Biometric Authentication System for Covert Data Erasure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data handling devices lack the capability for immediate and covert data erasure, particularly in scenarios like theft, seizures, or attacks, where sensitive information needs to be rapidly and securely deleted without alerting unauthorized parties.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a biometric authentication system, such as fingerprint scanning, to differentiate between an authorizing biometric characteristic for device access and a triggering biometric characteristic for initiating immediate data erasure in a protected storage location, ensuring only authorized users can erase data without prior warning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional data storage systems are used, then data can be stored and accessed, but data cannot be immediately or covertly erased when threatened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the biometric authentication system into two distinct functional components: an authorizing biometric characteristic for device access and a triggering biometric characteristic for data erasure. This segmentation allows the system to differentiate between normal access operations and emergency erasure operations, enabling immediate data protection without requiring complex additional hardware or external systems.
2Reliability
If data erasure capability is added to data handling devices, then data security is improved, but the device becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing biometric scanning element serve multiple functions: it authenticates device access through an authorizing biometric characteristic and initiates data erasure through a triggering biometric characteristic. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate erasure hardware or complex external systems, adding data protection capability while minimizing increases in device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If biometric scanning is used for authentication, then access control is improved, but the system requires additional monitoring and detection mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent assigns different functional qualities to different biometric characteristics stored in the system. The authorizing biometric characteristic is associated with device access functionality, while the triggering biometric characteristic is associated with data erasure functionality. This local differentiation of quality within the biometric system allows intuitive operation (different fingers for different purposes) while using the same scanning hardware, reducing monitoring complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method of erasing data on a data handling device may include providing a device with a data storage element and a biometric characteristic scanning element, scanning a triggering biometric characteristic of a secured user by the scanning element, and storing protected data in a protected storage location on the data handling device. System and method may also include monitoring the scanning element for detection of a biometric characteristic, detecting a biometric characteristic by the scanning element, and determining if the detected biometric characteristic corresponds to the triggering biometric characteristic. If the detected biometric characteristic corresponds to the triggering biometric characteristic, then erasing data in the protected storage location.