Acoustic Proximity Authentication for Mobile Transactions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing authentication techniques for electronic communications often require significant prior communication or infrastructure, making it difficult to confirm the identity of participating entities and ensuring secure transactions without involving unintended devices or parties.

Innovation Solution

A method using audio signals detected by microphones on mobile communications devices to authenticate proximity between devices, allowing for secure completion of electronic transactions by generating and matching audio signals representative of sounds detected in close proximity, potentially with additional verification through satellite navigation or cell tower triangulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional authentication techniques are used to confirm entity identity, then security and reliability are improved, but device complexity and infrastructure requirements increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication reliabilityVSAvoidinfrastructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical and software-based authentication infrastructure with an acoustic field-based authentication system. Instead of using hardware tokens, software protocols, or centralized authentication servers, the system uses microphone-detected sound waves to verify device proximity and identity, significantly reducing infrastructure complexity while maintaining security

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces sound waves as an intermediary medium for authentication. The sound field acts as a mediator that carries identity information between devices, allowing authentication to occur through acoustic signal exchange rather than direct device-to-device communication or centralized server verification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If password-based authentication is used, then prior communication requirements are reduced, but vulnerability to unauthorized access increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication easeVSAvoidunauthorized access risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the authentication parameter from static password information to dynamic acoustic characteristics. Instead of relying on fixed passwords that can be stolen or guessed, the system uses real-time sound wave properties (frequency, amplitude, timing) that continuously change and are difficult to replicate, thereby reducing unauthorized access risk while maintaining ease of use

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If extensive communication protocols are implemented for authentication, then authentication reliability is improved, but transaction time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication reliabilityVSAvoidtransaction time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary authentication actions by continuously monitoring and analyzing acoustic environment data before the actual transaction occurs. The system pre-verified device proximity and identity through sound detection, so when a transaction is initiated, authentication has already been established, eliminating time-consuming verification steps during the transaction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables secure and efficient completion of electronic transactions between intended devices, reducing the need for extensive infrastructure and ensuring that transactions occur between the correct parties, while minimizing the risk of involvement from unintended devices.

Implementation Method 1

generating a first audio signal by sound detected by a first microphone that is part of the first mobile communications device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic detection: Sound

Data Source

PatentUS9082413B2Electronic transaction authentication based on sound proximity

Publication Date: 2015.07.14 EDISON VAULT LLC

AI summary

A computer program product comprises computer usable program code for receiving data describing a proposed electronic transaction between first and second communications devices. Additional computer usable program code is provided for generating a first audio signal by sound detected by a first microphone of the first communications device, and for generating a second audio signal by sound detected by a second microphone that is part of the second communications device. Still further computer usable program code provides for authenticating that the first communications device and the second communications device are in the same proximity in response to determining that the first and second audio signals were produced by the same sound event, and for completing the proposed electronic transaction between the first and second communications device in response to authenticating that the first and second communications devices are in close proximity.