Techniques for user authentication

An article of manufacture comprising:

• at least one non-transitory processor readable storage medium;
• and instructions stored on the at least one medium;
• wherein the instructions are configured to be readable from the at least one medium by at least one processor and thereby cause the at least one processor to operate so as to:
• during registration of a user, receive a first captured image of a physical key having a blade;
• identify from the captured image a plurality of features associated with the blade of the physical key, wherein the plurality of features comprise at least one of:
• a plurality of distances between each corner of the blade while disregarding angles of straight regions of the blade;
• or
• a first plurality of corners representing local maxima of the blade while disregarding a second plurality of corners representing local minima of the blade;
• associate the identified plurality of features with the user as key feature data;
• in response to a subsequent access request by the user requiring authorization of the user, prompt the user to present the physical key;
• receive a second captured image in response to prompting the user;
• analyze the second image to determine if the key feature data is represented in the second image,
• wherein analyzing the second image includes applying at least one image comparison to the second image to accommodate differences between the first and second images,
• wherein the differences between the first and second images comprise at least one of:
• key orientation, distance, and lighting;
• and
• in response to determining that the key feature data is represented in the second image, authorize the access request of the user.

A system comprising:

• at least memory device;
• and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the at least one memory device;
• wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
• during registration of a user, receive a first captured image of a physical key having a blade;
• identify from the captured image a plurality of features associated with the blade of the physical key, wherein the plurality of features comprise at least one of:
• a plurality of distances between each corner of the blade while disregarding angles of straight regions of the blade;
• or
• a first plurality of corners representing local maxima of the blade while disregarding a second plurality of corners representing local minima of the blade;
• associate the identified plurality of features with the user as key feature data;
• in response to a subsequent access request by the user requiring authorization of the user, prompt the user to present the physical key;
• receive a second captured image in response to prompting the user;
• analyze the second image to determine if the key feature data is represented in the second image,
• wherein analyzing the second image includes applying at least one image comparison to the second image to accommodate differences between the first and second images,
• wherein the differences between the first and second images comprise at least one of:
• key orientation, distance, and lighting;
• and
• in response to determining that the key feature data is represented in the second image, authorize the access request of the user.