Patent Application: US-201313887280-A

Abstract:
this invention proposes novel systems , methods and apparatus that utilize smart devices capable of reading / processing biometric inputs , and wireless communications over secure , short - range wireless channels ) to securely access websites and cyber - physical system entities such as vehicles , rooms and control knobs as well as sensors and smart meters . a user accesses a website on a display terminal or cps entity by using her smart device to send her biometric credentials to request access for a service , and communicates with either the said terminal or the said cps entity which is also capable of short - range wireless communications , using secure and short - range wireless channels to ensure the authenticity of the user when using the service . this system also protects the stored credentials of the user against loss or theft of the smart device since the credentials are encrypted by the user &# 39 ; s biometrics , and the stored credentials on the smart device can only be accessed by a legitimate user using her biometrics .

Description:
reference will not be made to several embodiments of the invention with examples of scenarios , described here and illustrated in the drawings . the following are the definitions of some basic objects along with their notations in parentheses , that will be recurring from here on . user ( u ) and user &# 39 ; s smart device ( d ) e . g ., smartphone , which is capable of reading / processing biometrics . an owner ( o ) of a cps entity is also considered as a user when she wants to use the entity ( instead of letting others to use the entity ). user agent : this could be another human e . g ., the owner ( o ) of a cps entity , or a software agent as a part of the cloud service ( cs ). service ( s ) e . g ., websites for e - mail , e - commerce , social networks , or resource ( r ) e . g ., cps entities . service agent : this could be a service provider ( sp ) e . g . web servers or a resource management / reservation system ( rs ) used for cps entities . near field communications ( nfc ) interface or any other short range wireless communication mechanism such as bluetooth . biometric hash ( bh ) generated by the user &# 39 ; s smart device ( d ) with user &# 39 ; s biometrics u biometric and a “ salt ” used to add certain randomness to the bh . other definitions will be made as and when the embodiments require their usage . we first describe the embodiments of a website access system and then the embodiments of cps access systems . drawing 2 , depicts a access system for a web service operated by a service provider ( sp ). the access system comprises of user u , her smartdevice d ( which adheres to the definitions / requirements mentioned above ) and an electronic device ( or other embodiment of a client ) with capability of connecting to the service provider over the internet or other data communication networks , such as a computer with short range wireless communication interface , here marked as the host terminal ( ht ). the host terminal is used to process the service provided by the service provider , only if the user is authenticated to the access the service . the service provider may be using security services or servers to confirm authentication credentials . we assume that u already has stored her strong password / credentials ( cr stored ) on d along with the service attributes for each service . d stores the credentials ( or any other embodiment of credentials ) what herein will be referred to as a password file and encrypts it using a bh created from a user biometric ( u biometric ). we also assume that u has stored on d , her bh ( from u biometric ) that is used to authenticate u to d . u first presents her biometric attribute ( such as a fingerprint scan / face unlock or any other embodiment of the same ) to d which reads the biometric input , calculates the biometric hash ( bh ) and compares it with u biometric . on successful comparison , d is unlocked . if u uses other means of locking the smart device such as a pin code , graphical passwords etc ., u has to present them for d to be unlocked . the user then provides to d the attributes of a service such as the service name or identifying information ( or any other embodiment of such attributes ) as well the biometric required decrypting the password file that contains the credentials necessary to access the service . d reads the biometric , generates a bh and uses it to decrypt the password file . if the attempt is successful the password file is decrypted and u is notified of it . u then initiates a short range wireless communication connection to the host terminal using d . on successfully creating a connection , u is notified of this . u then requests for opening the service , by transferring to ht the service attributes and credentials stored on d ( cr stored ), via the short range wireless communication . the host terminal , then forwards the credentials to the service provider using the internet or similar data network . on receiving the credentials from the host terminal , the service provider , uses them to authenticate the user by comparing cr stored and cr service ( stored when u registered for the service with sp ) and accordingly grants or denies access the service . the notification of the result of the authentication is provided to the host terminal only . if successful , the service provider provides