Authentication Scheme Age Verification Signal Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing authentication systems, such as the 3-D Secure™ specification, primarily verify users for transactions but do not efficiently link authentication results with authorization, limiting access to user attributes like age, which can be crucial for age-restricted products without adding friction to the user.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an age verification signal into the authentication request process, allowing the authentication scheme to retrieve and verify a user's birthdate information, thereby extending its functionality to verify age attributes without requiring additional documentation from the user, and utilizing a biometric challenge for confirmation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing authentication systems like 3-D Secure are used to verify users for transactions, then user authentication is achieved, but access to user attributes like age is limited and additional verification steps are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication reliabilityVSAvoidverification process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines age verification with the existing 3-D Secure authentication process by incorporating an age verification signal into the authentication request. This merging allows both authentication and attribute verification to occur within a single integrated process, eliminating the need for separate verification steps and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The authentication system is enhanced to perform multiple functions: traditional user authentication plus age attribute verification. By making the authentication system universal, it can handle both identity verification and attribute checking without requiring additional dedicated systems, thereby reducing complexity while improving reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If additional authentication steps are added to verify user attributes like age, then verification accuracy improves, but user friction and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattribute verification accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs age verification in advance as part of the authentication request process, before the actual transaction processing begins. By conducting the attribute verification preliminarily within the authentication phase, the system ensures accuracy without adding time loss during the critical transaction processing stage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges age verification with the authentication challenge-response process. The age verification signal is included in the authentication request, and the result is returned with the authentication response, allowing both verification accuracy and time efficiency to be achieved through process integration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If traditional authentication processes are used without attribute verification linkage, then processing simplicity is maintained, but access to verified user attributes for compliance purposes is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocess simplicityVSAvoiduser attribute information

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the authentication response to include a separate attribute verification result component. This segmentation allows the system to maintain the overall simplicity of the authentication process while providing structured access to verified user attributes like age, enabling compliance checks without complicating the operational flow

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The authentication system acts as an intermediary that not only verifies user identity but also checks and returns attribute information. This intermediary role allows the system to maintain process simplicity while preventing loss of user attribute information by capturing and transmitting it through the existing authentication channel

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250016153A1Systems and methods for linking verification of attributes in connection with network traffic

Publication Date: 2025.01.09 MASTERCARD INT INC

AI summary

Systems and methods are provided for verifying attributes of users in connection with network interactions involving the users. An example computer-implemented method includes receiving an authentication request (AReq) in connection with an interaction related to an age-restricted product, where the AReq includes an account number for a user and an age verification signal. The method also includes, in response to the age verification signal, retrieving a birthdate of the user, determining an age of the user based on the birthdate of the user, and determining the age of the user satisfies a defined threshold. The method then includes, in response to the age of the user satisfying the defined threshold, causing a challenge question to be issued to the user, whereby authentication of the user is initiated through a mobile device of the user.