IP Library Granted Patent US 11,589,227
Granted Patent B2
US 11,589,227 · App. 16/787,147 · Granted Feb 21, 2023

Multilevel authentication using a mobile device

Inventors: Juan F. Vargas (Cary, NC); Mark E. Maresh (Wake Forest, NC); Michael J. Whitney (Cary, NC); Colm Nolan (Navan, IE)
Assignee: KYNDRYL, INC.
H04W12/069H04L63/083H04L63/0853H04L63/18H04L63/20H04W12/71
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,589,227
App. No.
16/787,147
Granted
Feb 21, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A computer-implemented method, a computer program product, and a computer system for using a mobile device to authenticate a user to access a secure facility. An authentication service determines whether the mobile device of the user is locked. The authentication service requests the user to unlock the mobile device and determines whether the user has unlocked the mobile device. The authentication service retrieves, from the mobile device, a first token and a MAC address. The authentication service retrieves, from a database, a token identifier of the mobile device and a personal identifier of the user. The authentication service generates a second token, based on the token identifier, the personal identifier, and the MAC address. The authentication service determines whether the first and the second tokens match. The authentication service grants the user access to the secure facility, in response to the first and the second tokens matching.

Claims (51)

1. A computer-implemented method for using a mobile device to authenticate a user to access a secure facility, the method comprising:

determining, by an authentication service, whether the mobile device of the user is locked when the user approaches the secure facility and when the mobile device is connected to the authentication service through a wireless network at the secure facility;

in response to determining that the mobile device is locked, requesting, by the authentication service, the user to unlock the mobile device, and determining whether the user has unlocked the mobile device;

in response to determining that the user has unlocked the mobile device, retrieving, by the authentication service, from the mobile device, a first token and a media access control (MAC) address;

retrieving, by the authentication service, from a database of the authentication service, a token identifier registered for the mobile device and a personal identifier registered for the user;

generating, by the authentication service, a second token, based on the token identifier and the personal identifier retrieved from the database and based on the media access control (MAC) address retrieved from the mobile device;

determining, by the authentication service, whether the first token and the second token match; and in response to determining that the first token and the second token match, granting, by the authentication service, the user access to the secure facility;

in response to determining, when the user approaches the secure facility and when the mobile device is connected to the authentication service through a wireless network at the secure facility, that the mobile device is not locked, rejecting, by the authentication service, the user the access to the secure facility, and requesting the user to lock the mobile device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising: in response to determining that the user has not unlocked the device, rejecting, by the authentication service, the user the access to the secure facility.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising: in response to determining that the first token and the second token do not match, rejecting, by the authentication service, the user the access to the secure facility.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising: in response to determining that the first token and the second token match, generating, by the authentication service, a certificate for the user to access the secure facility; and

deploying, by the authentication service, the certificate on the mobile device.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , further comprising: retrieving, by the authentication service, from the mobile device of the user, the certificate;

determining, by the authentication service, whether the certificate is expired; and in response to determining that the certificate is not expired, checking, by the authentication service, access policies; and

in response to determining that the access policies grant the user to access, granting, by the authentication service, the user the access to the secure facility.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , further comprising: in response to determining that the certificate is expired, requesting, by the authentication service, the user to extend the certificate.

7. A computer program product for using a mobile device to authenticate a user to access a secure facility, the computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices, the program instructions executable to:

determine, by an authentication service, whether the mobile device of the user is locked when the user approaches the secure facility and when the mobile device is connected to the authentication service through a wireless network at the secure facility;

in response to determining that the mobile device is locked, request, by the authentication service, the user to unlock the mobile device, and determine whether the user has unlocked the mobile device;

in response to determining that the user has unlocked the mobile device, retrieve, by the authentication service, from the mobile device, a first token and a media access control (MAC) address;

retrieve, by the authentication service, from a database of the authentication service, a token identifier registered for the mobile device and a personal identifier registered for the user;

generate, by the authentication service, a second token, based on the token identifier and the personal identifier retrieved from the database and based on the media access control (MAC) address retrieved from the mobile device;

determine, by the authentication service, whether the first token and the second token match; and

in response to determining that the first token and the second token match, grant, by the authentication service, the user access to the secure facility, wherein the secure facility comprises a building and the granting the user access to the secure facility comprises unlocking an entry door;

in response to determining, when the user approaches the secure facility and when the mobile device is connected to the authentication service through a wireless network at the secure facility, that the mobile device is not locked, rejecting, by the authentication service, the user the access to the secure facility, and requesting the user to lock the mobile device.