the service to the host terminal . d after transferring the service attributes to the ht , locks itself to prevent unauthorized access , however it still maintains the short range wireless communication connection it has maintained with the host terminal . the host terminal also maintains this connection with the d . this process is referred to the leash from here on and will be used by both the ht and the d to monitor u &# 39 ; s proximity to ht . the user can now process the service on ht as long as the “ leash ” is maintained . in the case the leash gets broken ( such as u moving away from ht with d ) or in any other way , sp will be informed to terminate delivering the service to ht . this information can be communicated either by d or by ht . on receiving this information , the service provider will cease to deliver the service to ht and will require u to authenticate once again ( by logging out a user or any embodiment of this action ). drawing 3 depicts an embodiment of the website based access system with the addition of a cloud service ( cs ) for authentication and with the service delivered by the sp to the ht directly or via the cs . in the case that the service is delivered to the ht via the cs , the access system comprises of the following 18 steps ( many of which are common to the embodiment depicted by drawing 2 and described above ): 1 . u presents credentials to d either using biometrics ( ) or pattern unlock or pin to access d . a ) if authenticated d unlocks for u . b ) else asks u to try again . 3 . u requests d to open service s by presenting a biometric credential ( u biometric ). 6 . u “ leashes ” himself to host terminal ( ht ) via bt / nfc . ( nfc can be used to leash using bt ). 8 . d asks ht for ht &# 39 ; s information ( port , os , ip address , etc .) via d using a secure channel ( nfc / bt ). 10 . d requests cs to open s by sending the credentials for service cr service via a secure channel ( mms , sms , wi - fi ) using d . cr service ⊂ cr stored 13 . sp authenticates / denies u and provides feedback to cs ( which will be forwarded to u ) 16 . d locks itself to prevent misuse . ( d can be unlocked via steps 1 and 2 ) 17 . ht and d monitor physical proximity of u via “ leash ” established in 6 . d requests cs to log off u and terminate connection to ht and cs forwards to sp , to log off u and terminate connection , or d requests sp to log off u and terminate connection to ht . similarly , if the service is provided to the ht directly , the access system comprises of the following 13 steps ( many of which are common to the embodiment depicted by drawing 2 and described above ): 1 . u presents credentials to d either using biometrics ( ) or pattern unlock or pin to access d . a ) if authenticated d unlocks for u . b ) else asks u to try again . 3 . u requests d to open service s by presenting a biometric credential ( u biometrics ). 6 . u “ leashes ” himself to host terminal ( ht ) via bt / nfc . ( nfc can be used to leash using bt ). 8 . d asks ht for ht &# 39 ; s information ( port , os , ip address , etc .) via d using a secure channel ( nfc / bt ). 10 . d requests cs to open s by sending the credentials for service cr service via a secure channel ( mms , sms , wi - fi ) using d . cr service ⊂ cr stored 11 . cs forwards both crservice and ht information to sp to authenticate . 13 . if sp grants the access , sp provides s to ht . otherwise , reject user &# 39 ; s access , and the process is terminated . drawing 4 depicts the web access system where the credentials used by a service provider to authenticate a user is biometrics . the diagram shows the method of registering the biometrics as a credential with a service provider . in this particular embodiment the method of registering consists of the following 14 steps ( many of which are common to the embodiment depicted by drawing 2 and described above ): 1 . u presents credentials to d either using biometrics ( finger print scanner / faceunlock ) or pattern unlock or pin to access d . a . if authenticated d unlocks for u . b . else asks u to try again . 3 . u requests d to create an account / register for a service s with sp using sp &# 39 ; s app or our app . 5 . sp replies with requests for a biometric - hash ( bh ), username and security questions . 6 . u gives username and answers to the security questions ( sec_answer ) and presents her biometric credential 9 . d forwards to sp the username , sec_answer and also bh . 10 . sp on receiving these values , creates an account for user ( which we call service s ). 12 . on receiving the confirmation , d stores the salt used to generate the bh . d now locks itself so that no one can log on . ( d can be unlocked by using steps 1 and 2 ) drawing 5 depicts the embodiment of using biometrics as credentials to access a web service provided by a service provider . in this embodiment , we assume that user has already registered with the service provider her biometric credentials as per the method illustrated in drawing 4 and described above . the method for using biometrics as authentication credentials consists of the following 18 steps : 1 . u presents credentials to d either using biometrics ( finger print scanner / face unlock ) or pattern unlock or pin to access d . a . if authenticated d unlocks for u . b . else asks u to try again . ( after may be 3 tries , phone &# 39 ; s contents are purged ). 3 . u requests d to open service s by presenting a biometric credential ( ubiometric ). 