Cross-Device Authentication Data Sharing for Faster Secure Verification

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing multi-device authentication systems rely solely on device connections for user authentication, leading to security issues and inefficient, time-consuming authentication processes, especially when devices have different capabilities and limitations.

Innovation Solution

A system that shares authentication data between devices, allowing the second device to dynamically select authentication readings based on those previously performed by the first device, considering factors like proximity, location, and elapsed time, to enhance security and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If each device performs its own complete authentication process independently, then authentication security is maintained, but authentication time and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication securityVSAvoidauthentication time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs authentication readings on the first device before the user switches to the second device. These preliminary authentication results are then transferred and utilized by the second device, eliminating the need to repeat all authentication readings and reducing overall authentication time while maintaining security

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the authentication processes across multiple devices by transferring authentication data between them. The authentication readings obtained on the first device are combined with the authentication process on the second device, creating a unified cross-device authentication system that reduces redundancy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If each device performs its own complete authentication process independently, then authentication reliability is maintained, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication securityVSAvoiddevice energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Authentication readings are performed in advance on the first device before the user switches devices. The second device leverages these pre-performed readings, avoiding the need to consume energy for repeating all authentication measurements, thus reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining security

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system recovers and reuses authentication data from the first device on the second device. Instead of discarding the authentication readings performed on the first device, the system transfers and utilizes them on the second device, eliminating redundant energy-consuming authentication operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Productivity

If authentication readings are transferred between devices, then authentication efficiency improves, but security risks may increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication efficiencyVSAvoidauthentication security
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically selects which authentication readings to transfer based on the specific capabilities and requirements of each device. Not all readings are transferred universally; instead, the selection is adapted to the second device's sensors and authentication needs, maintaining security while improving efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different authentication strategies to different devices based on their local characteristics. Each device's authentication process is tailored to its specific sensors and capabilities, with readings selected and transferred according to the receiving device's local requirements rather than using a uniform approach

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If the second device performs all authentication readings independently, then authentication security is maintained, but the process becomes redundant and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication securityVSAvoidauthentication efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The authentication processes of the first and second devices are merged into a unified system. Authentication readings obtained on the first device are combined with the second device's authentication process, eliminating redundancy and improving efficiency while maintaining the security requirements of both devices

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4278283B1Authentication mechanism
Publication Date: 2025.07.23 BRITISH TELECOM PLC
  • EP4278283B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4278283B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4278283B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The authentication of a user across multiple devices includes the generation of authentication related data during an authentication process of a first device. The authentication process relating to a user's use of a second device is conducted in dependence on the authentication data generated during the authentication process of the first device. The authentication data may include the authentication readings that have been authenticated by the first device, a trust in the user, a location of the user, a proximity of the user to the device in use and a network device, and a time elapsed since the authentication process occurred on the first device. Beneficially, basing the authentication of a second device on the authentication process of a first device allows a trust in the user to be transferred.