Item Recognition Authentication via Image Matching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing authentication methods are cumbersome and vulnerable to unauthorized access, as they rely on usernames and passwords that can be stolen or compromised, necessitating a more efficient and secure way to verify user identity.

Innovation Solution

The use of computer vision technology to authenticate users by recognizing personal items, such as jewelry or accessories, through image comparison with stored references, eliminating the need for usernames and passwords and enhancing security by requiring knowledge of the item's presence and location.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional username and password authentication is used, then users can access applications, but the system becomes vulnerable to unauthorized access and credential theft

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication securityVSAvoidcredential theft risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a photograph of a personal item as a copy/representation of the actual physical item. The stored photograph serves as a reference copy that is compared against newly captured images during authentication, eliminating the need to store or transmit sensitive credential information while maintaining verification capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical authentication system (keyboards, password entry, credential verification) with an optical recognition system using camera-based image capture and computer vision algorithms to automatically verify the personal item, eliminating vulnerable manual authentication steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If multiple authentication steps are required, then security is improved, but user convenience and authentication speed deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication securityVSAvoidauthentication convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the authentication verification process into a single unified action: capturing a photograph of the personal item. This combines multiple authentication considerations (item recognition, ownership verification, security validation) into one seamless operation, eliminating the need for separate steps like entering credentials or answering security questions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary actions during account setup by storing reference photographs of the user's personal items and pre-configuring authentication parameters. This preparation work is done in advance so that during actual authentication, the system can quickly compare newly captured images against pre-stored references without requiring users to manually input information or go through multiple verification steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10397208B2Authentication via item recognition

Publication Date: 2019.08.27 PAYPAL INC

AI summary

Systems and methods for authenticating a user are provided. A user specifies one or more items for authentication and provides images of the one or more items. When the user opens up a mobile application, a camera on the mobile device is activated and takes a picture of an item in its field of view. If the picture matches one of the images of the items, the user is authenticated.