US 12,231,549 B1
Systems and methods for device authentication using authentication tokens derived from quantum particles
Jeff J. Stapleton, O'Fallon, MO (US)
Assigned to Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., San Francisco, CA (US)
Filed by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., San Francisco, CA (US)
Filed on Jan. 3, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/149,541.
Int. Cl. H04L 9/08 (2006.01); H04L 9/40 (2022.01)
CPC H04L 9/0852 (2013.01) [H04L 63/083 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for authentication between an initiating device and a participating device operably connected to each other with a communication network and quantum distribution medium used to transmit data between the initiating device and the participating device, the method comprising:
identifying, by authentication circuitry of the initiating device, an action event to initiate an authentication process with the participating device;
performing, at least in part by the authentication circuitry and based on the action event, the authentication process with the participating device to establish an authentication state of the participating device, the authentication process using at least a portion of one or more authentication tokens while continuously updating the one or more authentication tokens using quantum particles obtained during the authentication process and using the quantum distribution medium, wherein the authentication process includes:
obtaining, by the authentication circuitry, a portion of an authentication token of the one or more authentication tokens,
transmitting, by communication hardware of the initiating device, the portion of the authentication token to the participating device,
obtaining, by the communication hardware, a portion of a complementary authentication token,
making a determination, by the authentication circuitry, that the portion of the complementary authentication token matches a portion of a third authentication token, the portion of the third authentication token being associated with the portion of the authentication token, and
obtaining, by the authentication circuitry and based on the determination, the authentication state of the participating device;
making a determination, by the authentication circuitry and based on the authentication state of the participating device, about whether the authentication process is successful; and
in an instance in which the determination indicates that the authentication process is successful, treating, by the authentication circuitry and based on the determination, the participating device as being provisionally authenticated.