Synthetic Image Authentication for Privacy-Safe Remote Login
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional authentication methods requiring users to remember passwords and PIN codes are vulnerable to unauthorized access, and the use of user-specific images for authentication raises privacy and storage concerns due to the need to store sensitive data.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing generative models to create synthetic images based on user-specific data, allowing users to authenticate without storing the original images, thus maintaining privacy and reducing data storage needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If user-specific images are stored for authentication, then authentication security is improved, but privacy concerns and data storage requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates synthetic images that copy the essential visual characteristics and patterns of user-specific images without storing the original images. The synthetic images are generated through image processing techniques that replicate key features (colors, patterns, compositions) while being mathematically derived rather than stored copies, thus maintaining authentication security while eliminating privacy risks associated with storing sensitive user images
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the storage parameter from storing actual image data to storing synthetic image parameters or processing algorithms. By changing what is stored (from original images to processed/synthetic representations), the system maintains authentication capability while reducing privacy concerns and storage requirements
2Reliability
If user-specific images are stored for authentication, then authentication security is improved, but data storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of storing multiple high-resolution user images, the system generates synthetic images through processing algorithms that create authentication-ready images on-demand. This copying approach reduces storage requirements from storing multiple full-resolution images to storing either a single reference image or even just processing parameters
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary image processing to create synthetic images that are ready for authentication before actual authentication occurs. By pre-processing images into synthetic forms with embedded authentication features, the system reduces the need to store and process large amounts of raw image data during authentication events
3Ease of operation
If conventional authentication methods are used, then ease of operation is improved, but security against unauthorized access worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical/password-based authentication systems with an image-based authentication system. Instead of requiring users to remember and input passwords or PIN codes, the system uses visual recognition of synthetic images that are processed from user-specific images, providing both ease of use (visual recognition is more intuitive) and improved security (images are harder to guess or brute-force than passwords)
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are described herein for improvements to authenticate users, particularly authenticating a user based on data known to the user. For example, methods and systems allow for users to be securely authenticated based on data known to the users over remote communication networks without storing the data known to the users. Specifically, methods and systems authenticate users by requiring users to select images that are known to the users. For example, the methods and systems may generate synthetic images based on the user's own images and require the user to select the synthetic image, from a set of a set of images, that is known to the user to authenticate the user. Moreover, the methods and systems alleviate storage and privacy concerns by not storing the data known to the users.