Acoustic Wave Superposition for Device Proximity Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for wirelessly authenticating device proximity, such as Bluetooth, NFC, and acoustic waves, face limitations in range, convenience, power consumption, and reliability, failing to provide secure and fast authentication while minimizing battery impact.
Innovation Solution
A method using acoustic wave superposition, where devices emit and receive complex acoustic waves to form a superposition, assessed against a comparator for similarity, allowing multiple devices to authenticate securely and efficiently with minimal power consumption, and adjustable range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If acoustic wave authentication is used, then authentication speed is improved, but processing power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication process is divided into distinct phases: signal emission, superposition formation, and correlation assessment. By segmenting the processing tasks and performing them in parallel across multiple devices, the system achieves fast authentication without overloading individual processors, thus managing power consumption effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-generates acoustic wave packets and stores them locally on devices. During authentication, devices directly emit pre-prepared signals and perform correlation comparisons without needing to generate complex signals in real-time, significantly reducing processing power requirements while maintaining authentication speed.
2Reliability
If traditional acoustic wave authentication is used, then authentication is performed between two devices, but authentication time increases to 3-6 seconds
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple acoustic wave packets are combined into a superposition signal that contains information from all participating devices simultaneously. This merging allows the system to authenticate multiple devices in a single operation rather than sequentially, reducing authentication time from 3-6 seconds to under 1 second while maintaining reliability through correlation-based verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses correlation comparison to assess similarity between received superposition signals and expected patterns. By using partial matching criteria rather than requiring complete signal reconstruction, the system achieves rapid authentication decisions without sacrificing accuracy, completing verification in under 1 second.
3Length of stationary object
If Bluetooth authentication is used, then wireless range is extended to 20 metres, but battery power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces Bluetooth's continuous radio wave transmission with acoustic wave emission using device speakers. Acoustic authentication can be performed with lower power consumption while achieving comparable or sufficient range for proximity verification, as acoustic signals only need to travel short distances in typical usage scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of maintaining continuous Bluetooth connections that drain battery power, the system uses periodic acoustic signal emission only when authentication is needed. Devices emit acoustic packets on-demand rather than maintaining constant communication channels, significantly reducing power consumption while preserving authentication capability.
4Reliability
If NFC authentication is used, then authentication security is maintained, but device proximity requirement limits usability
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the physical parameter of signal propagation by using acoustic waves instead of electromagnetic near-field coupling. This allows authentication at greater distances than NFC (centimeters vs. meters), improving ease of operation while maintaining security through correlation-based verification of the acoustic superposition pattern that only forms when devices are genuinely in proximity.
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, fast, and reliable proximity authentication of multiple devices with reduced battery impact, overcoming limitations of existing methods by using complex acoustic wave patterns and mathematical comparators to ensure authentication accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
all the emitted acoustic waves forming an acoustic wave superposition; receiving, with at least one receiving device, the superposition
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a method for authenticating the proximity of at least two devices, the method comprising: generating at least one packet; emitting at least one acoustic wave from at least one emitting device, each acoustic wave corresponding to a generated packet, at least one acoustic wave being emitted for all the generated packets, all the emitted acoustic waves forming an acoustic wave superposition. The superposition is received with at least one receiving device; assessing the similarity of the received superposition and a comparator; and authenticating proximity of each emitting device and each receiving device when the received superposition and the comparator fulfil a predetermined similarity requirement, wherein the comparator corresponds to a combination of all the generated packets.