Continuous Fingerprint Whitelist Monitoring for Unauthorized Access Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing authentication methods do not effectively prevent unauthorized access to applications on computing devices after initial authorization, allowing unauthorized users to access secure applications if the device is left unattended or stolen.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that continuously monitors fingerprint data on touchscreens while applications are in use, comparing it to a whitelist of authorized fingerprints to detect unauthorized use and perform security actions such as locking the device or displaying a warning, with the ability to reverse security actions upon authorized user input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If authentication is required only during initial access phase, then ease of operation is improved, but security is worsened allowing unauthorized access after device is left unattended or stolen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous fingerprint monitoring during application usage rather than stopping authentication after initial access. The system continuously detects fingerprint data on the touchscreen and compares it against authorized fingerprints, maintaining security protection throughout the entire usage period. This continuous action resolves the contradiction by keeping security active without requiring repeated manual authentication prompts.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically performs fingerprint detection and comparison without requiring the user to manually re-authenticate. The computing device autonomously monitors for fingerprint data, compares it to the whitelist, and terminates application usage when unauthorized access is detected, eliminating the need for continuous user intervention while maintaining security.
2Reliability
If continuous fingerprint monitoring is implemented during application usage, then security is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the existing touchscreen component to serve dual functions: both displaying the user interface and detecting fingerprint data. The touchscreen capacitively senses both touch interactions for UI navigation and fingerprint patterns for authentication, eliminating the need for separate fingerprint sensors and reducing overall system complexity while enabling continuous monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the touchscreen's inherent capacitive properties to detect fingerprint data without requiring additional hardware components. By utilizing the existing touchscreen infrastructure for both display and biometric detection, the implementation avoids adding complex external fingerprint sensing mechanisms.
3Measurement precision
If fingerprint data is collected for every finger contact, then measurement precision is improved for security detection, but loss of time is worsened due to continuous processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent collects fingerprint data for every finger contact on the touchscreen, which may seem excessive, but this comprehensive collection ensures high measurement precision for security detection. The system processes only the necessary fingerprint features rather than all touch data, and the continuous monitoring prevents unauthorized access while maintaining reasonable processing overhead by leveraging the existing touchscreen data stream.
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 reducing unauthorized access and protecting sensitive information by continuously verifying user identity through fingerprint comparison, even after initial authentication, and maintaining security actions across power cycles.
Implementation Method 1
fingerprint data associated with a fingerprint, where the fingerprint data is received from the touchscreen
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed computer-implemented method for detecting unauthorized use of an application may include (1) receiving, by the computing device, fingerprint data associated with a fingerprint, where the fingerprint data is received from the touchscreen, when a user interface of the application is displayed on the touchscreen, and in an absence of displaying a request for fingerprint data on the touchscreen, (2) comparing the received fingerprint data to a whitelist of authorized fingerprint data to determine a presence of a match, where the authorized fingerprint data indicates at least one fingerprint of at least one user that is authorized to access the application and (3) performing, when the received fingerprint data does not match the whitelist of authorized fingerprint data, a security action. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.