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US 8,185,646 B2Granted
User authentication for social networks
AssigneeVeritrix, Inc.
InventorPaul Headley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for social networks that can verify that enrolled users are not misrepresenting facts about themselves such as age and gender. Verification can be performed, for example, by reference to biometric templates stored during the user enrollment process. The biometric templates can also be used to authenticate users logging into the social network to prevent user impersonation. The ability of some users to communicate to other users of the social network can be limited to only certified users, and even to those certified users that match a criterion, such as gender or age.
Claims17
A social network system comprising:
- enrollment logic comprising a first microprocessor and configured to enroll a first user in the social network by associating, in a memory, the first user with a user ID,
- associating, in the memory, a plurality of prompts with the user ID, the plurality of prompts for subsequent presentation to the first user,
- associating, in the memory, a plurality of biometric templates each with one of the plurality of prompts,
- receiving an indication of the first user's gender, and
- verifying the first user's gender during enrollment by analyzing a biometric template from the plurality of biometric templates;
- authentication logic comprising a second microprocessor and configured to authenticate a claimant as the first user by receiving a claimant target, sending a prompt from the plurality of prompts, receiving a biometric response to the prompt, and determining a match between the biometric response and a biometric template associated with the prompt;
- and
- logic configured to authenticate the first user to a second user by sending at least a portion of the biometric response of the first user, or at least a portion of a biometric template of the plurality of biometric templates of the first user, to the second user.
5 more elements
A method for enrolling a user in a social network the method comprising:
- associating, in a memory, the user with a user ID;
- associating, in the memory, a plurality of prompts with the user ID, the plurality of prompts for subsequent presentation to the first user;
- associating, in the memory, a plurality of biometric templates each with one of the plurality of prompts;
- receiving an indication of the user's gender;
- verifying the user's gender during enrollment by comparing the indication of the gender with a result of an analysis of a biometric template from the plurality of biometric templates;
- authenticating a claimant as the user by receiving a claimant target, sending a prompt from the plurality of prompts, receiving a biometric response to the prompt, and determining a match between the biometric response and a biometric template associated with the prompt;
- and
- authenticating the user to a second user by sending at least a portion of the biometric response of the first user, or at least a portion of a biometric template of the plurality of biometric templates of the user, to the second user.
5 more elements
A method for enrolling a user in a social network the method comprising:
- associating, in a memory, the user with a user ID;
- associating, in the memory, a plurality of prompts with the user ID, the plurality of prompts for subsequent presentation to the first user;
- associating, in the memory, a plurality of biometric templates each with one of the plurality of prompts;
- receiving an indication of the user's age;
- verifying the user's age during enrollment by comparing the indication with a biometric template from the plurality of biometric templates;
- authenticating a claimant as the user by receiving a claimant target, sending a prompt from the plurality of prompts, receiving a biometric response to the prompt, and determining a match between the biometric response and a biometric template associated with the prompt;
- and
- authenticating the user to a second user by sending at least a portion of the biometric response of the first user, or at least a portion of a biometric template of the plurality of biometric templates of the user, to the second user.
5 more elements
A method for preventing a first user from making certain misrepresentations in a social network, the method comprising:
- associating, in a memory, the first user with a user ID;
- associating, in the memory, the first user ID with a plurality of biometric templates of the first user;
- associating, in the memory, a plurality of prompts with the user ID, the plurality of prompts for subsequent presentation to the first user;
- verifying the user's gender during an enrollment by comparing a user indication of gender with a result of an analysis of a biometric template from the plurality of biometric templates;
- authenticating a claimant as the user by receiving a claimant target, sending a prompt from the plurality of prompts, receiving a biometric response to the prompt, and determining a match between the biometric response and a biometric template associated with the prompt;
- providing the plurality of prompts to the first user and storing the biometric responses of the first user thereto in association with the user ID;
- receiving a request from a second user of the social network to authenticate the first user of the social network;
- and
- sending to the second user at least a portion of a biometric login response of the first user.
6 more elements
A method for maintaining a social network comprising:
- enrolling users in the social network, wherein enrolling users includes storing, in a memory, in association with a user ID for each enrolled user a voice template, a facial recognition template, and either the user's gender or the user's age;
- associating, in the memory, a plurality of prompts with the user ID, the plurality of prompts for subsequent presentation to the first user;
- authenticating a claimant as a user by receiving a claimant target, sending a prompt from the plurality of prompts, receiving a biometric response to the prompt, and determining a match between the biometric response and a biometric template associated with the prompt;
- authenticating the user to a second user by sending at least a portion of the biometric response of the first user, or at least a portion of a biometric template of the plurality of biometric templates of the user, to the second user;
- certifying enrolled users by using their voice template or their facial recognition template to verify their gender or age;
- and
- indicating to users of the social network which other users are certified.
4 more elements
A social network system comprising:
- enrollment logic comprising a first microprocessor and configured to enroll a first user in the social network by associating, in a memory, the first user with a user ID,
- associating, in the memory, a plurality of prompts with the user ID, the plurality of prompts for subsequent presentation to the first user,
- associating, in the memory, a plurality of biometric templates each with one of the plurality of prompts,
- receiving an indication of the first user's gender,
- verifying the first user's gender during enrollment by analyzing a biometric template from the plurality of biometric templates;
- and
- authentication logic comprising a second microprocessor and configured to authenticate a claimant as the first user by
- receiving a claimant target,
- sending a prompt from the plurality of prompts,
- receiving a biometric response to the prompt, and
- determining a match between the biometric response and a biometric template associated with the prompt, and
- further configured to authenticate the first user to a second user by sending at least a portion of the biometric response of the first user, or at least a portion of a biometric template of the plurality of biometric templates of the first user, to the second user.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.