HMD Hardware Resource Usability Control via Application Authentication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing information processing devices, such as head-mounted displays (HMDs), lack the ability to differentiate the usability of hardware resources between applications, leading to inefficiencies in resource allocation and security concerns.

Innovation Solution

An information processing device that authenticates applications and adjusts hardware resource usability based on authentication results, using an authenticating unit to generate trial keys and a changing unit to modify resource performance, ensuring secure and differentiated access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If all applications are allowed to use hardware resources without differentiation, then ease of operation is improved, but security and resource management efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidsecurity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements differentiated access control where different applications receive different levels of hardware resource access based on their authentication status. Authenticated applications gain full access to high-performance modes, while unauthenticated applications are restricted to low-performance modes. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing ease of operation for legitimate users while maintaining security through restricted access for unauthorized applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the performance parameters of hardware resources based on authentication results. The control unit switches between high-performance mode and low-performance mode depending on whether the application is authenticated. This parameter change mechanism enables the system to provide full functionality to trusted applications while degrading performance for untrusted ones, thereby maintaining security without completely blocking operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If hardware resources are allocated equally to all applications, then ease of manufacture is improved, but productivity and resource efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidresource efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic resource allocation where the hardware resource performance level changes based on the authentication status of each application. The control unit dynamically switches between high-performance and low-performance modes, allocating computational power and processing speed according to trust levels. This dynamic approach improves productivity by ensuring that authenticated applications receive sufficient resources while unauthenticated applications receive limited resources, optimizing overall system efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If authentication is implemented for all applications, then security is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the hardware resource access into distinct performance levels (high-performance mode and low-performance mode) based on authentication status. The control unit segments the application population into authenticated and unauthenticated groups, applying different access policies to each segment. This segmentation approach maintains security by clearly separating access rights while managing complexity through a structured, binary classification system rather than requiring complex continuous control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Productivity

If high-performance mode is provided to all applications, then productivity is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveproductivityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements parameter changes in hardware resource performance based on authentication status. The control unit adjusts processing speed, computational power, and resource allocation parameters between high-performance and low-performance modes. This enables the system to provide high productivity to authenticated applications that need full performance while consuming less energy for unauthenticated applications that operate in restricted mode, thereby optimizing the energy-productivity tradeoff.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3170118B1Controlling the performances or accuracy of hardware resources depending on application authentication status in a head mounted device

Publication Date: 2019.10.09 SEIKO EPSON CORP

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AI summary

An information processing device includes an application configured to execute predetermined processing, a hardware resource used by the application, an authenticating unit configured to authenticate validity of the application, and a changing unit configured to change a degree of usability of the hardware resource by the application according to a result of the authentication.