Context-aware authentication framework

Abstract

We present an extensible context-aware authentication framework which can adapt to the contextual information available in a smart environment. Having confidence in a user's identity and other contextual information is critical to the successful adoption of future mobile, context-aware services. This authentication framework can provide a standard base for the development of context-aware services, particularly while the user is mobile. Our implementation of the framework enhances usability during authentication by replacing the need for users to remember and enter their password with the act of a simple gesture. We discuss our architecture, implementation and policies and illustrate how they support usable authentication, using lightweight tagging and simple context from a smart environment. © Institute for Computer Sciences, Social-Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering 2010.