is described in more detail below, with respect to  FIGS. 7A-C . 
     The cryptographic engine  440  is coupled to authentication engine  450 , which authenticates the user, prior to performing any cryptographic services. The authentication engine  450  may use any method of identifying the user&#39;s biometric data, received through the crypto-proxy interface  410  and comparing the data to data in the user and credential database  485 . For one embodiment, the authentication engine  450  is a fingerprint authentication engine, and identifies minutiae in the user&#39;s fingerprint, and compares these minutiae with the template stored in the user and credential database  485 . 
     The database engine  470  may further be coupled to a logging engine  465 . The logging engine  465  logs activity of users and administration. For one embodiment, this may be useful to determine if someone is attempting to break into the crypto-server  250 , and to track usage patterns, and other useful data. For one embodiment, this information is stored in the activity log  495 . For one embodiment, the activity log  495  includes individual users&#39; activities, false access activities, and administrative activities. 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart of one embodiment of an enrollment process. The process starts at block  505 . At block  510 , a secure connection is established with the crypto-server. For one embodiment, this secure connection is through the World Wide Web (the web) and is established through using an HTTPS protocol. Alternative methods of establishing a secure connection, including using a known system with personal supervision, may be used. 
     At block  515 , the process determines whether the use is enrolling into the system, or is accessing the system to for maintenance purposes. For one embodiment, the user may select the reason for access at the opening screen, and this decision is made based on the user&#39;s response. 
     If the user is accessing the system for maintenance, the process continues to block  520 . At block  520 , the user is validated with handle and biometric, and if the user is validated successfully, the user is permitted access to account administration. The process of account administration is well known in the art. For one embodiment, re-validation may be required if the user wishes to add additional biometrics to the database. For one embodiment, if the biometric data is fingerprint data, one finger may be designated as the administrate finger. Thus, the user may have to re-identify himself or herself with the administrative finger, prior to altering biometric data in the database. The process ends at block  555 , when the user logs out of the system. For one embodiment, the user may be automatically disconnected after a period of inactivity. 
     If, at block  515 , the user was attempting to enroll into the system, the process continues to block  525 . At block  525 , the user is prompted to enter a unique handle. For one embodiment, the present system does not need the user&#39;s actual identity. Rather, a unique handle, which may or may not be the user&#39;s real name, can be used. In this way, the user may be consistently identified to third parties, but the user does not need to give up his or her privacy. For one embodiment, each user is assigned a unique ID. For another embodiment, the ID need not be unique, and the handle in combination with the biometric data is used to determine which user is accessing the system. 
     At block  530 , the user is prompted to enter biometric data associated with the handle. For one embodiment, the user may register multiple biometrics. For one embodiment, the biometrics are fingerprints, and the user may register up to ten different fingers. For another embodiment, the biometrics may be iris scans, palm prints, voice identification, face identification, or another form of biometric identification which associates a particular person with the handle. 
     At block  535 , a biometric template, or multiple templates, are generated from the biometric data received. For one embodiment, for a fingerprint, the biometric template comprises a template of the minutiae of the fingerprint. The generating of such templates for various types of biometric data is known in the art. For another embodiment, this step may be skipped, and the actual biometric data received from the user may be stored in the crypto-server. 
     At block  540 , the user&#39;s handle and biometric data are securely stored in a database. For one embodiment, the biometric data is the template generated at step  535 . For another embodiment, the biometric data includes the template and the actual image received from the user. For yet another embodiment, only the actual image may be stored. 
     At block  545 , a public/private key pair is generated for the user. The process of generating such key pairs is known in the art. For one embodiment, multiple key pairs may be generated, having different key lengths. For one embodiment, for user&#39;s within the United States, a local key may be generated having 128 bits or more, and an export key may be generated, having 40 bits. For another embodiment, keys of a different length of type may be generated. 
     At block  550 , the keys are securely stored and associated with the user&#39;s handle. For one embodiment, the only way to access the keys, after they are generated, is by the user providing the user&#39;s handle and biometric data. For one embodiment, the public key may also be distributed to outside locations, at which third parties may access the user&#39;s public key. This process is known in the art. The registration process ends at block  555 . The user can now perform cryptographic functions by using the biometric data and keys stored in the crypto-server. 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart of one embodiment of readying a server to accept crypto-proxying. A server that wishes to accept certificates from the crypto-server is prepared to accept the crypto-server as a trusted certification server. The process starts at block  610 . 
     At block  620 , the client certificate authentication is turned on in the server. Many current servers do not accept client certificates for authentication. If certificate authentication is accepted by the server, this step may be skipped. 
     At block  630 , the crypto-server is set as a trusted certification authority. Generally, certificates are only accepted from authorities that the server has designated as a trusted authority. The crypto-server is set as a trusted authority. 
