Paypal, Inc.

Ofri Raviv

Itay Margolin

Shlomit Plavner

Computer system security and efficiency of processing operations may be improved using techniques that are described relating to analyzing user actions based on time of day of occurrence, and using time of a day as a factor in determining whether a particular action should be allowed or disallowed. Past action times can be transformed to a two-dimensional representation using a radial time schema that avoids discontinuity. A probability distribution can indicate a likelihood of whether a new action fits a previous pattern. If a new user action is relatively unlikely due to time of day, the new user action might be denied/prevented from completing, thus enhancing computer system security and avoiding unnecessary computational processing costs.

Radial time schema for event probability classification

Techniques are described relating to analyzing user transactions based on time of day of occurrence, and using time of a day as a factor in determining whether a new transaction should be allowed or disallowed. People may have particular tendencies to engage in transaction at certain times of a day. When a new transaction occurs that does not fit a previous pattern, this can indicate someone else has gained access to the account. Past times of transactions can be transformed to a two-dimensional representation that avoids discontinuity. A smoothed probability distribution can indicate a likelihood of whether a new transaction fits previous patterns. If a new transaction is unlikely due to time of day, the new transaction might be denied/prevented from completing. Denial of the transaction may also be based on additional factors besides the time of day.

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Ofri Raviv