Biometric Content Unlocking Without Server-Stored Raw Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face challenges in managing and securing biometric data for data protection due to its critical nature and the difficulty in remembering random data like passwords, while existing methods require storing biometric data on servers, which poses privacy risks.

Innovation Solution

A device and method that uses biometric information to encrypt and decrypt data locally without a server, utilizing sensors to capture user biometric features, calculate crypto keys, and decrypt content based on these features, ensuring secure and private data protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If biometric data is stored on a server to enable data encryption/decryption across various devices, then data accessibility is improved, but user privacy security deteriorates due to potential biometric data leakage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata accessibilityVSAvoidbiometric data leakage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and processes only the essential feature information from biometric data, storing only this processed feature information and corresponding hint information on the server, while keeping the original biometric data local on user devices. This extraction approach enables data accessibility across devices while minimizing privacy risks by not storing complete biometric data centrally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces feature information as an intermediary between original biometric data and encryption keys. The server stores and processes this intermediate feature information rather than the sensitive original biometric data, acting as a mediator that enables cryptographic operations without direct access to or storage of raw biometric information, thus reducing privacy risks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If random data such as passwords are used for data protection, then security is improved, but user convenience deteriorates due to difficulty in remembering and managing passwords

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata securityVSAvoidpassword management convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the system to automatically generate encryption keys using the user's own biometric feature information without requiring manual password creation or management. The user's biometric data serves itself as the basis for cryptographic protection, eliminating the need for users to remember complex passwords while maintaining strong security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the security parameter from user-managed random data (passwords) to biologically-derived feature information. By changing the fundamental parameter basis from arbitrary random strings to unique biometric features, the system achieves both high security and user convenience, as biometric features are naturally memorable and unique to each user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If biometric feature information is extracted and used for encryption, then user convenience is improved by eliminating password management, but security risk increases if feature information is stored on a server

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepasswordless authenticationVSAvoidfeature information storage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary processing of biometric data by extracting feature information and generating hint information before any potential security risks arise. This advance preparation creates a secure foundation where only processed feature data (not raw biometric data) is stored on the server, enabling passwordless authentication while pre-mitigating storage risks through careful data preparation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of storing biometric-related information on a server into a benefit by transforming raw biometric data into processed feature information and hint information. This transformation process actually reduces the security risk while enabling server-based storage, as the processed information is less sensitive and can be safely stored and shared across devices without exposing users to the same level of privacy risk.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS12627501B2Device for protecting content by using biometric information and operating method thereof
Publication Date: 2026.05.12 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • US12627501B2 patent drawing
  • US12627501B2 patent drawing
  • US12627501B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method performed by a device for protecting content by using biometric information is provided. The content protection method includes displaying, by the device, identification information of encrypted content, receiving, by the device, a user input of selecting the encrypted content, controlling, by the device, according to the reception of the user input of selecting the encrypted content, a sensor to obtain image information of a user's body part, calculating, by the device, feature information of the user's body part from the obtained image information, reproducing, by the device, a crypto key based on the calculated feature information of the user's body part and hint information stored in correspondence to the encrypted content, decrypting, by the device, the encrypted content based on the reproduced crypto key, and displaying, by the device, the encrypted content according to the decryption of the encrypted content.