Body-Coupled BAN Link for Secure Wearable Authentication
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Over-the-air wireless communications can be impaired by a human body and are power-intensive and vulnerable to security breaches, particularly when devices are worn on the body or held in hand.
Innovation Solution
Establishing a Body Area Network (BAN) link through a human body using a wearable device with a BAN transceiver circuit, which automatically transmits authentication information to unlock a display screen of another device via a conductive button, utilizing a frequency between 10 MHz and 40 MHz, and deleting information when the device is removed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If over-the-air wireless communications are used between wearable devices, then communication capability is provided, but power consumption increases and security vulnerabilities arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a BAN link as an intermediary communication path that uses the human body as a transmission medium. The body-coupled communication acts as a secure intermediary channel between the wearable device and the external device, replacing direct over-the-air wireless communication. This intermediary path consumes less power and provides enhanced security since the signal is confined to the body's conductive pathways rather than radiating through the air.
2Reliability
If over-the-air wireless communications are used, then communication is provided, but transmission and reception quality is impaired by the human body
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of transmitting signals through the air and having them affected by the human body, the patent inverts the approach by using the human body itself as the transmission medium. The BAN link exploits the body's natural conductivity to transmit signals directly through tissue and fluids, transforming the human body from a harmful interfering element into a useful communication channel. This eliminates the impairment problem by making the body the intended transmission path rather than an obstacle.
3Loss of time
If authentication information is stored in the wearable device for automatic transmission, then authentication speed is improved, but security risk increases if the device is lost or stolen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-storing authentication information in the wearable device during a setup phase. This allows the device to automatically transmit authentication credentials without requiring user input during the actual authentication event, significantly reducing authentication time. The system performs the authentication preparation in advance, storing biometric templates or cryptographic keys in secure memory, so that when authentication is needed, the process is already primed and ready to execute immediately.
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 communication security and reduces power consumption by using the body as a transmission medium, providing secure and efficient authentication without manual input, while minimizing signal radiation.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a frequency between 10 MHz and 40 MHz
Implementation Method 2
when the user touches a conductive button on the second wireless electronic device
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
Methods of providing communications between a wearable first wireless electronic device and a second wireless electronic device are provided. The methods include establishing a Body Area Network (BAN) link, through a human body of a user that is wearing the wearable first wireless electronic device, between the wearable first wireless electronic device and the second wireless electronic device, when the user touches a conductive button on the second wireless electronic device. Related wireless electronic devices and wearable wireless electronic devices are also provided.