Proximity-Based Authentication Scoring for Network Context
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current user authentication methods lack effective measures to ensure the security of personal information, particularly in verifying a user's identity for accessing sensitive actions or information, especially in scenarios where traditional credentials may not provide sufficient confidence in the user's proximity or network context.
Innovation Solution
An authentication system that determines a close network score based on the user's physical location and proximity to designated network members, using a weighted scoring system to select appropriate authentication types and credentials, thereby validating the user's identity and authorizing actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional authentication credentials are used, then user identity verification is provided, but security confidence in user proximity and network context is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication system is segmented into multiple independent components: close network determination module, proximity detection module, authentication credential verification module, and action execution module. Each module performs a specific function, allowing the system to achieve high security confidence through layered verification without creating a monolithic complex system that is difficult to manage and maintain.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a new dimension to authentication by incorporating spatial proximity and network relationship context beyond traditional credentials. By determining whether contacts are physically close to the user and assessing their network closeness, the system creates a multi-dimensional authentication framework that enhances security confidence while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.
2Reliability
If close network score and proximity-based authentication is implemented, then security is enhanced, but authentication system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-determining the user's close network members and their relationships before authentication is needed. This advance preparation allows the system to quickly assess proximity and network context during authentication without creating complex real-time calculations, thereby enhancing security while keeping the authentication process manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The close network score acts as an intermediary metric that bridges traditional authentication credentials and proximity-based verification. Instead of directly comparing complex spatial and social network data, the system uses this intermediate score to simplify the authentication decision-making process, enhancing security while reducing procedural complexity.
3Measurement precision
If multiple authentication types and credentials are required, then validation accuracy improves, but user convenience decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication system dynamically adjusts the types and number of credentials required based on the determined close network score and proximity level. When proximity and network context provide high confidence, the system requires fewer authentication types, enhancing user convenience. When confidence is lower, it automatically requires additional verification, maintaining validation accuracy without imposing unnecessary burdens on users.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments provide user authentication based on proximity to a close network of a user. Embodiments receive from a user a request to execute a user action associated with an application, wherein execution of the user action requires validation of one or more authentication credentials; collect a set of data comprising information related to a physical location of the user; determine a close network score associated with the user; determine a level of authentication associated with the close network score; determine which one or more authentication types are associated with the level of authentication associated with the close network score; request one or more authentication credentials corresponding to the determined one or more authentication types; receive credentials from the user; validate the credentials, thereby resulting in a successful validation of the credentials; and, in response to the successful validation of the credentials, execute the user action.