Audio-Based Device Pairing for Secure Wall-Mounted Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for pairing electronic devices, such as smartphones with wall-mounted control panels, often require manual input of pin codes, which can be cumbersome and insecure, especially for novice users or in environments where signals can be intercepted.
Innovation Solution
A pairing system using ultrasound or light signals to facilitate secure and automated pairing between devices, eliminating the need for manual input by dynamically generating and encoding security codes within inaudible audio or light frequencies, ensuring secure and user-friendly connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual pin code entry is used for device pairing, then security can be maintained, but ease of operation deteriorates due to complexity and user burden
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical keyboard input system with an acoustic signal transmission system. Instead of requiring users to physically type pin codes on keyboards, the system encodes pairing information into audio signals that can be played through speakers and captured by microphones, automatically completing the pairing process without manual input.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces audio signals as an intermediary carrier to transfer pairing information between devices. The audio signal acts as a mediator that conveys encoded pairing data from one device to another, eliminating the need for direct manual input while maintaining secure communication channels.
2Ease of operation
If static pin codes are used for pairing, then ease of operation improves, but reliability deteriorates due to potential loss, sharing, or theft of codes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static pin code into a dynamic audio-based code that is generated and transmitted in real-time during the pairing process. The code exists only momentarily as an audio signal and cannot be stored or reused, preventing theft or unauthorized sharing while maintaining ease of use through automated transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a disposable pairing code transmitted through audio signals that exists only for the brief duration of the pairing process. Once the pairing is complete, the code becomes obsolete and cannot be reused, eliminating security risks associated with static codes that can be stored or shared.
3Ease of operation
If RF radio frequency signals are used for dynamic pin generation, then ease of operation improves, but reliability deteriorates due to vulnerability to eavesdropping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameter of signal transmission from electromagnetic RF waves to acoustic sound waves. This parameter change fundamentally alters the propagation characteristics of the signal, confining it to shorter ranges and making it subject to attenuation by physical barriers like walls, thereby preventing long-distance eavesdropping while maintaining automated pairing functionality.
4Reliability
If inaudible audio signals are used for pairing, then reliability improves by preventing eavesdropping, but device complexity increases due to additional processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the universal presence of audio output (speakers) and input (microphones) components in modern devices. These existing multi-functional components are repurposed for secure pairing communication, eliminating the need for specialized hardware and keeping the system relatively simple while achieving enhanced security through inaudible frequency transmission.
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
The system provides a secure, easy-to-use, and cost-effective method for pairing devices, enhancing compatibility and security by using inaudible audio signals that are attenuated by walls, preventing eavesdropping and simplifying the pairing process for users without requiring additional hardware or complex input methods.
Implementation Method 1
The wall mounted device generates a code that is repeatedly encoded in an ultrasound signal
Implementation Method 2
The mobile device plays back a plurality of audio frequencies corresponding to a plurality of bits of the code such that the code is received by the microphone of the wall mounted device
Implementation Method 3
using inaudible audio signals that are attenuated by walls, preventing eavesdropping
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to techniques, that facilitate pairing of portable devices including touchscreen-enabled electronic devices with a wall mounted device which uses a method of an audio-based communication as an automatic means of security key exchange and authentication, and for facilitating the communication between the paired electronic devices. According to one aspect, the key is generated dynamically by the wall mounted device and it is not a pre-shared key. The security key is encoded in audio frequency tones in form of bits in a proprietary to this system protocol. The pairing is achieved by the successful comparison of the pin known and received within a narrow period.