Method and system for authenticating a party to a transaction

Abstract

One embodiment of the invention is directed to a method including receiving an alias identifier associated with an account associated with a presenter, determining an associated trusted party using the alias identifier, sending a verification request message to the trusted party after determining the associated trusted party, and receiving a verification response message

1 . A method comprising:
 a) receiving an alias identifier from a phone, wherein the alias identifier is associated with an account identifier for an account of a presenter;   b) determining an associated trusted party using the alias identifier;   c) sending a verification request message to the trusted party after determining the associated trusted party, where the verification request message requests information regarding whether the trusted party or the presenter participates in an authentication program; and   d) receiving a verification response message, wherein the verification response message indicates whether the trusted party or the presenter participates in the authentication program.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the alias identifier is a phone number. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the trusted party is a financial institution that maintains the account. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising:
 initiating the sending of an authentication request message to the presenter.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 initiating the sending of an authentication request message to the presenter, wherein an access control server subsequently sends the authentication request message to the presenter.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein prior to receiving the alias identifier, the presenter sends the alias identifier using the mobile phone. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a)-d) are performed by a directory server. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the trusted party is an issuer that issued the account identifier. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the phone comprises a contactless element. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the phone comprises a contactless element. 
     
     
         11 . A method conducted using a phone, the method comprising:
 a) providing an alias identifier associated with an account identifier associated with an account of a presenter;   b) receiving an authentication request message after providing the alias identifier; and   c) sending an authentication response message after receiving the authentication request message.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the alias identifier is a phone number. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the alias identifier is provided using the presenter's voice. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the phone comprises a contactless element. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the authentication response message comprises a password or a pin number. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the alias identifier is provided to a merchant in a face-to-face transaction. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the alias identifier is provided to a merchant using a communication device that is remotely located with respect to the merchant. 
     
     
         18 . A phone comprising:
 a processor;   an antenna coupled to the processor;   a microphone coupled to the processor; and   a computer readable medium coupled to the processor, the computer readable medium comprising code for providing an alias identifier associated with an account identifier associated with an account of a presenter, code for receiving an authentication request message after providing the alias identifier, and c) code for sending an authentication response message after receiving the authentication request message.   
     
     
         19 . The phone of  claim 18 , further comprising a contactless element coupled to the processor. 
     
     
         20 . The phone of  claim 18 , further comprising a display coupled to the processor.