Biometric Vector Obfuscation for Secure Authentication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing biometric authentication methods face challenges in securely transmitting and storing biometric information, as malicious actors can potentially intercept or misuse this data.

Innovation Solution

The method involves obfuscating biometric vectors using a similarity-preserving obfuscation, which transforms the biometric identifiers into obfuscated vectors that maintain similarity while being resistant to inversion, thus enhancing security during transmission and storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If biometric information is transmitted and stored in clear form for authentication, then authentication accuracy is improved, but security is worsened due to potential interception and misuse by malicious actors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication accuracyVSAvoidsecurity risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary transformation process that converts clear biometric information into obfuscated biometric templates through a non-invertible function. This intermediary step allows the system to maintain authentication capability while preventing direct access to the original biometric data, thus resolving the contradiction between authentication accuracy and security risk

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms biometric data from its original clear-state parameters into obfuscated parameters through a mathematical transformation. The transformed parameters retain the necessary similarity characteristics for authentication while losing the ability to reconstruct the original biometric information, thereby improving security without sacrificing authentication functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If biometric vectors are obfuscated to enhance security, then security is improved, but the ability to accurately authenticate is worsened due to potential loss of similarity information

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidauthentication accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a carefully designed parameter transformation that changes the representation of biometric data while preserving the essential similarity characteristics needed for authentication. The transformation maintains the relative distance relationships between matching biometric vectors, ensuring that authentication accuracy is preserved even though the data is obfuscated

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a transformed copy of the biometric data that serves the authentication function without containing the original sensitive information. This obfuscated copy retains the necessary structural properties for comparison and matching, allowing accurate authentication while enhancing security through the non-invertible nature of the transformation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Ease of operation

If traditional biometric authentication methods are used, then ease of operation is maintained, but security against interception and misuse is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication convenienceVSAvoidsecurity vulnerability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary obfuscation layer that operates transparently to the user. The transformation process occurs automatically in the background without requiring user awareness or additional interaction, thus maintaining ease of operation while significantly improving security by preventing direct access to raw biometric data

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical approach of storing and transmitting clear biometric data with a mathematical transformation system. This substitution maintains the user-friendly interface and workflow while introducing a security layer that prevents interception and misuse of biometric information

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12244590B2Access authentication using obfuscated biometrics

Publication Date: 2025.03.04 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A method for authorizing access to one or more secured computer resources includes obfuscating a reference biometric vector into an obfuscated reference biometric vector using a similarity-preserving obfuscation. An authentication biometric vector is obfuscated into an obfuscated authentication biometric vector using the similarity-preserving obfuscation. A similarity of the obfuscated authentication biometric vector and the obfuscated reference biometric vector is tested. Based on the similarity being within an authentication threshold, access to the one or more secured computer resources is authorized.