Authentication systems and methods using a brain computer interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021294884-A1
Application number	US-202117202459-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 16, 2021
Priority date	Mar 17, 2020
Publication date	Sep 23, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

An authentication system comprises a brain-computer interface (BCI) configured for detecting neural activity in a brain of a subject in response to the subject performing a repeatable mental task, and outputting neural data representative of the detected neural activity. The authentication system further comprises a computer configured for acquiring the neural data output by the BCI while the subject is performing the repeatable mental task, and generating an authorization request containing the neural data. The authentication system further comprises an authentication processor configured for acquiring the authorization request containing the neural data from the computer, authenticating the subject based on the acquired authorization request, and sending an authorization token to the computer.

First claim

1 . An authentication system, comprising:
a brain-computer interface (BCI) configured for detecting neural activity in a brain of a subject in response to the subject performing a repeatable mental task, and outputting neural data representative of the detected neural activity; a computer configured for acquiring the neural data output by the BCI while the subject is performing the repeatable mental task; and an authentication processor configured for acquiring the neural data from the computer, authenticating the subject based on the acquired neural data, and sending an authorization token to the computer.

2 . The authentication system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is configured for generating an authorization request containing the neural data, and the authentication processor is configured for acquiring the authorization request containing the neural data from the computer, and authenticating the subject based on the acquired authorization request.

3 . The authentication system of claim 1 , further comprising a keystore containing one or more keys, wherein the computer is configured for using the authentication token to unlock the keystore, retrieve the one or more keys from the keystore, and access one or more resources using the one or more retrieved keys.

4 . The authentication system of claim 1 , wherein the neural data output by the BCI is raw neural data, the computer is configured for creating one or more non-fungible tokens (NFTs) from the raw neural data output by the BCI, and the neural data acquired from the computer by the authentication processor comprises the NFTs.

5 . The authentication system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is configured for prompting the subject to perform the repeatable mental task.

6 . The authentication system of claim 5 , wherein prompting the subject to perform the repeatable mental task comprises one or more of requesting the subject to think of something, requesting the subject to solve a difficult math problem, telling a joke to the subject, and requesting the subject to laugh.

7 . The authentication system of claim 1 , wherein the neural data output by the BCI is encrypted.

8 . The authentication system of claim 1 , wherein the neural data output by the BCI comprises a plurality of neural data samples.

9 . The authentication system of claim 1 , further comprising a database that stores a neural activity signature of the subject, wherein the authentication processor is configured for retrieving the neural activity signature of the subject from the database, comparing the neural data acquired by the computer to the retrieved neural activity signature of the subject, and authenticating the subject based on the comparison.

10 . The authentication system of claim 9 , wherein the neural activity signature comprises at least one vector of known identification features, and wherein the authentication processor is configured for extracting a vector of features from the neural data acquired by the computer, comparing the neural data acquired by the computer to the retrieved neural activity signature of the subject by comparing the extracted vector of features to the at least one vector of known identification features, and authenticating the subject if the extracted vector of features matches the at least one vector of known identification features.

11 . The authentication system of claim 1 , further comprising a secure enclave comprising the authentication processor.

12 . The authentication system of claim 1 , wherein the authentication processor comprises a neural network.

13 . The authentication system of claim 1 , wherein the BCI comprises an optical measurement assembly.

14 . The authentication system of claim 1 , wherein the BCI comprises a magnetic measurement assembly.

15 . The authentication system of claim 1 , wherein the BCI comprises at least one detector configured for detecting energy from the brain of the user, and processing circuitry configured for identifying the neural activity in response to detecting the energy from the brain of the user.

16 . The authentication system of claim 15 , wherein the BCI comprises a head-worn unit carrying the at least one energy source.

17 . The authentication system of claim 15 , wherein the BCI comprises an auxiliary non-head-worn unit carrying the processing circuitry.

18 . A method of authenticating a subject, comprising:
performing a repeatable mental task in the subject; detecting brain activity of the subject in response to the subject performing the repeatable mental task; outputting neural data representative of the detected neural activity; and authenticating the subject based on the outputted neural data.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
generating an authorization request containing the neural data, wherein the subject is authenticated in response to the authorization request; and generating an authorization token in response to authenticating the subject.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
using the authentication token to unlock a keystore; retrieving one or more keys from the keystore; and accessing one or more resources using the one or more retrieved keys.

21 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the outputted neural data is raw neural data, the method further comprising creating one or more non-fungible tokens (NFTs) from the outputted raw neural data, and wherein the subject is authenticated based on the one or more NFTs.

22 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising prompting the subject to perform the repeatable mental task.

23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein prompting the subject to perform the repeatable mental task comprises one or more of requesting the subject to think of something, requesting the subject to solve a difficult math problem, telling a joke to the subject, and requesting the subject to laugh.

24 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising encrypting the neural data.

25 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the outputted neural data comprises a plurality of neural data samples.

26 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
storing a neural activity signature of the subject; retrieving the neural activity signature of the subject; and comparing the outputted neural data to the retrieved neural activity signature of the subject, wherein the subject is authenticated based on the comparison.

27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the neural activity signature comprises at least one vector of known identification features, the method further comprising extracting a vector of features from the outputted neural data, wherein comparing the outputted neural data to the retrieved neural activity signature of the subject comprises comparing the extracted vector of features to the at least one vector of known identification features, and authenticating the subject if the extracted vector of features matches the one vector of known identification features.

28 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the brain activity is optically detected.

29 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the brain activity is magnetically detected.

30 . The method of claim 18 , wherein detecting the brain activity of the user comprises detecting energy from a brain of the user, and identifying the brain activity in response to detecting the

Assignees

• Hi Llc

Inventors

• Lasser Teague
• Lerner Gabriel
• Siepser Benjamin
• Alford Jamu
• Kates-Harbeck Julian
• Johnson Bryan

Classifications

• H04W12/33

  using wearable devices, e.g. using a smartwatch or smart-glasses · CPC title

• G02B27/017

  Head mounted · CPC title

• G06N3/02

  Neural networks · CPC title

• H04L9/3231

  Biological data, e.g. fingerprint, voice or retina (network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using biometrical features in a packet data network H04L63/0861) · CPC title

• H04W12/06 Primary

  Authentication · CPC title