Body-Conductive NFC Authentication for Mobile Security

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing NFC-based services require users to expose their mobile terminals for authentication, increasing the risk of theft and compromising security, especially when entering PIN codes for secure transactions like bank withdrawals.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing NFC antennas in mobile and processing terminals to authenticate users through modulated radio signals transmitted via the human body, allowing authentication without exposing the mobile terminal, with steps including detection, data entry on the processing terminal, verification, and secure data exchange, ensuring the mobile terminal remains in the user's pocket or bag.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If users expose their mobile terminal for authentication (entering PIN codes on the device screen), then authentication can be performed, but the risk of theft increases and security is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication securityVSAvoidtheft risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces the user's body as an intermediary medium for communication between the mobile terminal and the external reader. The mobile terminal remains in the user's pocket or bag, and authentication data is transmitted through the body's conductive properties to the reader, eliminating the need to expose the terminal screen or device for PIN entry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/visual interaction (exposing the terminal screen for PIN entry) with a field-based communication system. The body acts as a conductive medium that enables electromagnetic signal transmission between the terminal and reader, substituting the need for visual display and physical keyboard interaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the mobile terminal remains in the user's pocket or bag during authentication, then theft risk is reduced, but authentication data must be transmitted through the body

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetheft riskVSAvoidauthentication mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The user's body serves a dual function: it both protects the terminal (by keeping it in pocket/bag) and enables communication (by acting as a conductive medium). The body's natural conductive properties are utilized without requiring additional accessories or complex intermediary devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the communication parameter from traditional wireless (air interface) or wired (physical connection) to body-conductive transmission. This parameter change enables the terminal to remain concealed while still allowing data transmission through the body's electrical conductivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If traditional NFC authentication is used requiring terminal exposure, then authentication is straightforward, but the terminal is vulnerable to theft

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication processVSAvoidterminal security

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of the user taking the terminal out to authenticate (traditional approach), the authentication is performed with the terminal remaining in the pocket or bag. The roles are inverted: rather than exposing the device for security, the device is concealed for security while authentication proceeds through the body medium.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances security by preventing mobile terminal exposure during authentication, reducing theft risks and maintaining convenience by allowing NFC service usage without physically interacting with the mobile device, while ensuring secure and confidential data exchange.

Implementation Method 1

the radio signals being transmitted between the mobile terminal and the processing terminal using a conductivity capacitance of the user's body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConductivity capacitance: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentEP2865112B1Authentication method between a mobile terminal and processing terminal

Publication Date: 2021.02.17 ORANGE SA

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AI summary

The invention concerns a method of authentication between a mobile terminal (12), located at a distance less than a predefined distance from the body of a user (13), the mobile terminal comprising an antenna (12-1) constituting a radio interface suitable for transmitting and receiving radio signals through the body of the user, and a processing terminal suitable for transmitting and receiving radio signals through the body of the user, the method comprising: - a step (E1) of approaching a user interface (11-3) of the processing terminal with a portion of the body, said approach triggering an activation of the processing terminal and the establishment of communication between the processing terminal and the mobile terminal, - a step (E5) requesting the entering of a piece of personal authentication data, - a step (E6) of memorising the personal data entered, - a step (E7) of sending said personal authentication data through the body, - a step (E11) of receiving a piece of data representing the result of a check of the personal authentication data carried out by the terminal of the user, - a step (E12) of checking said piece of received data, authentication being successful when the check is positive. (Figure 2)