Galvanic Skin Response Authentication via Wearable Contact

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users often face difficulties in authenticating themselves or completing financial transactions due to the inability to locate necessary devices or remember PINs, leading to access denials.

Innovation Solution

A method and system utilizing a wearable device to authenticate users based on galvanic skin response, where a change in skin conductance is measured and compared to a threshold, sending authentication confirmations or denials to connected devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If users carry physical authentication devices (ID badges, credit cards, smartphones), then authentication capability is improved, but device loss or forgetting leads to authentication failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication capabilityVSAvoiddevice accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces physical authentication devices and manual PIN entry with a biometric authentication system using galvanic skin response (GSR) sensors. The wearable device continuously monitors the user's skin conductance and automatically performs authentication by comparing GSR patterns against stored biometric data, eliminating the need for users to physically carry or manually operate authentication devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If traditional authentication methods (PINs, physical tokens) are used, then security is maintained, but user convenience deteriorates due to the need to locate and present devices

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The authentication system operates autonomously by continuously monitoring the user's galvanic skin response through the wearable device. When a second device requests authentication, the system automatically compares the user's current GSR pattern with stored biometric data and sends an authentication confirmation or denial without requiring any manual action from the user, such as presenting a card or entering a PIN.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary authentication by continuously monitoring and storing the user's baseline galvanic skin response patterns before an authentication request occurs. This pre-captured biometric data is then quickly compared against the current GSR reading when authentication is needed, enabling rapid and convenient authentication without requiring the user to locate or present physical devices at the moment of authentication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If biometric authentication via galvanic skin response is implemented, then user convenience is improved, but measurement precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication convenienceVSAvoidskin conductance detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors the galvanic skin response and uses feedback mechanisms to adapt to the user's baseline physiological state. By comparing real-time GSR measurements against stored reference patterns and adjusting for individual variations, the system maintains high measurement precision while providing convenient automatic authentication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

Enables secure and convenient user authentication and transaction authorization by leveraging wearable devices to detect physical contact and skin conductance, reducing the need for physical tokens or PINs.

Implementation Method 1

The electronic computing device measures a change in the galvanic skin response associated with the user, and the change in the galvanic skin response is indicative of the user creating a physical connection between the electronic computing device and the second electronic computing device.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGalvanic skin response: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS11947647B1User authentication via galvanic skin response

Publication Date: 2024.04.02 WELLS FARGO BANK NA

AI summary

A method of authenticating a user via a galvanic skin response on electric computing device is described. The method includes receiving a request for user authentication from a second electronic computing device. The electronic computing device measures a change in the galvanic skin response associated with the user, and the change in the galvanic skin response is indicative of the user creating a physical connection between the electronic computing device and the second electronic computing device. The electronic computing device compares the galvanic skin response to a threshold skin conductance level. When the comparison of the galvanic skin response indicates, an authentication confirmation is sent to the second electronic computing device.