Challenge-Response Authentication Protocol Using Human Cognitive Rulesets
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing authentication methods, particularly those relying on passwords, are vulnerable to interception and require complex mathematical calculations or trusted computing devices, making them impractical for secure access without significant computational power or mathematical knowledge.
Innovation Solution
A security protocol that uses challenge-response mechanisms based on shared secret rulesets, such as games or image recognition, which can be completed by a non-augmented human, providing a high level of security without the need for passwords or computational resources, utilizing insecure channels and natural human computational power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If passwords are used for authentication, then ease of operation is improved, but security deteriorates due to vulnerability to interception and theft
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring the user to prove knowledge (password), the system presents challenges and verifies the user's ability to respond correctly based on shared secret rules. This inverts the traditional authentication paradigm from knowledge-based to capability-based verification, eliminating password vulnerabilities while maintaining ease of use through familiar game mechanics
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/password-based authentication system with a challenge-response system based on shared secret rules and human computational power. This substitution eliminates the need for passwords entirely, using instead interactive challenges (games, image recognition) that leverage human cognitive abilities rather than relying on vulnerable password storage and transmission
2Reliability
If zero knowledge proofs are used for authentication, then security is improved, but device complexity increases due to requirement of trusted augmenting processor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses simple, easily implementable challenge-response mechanisms that can be executed on any standard device without requiring specialized trusted processing hardware. Each authentication session uses fresh challenges and responses that are discarded after use, providing security equivalent to zero-knowledge proofs but implementable on inexpensive, ordinary devices
Solution Approach 2:
The system leverages the user's own human computational power and cognitive abilities to complete authentication challenges, eliminating the need for external trusted augmenting processors. The user's brain serves as the computational resource, performing the complex verification tasks that would otherwise require specialized hardware
3Reliability
If complex mathematical calculations are required for authentication, then security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to need for mathematical knowledge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mathematical authentication mechanisms with human-friendly challenges based on familiar concepts such as games and image recognition. This substitution maintains high security through the cryptographic strength of challenge-response protocols while making authentication accessible to anyone with basic cognitive abilities, eliminating the need for mathematical expertise
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of authentication from mathematical computation to human cognitive processing. By transforming the nature of the computational task from mathematical to perceptual and logical reasoning, the system achieves equivalent security through different means that are naturally accessible to humans without specialized training
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for authenticating a user are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for authenticating a user includes displaying a first representation of a challenge. The challenge is based on a ruleset. The method also includes receiving a first input, determining if the first input furthers a successful completion of the first representation of the challenge, and determining if the first input completes the first representation of the challenge. If it is determined that the first input completes the first representation of the challenge and that the first input furthers the successful completion of the first representation of the challenge, the method further includes positively augmenting a security indicator.