IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,738,101
Granted Patent B2
US 12,738,101 · App. 18/791,027 · Granted Sep 15, 2026

Techniques for authenticating a user

Inventors: Derek William Engi (Pleasant Ridge, MI); Gonzalo Salgueiro (Raleigh, NC); Pascale Delaunay (La Verne, CA); Julie Allen (Sioux Falls, SD)
Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
G06V40/50G06V20/00G06V40/172H04L63/0861
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,738,101
App. No.
18/791,027
Filed
Jul 31, 2024
Granted
Sep 15, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2674
USPC
382/116
Abstract

This disclosure describes techniques for authenticating a user. For instance, a system may initially generate and then store authentication data for later authenticating the user. The authentication data may include biometrics data (e.g., facial recognition data), credentials data (e.g., a username, password, etc.), and/or environmental data (e.g., object(s) located within an environment). Later, the system may receive image data generated by a user device of the user. In some examples, the system may then analyze the image data using one or more facial recognition techniques in order to identify the user. The system may then use the authentication data, such as the environmental data, to determine that the image data further represents the object(s). Based on determining that the image data further represents the object(s), the system may then verify the user for access to a resource.

Claims (87)

1 . A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving first image data generated by a first user device;

determining that the first image data represents a user associated with a user profile;

sending, to the first user device, a request to select an object, represented by the first image data;

receiving, from the first user device, input data indicating a first object represented by the first image data;

storing, in association with the user profile, authentication data associated with the first object;

receiving, from the first user device or a second user device, second image data;

analyzing the second image data to determine that a portion of the second image data represents the user;

sending, to the first user device or the second user device, a prompt that requests that the user present the first object to a camera generating the second image data representing the user;

determining the user presented the first object to the camera based at least in part on the first object being represented in third image data; and

determining that the user is verified based at least in part on the first object being presented by the user in the third image data.

2 . The system of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:

receiving a request to authenticate the user; and

determining that the second image data does not include the first object,

wherein the prompt that requests that the user present the first object to the camera is generated based at least in part on the second image data not including the first object.

3 . The system of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:

analyzing the second image data using a facial recognition algorithm; and

determining that the second image data represents the user,

wherein determining that the user is verified is further based at least in part on the second image data representing the user.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein sending the prompt includes:

causing presentation, on a display of the first user device or the second user device, text including a challenge for the user to present the first object to the camera.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein sending the prompt includes:

causing a speaker of the first user device or the second user device to output a sound indicating a challenge for the user to present the first object to the camera.

6 . The system of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:

sending a second prompt that requests that the user present a biometric authentication factor;

receiving the biometric authentication factor;

verifying the biometric authentication factor as belonging to the user; and

determining that the user is verified based on the first object being presented and the biometric authentication factor being received.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the biometric authentication factor is received at least partly while the first object is presented to the camera.

8 . A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving first image data generated by a first user device;

determining that the first image data represents a user associated with a user profile;

sending, to the first user device, a request to select an object, represented by the first image data;

receiving, from the first user device, input data indicating a first object represented by the first image data;

storing, in association with the user profile, authentication data associated with the first object;

receiving, from the first user device or a second user device, second image data;

analyzing the second image data to determine that a portion of the second image data represents the user;

sending, to the first user device or the second user device, a prompt that requests that the user present the first object to a camera generating the second image data representing the user;

determining the user presented the first object to the camera based at least in part on the first object being represented in third image data; and

determining that the user is verified based at least in part on the first object being presented by the user in the third image data.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

receiving a request to authenticate the user; and

determining that the second image data does not include the first object,

wherein the prompt that requests that the user present the first object to the camera is generated based at least in part on the second image data not including the first object.

10 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

analyzing the second image data using a facial recognition algorithm; and

determining that the second image data represents the user,

wherein determining that the user is verified is further based at least in part on the second image data representing the user.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein sending the prompt includes:

causing presentation, on a display of the first user device or the second user device, text including a challenge for the user to present the first object to the camera.

12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein sending the prompt includes:

causing a speaker of the first user device or the second user device to output a sound indicating a challenge for the user to present the first object to the camera.

13 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

sending a second prompt that requests that the user present a biometric authentication factor;

receiving the biometric authentication factor;

verifying the biometric authentication factor as belonging to the user; and

determining that the user is verified based on the first object being presented and the biometric authentication factor being received.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the biometric authentication factor is received at least partly while the first object is presented to the camera.

15 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving first image data generated by a first user device;

determining that the first image data represents a user associated with a user profile;

sending, to the first user device, a request to select an object, represented by the first image data;

receiving, from the first user device, input data indicating a first object represented by the first image data;

storing, in association with the user profile, authentication data associated with the first object;

receiving, from the first user device or a second user device, second image data;

analyzing the second image data to determine that a portion of the second image data represents the user;

sending, to the first user device or the second user device, a prompt that requests that the user present the first object to a camera generating the second image data representing the user;

determining the user presented the first object to the camera based at least in part on the first object being represented in third image data; and

determining that the user is verified based at least in part on the first object being presented by the user in the third image user.

16 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable of claim 15 , the operations further comprising:

receiving a request to authenticate the user; and

determining that the second image data does not include the first object,

wherein the prompt that requests that the user present the first object to the camera is generated based at least in part on the second image data not including the first object.

17 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable of claim 15 , the operations further comprising:

analyzing the second image data using a facial recognition algorithm; and

determining that the second image data represents the user,

wherein determining that the user is verified is further based at least in part on the second image data representing the user.

18 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable of claim 15 , wherein sending the prompt includes:

causing presentation, on a display of the first user device or the second user device, text including a challenge for the user to present the first object to the camera.

19 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable of claim 15 , the operations further comprising:

sending a second prompt that requests that the user present a biometric authentication factor;

receiving the biometric authentication factor;

verifying the biometric authentication factor as belonging to the user; and

determining that the user is verified based on the first object being presented and the biometric authentication factor being received.

20 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable of claim 19 , wherein the biometric authentication factor is received at least partly while the first object is presented to the camera.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2024
From: ENGI, DEREK WILLIAM; SALGUEIRO, GONZALO; DELAUNAY, PASCALE; ALLEN, JULIE
To: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 068144/0207 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 17378013 · Jul 16, 2021
Related Publication 20240395072A1 · Nov 28, 2024
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