     At block  640 , the server application is altered to retrieve authenticated handle from user, instead of using a standard log-in process. For one embodiment, the server system may automatically retrieve handle information, based on a cookie or other information. In this way, the user log-in screen may be skipped, and the server may obtain information about the user directly from the user&#39;s computer. For one embodiment, this step may be skipped. 
     At block  650 , the server application is set to look up user data based on the user&#39;s handle in the crypto-server. In this way, the server can automatically retrieve the user&#39;s certified public key from the crypto-server, transparently to the user. The process ends at block  660 . After this reading process is completed, if a user enrolled with the crypto-server connects to this server, and authentication is needed, the server automatically authenticates the user, as will be described below. 
       FIGS. 7A-C  are flowcharts of one embodiment of using a crypto-proxying service.  FIG. 7A  shows one embodiment of the server perspective,  FIG. 7B  the client perspective, and  FIG. 7C  the crypto-server perspective of the process. The description below follows a logical process, and jumps between the three flowcharts. 
     The process starts at block  701 . At block  703 , the server requests a certificate from the user. For one embodiment, this may be in response to the user attempting to as log into a secure area of the server. For example, this may be useful for a user attempting to connect to a bank web site, or another site, where secure communication and secure identification of the other party is useful. 
     At block  720 , the client receives the request for the certificate. At block  722 , the client establishes a secure connection with the crypto-server. For one embodiment, this may be a connection using HTTPS, or another secure protocol. This is shown as block  740  in the flowchart illustrating the process from the perspective of the crypto-server. 
     At block  724 , the client receives a biometric from the user. The client requests a biometric to identify the user, and receives the biometric, appropriately secured and potentially encrypted, from a sensor. For one embodiment, the biometric may be a fingerprint of the user. For one embodiment, the sensor may encrypt the fingerprint, or otherwise secure the fingerprint. For one embodiment, this is the only portion of the process in which the user actively participates. The remaining activity is transparent to the user. Thus, the user need not understand the cryptographic process to use this system. 
     At block  726 , the client forwards the handle, fingerprint, and request for the certificate to the crypto-server. 
     At block  742 , the crypto-server receives the data from the client. At block  744 , the crypto-server authenticates the biometric data. For one embodiment, the crypto-server compares the biometric data with data regarding the handle that is in the crypto-server&#39;s database. For another embodiment, if the crypto-server does not receive handle information, the crypto-server may determine the identity of the user solely based on the biometric. Methods of identifying biometric data are known in the art, when a template or original image is compared to a newly received image. 
     At block  746 , the process determines whether a match was found for the biometric data. If no match was found, the session fails at block  748 . For one embodiment, the crypto-server disconnects from the client, and informs the client that the authentication failed. For one embodiment, this may prompt the client the return to block  722 , and establish a new secure connection with the crypto-server, to send new biometric data. 
     If the user was properly identified at block  746 , the process continues to block  750 . At block  750 , a disposable key pair is generated. For one embodiment, the present invention uses general public key/private key pairs, as are known in the art. Alternative types of keys may also be used. The method of generating a key pair is known in the art. For one embodiment, this key pair is stored in a temporary database. 
     At block  752 , the newly generated public key of the user is signed with the crypto-server&#39;s private key, and certified. The use of certificates to authenticate public keys received from third parties are known in the art. At block  754 , the certificate is sent to the client. 
     At block  728 , the client receives the certificate from the crypto-server and forwards it to the server requesting the certificate. 
     At block  705 , the server receives the certificate including the user&#39;s public key from the client. Note that the server knows and trusts the crypto-server, since the server was appropriately enabled. Thus, the server now has a trusted copy of the user&#39;s public key. 
     At block  707 , the server sends data to the client, and requests that the client sign it with the client&#39;s private key. At block  730 , the client receives the data and forwards it to the crypto-server. 
     At block  756 , the crypto-server receives the data to be signed with the client&#39;s private key. For one embodiment, this data may include certain date/time related information in an encrypted format, to assure the server requesting the signature that the signature is not a replay of a previously signed data. At block  758 , the crypto-server signs the data with the disposable private key generated at step  750 , and forwards the signed data to the client. 
     At block  732 , the client receives the signed data and forwards it to the server. For one embodiment, the client merely automatically forwards this information, without accessing the information. 
     At block  734 , the client generates a session key, signs the session key with the server&#39;s public key, and forwards the session key to the server. For one embodiment, the server&#39;s public key, certified by an accepted certification authority, was sent by the server to the client at a previous stage. 
     At block  710 , the server receives the data signed by the user&#39;s private key. The server attempts to decrypt the data using the user&#39;s public key received in the certificate. 
     At block  712 , the server determines whether the client&#39;s public key was successfully decrypted. If the client&#39;s public key was successfully decrypted, the process continues to block  716 . Otherwise, the process fails at block  714 . 