8. The computer program product of claim 7 , further comprising the program instructions executable to: in response to determining that the user has not unlocked the device, reject, by the authentication service, the user the access to the secure facility.

9. The computer program product of claim 7 , further comprising the program instructions executable to: in response to determining that the first token and the second token do not match, reject, by the authentication service, the user the access to the secure facility.

10. The computer program product of claim 7 , further comprising the program instructions executable to: in response to determining that the first token and the second token match, generate, by the authentication service, a certificate for the user to access the secure facility; and deploying, by the authentication service, the certificate on the mobile device.

11. The computer program product of claim 10 , further comprising the program instructions executable to: retrieve, by the authentication service, from the mobile device of the user, the certificate; determine, by the authentication service, whether the certificate is expired; and

in response to determining that the certificate is not expired, check, by the authentication service, access policies; and in response to determining that the access policies grant the user to access, grant, by the authentication service, the user the access to the secure facility.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 , further comprising the program instructions executable to: in response to determining that the certificate is expired, request, by the authentication service, the user to extend the certificate.

13. A computer system for using a mobile device to authenticate a user to access a secure facility, the computer system comprising:

one or more processors, one or more computer readable tangible storage devices, and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more computer readable tangible storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, the program instructions executable to:

determine, by an authentication service, whether the mobile device of the user is locked as the user approaches the secure facility and when the mobile device is connected to the authentication service through a wireless network at the secure facility; in response to determining that the mobile device is locked as the user approaches the secure facility, request, by the authentication service, the user to unlock the mobile device, and determine whether the user has unlocked the mobile device;

in response to determining that the user has unlocked the mobile device, retrieve, by the authentication service, from the mobile device, a first token and a media access control (MAC) address;

retrieve, by the authentication service, from a database of the authentication service, a token identifier registered for the mobile device and a personal identifier registered for the user;

generate, by the authentication service, a second token, based on the token identifier and the personal identifier retrieved from the database and based on the media access control (MAC) address retrieved from the mobile device;

determine, by the authentication service, whether the first token and the second token match; and

in response to determining that the first token and the second token match, grant, by the authentication service, the user access to the secure facility, wherein the secure facility comprises a building and the granting the user access to the secure facility comprises:

determining, using Wi-Fi triangulation, a location of the mobile device of the user and a door of the building closest to the location of the mobile device of the user; and

unlocking the door of the building closest to the location of the mobile device of the user

in response to determining, when the user approaches the secure facility and when the mobile device is connected to the authentication service through a wireless network at the secure facility, that the mobile device is not locked, rejecting, by the authentication service, the user the access to the secure facility, and requesting the user to lock the mobile device.

14. The computer system of claim 13 , further comprising the program instructions executable to: in response to determining that the user has not unlocked the device, reject, by the authentication service, the user the access to the secure facility.

15. The computer system of claim 13 , further comprising the program instructions executable to: in response to determining that the first token and the second token do not match, reject, by the authentication service, the user the access to the secure facility.

16. The computer system of claim 13 , further comprising the program instructions executable to: in response to determining that the first token and the second token match, generate, by the authentication service, a certificate for the user to access the secure facility; and deploying, by the authentication service, the certificate on the mobile device.

17. The computer system of claim 16 , further comprising the program instructions executable to:

retrieve, by the authentication service, from the mobile device of the user, the certificate;

determine, by the authentication service, whether the certificate is expired;

in response to determining that the certificate is not expired, check, by the authentication service, access policies;

in response to determining that the access policies grant the user to access, grant, by the authentication service, the user the access to the secure facility; and

in response to determining that the certificate is expired, request, by the authentication service, the user to extend the certificate.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 18, 2021
From: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
To: KYNDRYL, INC.
Reel/Frame 058213/0912 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2020
From: VARGAS, JUAN F.; MARESH, MARK E.; WHITNEY, MICHAEL J.; NOLAN, COLM
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 051780/0324 →