Biometric authentication with smart mobile device

A mobile device for authenticating a user to a remote computing network, comprising:

• memory for storing program code;
• a processor, coupled to the memory, for running the program code;
• a camera coupled to the processor;
• and
• a network interface, coupled to the processor,
• wherein the processor running the program code is constructed and arranged to—
• acquire a picture of the user with the camera;
• obtain picture information from the picture of the user;
• send, via the network interface, the picture information to a server that stores picture information in connection with different users of the remote computing network;
• receive, via the network interface, a picture match response back from the server, the picture match response indicating whether the picture information from the picture matches the picture information stored on the server;
• and
• use the picture match response as part of an authentication operation of the user to the remote computing network,
• wherein the processor running the program code is further constructed and arranged to—
• receive the picture match response by receiving an UNLOCK instruction from the server, and
• display, in response to receiving the UNLOCK instruction, a soft token code to the user for accessing the remote computing network, and
• wherein, when constructed and arranged to acquire a picture of the user with the camera, the processor running the program code is further constructed and arranged to:
• show an image on a display of the mobile device, the image corresponding to objects toward which the camera is pointing;
• and
• superimpose an indicator on the image, the indicator showing the user where to place the user's face relative to the image when acquiring the picture.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions which, when executed by a mobile device, cause the mobile device to perform a method for authenticating a user to a remote computing network, the method comprising:

• acquiring a picture of the user with a camera of a mobile device;
• obtaining picture information from the picture of the user;
• sending the picture information to a server that stores picture information in connection with different users of the remote computing network;
• receiving a picture match response back from the server, the picture match response indicating whether the picture information from the picture matches the picture information stored on the server;
• and
• using the picture match response as part of an authentication operation of the user to the remote computing network,
• wherein receiving the picture match response includes receiving an UNLOCK instruction from the server, and wherein the method further comprises the mobile device displaying, in response to receiving the UNLOCK instruction, a soft token code to the user for accessing the remote computing network,
• wherein the method further comprises:
• showing an image on a display of the mobile device, the image corresponding to objects toward which the camera is pointing;
• and
• superimposing an indicator on the image, the indicator showing the user where to place the user's face relative to the image when acquiring the picture.