Dynamic Multifactor Authentication Using Low-Power Polling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multifactor authentication methods rely heavily on user memory and device possession, which can be inconvenient and insecure, especially when users forget passwords, lose tokens, or encounter environmental limitations like loud or dirty conditions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that uses a combination of low-power and high-power multifactor authentication, where low-power devices are polled first to conserve battery life and then high-power devices are engaged for additional verification, allowing multiple options and weighting factors to adapt to different environments and devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high-power authentication devices are continuously polled for MFA, then authentication reliability is improved, but battery drain increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic polling of authentication devices instead of continuous polling. Low-power devices are polled at regular intervals, and high-power devices are only activated when needed (upon detecting a potential authentication event), thereby reducing overall battery consumption while maintaining authentication reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The authentication system is segmented into low-power and high-power device components. Low-power devices handle routine authentication checks, while high-power devices are reserved for more demanding authentication scenarios, allowing the system to distribute the energy burden across different device types
2Reliability
If multiple authentication devices are continuously monitored, then security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the functionality of multiple authentication devices into a unified polling framework. Instead of independently managing each device, the system combines them into a single coordinated authentication process, reducing the perceived complexity while maintaining the security benefits of multiple devices
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts which devices are polled and how frequently based on current authentication needs and device states. This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain security through multiple devices while adapting the complexity of device management to actual requirements rather than continuously monitoring all devices at full capacity
3Duration of action of moving object
If low-power authentication is used first, then battery life is extended, but authentication time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication using low-power devices before engaging high-power devices. This preliminary action filters out many authentication scenarios that can be resolved quickly with minimal power consumption, extending battery life while minimizing the time penalty since most authentications don't require the full high-power device sequence
Data Source
AI summary
Access to a system is permitted by first polling a low-power device/connection on a user device for a low-power multifactor authentication (MFA), and; refraining from polling a high-power device/connection on the user device for a high-power MFA. An indication is received from a user that the user would like to access the system. The low-power MFA is identified via the polling of the low-power device/connection, and the user is authenticated via the low-power MFA. After authenticating the user via the low-power MFA, the high-power device/connection is woken and polled for the high-power MFA. The high-power MFA is identified via the polling of the high-power device/connection, and the user is authenticated via the high-power MFA. Access to the system is permitted when the user has been authenticated using the low-power MFA and the high-power MFA.