Operation Panel Authentication via Biometric Matching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing information processing systems face challenges in balancing security and user convenience, as prior techniques either enhance security at the expense of convenience or vice versa, allowing unauthorized access through impersonation due to continuous log-in states and requiring troublesome biometric authentication methods.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus that uses an authentication device worn by the user, which includes a biometric authentication system and a matching processing unit to verify operation history information against operation information, ensuring only authorized users can perform operations by matching time series data of sequences of operations and operation types.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If biometric authentication is continuously checked to improve security, then security level is improved, but user convenience deteriorates due to troublesome continuous operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity levelVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary biometric authentication to establish the user's identity and then uses this pre-established authentication state to automatically accept subsequent operations without requiring continuous biometric verification. This preliminary action resolves the contradiction by securing the initial access while enabling convenient continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses human sensor detection to automatically monitor the user's presence and automatically manage the log-in state without requiring active user participation. The system serves itself by continuously detecting user presence and maintaining authentication state based on passive sensing, eliminating the need for continuous active biometric verification while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If log-in state is maintained continuously to improve user convenience, then user convenience is improved, but security deteriorates due to unauthorized use by impersonation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidsecurity level
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously receives feedback from human sensors about user presence and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the authentication state. When the sensor detects user absence, the system automatically releases the log-in state, providing real-time security adjustment without requiring active user participation or compromising convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The authentication system transitions from a static log-in state to a dynamic state that automatically adjusts based on real-time sensor input. The system can be in different authentication states (authenticated, unauthenticated, released) that change dynamically based on user presence detection, resolving the contradiction between continuous convenience and security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If re-login operation is required to improve security, then security level is improved, but user convenience deteriorates due to additional operation steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity levelVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically performs re-authentication by detecting user presence through human sensors when needed, eliminating the requirement for manual re-login operations. The system serves itself by automatically managing authentication state transitions based on sensor input, maintaining security without adding operational burden to the user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3396577B1Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and a non-transitory recording medium storing a computer readable program
Publication Date: 2021.05.26 KONICA MINOLTA INC
  • EP3396577B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3396577B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3396577B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

An information processing apparatus operated by a user who carries an authentication device, includes: an operation panel accepting an operation by the user; and an apparatus control unit controlling the operation panel. The apparatus control unit includes: a matching processing unit determining whether or not operation history information of operations by the user and accepted by the operation panel, and operation information about an operation of the operation panel by the user authenticated as a user permitted to use the information processing apparatus and acquired from the authentication device carried by the user, are related to operation of the same operation panel; and an operation acceptance processing unit having the operation panel accept the operation of the operation panel by the user if it is determined by the matching processing unit that the operation history information and the operation information match as information about operation of the same operation panel.