Animated Identification Test System for Bot Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional identification tests, such as captchas, have become less effective in distinguishing between human users and bots due to advancements in bot technology, making it difficult to prevent security threats like phishing and spamming.

Innovation Solution

An animated identification test system is introduced, where challenge graphics with changing characters over time are used, incorporating features like character overlap, clutter, and 3D rendering to increase difficulty for bots while maintaining accessibility for humans, along with a method to track and analyze user responses for trustworthiness scoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If static image captchas are used for identification tests, then the test is easy to implement and understand, but it becomes less effective in distinguishing between human users and bots due to advancements in bot technology

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveeffectiveness in distinguishing human users from botsVSAvoidcomplexity of identification test
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the Dynamics principle by transitioning from static image captchas to animated identification tests. The challenge graphics animate over time with characters moving, changing appearance, or being revealed sequentially, making it difficult for bots to process while remaining solvable by humans. This dynamic element directly addresses the contradiction by improving reliability against advanced bots without requiring excessively complex test mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements Periodic action through timed display of challenge graphics where characters appear, disappear, or change at specific intervals. The animation plays for a predetermined duration, creating a time-based challenge that bots struggle to capture and analyze accurately. This temporal dimension enhances discrimination capability while maintaining manageable test complexity through structured timing rather than arbitrary complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If animated identification tests with changing characters are used, then the ability to distinguish between human and bot responses is improved, but the difficulty of the test increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy in differentiating human and bot responsesVSAvoidease of use for human users
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies Partial action by providing human users with supplementary information or extended time to complete animated identification tests. While the animation plays, users can observe the full sequence and use any available hints or repeated displays to ensure accurate response. This partial compensation maintains ease of operation for humans while the animation's temporal complexity continues to effectively challenge bots.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes Parameter changes by adjusting animation speed, character transformation rates, or display duration based on user needs or test conditions. For human users, parameters can be optimized to ensure solvability (slower speeds, clearer transitions), while maintaining sufficient complexity for bot detection. This flexible parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction by tailoring the test to human capabilities while preserving discriminatory power.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If multiple features like character overlap, clutter, and 3D rendering are incorporated into challenge graphics, then security against bots is enhanced, but the complexity of generating and processing these graphics increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity threat from bot attemptsVSAvoidcomplexity of challenge graphic generation and processing
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent appliesSegmentation by breaking down complex challenge graphics into manageable components: background elements, foreground characters, animation sequences, and overlay features. Each component can be generated, stored, and processed independently, then composited during test administration. This modular approach enables sophisticated multi-feature graphics to be created without proportionally increasing system complexity, as each segment uses standardized generation techniques.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implementsPreliminary action by pre-generating and storing animation sequences, character sets, and graphic templates before they are needed for identification tests. Complex 3D models, clutter patterns, and transition animations are prepared in advance and can be retrieved and combined during test delivery. This upfront preparation reduces real-time processing complexity while maintaining the ability to present highly complex challenge graphics with multiple security-enhancing features.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11036847B2Systems and methods for assessing security risk
Publication Date: 2021.06.15 MASTERCARD TECHNOLOGIES CANADA ULC
  • US11036847B2 patent drawing
  • US11036847B2 patent drawing
  • US11036847B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Systems and methods for providing identification tests. In some embodiments, a system and a method are provided for generating and serving to a user an animated challenge graphic comprising a challenge character set whose appearance may change over time. In some embodiments, marketing content may be incorporated into a challenge message for use in an identification test. The marketing content may be accompanied by randomly selected content to increase a level of security of the identification test. In some embodiments, a challenge message for use in an identification test may be provided based on information regarding a transaction for which the identification test is administered. For example, the transaction information may include a user identifier such as an IP address. In some embodiments, identification test results may be tracked and analyzed to identify a pattern of behavior associated with a user identifier. A score indicative of a level of trustworthiness may be computed for the user identifier.