Fiducial Mark Authentication for Secure Conference Document Sharing

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Solution Overview

Problem

In online video conferences, confidential documents shared among participants are vulnerable to unauthorized capture and eavesdropping, posing a security risk due to the lack of robust authentication and environment validation mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A fiducial mark document sharing system that utilizes a QR code overlay on participant video streams to encode authentication characteristics, including user identity, face descriptor, and background descriptor, which are validated through cryptographic and facial recognition techniques before allowing document sharing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If document sharing is enabled in online video conferences, then collaboration and communication efficiency is improved, but security risk from unauthorized capture and eavesdropping increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollaboration efficiencyVSAvoidunauthorized capture risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary authentication of participants and validation of their physical environments before allowing document sharing to commence. QR codes are generated and displayed prior to sharing, requiring participants to scan and verify their identity and location, ensuring security checks are completed in advance rather than during the sharing process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary authentication system that mediates between the document sharer and recipients. This intermediary layer verifies participant identities through QR code scanning and validates physical environments through background analysis, creating a security buffer that prevents direct unauthorized access to shared documents

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If authentication and environment validation mechanisms are added to document sharing, then security is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service authentication where participants independently scan QR codes and validate their own environments using their device cameras. The authentication process leverages the participant's own device capabilities rather than requiring complex external verification equipment, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining security

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical or manual authentication methods with optical and cryptographic systems. QR codes provide cryptographic authentication, while camera-based background analysis replaces physical security checks, substituting complex mechanical verification systems with more streamlined optical and software-based solutions

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

3Object-affected harmful factors

If QR code authentication and background validation are required, then unauthorized access is reduced, but ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunauthorized accessVSAvoidease of document sharing
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses QR codes as digital copies of authentication information that can be easily scanned and verified. Instead of requiring complex credential entry or biometric verification, the system creates and validates digital representations of participant identity and environment, simplifying the authentication process while maintaining security

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The QR code system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it authenticates participant identity, validates the physical environment, and provides a record of authentication. This multi-functionality consolidates multiple security checks into a single operation, reducing the operational burden on users while comprehensive security is maintained

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

Data Source

PatentUS12511935B2Fiducial mark document sharing
Publication Date: 2025.12.30 HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LP
  • US12511935B2 patent drawing
  • US12511935B2 patent drawing
  • US12511935B2 patent drawing

AI summary

In an example implementation according to aspects of the present disclosure, a system, method, and storage medium comprising a processor, memory, and instructions to receive a fiducial mark, wherein the fiducial mark encodes a user identity, a face descriptor, a background descriptor, and a signature block. The system decodes the fiducial mark and validates the signature block against a public key repository system. The system validates the user identity against an identity management system and validates the face descriptor against a face descriptor repository. The system validates the background descriptor against a background descriptor repository and responsive to successful validation, allows a document to be shared in an online conference.