Beacon-Based Proximity Authentication for Low-Power Biometric Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic security systems are inefficient in authenticating authorized users due to high power consumption and complexity, particularly in biometric systems that require user interaction and may not adequately verify identity, especially in devices like door locks that lack identity verification capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A two-factor authentication system using a beacon device and biometric detection within a computing apparatus, such as a smartphone or laptop, that automatically detects and verifies authorized users through proximity and biometric analysis, reducing power usage and complexity by leveraging standard camera equipment for facial recognition and potentially combining with password or PIN inputs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If biometric detection systems are implemented in protected devices, then user identification accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication system is divided into two separate components: a beacon device that carries biometric data and a protected device that performs verification. This segmentation allows the protected device to remain in low-power mode while the beacon device handles biometric data storage and transmission, resolving the contradiction between identification accuracy and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The beacon device acts as an intermediary carrier that transports biometric information between the user and the protected device. This intermediary approach enables accurate biometric verification without requiring the protected device to continuously activate its own biometric sensors, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining identification accuracy.
2Reliability
If continuous monitoring for user authentication is implemented, then user identification reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protected device performs authentication checks periodically by detecting beacons in proximity rather than continuously monitoring. This periodic action maintains user identification reliability by verifying authorized users when needed while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The beacon device autonomously carries and transmits biometric data when detected, eliminating the need for the protected device to continuously actively search for or monitor user presence. This self-service approach maintains reliability while reducing power consumption.
3Reliability
If manual password or PIN entry is required for authentication, then security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual password or PIN entry (mechanical typing action) with automatic biometric verification through beacon detection. This substitution maintains high security through encrypted biometric data while dramatically improving ease of operation, as users simply need to have their beacon device nearby rather than manually entering credentials.
4Adaptability or versatility
If biometric scanners and cameras are integrated into protected devices, then user identification capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The biometric identification capability is extracted from the protected device and placed into the beacon device. This extraction allows the protected device to maintain simple structure while still achieving versatile user identification capability through the external beacon system that carries biometric data.
Solution Approach 2:
The beacon device serves multiple functions: it carries biometric data, provides authentication credentials, and can be used across different protected devices. This multi-functionality achieves versatile user identification capability without requiring each protected device to have complex integrated biometric scanners and cameras.
Data Source
AI summary
The present system and method enables the automatic detection and identification of authorized users within proximity of a computing apparatus and, after verifying, using biometric detection and analysis, that the user is authorized to access the target, providing the user with such access. The system comprises a computer appliance target requiring authentication of a user in order to access the target, including software stored on and executing from the target, a biometric input device, and a transceiver enabling short-range wireless communication with other wireless capable devices; a database accessible to the target; and a beacon device associated with the user, including at least a transceiver and a locally stored encrypted identity token associating the device with the identity of the user; wherein the transceiver on the target periodically scans for the beacon device within the short-range, and upon detection, establishes communication with the beacon device and requests the identity token, the beacon device receives the request and sends the identity token back to the target which decrypts and validates the token by comparing token data with stored token data in the database and upon successful decryption and validation of the identity token, the software initializes a biometric test input to positively identify the user in possession of the beacon, wherein the software of the target attempts to match the biometric input with second biometric input of the user stored in the database and upon a successful match, unlocks the target and allows the user to operate the target.