Authentication using a Transaction History

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for authenticating a user. In one implementation, a computer-implemented method is provided. According to the method, transaction history information for each one of a set of users is maintained in a storage device. The method provides identifiers associated with items for display and receives, from one of the users, a selection of one or more of the identifiers. The method further authenticates the user as a function of the selection and a transaction history of the user.

Therefore, the following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 at least one computing device comprising a processor and a memory storing executable instructions, wherein the executable instructions, when executed, cause the processor to:
 select at least one item from a transaction history of a user account and at least one other item that is not included in the transaction history; 
 place a plurality of identifiers in a user interface, the plurality of identifiers including the at least one item from the transaction history and the at least one other item that is not included in the transaction history; 
 obtain a selection from the plurality of identifiers; and 
 perform a user authentication of the user account based at least in part upon the selection from the plurality of identifiers. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the executable instructions, when executed, cause the processor to determine that the selection from the plurality of identifiers matches the at least one item from the transaction history of the user account. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the executable instructions, when executed, cause the processor determine that the selection from the plurality of identifiers fails to include the at least one other item that is not included in the transaction history. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the user authentication fails when the selection from the plurality of identifiers fails to match the at least one item. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one item includes a purchase transaction associated with the user account. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one item includes a shipping address associated with the at least one item. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one item includes a payment method associated with a transaction associated with the user account. 
     
     
         8 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium stored in a memory embodying instructions executable by a processor, the instructions, when executed, causing the processor to at least:
 select at least one item from a transaction history of a user account and at least one other item that is not included in the transaction history;   place a plurality of identifiers in a user interface, the plurality of user identifiers including the at least one item from the transaction history and the at least one other item that is not included in the transaction history;   obtain a selection from the plurality of identifiers; and   perform a user authentication based at least in part upon the selection from the plurality of identifiers.   
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to at least authenticate the user when the selection corresponds to the at least one item from the transaction history of the user. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to at least perform the user authentication by confirming that the selection does not include the at least one other item that is not from the transaction history of the user. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the user authentication fails when the selection from the plurality of identifiers fails to match the at least one item. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one item includes a purchase transaction associated with the user account. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one item includes a shipping address associated with the at least one item. 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 selecting, via at least one of one or more computing devices, at least one item from a transaction history of a user account and at least one other item that is not included in the transaction history;   placing, via at least one of one or more computing devices, a plurality of identifiers in a user interface, the plurality of user identifiers including the at least one item from the transaction history and the at least one other item that is not included in the transaction history;   obtaining, via at least one of one or more computing devices, a selection from the plurality of identifiers; and   performing, via at least one of one or more computing devices, a user authentication based at least in part upon the selection from the plurality of identifiers.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising authenticating the user when the selection corresponds to the at least one item from the transaction history of the user. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein performing the user authentication further comprises confirming that the selection does not include the at least one other item that is not from the transaction history of the user. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the user authentication fails when the selection from the plurality of identifiers fails to match the at least one item. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one item includes a purchase transaction associated with the user account. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one item includes a shipping address associated with the at least one item. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one item includes a payment method associated with a transaction associated with the user account.