Body Area Network Pairing for Collaboration Device Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing access and control of collaboration devices in collaborative workspace environments is challenging, especially during sessions involving multiple participants.
Innovation Solution
The use of body area network (BAN) communications to facilitate pairing between user devices and collaboration devices, as well as between collaboration device controllers and devices, through touch interactions, enabling secure and efficient management of device interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional access management methods are used for collaboration devices, then device control is possible, but management becomes difficult during collaborative sessions with multiple participants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces body area network (BAN) technology as an intermediary between users and collaboration devices. BAN uses the user's body as a communication medium to establish direct, authenticated connections with devices, eliminating the need for complex traditional access management systems during collaborative sessions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical access control systems (keycards, passwords, physical keys) with a bio-based communication system. The user's body acts as the authentication and communication medium, substituting complex access management infrastructure with a natural, inherent human characteristic
2Measurement precision
If body area network communications are implemented for device pairing, then pairing accuracy and user interaction tracking improve, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables devices to perform self-identification and self-pairing through BAN communications. When a user touches a device, the device automatically identifies the user through body-based communication and establishes the connection without requiring manual configuration or complex pairing protocols
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental communication parameter from electromagnetic waves (traditional wireless) to electro-quasistatic body-based signals. This parameter change enables direct skin-to-device communication, achieving precise user identification and pairing while simplifying the communication protocol
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein are techniques that facilitate interactions with and/or control of devices provided for collaborative workspaces using body area network communications. In one example, a method is provided that may include, upon a touch of a user with a collaboration device, performing, for a user device that provides a body area network for the user, a pairing exchange facilitated via the body area network for pairing the user device and the collaboration device. During the touch of the user with the collaboration device, the method may include transmitting a user token to the collaboration device via the body area network. The method may further include transmitting a pairing communication to a collaboration service in which the communication includes the user token and a pairing token for the device and, upon successful authentication of the user by the collaboration service, pairing the user device with the collaboration device.