Cross-Device Authentication Using Biometric Visual Indications
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Solution Overview
Problem
Biometric authentication systems on computing devices often fail due to obstructions, requiring users to remove obstructions or lack biometric sensors, leading to failed authentication attempts and device disablement.
Innovation Solution
A first device requests an authentication indication from a second device with a successful biometric authentication system, allowing the first device to authenticate the user based on a visual or audio indication received from the second device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If biometric authentication is implemented on a device, then authentication speed and user convenience are improved, but the system becomes unreliable when biometric data is obstructed or the device lacks appropriate sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a second device as an intermediary to perform biometric authentication when the first device cannot. The second device acts as a mediator that captures biometric data (e.g., via camera for facial recognition) and transmits authentication results to the first device, thereby maintaining system reliability even when the primary authentication device is unavailable or obstructed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the authentication system universal by enabling multiple devices to perform authentication functions. The first device can authenticate users either through its own biometric sensor or by receiving authentication results from a second device, making the system adaptable to different scenarios and device capabilities
2Reliability
If biometric authentication fails due to obstructions, then security is maintained by requiring multiple attempts, but user experience deteriorates due to repeated failures and potential device disablement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by proactively offering alternative authentication methods before the device is disabled after multiple failed attempts. When the first device detects authentication failure, it immediately prompts the user to try a second device, preventing the accumulation of failed attempts that would lead to device disablement
Solution Approach 2:
The second device serves as an intermediary that resolves authentication failures caused by obstructions. By transferring the authentication attempt to a second device with potentially different sensor orientations or capabilities, the system maintains security while improving user experience through successful authentication
3Device complexity
If a device lacks biometric sensors, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but authentication capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes authentication capability universal across devices with different capabilities. Devices without biometric sensors can still authenticate users by receiving authentication results from devices that do have biometric sensors, eliminating the need for every device to have identical hardware while maintaining consistent authentication functionality across the ecosystem
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are disclosed relating to user authentication. In some embodiments, a first device includes an authentication system configured to store an identity of a user of the first device and detect a visual indication presented on a display of a second device in response to a successful biometric authentication of a user of the second device. Based on the visual indication, the authentication system determines that the authenticated user of the second device corresponds to the identity of the user of the first device. In some embodiments, the second device includes a display with a lenticular lens and, in response the user has been authenticated, displays a plurality of visual indications including a first visual indication visible from a first viewing angle and a second visual indication visible from a second viewing angle.