Apparatus, and an associated methodology, for facilitating authentication using a digital music authentication token
View Patent ↗An apparatus, and an associated methodology, for facilitating authentication of a user device to access content at another device. A music file is selected as digital music authentication token. Once selected, authentication data is encoded into the music file. Subsequently, when log-in and authentication procedures are performed, the music file is retrieved, and used pursuant to the authentication procedure.
1. An apparatus for facilitating authentication of a user device pursuant to a computer-system access request, said apparatus comprising:
a memory element connectable to the user device and configured to store musical content defining a digital music token, wherein the musical content comprises at least part of a selected music track;
a user-device transmitter configured to transmit the digital music token as part of the computer-system access request; and
an access grant detector configured to detect an access grant responsive to the computer-system access request that includes the digital music token.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said memory element comprises a portable memory element, releasably connectable with the user device.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said portable memory element comprises a portable digital music player.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said memory element comprises part of digital music player functionality of the user device.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the musical content further comprises an electronic music file comprising authentication information encoded therein.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the authentication information encoded into the music file is inaudible when said music file is played.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an encoder configured to encode authentication information into the musical content.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said encoder comprises a steganographer.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the musical content comprises user-selected musical content.
10. An apparatus for facilitating authentication of a user device pursuant to a computer-system access request, said apparatus comprising:
a memory element connectable to the user device and configured to store musical content defining a digital music token;
a user-device transmitter configured to transmit the digital music token as part of the computer-system access request; and
an access grant detector configured to detect an access grant responsive to the computer-system access request that includes the digital music token;
a selector configured to provide for user selection of the musical content that defines the digital music token.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said user-device transmitter is further configured to transmit a user identification and a password as part of the computer-system access request.
12. A method for facilitating authentication of a user device pursuant to a computer-system access request, said method comprising:
storing a digital music token formed of a digital music file comprising both musical content and authentication information encoded into said musical content, but which is inaudible when said music file is played audibly, said digital music token being stored at a memory element accessible to the user device, wherein the musical content comprises at least part of a selected music track;
transmitting at least the authentication information from the digital music file as part of the computer-system access request; and
detecting an access grant responsive to the computer-system access request.
13. The method of claim 12 further comprising encoding the authentication information into the musical content.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein said encoding is performed at the user device.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein said encoding comprises encrypting the authentication information pursuant to a steganographic encryption technique.
16. The method of claim 12 further comprising selecting the musical content to form the digital music token.
17. The method of claim 12 wherein said selecting comprises selecting the musical content from amongst a plurality of music files.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein the music files from which the musical content is selected are stored at a portable digital music player.
19. An apparatus for facilitating user-device authentication to access a computer system, said apparatus comprising:
an authentication token detector configured to receive a digital music file and detect whether said digital music file is a digital music token comprising authentication information encoded into musical content of said digital music file that forms part of a user-device access request, wherein the musical content comprises at least part of a selected music track;
an authenticator to authenticate the user-device access request based on the authentication information extracted from the digital music file; and
an access granter configured to grant access responsive to successful authentication by said authenticator.