Online Pseudonym Verification and Identity Validation

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products for authenticating an online user. Authentication involves sending a code from a server to a user device equipped with a source of illumination and a camera capable of capturing video imagery of the online user. The user device receives the code, modulates the source of illumination in accordance with the code, and captures video imagery of the user while the source of illumination is being modulated according to the code. The captured video imagery of the online user is sent to the server where it is analyzed to detect evidence of changes in illumination that correspond to the code. If good correspondence is found, the user may be authenticated. Similar methods may be applied to other biometric data. Applications of the authentication include identify validation, pseudonym verification, and distinguishing human from non human access attempts.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of authenticating an online user, the method comprising:
 sending information from a server to a user device, wherein the user device includes:
 a source of illumination; 
 a camera capable of capturing video imagery of the online user; and 
 wherein the user device is capable of:
 receiving the information; 
 modulating the source of illumination based on the received information; and 
 transmitting captured video imagery of the online user to the server; 
 
   receiving at the server captured video imagery of the online user transmitted by the user device, wherein the video imagery is captured by the camera while the source of illumination is being modulated according to the control signal;   analyzing the received video imagery to detect evidence of changes in illumination that correspond to the information; and   generating an authentication response based on the analyzing of the received video imagery.