6 . d generates a biometric hash based on ubiometrics and authenticates u . 7 . u “ leashes ” himself to host terminal ( ht ) via bt / nfc . ( nfc can be used to leash using bt ). 9 . d asks ht for ht &# 39 ; s information ( port , os , ip address , etc .) via d using a secure channel ( nfc / bt ). 11 . u using d , sends message to sp to open s with credentials ( username and bh ) and the terminal information to deliver the service to . 13 . sp authenticates / denies u and thus , grants / denies access to s based on result of step 12 . if sp grants the access , sp forwards s to ht . otherwise , user access is denied and the process is terminated . 16 . d locks itself to prevent any misuse . ( d can only be unlocked via steps 1 and 2 ). 17 . ht / d monitors physical proximity of u via “ leash ” established in 6 . d requests sp to log off u and terminate connection to ht or ht requests sp to log off u and terminate connection to ht . in the following section we describe the use of the inventions in scenarios involving cyber - physical entities . in the embodiments of the cps entity access system we will use the following basic definitions and notations in addition to the ones described earlier . cps entity owner &# 39 ; s device ( od ). reservation request with the reservation starting time , which may either be an instant reservation ( if the uses wants to use the cps entity now ) or an advance reservation ( if the user wants to use the cps entity at a later time ). it may also contain an finite ending time . we also describe the general procedure for cps access system below to highlight the methodology of accessing cps entities the device may communicate with the user agent &# 39 ; s device ( if there is such an agent ) by sending her bh along with a reservation request via nfc . the owner could be such an agent for the user , and the owner &# 39 ; s smart device could be the user agent &# 39 ; s device . either the user device or the user agent &# 39 ; s device will present users &# 39 ; bh and reservation request to the cps entity or service &# 39 ; s agent , which can be a reservation system or the owner . nfc is used for communications between the user device , the user agent &# 39 ; s device and the cps entity , unless they are not in a close range for nfc , in which case , a secure channel ( e . g ., sms , mms , https , ssl , tls etc .) is used . reservation is made by the cps entity ( programmed by itself ) or by a service agent ( which programs the cps entity ). when the user presents its smart device to the cps entity ( in a close range via nfc ), either the cps entity or the service &# 39 ; s agent can authenticate the user and grant / deny the service . in the latter case of authentication by the service &# 39 ; s agent , either the cps entity can send user &# 39 ; s credentials along with its own information , or the user &# 39 ; s smart device can send the cps entity &# 39 ; s information along with its own credentials , to the service agent for verification . all authentication feedback is sent to the cps entity , based on which the user will either gain or be denied the access . drawing 6 depicts the embodiment of the cps entity access system using a reservation system . in this embodiment a user makes an instant or advance reservation ( with optional payment ) through a reservation system using her smart device , and presents her smart device and reservation credentials to the resource when accessing the resource . authentication can be performed either on the spot by the resource , or by the reservation system . in the latter case , either the resource or the user &# 39 ; s smart device may send to the reservation system the information needed for authentication verification . an owner can also be considered a user herself when the said owner wants to use the entity herself the methodology of accessing the resource in this embodiment consists of the following 14 steps : 1 . u presents credentials to d either using biometrics ( finger print scanner / faceunlock , etc .) or pattern unlock to access d . 2 . d reads the input and authenticates u , based on type of credentials / authentication mechanism . a . if authenticated d unlocks for u . b . else asks u to try again . ( after a few tries , phone &# 39 ; s contents are purged ). 3 . u selects the resource r and enters the desired access time ( either instant or advance reservation ) and her biometric . if there is not availability of service from r the process terminates i . rs sends d the reservation cost details . ii . d presents u the cost details . iii . u enters payment method and authorizes transaction for payment . iv . d sends rs payment details . v . rs validates u &# 39 ; s payment information . if rs cannot validate u &# 39 ; s payment information , the process is terminated ( and u is informed via d ). 10 . rs makes the reservation and confirms to u via d the reservation . 11 . u via d requests immediate access to the reserved resource . 12 . d generates bh ( the same as that generated in step 5 ) after reading biometric input from u ( u biometrics ) and sends it to the resource via nfc to requests access . 