     At block  716 , the server receives the session key signed by the server&#39;s public key. If the server successfully decrypts the session key, i.e. the server is authenticated, a session using the session key is established between the client and the server, at block  718 . 
     At block  738 , after a session is successfully established with the server at block  736 , the client closes the connection with the crypto-server. At this point, a secure session between the client and the server has been established. 
     The crypto-server has the connection closed by the client at block  760 . The crypto-server then destroys the disposable key pair generated. In this way, a secure connection is established between a client and the server, using the crypto-server for cryptographic functions on behalf of the client. After the session is established, the client is certain that the server is who it claims to be and the server is certain that the client is who it claims to be. This type of high security connections are useful for connections in which money, confidential information, or other high security items are exchanged. 
       FIG. 8  is a flowchart of one embodiment of using dynamic certification. The process starts at bock  810 . At block  820 , the server starts a user authentication process. As described above with respect to  FIG. 7A-C , this process may be used for a variety of sessions that may be established between the server and the client. 
     At block  830 , the server accesses a certificate database in the client system to find a certificate to use for authentication. In certain computer systems, for certain types of authentication, a certificate database is maintained, including at least one certificate that may be used to identify the user. The server would generally attempt to access a certificate from a certification authority which the server considers to be trusted. 
     At block  840 , the dynamic insertion logic of the user&#39;s crypto-API detects the access to the certificate database by the server. 
     At block  850 , the dynamic insertion logic inserts a false certificate into the certificate database. The false certificate claims as a certification authority the crypto-server. As discussed above, the server would consider the crypto-server a trusted certification server. 
     At bock  860 , the server selects the false certificate for authentication. For one embodiment, if another certificate is selected, the normal certification process is followed. E.g. the certificate is sent to the server. The server uses the certificate to obtain the user&#39;s public key, and then requests a signed data from the user, to authenticate the user. However, in this instance, since dynamic, disposable keys are being used, there is no pre-determined public key, and thus, no real certificate. 
     At block  870 , the disposable certificate is generated by the crypto-server and provided to the server through the client. This process is shown in more detail above with respect to  FIGS. 7A-C . In this way, the dynamic insertion logic can permit the use of temporary, disposable keys for systems which obtain their certificates from the certificate database of the user. 
       FIG. 9  is a flowchart of one embodiment of using the crypto-server to perform a cryptographic function. The cryptographic function may be signing a document using the user&#39;s private key, decrypting a document signed with the user&#39;s public key, encrypting a document with the user&#39;s public key so that only the user can access the document, or other cryptographic functions. At block  910  the process starts. 
     At block  915 , the client invokes a cryptographic function. This may be done deliberately, e.g. by selecting an option such as “sign this document,” or automatically, e.g. by sending an email with the signature enabled. 
     At block  920 , the crypto-API is invoked. The crypto-API is invoked when a cryptographic function is called. For one embodiment, the crypto-API, as described above, by default invokes the crypto-server CSP. For another embodiment, the crypto-API may be a free-standing software application that runs cryptographic functions. For simplicity, in this flowchart cryptographic functions are called by the crypto-API. It is to be understood, however, that the crypto-API referenced here is simply an application interface, which interfaces the crypto-server with the user&#39;s computer. 
     At block  925 , the crypto-API opens a secure connection between the client and the server. 
     At block  930 , the crypto-API requests a biometric from the user. For one embodiment, this biometric may be a fingerprint. Alternatively, other types of biometric data may be requested from the user. 
     At block  935 , the crypto-API forwards the data for cryptographic function, the biometric received from the user, and the user&#39;s handle to the crypto-server. For one embodiment, the user&#39;s handle need not be sent. 
     At block  940 , the crypto-server authenticates the user based on the biometric. This process is known in the art. At block  945 , the crypto-server determines whether the user was successfully authenticated, i.e. whether the user is a registered user of the crypto-server. If the user was not successfully authenticated, the process continues to block  950 , and fails. For one embodiment, an alert may be sent to the user at this point, indicating that authentication has failed, and that the requested cryptographic function was not performed. For another embodiment, the biometric may be re-requested by the crypto-API, to reattempt authentication. For yet another embodiment, the secure connection between the client and the crypto-server may be closed, and the process may end. If the user is successfully authenticated, the process continues to block  955 . 
     At block  955 , the crypto-server retrieves the user&#39;s keys from the database. The user has a private/public key pair, as described above. 
     At block  960 , the crypto-server performs the cryptographic functions requested by the user. How these functions are performed is known in the art. 
     At block  965 , the crypto-server returns the data to the client. The data is now decrypted, signed, or otherwise processed, as requested by the user. 
     At block  970 , the connection is closed between the client and the crypto-server. The cryptographic process is complete, and the user can use the data at block  975 , as he or she desires. In this way, transparently to the user, the system can perform cryptographic functions on data at a remote cryptographic server, without disclosing the user&#39;s private key to the user. 
     In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Technology Category: 5