Environmental Sensor Authentication for Location-Specific Processing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing information processing systems cannot ensure that processing requests are executed only from external devices installed in a specific environmental area, as authentication using identification information or passwords does not prevent requests from devices that have moved from the designated area.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus and method that utilize environmental information measurement units, such as sensors for acceleration, atmospheric pressure, and audio data, to calculate and compare feature patterns, allowing processing only when the device is in the same environmental area, and notifying changes in location.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If authentication using identification information or password is performed, then security protection is provided, but the information processing device executes processing requests from external devices even when the installation place has moved from the specific area

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity protectionVSAvoidlocation-specific execution control
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical authentication mechanisms (identification information, passwords) with an environmental sensing system that uses sensors to detect ambient characteristics. The measurement unit captures environmental data, the calculation unit processes this data to determine location, and the control unit uses this location information to authorize or deny processing requests, thereby resolving the contradiction between security and location-specific control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces environmental information as an intermediary between the authentication system and the processing execution. Instead of directly verifying credentials, the system uses environmental data as a mediator to determine whether a device is located in the appropriate area, enabling location-aware security control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If environmental information measurement units and sensors are added to determine location, then location-specific processing control is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation-specific execution controlVSAvoidmeasurement and calculation units
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements multi-functionality by using the same environmental sensors for multiple purposes: measuring ambient characteristics for location determination, detecting environmental changes for notifications, and providing data for both authentication and execution control. This universal use of sensors reduces the need for separate dedicated components

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

Solution Approach 2:

The calculation unit automatically processes environmental data and determines location information without requiring external intervention. The system self-service approach allows the measurement and calculation units to operate autonomously, reducing the need for complex external control mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

Ensures secure and accurate execution of processing requests only when the device is in the intended environmental area, enhancing security and location-specific functionality.

Implementation Method 1

an acceleration sensor, an atmospheric pressure sensor, and a sound collection microphone as examples of sensors that can be used in the environmental information measurement unit 31

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcceleration: Accelerometer

Implementation Method 2

an acceleration sensor, an atmospheric pressure sensor, and a sound collection microphone as examples of sensors that can be used in the environmental information measurement unit 31

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAtmospheric pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 3

The analysis comprises fingerprinting techniques in order to associate specific locations which specific sets of measured ambience data

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSound: Sound

Data Source

PatentEP3139582B1Information processing apparatus and method
Publication Date: 2020.04.22 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP
  • EP3139582B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3139582B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3139582B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An information processing apparatus includes a measurement unit that measures environmental information about an environment surrounding the information processing apparatus; a reception unit that receives environmental information from an external device or a device associated with the external device in response to receiving a processing request from the external device; a comparison unit that compares the environmental information measured by the measurement unit with the environmental information received by the reception unit; and a processing unit that executes a process based on the received processing request in a case where the environmental information received by the reception unit and the environmental information measured by the measurement unit that are compared by the comparison unit are determined to be measured in a same environment.