Device Distortion Authentication for Privacy Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current authentication methods compromise individual privacy and are inefficient in verifying the owner of an electronic device, as they often rely on identifying the device rather than the user, and are prone to fraud, especially in financial transactions.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device system that selectively authenticates individuals by measuring physical parameters such as sound, image, or acceleration using sensors, comparing these measurements with historical values to determine distortions, and using secure hash functions to maintain privacy, allowing for secure and private authentication without accessing stored information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional authentication methods are used to verify user identity, then authentication reliability is improved, but user privacy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary authentication information (device distortion characteristics) from the complete user profile, leaving sensitive personal information behind. This allows authentication to proceed without exposing user privacy, resolving the contradiction between authentication reliability and privacy protection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces device distortion characteristics as an intermediary element that bridges authentication verification and privacy protection. Instead of directly accessing user identity information, the system uses these indirect characteristics that naturally occur during sensor operations, enabling authentication without compromising privacy
2Speed
If device-based authentication is used instead of user-based authentication, then authentication speed is improved, but authentication reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges device-based authentication (fast) with user-based authentication (reliable) by binding the device distortion characteristics to the authorized user. This combination maintains the speed advantage of device-based methods while achieving the reliability of user-based authentication, as the device characteristics serve as a unique identifier for the authorized user
3Reliability
If detailed user information is collected for authentication, then authentication reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the sensor device to automatically generate and provide its own distortion characteristics without requiring external configuration or additional components. The device self-services the authentication process by naturally exhibiting unique distortion patterns during normal operation, reducing system complexity while maintaining authentication reliability
Data Source
AI summary
During operation, an electronic device may receive, from a second electronic device, information that specifies or that corresponds to one or more distortions, where the one or more distortions are associated with measurements of a physical parameter that are performed by a sensor in the second electronic device. Then, the electronic device may determine, based at least in part on the information, the one or more distortions. Moreover, the electronic device may compare the determined one or more distortions with historical values of the one or more distortions. Note that the historical values of the one or more distortions may be specified by or may correspond to historical information that is received from one or more third electronic devices. Next, based at least in part on the comparison, the electronic device may selectively authenticate an individual associated with the second electronic device.