Dual Microphone Voice Authentication Position Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing voice authentication technologies for mobile devices are vulnerable to unauthorized access through voice recordings, necessitating additional security measures.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a position-based voice authentication method using dual microphones to determine the user's relative position to the device, requiring voice input to be provided within a specific angular range for successful authentication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional voice authentication is used, then user convenience is improved, but security is worsened due to vulnerability to voice recording attacks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidsecurity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from traditional single-dimension voice authentication (frequency content only) to multi-dimensional authentication by incorporating spatial position information. The dual microphone array captures both voice frequency characteristics and the angular position of the sound source, creating a two-dimensional authentication space that prevents replay attacks while maintaining user convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the authentication parameters from solely frequency-based voice print analysis to include spatial parameters (angle of arrival) detected by the microphone array. This parameter expansion allows the system to distinguish between live voice and recorded voice by detecting the spatial characteristics of the sound source.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If position-based authentication is added, then security is improved, but device complexity is worsened due to dual microphone requirement

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the microphone array serve dual functions: traditional voice authentication and position-based authentication. The same hardware components (microphones, signal processor) are used for both frequency analysis and spatial location detection, eliminating the need for separate authentication hardware and reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system merges voice authentication and position authentication into a unified authentication process. The dual microphone array simultaneously performs frequency content analysis and angle of arrival calculation, combining multiple authentication mechanisms into a single integrated system that enhances security without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances security by adding a second layer of authentication, making it more difficult for unauthorized users to access the device, even if they possess a recorded voice, by ensuring the user is in the correct positional relationship with the device during voice input.

Implementation Method 1

determining a position of the user relative to the mobile device based on the voice input received by the first and second microphones

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTime difference of arrival: Time of Flight

Data Source

PatentEP2660813B1Dual microphone voice authentication for mobile device
Publication Date: 2014.12.17 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2660813B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2660813B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2660813B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of authenticating a user of a mobile device having a first microphone and a second microphone, the method comprising receiving voice input from the user at the first and second microphones, determining a position of the user relative to the mobile device based on the voice input received by the first and second microphones, and authenticating the user based on the position of the user.