Geographic Pattern Verification for Human-Only Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing CAPTCHA methods are frustrating for human users as they often require solving distorted images of letters and numbers, which can be difficult, and may unintentionally prevent legitimate human access to services, while failing to effectively distinguish humans from automated programs.

Innovation Solution

A system that uses geographic data, such as maps, to verify human users by presenting tasks that require interaction with real-world geographic features, making it easier for humans to complete while being challenging for automated programs, using a client device with sensors and a server application to generate and verify tasks related to geographic data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional CAPTCHA methods use distorted images of letters and numbers, then automated programs are blocked, but human users experience frustration and difficulty completing the test

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to distinguish humans from automated programsVSAvoidease of completing the CAPTCHA test

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameters of the CAPTCHA test from requiring visual recognition of distorted text to requiring spatial reasoning and pattern recognition of geographic features. This parameter change maintains reliability in distinguishing humans from automated programs while dramatically improving ease of operation, as the new test format is more intuitive and less frustrating for human users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes the mechanical/visual recognition system (reading distorted text) with a cognitive/spatial reasoning system (analyzing geographic patterns and relationships). This substitution replaces a task that is difficult for humans with one that leverages human strengths in spatial reasoning while remaining challenging for automated programs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If CAPTCHA tests are made more difficult to solve, then automated programs are better blocked, but legitimate human access is unintentionally prevented

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness in blocking automated programsVSAvoidrate of successful access by human users

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by designing test elements that have different characteristics for human versus automated solvers. The geographic patterns and spatial relationships are configured to be naturally intuitive for human perception while presenting computational challenges for automated systems, creating localized difficulty differences that favor human users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of making CAPTCHA harder for humans to solve, the patent inverts the approach by making it easier for humans through natural spatial reasoning while maintaining difficulty for automated programs. The test design leverages human cognitive strengths rather than imposing artificial barriers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of operation

If CAPTCHA uses familiar and simple elements, then human users can complete it easily, but automated programs may also solve it

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of completing the CAPTCHA testVSAvoidability to distinguish humans from automated programs

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs asymmetry by creating test elements that exploit the fundamental asymmetry between human and machine processing. Geographic patterns and spatial relationships are asymmetric in a way that aligns with human perceptual processing while creating computational complexity for automated systems, allowing easy human completion while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

4Reliability

If the distorted image includes unfamiliar words or complex patterns, then automated programs cannot solve it, but human users become frustrated and annoyed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to block automated programsVSAvoiduser frustration and annoyance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potential harm of user frustration into benefit by designing a test that is inherently more engaging and interesting for human users. Rather than using distorted text that frustrates users, the geographic pattern recognition test leverages human interest in spatial relationships and real-world geography, turning what could be a negative experience into a positive one while maintaining effectiveness against automated programs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS9356923B2Verification that a user attempting to access content is a human user

Publication Date: 2016.05.31 HERE GLOBAL BV

AI summary

An easier and less frustrating way of verifying that a user attempting to access content is a human user is provided. For example, data indicative of a request by a user to access content from a content server is received. An output of geographic data associated with a geographic region is generated. A task to be performed by the user to access the content is provided as a function of the generated output. The output and the task are transmitted to the content server for presentation to the user. Performance of the task by the user is substantially indicative of the user being a human user.