Biometric Authentication for Digital Content Non-Repudiation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current digital rights management systems face challenges in authenticating remote users securely and efficiently, leading to revenue losses due to unauthorized access and billing disputes, while also restricting content consumption flexibility.

Innovation Solution

The system authenticates the identity of the remote user rather than the terminal device, using multiple communication channels and secure authentication methods like biometrics or multi-factor authentication to ensure non-repudiation and protect user privacy, allowing content delivery to any capable device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If hardware-based authentication methods are used to secure digital content delivery, then security against unauthorized access is improved, but device complexity and user flexibility are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces hardware-based mechanical authentication systems with a software-based biometric authentication system. The biometric sensor captures physiological data (fingerprint, iris, facial recognition), which is then processed by a processor to verify user identity. This substitution eliminates the need for complex hardware security modules while maintaining or enhancing security levels through more sophisticated biometric verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a biometric verification system as an intermediary between the user and the digital content delivery process. Instead of directly authenticating hardware devices, the system uses biometric data as an intermediate verification layer that confirms user identity before authorizing content access. This intermediary approach simplifies the authentication architecture while improving security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If terminal-based authentication is used to prevent unauthorized access, then security is improved, but content consumption flexibility is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidcontent consumption flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the authentication process into two independent components: biometric verification (confirming user identity) and device authorization (permitting content delivery to any compatible device). By separating these functions, the system allows users to access content across multiple devices while maintaining security through biometric authentication. The user's biometric data serves as a portable credential that can be verified on different devices without requiring device-specific authentication hardware.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The biometric authentication system provides universal access across multiple device types and platforms. Instead of tying authentication to a specific terminal device, the biometric verification process can be performed on any device capable of capturing and processing biometric data. This multi-functional approach enables users to consume content on various devices (smartphones, tablets, computers, set-top boxes) while maintaining consistent security verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If traditional authentication systems are used, then billing dispute resolution is worsened, but system simplicity is improved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebilling dispute resolutionVSAvoidsystem simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary biometric verification and authentication logging before digital content delivery occurs. The system captures and verifies biometric data in advance of content access, creating a time-stamped authentication record that links the user's biometric identity to the specific content transaction. This preliminary action ensures that if billing disputes arise, the content provider already possesses incontrovertible evidence of authorized access, eliminating the need for complex dispute resolution procedures later.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the authentication system continuously logs and reports verification results to the content provider's billing and authorization systems. Each successful biometric authentication generates a feedback signal that confirms user identity and authorizes content delivery, creating an automated audit trail. This feedback loop ensures that billing records are automatically updated with verifiable authentication data, simplifying dispute resolution by providing objective evidence of authorized transactions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP1975837B1Non-repudiation for digital content delivery
Publication Date: 2018.10.31 ACCENTURE GLOBAL SERVICES LTD
  • EP1975837B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1975837B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Systems and methods for managing digital rights are provided. Remote authentication of a user's identity and the user's right to receive digital content niay be performed in an incontrovertible manner such that the user may not repudiate the transaction. User authentication may be performed in a manner that safeguards the user's privacy and may be distributed across multiple communication channels or systems to provide additional assurance that remote users are in fact who they claim to be.