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Kai Corporation Acquires US Patent for PASSMEMORYTM Authentication Technology, Using the Memory of Users Themselves
Press Release To order PASSMEMEORY product, please contact Yukiko Onishi, Marketing, The Brains Inc. Kai Corporation, a Tokyo-based developer of authentication technology, is pleased to announce that it has received a United States Patent for its proprietary PASSMEMORYTM authentication system, which employs the memory of users themselves. PASSMEMORYTM may be described as a "third authentication method" where the task of authentication is conducted not by machines or computers as with biometric or password systems, but rather within the human brain. As such, it represents a paradigm shift from conventional authentication systems.
Kai Corporation has designated The Brains Inc. as its general sales and marketing agent in both Japan and the US. Tokyo-based C4 Technology, Inc. has already received approval through The Brains to implement PASSMEMORYTM technology from February 2006. The Brains is now marketing PASSMEMORYTM in a development kit (server version) that makes it easy to introduce PASSMEMORYTM authentication, as well as PASSMEMORYTM Archiver Ver.2.0, a compression and decompression software with PASSMEMORYTM capability. PASSMEMORYTM-based systems can also be custom-developed. "Our technology could become a solution to many authentication problems as privacy has become an increasingly important issue with many security solution providers having to resort to conventional as well as state-of-the-art biometric systems which are based on a part of our body," said Akira Taguchi, president of Kai Corporation. "We're very please to collaborate with our long-time business partner The Brains in our efforts to promote our unique authentication technology in the US where our patent has been approved." Yasuko Nakazawa, Representative of Brains Inc., said, "We're excited about our new endeavor in marketing this unique human-based authentication system in the US. PASSMEMORYTM is the only authentication system for which data is not only impossible to forget, but also cannot be stolen or lost. Hardware-free, PASSMEMORYTM is extremely economical, and consequently is receiving support from both users and administrators." The Brains will exhibit the PASSMEMORYTM authentication system and related products at the 3rd Information Security Expo, at Tokyo Big Sight from June 28 (Wed) to 30 (Fri). A presentation on PASSMEMORYTM is also scheduled at Exhibition Stand 46-6 (East Wing). " A PASSMEMORYTM demonstration is available at the Kai Corporation's website at http://www.passmemory.com/english. Users can experience demonstrations in PC, ATM, and cell-phone formats. The US patent, awarded on June 20, 2006, is No. 7065786. PASSMEMORYTM has already been patented in Japan (No. 3695695). PASSMEMORYTM is a registered trademark of Kai Corporation. About PASSMEMORYTM'PASSMEMORYTM', and its basic patent, is an authentication system wherein users register, in advance, names of acquaintances or places they have visited, old photos, or sounds that they remember. During the authentication process, users choose the right answers from lists that contain multiple "decoy answers." Users select the required number (which can be freely set) of "unforgettable names," then the system mixes these with decoy names, chosen at random, to create lists of names. The number of lists can be freely set. For authentication, users choose, in quick succession, registered names that they remember. If the authentication uses 10 names per list (one set by the authorized user, and nine decoys) with five lists, the probability of guessing all answers correctly is 1/100,000. However, because authentication must be done manually in a limited time (which can be freely set), it is extremely difficult for anyone other than the authorized user to be authenticated. For the time being, Kai Corporation plans to produce practical systems that use text data, such as lists of friends' names. Passwords, which are currently in widespread use, must be changed frequently to prevent unauthorized use. This makes password administration increasingly complicated. Moreover, biometric authentication technology, which is expected to come into widespread use in the future, has technical issues that must be resolved; for example, it requires comparatively expensive terminal equipment, has problems with accuracy, and possesses the possibility that users' biometric data will be abused. About The Brains Inc.The Brains Inc. was established in April 2005. The company has forged a multi-layer alliance with partners for various operations ranging from marketing strategies, operation support and consulting to product design/development, online marketing, and web application development. The company is a group of specialists who have good experience in those operations. About Kai CorporationEstablished in April 1997, Kai Corporation has been engaged in R&D on digital authentication technologies. With its proprietary authentication technology PASSMEMORYTM patented in both Japan and US, the company will reinforce its efforts to promote the technology in both countries through licensing in collaboration with its partner The Brains Inc. Inquiries concerning this news release:Akira Taguchi Inquiries about PASSMEMORYTM authentication solutions and products:Yukiko Onishi |
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