SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTHENTICATING TRANSACTIONS FROM A MOBILE DEVICE

1 . A method for authenticating components of a transaction, comprising:

receiving, by an authentication server, via a network, an authentication request from a device associated with a location, the authentication request including information identifying a user participating in the transaction, wherein the authentication request is responsive to the initiation of the transaction between a mobile device associated with the user and the device associated with the location, wherein the mobile device is associated with a camera and is configured to communicate with the authentication server and the device associated with the location;

transmitting, by the authentication server, via the network, a picture request to the mobile device;

receiving, by the authentication server, via the network, a picture taken by the associated camera of the mobile device in response to the picture request;

analyzing, by the authentication server, the picture to determine the probability that the picture includes an image of at least a portion of the user, including comparing the picture to images of the user stored in an identification database;

analyzing, by the authentication server, the picture to determine the probability that the picture includes an image of at least a portion of the location other than the device associated with the location, including comparing the picture to images of the location stored in the identification database; and

if the probability that the picture includes an image of the user is above a user probability threshold, and the probability that the picture includes an image of the location is above a location probability threshold, transmitting, by the authentication server, via the network, an authentication approval response to the device associated with the location.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

comparing, by the authentication server, characteristics of the picture with information stored in the identification database, the information being associated with the mobile device, to determine the probability that the picture was taken by the mobile device associated with the user.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the characteristics of the picture compared with information stored in the identification database include at least one of the following: (a) pixel count; (b) resolution.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the picture request causes the mobile device to take the picture without additional commands from the user.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of analyzing the image to determine the probability that the picture includes the user further comprises:

comparing the angle at which the picture was taken, with the angle of images of the user stored in an identification database.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

automatically transmitting, from the mobile device, via the network, the images of the user to be stored in the identification database.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

storing, in the identification database, images from previous picture requests associated with the user.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

using the images from previous picture requests associated with the user to train the authentication server to determine the probability that an image includes the user.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

storing, in the identification database, images from previous picture requests associated with the location.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

using the pictures from previous picture requests associated with the location to train the authentication server to determine the probability that a picture includes an image of the location.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of analyzing the picture to determine the probability that the picture includes an image of at least a portion of the user is performed, and then the user's image is removed from the picture, and the step of analyzing the picture to determine the probability that the picture includes an image of at least a portion of the location is performed.

12 . A system for authenticating components of a transaction, comprising:

an identification database containing user identification information including reference images of a user, information identifying a mobile device associated with the user, and location identification information including reference images of a location; and

an authentication server, in communication with the identification database, including an authentication processor programmed to:

receive an authentication request from a device associated with the location, the authentication request including information identifying the user participating in the transaction, wherein the authentication request is responsive to the initiation of the transaction between the mobile device and the device associated with the location, wherein the mobile device is associated with a camera and is configured to communicate with the authentication server and the device associated with the location;

transmit a picture request to the mobile device;

receive a picture taken by the associated camera of the mobile device in response to the picture request;

analyze the picture to determine the probability that the picture includes an image of at least a portion of the user, including comparing the picture to images of the user stored in the identification database;

analyze the picture to determine the probability that the picture includes an image of at least a portion of the location other than the device associated with the location, including comparing the picture to images of the location stored in the identification database; and

if the probability that the picture includes an image of the user is above a user probability threshold, and the probability that the image includes an image of the location is above a location probability threshold, transmitting an authentication approval response to the device associated with the location.

13 . The system of claim 12 , the authentication server further programmed to:

compare characteristics of the picture with information stored in the identification database, the information being associated with the mobile device, to determine the probability that the picture was taken by the mobile device associated with the user.

14 . The system of claim 12 , the authentication server further programmed to:

compare the angle at which the picture was taken with the angle of images of the user stored in an identification database.

15 . The system of claim 12 , the authentication server further programmed to:

store, in the identification database, images from a previous picture request associated with the user; and

use the stored images in later analysis to determine the probability that a later-taken image includes the user.

16 . The system of claim 12 , the authentication server further programmed to:

store, in the identification database, images from a previous picture request associated with the location; and

use the stored images in later analysis to determine the probability that a later-taken image includes the location.

17 . The system of claim 12 , the authentication server further programmed to:

receive the results of a fingerprint identification taking place at the mobile device.

18 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising the device associated with the location, wherein the device associated with the location is programmed to execute the transaction only if the authentication server provides an authentication approval response.

19 . The system of claim 12 , the authentication server further programmed to:

transmit an alert to the user if the probability that the image incudes the user is below the user probability threshold; and

transmit an alert to the location if the probability that the image incudes the location is below the user probability threshold.

20 . A method for authenticating components of a transaction, comprising:

receiving, by a mobile device associated with a user, via a network, a picture request from an authentication server;

initiating a camera associated with the mobile device to take a picture, wherein the picture includes an image of at least a portion of the user and at least a portion of a real-time location of the user; and

transmitting, by the mobile device, via the network, the picture to the authentication server.

21 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the analyzing of the picture to determine the probability that the picture includes an image of at least a portion of the location is based on at least one of (i) a color of a wall, ceiling, or floor of the location, (ii) damaged portions of a wall, ceiling, or floor of the location, and (iii) a size ratio of a visible structure within the location.