Continuous Authentication Confidence Module for Session Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current authentication methods fail to continuously verify user presence, leading to security vulnerabilities where sessions remain open when the user is absent or are closed prematurely when the user is still active, compromising security and user experience.
Innovation Solution
A continuous authentication confidence module (CACM) determines a confidence score based on user presence data from sensors and system monitoring, adjusting over time to ensure sessions are securely maintained or closed accordingly, using a trusted execution environment to enhance security and minimize user interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If initial authentication is used to open a session, then user access is granted, but security is compromised when the user is absent without detection
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors user presence throughout the session using sensors (camera, microphone, motion detectors) rather than performing authentication only at the beginning. This continuous monitoring ensures that user absence is detected in real-time, maintaining session security without requiring complex periodic re-authentication protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from multiple sensor sources (visual, audio, motion) to continuously update the authentication state. When sensors detect that the authenticated user is no longer present, the system automatically closes the session. This feedback mechanism provides reliable security detection without adding significant system complexity.
2Reliability
If session is closed after predefined period of inactivity, then security is improved, but user experience is degraded due to unnecessary re-authentication
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the mechanical timer-based session closure mechanism with a sensor-based user presence detection system. Instead of closing sessions based on fixed time intervals, the system uses cameras, microphones, and motion detectors to actively detect whether the user is still present. This substitution maintains security by detecting actual user absence while avoiding unnecessary session closures that would degrade user experience.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically detects user presence and manages session state without requiring user intervention or re-authentication. When the system detects that the user is still present through sensor monitoring, the session remains open indefinitely, eliminating the need for users to re-authenticate during legitimate continuous use.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used for continuous authentication, then detection accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple sensor types (camera, microphone, motion detectors) into a unified authentication system that leverages the complementary strengths of each sensor. By combining these sensors, the system achieves high detection accuracy through multi-modal verification while managing power consumption through coordinated operation rather than running each sensor independently at full capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts sensor operation based on context and confidence levels. When initial authentication succeeds, the system may reduce sensor activity or use lower-power sensors. When uncertainty arises or security requirements increase, the system activates additional sensors or increases monitoring frequency. This dynamic approach maintains high detection accuracy while optimizing power consumption based on actual needs.
Data Source
AI summary
Generally, this disclosure describes a continuous authentication confidence module. A system may include user device including processor circuitry configured to determine presence data; a confidence factor including at least one of a sensor configured to capture sensor input and a system monitoring module configured to monitor activity of the user device; memory configured to store a confidence score and an operating system; and a continuous authentication confidence module configured to determine the confidence score in response to an initial authentication of a specific user, update the confidence score based, at least in part, an expectation of user presence and/or selected presence data, and notify the operating system that the authentication is no longer valid if the updated confidence score is within a tolerance of a session close threshold; the initial authentication configured to open a session, the confidence score configured to indicate a current strength of authentication during the session.