Spatiotemporal authentication
A system and method of authentication is provided that uses the spatiotemporal context of a user which has been measured using third party monitoring systems. Spatiotemporal data obtained from third party systems such as CCTV networks, microphone networks, UAV networks, CAV networks, ATM networks or the like is used to determine a unique spatiotemporal fingerprint for an individual. That is, the unique identifier is not derived from a device carried by the individual. This fingerprint can then be used to verify a user and detect abnormal and unexpected behaviour.
1. A computer-implemented method of generating a unique identifier, the method comprising:
receiving at least one set of sensing data from at least one network of sensing devices arranged to measure a spatiotemporal position of one or more users, wherein the at least one network of sensing devices comprises a plurality of cameras distributed over a defined geographic area, the plurality of cameras being remote from the one or more users and configured to measure the spatiotemporal position of the one or more users upon detection thereof;
determining from the at least one set of sensing data a plurality of spatiotemporal data points corresponding to the spatiotemporal position of a first user captured over a pre-determined period of time at a plurality of locations within the defined geographic area, wherein a portion of the plurality of spatiotemporal data points corresponds to each of the plurality of locations, the first user having been repeatedly detected by a camera at the respective location during the pre-determined period of time; and
generating a first unique spatio-temporal identifier corresponding to the first user in dependence on the plurality of spatiotemporal data points, wherein the first spatio-temporal identifier is used to verify an identity of the first user based on a monitored position of the first user.
2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one network of sensing devices comprises at least a first sensing device at a first location and a second sensing device at a second location.
3. A method according to claim 2 , wherein the first user is repeatedly located at the first and second locations.
4. A method according to claim 3 , wherein the first user is repeatedly located at the first location at a first time on one or more days and repeatedly located at the second location at a second time on one or more days.
5. A method according to claim 4 , wherein the plurality of spatiotemporal data points determined from the at least one set of sensing data comprises a first set of spatiotemporal data points corresponding to the first location and the first time, and a second set of spatiotemporal data points corresponding to the second location and the second time.
6. A method according to claim 2 , wherein the first location is a first building and the second location is a second building.
7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one network of sensing devices are independent of the first user.
8. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the determining from the at least one set of sensing data a plurality of spatiotemporal data points comprises identifying the first user at a plurality of spatiotemporal positions.
9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the generating the first unique identifier comprises calculating a plurality of vectors having a spatial and temporal component.
10. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined amount of time is at least one month.
11. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined amount of time is at least one year.
12. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises receiving biometric data corresponding to the first user and adding the received biometric data to the first unique identifier.
13. A method according to claim 12 , wherein the biometric data comprises at least one of: facial patterns, gesture patterns and vocal communication patterns.
14. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises receiving authorisation data corresponding to the first user, and adding the received authorisation data to the first unique identifier.
15. A method according to claim 14 , wherein the authorisation data comprises information relating to an asset and/or location, wherein the first user is authorised to access the asset and/or location.
16. A method according to claim 14 , wherein the authorisation data comprises information relating to an asset and/or location, wherein the first user is unauthorised to access the asset and/or location.
17. A system comprising:
a processor; and a computer readable medium storing one or more instruction(s) arranged such that when executed the processor is caused to perform:
receiving at least one set of sensing data from at least one network of sensing devices arranged to measure a spatiotemporal position of one or more users, wherein the at least one network of sensing devices comprises a plurality of cameras distributed over a defined geographic area, the plurality of cameras being remote from the one or more users and configured to measure the spatiotemporal position of the one or more users upon detection thereof;
determining from the at least one set of sensing data a plurality of spatiotemporal data points corresponding to the spatiotemporal position of a first user captured over a pre-determined period of time at a plurality of locations within the defined geographic area, wherein a portion of the plurality of spatiotemporal data points corresponds to each of the plurality of locations, the first user having been repeatedly detected by a camera at the respective location during the pre-determined period of time; and
generating a first unique spatio-temporal identifier corresponding to the first user in dependence on the plurality of spatiotemporal data points, wherein the first spatio-temporal identifier is used to verify an identity of the first user based on a monitored position of the first user.
18. A method of performing authentication, comprising:
monitoring a position of a first user in dependence on a unique spatio-temporal identifier corresponding to the first user, wherein the unique spatio-temporal identifier is generated by:
receiving at least one set of sensing data from at least one network of sensing devices arranged to measure a spatiotemporal position of one or more users, wherein the at least one network of sensing devices comprises a plurality of cameras distributed over a defined geographic area, the plurality of cameras being remote from the one or more users and configured to measure the spatiotemporal position of the one or more users upon detection thereof,
determining from the at least one set of sensing data a plurality of spatiotemporal data points corresponding to the spatiotemporal position of a first user captured over a pre-determined period of time at a plurality of locations within the defined geographic area, wherein a portion of the plurality of spatiotemporal data points corresponds to each of the plurality of locations, the first user having been repeatedly detected by a camera at the respective location during the pre-determined period of time, and
generating the unique spatio-temporal identifier corresponding to the first user in dependence on the plurality of spatiotemporal data points; and
verifying the identity of the first user if the monitored position substantially matches or correlates to a determinable degree to the unique spatio-temporal identifier.