Audio Signal Authentication for Secure Remote Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing authentication methods require users to directly provide sensitive information to computing devices, which can be insecure, especially in public settings, and are resource-intensive for system development and implementation.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for remote authentication using an audio signal encoded with data, where a user's separate computing device receives and decodes the signal to authenticate the user, allowing secure authentication without direct data exchange with the external computing system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional authentication methods are used where users directly provide authentication data to the external computing system, then the authentication process is straightforward and simple to implement, but the security risk increases and resource requirements for sophisticated authentication systems increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an audio signal as an intermediary carrier that transmits authentication data from the external computing system to the user's computing device. This intermediary approach allows the authentication process to occur without direct exposure of sensitive data on the external system, thereby enhancing security while maintaining implementation feasibility
Solution Approach 2:
The authentication data is encoded into an audio signal, creating a copy of the data in a different form (audio waveform). This copying mechanism allows the external system to transmit authentication information without directly handling the raw data, reducing security risks and system complexity requirements
2Reliability
If sophisticated authentication methods are implemented on the external computing system, then authentication security is improved, but the resource expenditure and development time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex computational authentication mechanisms with an audio-based transmission system. Instead of implementing sophisticated authentication algorithms on the external system, the solution uses audio signal encoding and decoding, which are computationally simpler and more efficient to execute
3Ease of operation
If users provide authentication data directly to public terminals, then the authentication process is simple and fast, but the risk of data compromise and unauthorized access increases
Solution Approach 1:
The audio signal serves as a secure intermediary that carries authentication data without requiring the user to directly input sensitive information on the public terminal. This intermediary layer protects against shoulder surfing, keylogging, and other forms of data theft while maintaining user convenience
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms authentication data into a different parameter form (audio signal characteristics such as frequency, amplitude, and timing). This parameter transformation makes the data invisible to traditional theft methods while preserving its authentication functionality
Data Source
AI summary
A method for remote authentication aided by an audio signal includes: storing, in a memory of a computing device, at least first authentication data; receiving, by a first input device of the computing device, an audio signal electronically transmitted by a separate computing system; decoding, by a decoding module of the computing device, the received audio signal to identify a server identification value; receiving, by a second input device of the computing device, second authentication data submitted by a user of the computing device; authenticating, by an authentication module of the computing device, the received second authentication data based on the stored first authentication data; and electronically transmitting, by a transmitting device of the computing device, a result of the authentication and a profile identifier to an external processing server based on the server identification value.