Proximity Gamer Profile Login Using Location-Matched Console Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge of accessing gamer profiles on remote gaming consoles is tedious and often results in security concerns due to incomplete logout and residual login artifacts, especially when playing games away from one's personal console.

Innovation Solution

A proximity-based login system using a central service to authenticate and manage gamer profiles on mobile devices, allowing secure temporary access by correlating the location of the mobile device and console, and automatically logging out when the devices are no longer proximate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a user manually logs in to their gamer profile on a friend's console, then the user can access their profile and play games, but the process is tedious and requires initial setup

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelogin processVSAvoidsetup time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary authentication by having the user log in to their gamer profile on their mobile device beforehand. The authentication credentials are securely stored, and when the user approaches the console, the system automatically uses these pre-stored credentials to log in without requiring the user to re-enter passwords or perform setup steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile device acts as an intermediary between the user and the console. It contains the authenticated gamer profile and communicates with the console to transfer access rights. The mobile device serves as a portable key that mediates the login process, eliminating the need for manual credential entry at the console.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If a user leaves a friend's console without logging out, then the user can quickly access their profile on the next visit, but login artifacts remain which create security concerns

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelogout processVSAvoidsecurity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The login state becomes dynamic rather than static. Instead of requiring explicit logout actions, the system continuously monitors whether the mobile device is present. When the device moves away or is removed, the system automatically detects this change and revokes access rights, making the login state adaptive to the user's physical presence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback by monitoring the presence of the mobile device through proximity detection or communication checks. Based on this feedback, the system automatically adjusts the login state - maintaining access when the device is present and revoking access when it is absent, ensuring security without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Extent of automation

If the system requires manual login and logout procedures, then security can be maintained through user control, but the process becomes tedious and users may forget to logout

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelogin/logout automationVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides self-service automation by automatically handling login and logout operations based on the presence of the mobile device. When the user approaches with their authenticated device, the system automatically logs them in. When the device moves away, the system automatically logs them out. This eliminates the need for manual user actions while maintaining security through automated presence-based control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Productivity

If login artifacts are left on the console after user departure, then quick re-login is enabled, but full access to the gamer profile is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvere-login speedVSAvoidresidual access risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses temporary, disposable access tokens rather than persistent login artifacts. Each access grant is tied to a specific mobile device and time period. When the mobile device is no longer present, the access token becomes invalid and is automatically discarded. This allows quick re-login when the device returns while ensuring that old access artifacts cannot be used to compromise security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentEP4670806A1Proximity-based temporary gamer profile access
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP4670806A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4670806A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4670806A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Technology is disclosed for expedited gamer profile log in to a gaming console based on a proof-of-presence of the owner of the gaming profile to the console. The user may request proximity-based login via a gaming application on a mobile device into which the user is logged in and authenticated by a central service. The mobile device sends the request to the central service along with location evidence. The user authorizes the proximity-based login on the console, which provides location evidence to the central service. The central service compares the mobile device location to the console location to pair the requests and authorizes the proximity-based login of the gamer profile on the console when the locations match. When mobile device location evidence no longer matches the console location evidence, the mobile device loses its proof-of-presence, and the central service automatically logs the gamer profile out of the console.