Light Fixture Authentication for Physical Presence Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing computer networking systems face challenges in verifying the physical presence of users, especially in wireless networks, as it is difficult to confirm whether a device is located within a specific physical space, which is crucial for secure access to network resources.
Innovation Solution
A network access system that uses light fixtures to transmit codes, which are detected by devices within a secure area, ensuring that only physically present devices can access the network by capturing and responding to the light-emitted codes, thereby confirming their location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wireless networks are used to provide network access, then ease of operation is improved, but the ability to verify physical presence of users deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces light fixtures as an intermediary medium to transmit authentication codes. The light fixtures serve as a mediator between the network system and the user's device, carrying authentication information through light signals that can be detected by the device's camera or light sensor, thereby enabling physical presence verification in wireless networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical or radio-frequency based presence verification with an optical system. By using light fixtures to transmit codes and optical sensors to detect them, the system substitutes a different physical domain (optical) for the conventional approach, enabling more reliable presence verification.
2Reliability
If light fixtures are used to transmit authentication codes, then physical presence verification is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes light fixtures serve multiple functions: they continue to provide illumination while simultaneously transmitting authentication codes. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated authentication hardware, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining improved physical presence verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses existing components (light fixtures and device cameras/sensors) to perform authentication without requiring additional specialized hardware. The light fixtures self-serve by embedding authentication codes in their existing light output, and devices use their existing optical sensors to detect these codes, minimizing added complexity.
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
This method provides an additional layer of security by ensuring that users must be physically present within a restricted space to access network resources, preventing unauthorized access even if login credentials are compromised, and is particularly useful in environments that need to limit radio frequency transmissions.
Implementation Method 1
causing a code to be transmitted in light emitted by one or more light fixtures within a physical space
Implementation Method 2
receiving information from the device requesting access to the network... whether the received information is derived from the code transmitted by the one or more light fixtures
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided in which a network access system receives an initial request from a device requesting access to the network. In response to successfully authenticating the initial access request, the system causes a code to be transmitted in light emitted by one or more light fixtures within a physical space in which access to the network is to be restricted. The system receives information from the device requesting access to the network and determines whether to permit the device access to the network based on the initial request and on whether the received information is derived from the code transmitted by the one or more light fixtures, thereby indicating that the requesting device is within the physical space.