Emergency device access for companions

Inventors

Astwood, Paul Joseph • Bernstein, Steven Michael • Guzman, Janell • Hansen, Gregory David • Schuessler, Nina • Suniga Cabrera, Kristina • Urity, Mounica

Assignees

United Services Automobile Association USAA

Abstract

A method and system for managing and enabling emergency access to critical data. The embodiments provide a system that authenticates companions of a owner of a computing device following a secure enrollment process in which companion data and authentication factor are stored. An app installed on the computing device can then be used to perform authentication of the companion and then allow access to limited features linked to their stored data. In some embodiments, the app can allow the companion to access their information such as emergency contacts and payment details, as well as some features of apps for which they had previously stored their credentials.

Core Innovation

A “emergency device access for companions” system provides a companion access session using a companion access application running on a first computing device. The companion access application receives a first request to initiate the companion access session on behalf of a first companion and blocks access to features or data associated with the computing device outside of the companion access application. The system authenticates the first person as the first companion using a first authentication factor received at a second time after the first time, and then initiates the companion access session in response to the first request and the first companion’s authentication.

During the companion access session, the companion access application presents a first set of information associated with the first companion retrieved from a companion repository. Before the second time, the companion access application presents a second request for a second authentication factor associated with an owner of the computing device, and only after the second authentication factor is received and the owner has been authenticated does the companion access application present a third request for the first authentication factor. The third request must be presented before the first authentication factor can be received.

The system uses secure companion enrollment to store companion data and authentication factors and includes a companion repository/manager that supports companion data categories including communications, digital payments, ATM access, and app usage with credentials. Session controls include a quick-launch portal, manual or time-limited sessions, periodic re-authentication, and termination/reversion to standard device operation.

Claims Coverage

The document includes two independent claims, a method and a system, that share the same core flow: initiating a companion access session, blocking access outside the companion access application, authenticating a first person as the first companion with a first authentication factor, and requiring an owner-associated second authentication factor before the first authentication factor is requested. Across the inventive features, the claims emphasize the ordered gating of authentication and the companion-repository presentation of companion-associated information, with additional dependent refinements for session control and specific companion data categories such as payment details.

Both independent claims define a companion access session in which access is blocked outside the companion access application and in which the first companion authentication is explicitly gated by receipt of an owner-associated second authentication factor. The claims further require presentation of companion-associated information retrieved from a companion repository as part of the session.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications