Automatic authentication of a mobile device using stored authentication credentials

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed which may allow a user having a mobile device to automatically authenticate to a server using a device identifier associated with the mobile device. An access point may be configured to send the device identifier as well as additional identifying information to the server so that the device identifier can be accurately matched to the mobile device. Then, when the mobile device submits a credential during authentication, the device identifier and the credential may be matched such that the next time the server receives the device identifier from the access point, the mobile device may be automatically authenticated.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A device authentication system, comprising:
 a non-transitory memory; and   one or more hardware processors coupled to the non-transitory memory and configured to read instructions from the non-transitory memory to cause the system to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, at a first time, from a user device via an access point that has detected the user device, an initial request to authenticate that includes a credential associated with a user of the user device; 
 in response to receiving the initial request to authenticate, transmitting to the user device via the access point, executable instructions that cause the user device to transmit a device identifier corresponding to the user device; 
 receiving, via the access point, information including the device identifier corresponding to the user device; 
 pairing the credential associated with the user of the user device with the device identifier corresponding to the user device; and 
 based on the pairing of the credential associated with the user of the user device and the device identifier corresponding to the user device, automatically authenticating the user device in response to the user device being detected by the access point at a second time later than the first time. 
   
     
     
         3 . The device authentication system of  claim 2 , wherein the user device is detected by the access point based on a broadcast packet from the user device including the device identifier of the user device. 
     
     
         4 . The device authentication system of  claim 2 , wherein the device identifier is one of a media access control (MAC) address of the user device and an International Mobile Station Equipment Identity (IMEI) number of the user device. 
     
     
         5 . The device authentication system of  claim 2 , wherein the executable instructions cause the user device to transmit a device identifier in response to a permission being granted by the user of the user device. 
     
     
         6 . The device authentication system of  claim 2 , wherein the initial request to authenticate is received as part of a check in to a location associated with the access point. 
     
     
         7 . The device authentication system of  claim 2 , wherein the access point is one of a wireless access point according to an 802.11 standard, a mobile communications tower, a femtocell, a picocell, or a microcell. 
     
     
         8 . The device authentication system of  claim 2 , wherein pairing the credential associated with the user of the user device with the device identifier corresponding to the user device includes storing the device identifier in association with the credential associated with the user of the user device. 
     
     
         9 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 receiving, at a first time, from a user device via an access point that has detected the user device, an initial request to authenticate including a credential associated with a user of the user device;   in response to receiving the initial request to authenticate, transmitting to the user device via the access point, instructions that in response to execution by the user device cause the user device to transmit a device identifier corresponding to the user device;   receiving, via the access point, information including the device identifier of the user device;   pairing the credential associated with the user of the user device with the device identifier corresponding to the user device; and   based on the pairing, automatically authenticating the user device when the user device is detected by the access point at a second time later than the first time.   
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 9 , wherein the user device is detected by the access point based on a broadcast packet from the user device including the device identifier of the user device. 
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 9 , wherein the device identifier is one of a media access control (MAC) address of the user device or an International Mobile Station Equipment Identity (IMEI) number of the user device. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions are executable to transmit a device identifier from the user device in response to a permission being granted by the user of the user device. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 9 , wherein the initial request to authenticate is received as part of a check in to a location associated with the access point. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 9 , wherein the access point is one of a wireless access point according to an 802.11 standard, a mobile communications tower, a femtocell, a picocell, or a microcell. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 9 , wherein the pairing includes storing the device identifier in a non-transitory memory in association with the credential associated with the user of the user device. 
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium having stored thereon machine-readable instructions executable to cause a machine to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, at a first time, from a user device via an access point that has detected the user device, a request to authenticate including that includes a device identifier corresponding to the user device;   in response to receiving the request, accessing data associated with the device identifier;   determining, based on the data, a pairing of a credential associated with a user of the user device with the device identifier, the device identifier being transmitted by the user device to the machine via the access point that had detected the user device in response to the user device executing instructions received via the access point at a second time earlier than the first time; and   based on the pairing, automatically authenticating the user device when the user device is detected by the access point at the first time.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the user device is detected by the access point based on a broadcast packet from the user device including the device identifier of the user device. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the device identifier is one of a media access control (MAC) address of the user device or an International Mobile Station Equipment Identity (IMEI) number of the user device. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions cause the user device to transmit the device identifier in response to a permission being granted by the user of the user device. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the device identifier was received as part of a check in to a location associated with the access point. 
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the access point is one of a wireless access point according to an 802.11 standard, a mobile communications tower, a femtocell, a picocell, or a microcell.