Contactless Multi-Step Authentication for Secure Access Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing access control methods, such as access cards and biometric systems, face issues with unauthorized access and accuracy, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs due to unnecessary interactions and resource utilization.

Innovation Solution

A multi-step authentication method and system that utilizes contactless techniques, including proximity-based identification and image processing, to authenticate individuals or vehicles by sequentially executing disparate authentication phases, ensuring successful authentication only if all phases are completed successfully.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If access cards are used for access control, then ease of operation is improved, but security is worsened because cards can be stolen and used by unauthorized persons

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidsecurity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines proximity-based identification (using transceiver devices to detect authorized devices nearby) with image processing identification (using cameras to capture and verify images of the person or vehicle) into a unified authentication system. This merging of multiple authentication modalities ensures that even if one method is compromised, the other provides security protection, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If biometric systems are used for access control, then security is improved, but measurement precision is worsened due to unacceptable error rates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidaccuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces image processing as an intermediary verification step between the biometric authentication and access granting. The system captures images using cameras, processes them to identify persons or vehicles, and uses this intermediate verification to confirm or challenge biometric results. This intermediary process reduces false acceptance and rejection rates by providing an additional layer of verification that complements biometric data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If multiple authentication phases are implemented, then security is improved, but device complexity is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the authentication process into distinct phases: proximity-based identification phase (using transceiver devices to detect authorized devices within proximity) and image processing identification phase (using cameras to capture and verify images). Each phase can be independently configured and executed based on security requirements. This segmentation allows the system to implement multiple authentication layers without creating a monolithic complex system, as each component can be developed, maintained, and adjusted separately.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If contactless authentication techniques are used, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability is worsened due to potential spoofing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary image capture and processing before granting access based on proximity detection. The system captures images of the person or vehicle, processes them to verify identity, and only then proceeds to grant access if verification succeeds. This preliminary action creates a barrier against spoofing attempts, as the system has already validated the authenticator's identity through image analysis before the proximity-based contactless authentication completes, thereby maintaining both ease of operation and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4127989B1Multi step authentication method and system
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 IQ WORKS LTD
  • EP4127989B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4127989B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4127989B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A multi step authentication method for authenticating a person as an authorized person, the multi step authentication method being executed by a multi step authentication system including an authentication server, a user device, the method comprising the steps of executing a first authentication phase, the first authentication phase comprises performing a first authentication technique; executing a second authentication phase, the second authentication phase comprises performing a second authentication technique, wherein the first authentication technique and second authentication technique are disparate; both the first and second authentication techniques utilize contactless authentication techniques; wherein the second authentication phase is performed after the first authentication phase successfully authenticates a person as an authorized user, a person is authenticated as an authorized person or vehicle if both the first authentication phase and second authentication phase successfully authenticate the person or vehicle, and; wherein the first authentication phase and second authentication phase are sequentially alterable.