System and Method for Memetic Authentication and Identification

Abstract

A method and system are described for controlling access to online applications using memetic authenticators that are de-identified and passwordless. The method includes curating, issuing ownership, and registering memetic authenticators. The method involves assembling an authenticator package including a fingerprint hash value, matched pairs of user-selected memetic authenticator records, a timer, and encrypting the package using a cipher issued and uniquely-assigned by a service provider. Ciphers may be regenerated on each authentication event providing for episodic re-verification. Fingerprints assign ownership for memetic authenticators, with such associations stored on networked nodes of a distributed database. On authenticating, the client-supplied authenticator package is decrypted and compared to ownership records on an identity network for verification and granting or denying access. The method provides for multilateral verification by retrieving ownership claims from multiple nodes during authentication events. At no time does any party to the system possess everything required to authenticate.

1 . A computer-implemented method for generating a memetic authenticator, comprising:
 normalizing non-text-based raw digital material to a common content format;   partitioning the normalized content into one or more discrete records in a sequence;   generating a hash value for a fingerprint and a hash value for each of the one or more records in the sequence of records;   recording the fingerprint hash value paired with each record hash value on a distributed database;   reconstructing the sequence of records into at least one of: a single file, and a set of files; and   transmitting the at least one of: the single file, and the set of files, to a publicly accessible web site.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-text-based raw digital material comprises at least one of: digital video, animation, audio, and application behavioral signatures. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the common content format further comprises at least one of: an aspect ratio, a resolution, a duration, a rate, a length, data elements, and an encoding. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the fingerprint comprises a combination of at least two of: a serial identifier, a hardware signature, and a software signature. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising applying steganography for concealing information within the one or more records, wherein the information comprises at least one of: a serial number, a watermark, and an authenticator provenance. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the recording step comprises transmitting the paired hash values as transaction records for recordation on the distributed database. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the generating step comprises applying a cryptographic one-way hash function. 
     
     
         8 . A computer-implemented method for issuing a memetic authenticator, comprising:
 receiving a hash value for a fingerprint; and   recording, on a distributed database, the fingerprint hash value paired with a hash value of one or more selected non-text-based memetic authenticator records.   
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein the fingerprint comprises a combination of at least two of: a serial identifier, a hardware signature, and a software signature. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more selected non-text-based memetic authenticator records comprises data representative of at least one or: an avatar visual form, and an abstracted computer device digital behavior non-visual form. 
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein the recording step comprises transmitting, to the distributed database as one or more transaction records, one or more hash value pairs for the fingerprint hash value and the hash value of the one or more selected memetic authenticator records for recordation in the distributed database. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , further comprising providing a user of a client computing device facilities to digitally manipulate the memetic authenticator associated with the one or more selected memetic authenticator records. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12 , wherein the providing step comprises providing the user facilities to digitally manipulate the memetic authenticator by an augmented reality process. 
     
     
         14 . A computer-implemented method for registering a memetic authenticator, comprising:
 receiving a user's registration profile information from a client computer device;   transmitting a zero-knowledge cipher to the client computing device to facilitate:
 assigning, at the client computer device, an acquired non-text-based memetic authenticator to an application; and 
 associating, at the client computer device, a fingerprint with said zero-knowledge cipher, wherein the fingerprint is linked with the acquired non-text-based memetic authenticator; 
   receiving the associated fingerprint hash value from the client computing device; and   appending the associated fingerprint hash value with the zero-knowledge cipher.   
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 14 , wherein the zero-knowledge cipher comprises a symmetric encryption method. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 14 , wherein the fingerprint comprises a combination of at least two of: a serial identifier, a hardware signature, and a software signature. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 14 , wherein the acquired non-text-based memetic authenticator comprises data representative of at least one of: an avatar visual form, and an abstracted computer device digital behavior non-visual form. 
     
     
         18 - 45 . (canceled)