13 . on the spot authentication : r authenticates u by using the supplied bh and other reservation information ( such as the reserved access time ). a . either resource to reservation system authentication : r sends the supplied bh , along with other reservation information , to rs . or user to reservation system authentication : ( i ). d requests r for its information , ( ii ). r provides details to d , and ( iii ). d provides resource details , along with its bh and other reservation information , to rs . b . rs authenticates u based on the information provided ( including the reserved access time ). c . rs provides r with feedback 14 . based on the authentication result from the previous steps , the resource either grants or denies access to the user . drawing 7 depicts the second embodiment of the cps entity system where the user reserves a resource via the owner ( a human ) of the resource . the main differences in this embodiment against the previous embodiment are that the user makes the reservation using her smart device through an owner who is also using her smart device and that the authentication is performed on the spot by the resource without involving the owner or the owner &# 39 ; s agent . this embodiment also allows the owner to gain access to the resource using the on - the - spot authentication when the owner acts as the resource . the methodology involved in this embodiment consists of the following 14 steps : 1 . u presents credentials to d either using biometrics ( finger print scanner / face unlock , etc .) or pattern unlock to access d . 2 . d reads the input and authenticates u , based on type of credentials / authentication mechanism . a . if authenticated d unlocks for u . b . else asks u to try again . ( after a few tries , phone &# 39 ; s contents are purged ). 3 . u selects the resource r and enters the desired access time ( either instant or advance reservation ) and her biometric . 7 . od displays u &# 39 ; s information to o and requests for authorization . 8 . if o agrees to consider the reservation , o will use od to take the ( optional ) payment ( as in step 9 in the first embodiment of the cps entity access system , refer to drawing 7 ). if o does not approve the reservation request , the process is terminated ( and u is informed via d ). 9 . if o authorizes the reservation by u , o will use od to send u &# 39 ; s reservation request to r , and makes the reservation . a . od confirms to o the reservation . b . od also confirms to u via d the reservation . alternately , o confirms to u in person ( orally , in writing , or any other means ). 11 . u via d requests immediate access to the reserved resource . 12 . d generates bh ( the same as that generated in step 5 ) after reading biometric input from u ( ubiometrics ) and sends it to the resource via nfc to requests access . 13 . on the spot authentication : r authenticates u by using the supplied bh and other reservation information ( such as the reserved access time ). 14 . based on the authentication result from the previous steps , the resource either grants or denies access to the user . drawing 8 depicts the third embodiment of the cps entity access system where the user wants to reserve or access a resource via an owner who uses a reservation system . in this particular embodiment , the main difference from the previous two embodiments are that the user makes a reservation through an owner and the owner &# 39 ; s smart device , which in turn interfaces with the reservation system . the methodology of accessing the cps entity in this embodiment consists of the following 15 steps : 1 . u presents credentials to d either using biometrics ( finger print scanner / face unlock , etc .) or pattern unlock to access d . 2 . d reads the input and authenticates u , based on type of credentials / authentication mechanism . a . if authenticated d unlocks for u . b . else asks u to try again . ( after a few tries , phone &# 39 ; s contents are purged ). 3 . u selects the resource r and enters the desired access time ( either instant or advance reservation ) and her biometric . 7 . od displays u &# 39 ; s information to o and requests for authorization . 8 . if o authorizes the reservation , o will use od to send u &# 39 ; s reservation request to rs . 9 . rs will perform the reservation and optional payment operations as in steps 7 to 9 in first embodiment of cps entity access system , refer to drawing 6 . 10 . rs confirms to o the result of the reservation via od . if the reservation failed , the process will be terminated ( and u is informed ). 11 . user is confirmed the reservation either by d ( via od ) or by o in person . 12 . u via d requests immediate access to the reserved resource . 13 . d generates bh ( the same as that generated in step 5 ) after reading biometric input from u ( u biometrics ) and sends it to the resource via nfc to requests access . 14 . on the spot authentication : r authenticates u by using the supplied bh and other reservation information ( such as the reserved access time ). d . either resource to reservation system authentication : r sends the supplied bh , along with other reservation information , to rs . or user to reservation system authentication : ( i ). d requests r for its information , ( ii ). r provides details to d , and ( iii ). d provides resource details , along with its bh and other reservation information , to rs . e . rs authenticates u based on the information provided ( including the reserved access time ). f . rs provides r with feedback 15 . based on the authentication result from the previous steps , the resource either grants or denies access to the user . 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