Terminal Authentication via Environmental Fingerprinting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional authentication methods are time-consuming and require users to remember complex passwords, which can be easily stolen, and often necessitate multiple stages of credential input, while password-less solutions rely on external devices.
Innovation Solution
A method that authenticates a terminal with a server using multiple environmental factors, such as software processes, operating system, and user input, generating a dynamic environmental authentication information that replaces traditional passwords, allowing for secure authentication without external devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional authentication methods are used, then users can authenticate with traditional passwords, but the authentication process becomes time-consuming and requires users to remember complex credentials
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the terminal's own environmental characteristics (software processes, operating system, user input patterns) to generate authentication credentials. The terminal autonomously creates and manages its own authentication identity without requiring external devices or user intervention to input passwords, thereby reducing authentication time while maintaining security through unique environmental fingerprints.
Solution Approach 2:
The authentication system transitions from static password parameters to dynamic environmental parameters. By monitoring changes in software processes, operating system states, and user input patterns over time, the system creates a living authentication credential that adapts to the terminal's current state, enabling faster authentication without compromising security.
2Reliability
If strong classic passwords are used, then authentication security is improved, but the passwords become difficult to remember and can be stolen easily
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal generates its own authentication credential based on its unique environmental characteristics without requiring the user to create or remember a password. The system autonomously manages the authentication secret, eliminating the burden of password memorization while maintaining strong security through the uniqueness of the terminal's environmental fingerprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/password-based authentication system with an environmental fingerprinting system. Instead of relying on user-chosen passwords, the system uses automated detection of software processes, operating system characteristics, and user input patterns to create an unforgeable authentication credential that is both secure and easy to use.
3Ease of operation
If password-less authentication is implemented, then user convenience is improved, but external devices such as fingerprint scanners or iris scanners are required
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal itself serves as the authentication device by utilizing its own environmental characteristics. No external biometric scanners or additional hardware are needed because the terminal's software environment, processes, and user input patterns collectively form the authentication credential. The existing terminal infrastructure is repurposed for authentication, eliminating the need for external devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal's existing components (processor, memory, input devices, operating system) are given a dual function: they continue to perform their primary computing tasks while simultaneously serving as the authentication mechanism. The same hardware and software that run applications also generate the environmental fingerprint used for authentication, eliminating the need for dedicated authentication hardware.
4Reliability
If multiple stages of credential input are required, then authentication security is improved, but the authentication process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple authentication verification stages into a single environmental fingerprint comparison. Instead of requiring separate credential inputs and verifications, the system combines software process detection, operating system verification, and user input pattern analysis into one unified authentication check, reducing procedural complexity while maintaining comprehensive security validation.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and computer program products for authenticating a terminal with a server based on multiple environmental factors. Each of the multiple environmental factors relates to a configurable hardware-independent characteristic of the terminal. Each of the multiple environmental factors is defined at least by an identifier and a value. The identifier identifies a respective environmental factor and the value indicates a state of the respective configurable hardware-independent characteristic. The multiple environmental factors constitute an environmental authentication information for authenticating the terminal with the server.