Magnetic Recording Authentication in Anomalous Indoor Fields
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Solution Overview
Problem
Magnetic sensors struggle to accurately determine orientation in indoor environments due to non-uniform and anomalous magnetic fields, leading to incorrect functioning of fusion filters and reduced accuracy in determining position or orientation.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing magnetic recordings from magnetometers to create unique time series of magnetic measurements, which are aligned and compared with reference recordings to authenticate users or devices, combined with other sensors for enhanced accuracy and security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If fusion filter is used to combine sensor data for orientation determination, then measurement accuracy should be improved, but in indoor environments with non-uniform magnetic fields, the fusion filter functions incorrectly and orientation cannot be determined accurately
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the magnetic field sensor data from the fusion filter processing chain. By identifying that magnetic field data is the source of errors in indoor environments, the system selectively excludes this problematic data source while continuing to process data from other sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes) that remain reliable, thereby preventing magnetic anomalies from corrupting orientation determination
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes the operational parameters of the fusion filter by adjusting which sensor data sources are active based on environmental conditions. When magnetic field anomalies are detected or in indoor environments where magnetic fields are non-uniform, the system modifies the fusion filter to exclude magnetic field data, effectively changing its processing parameters to adapt to the degraded environmental conditions
2Loss of information
If magnetic sensors are used in indoor environments, then position and orientation data can be collected, but the non-uniform and anomalous magnetic fields cause the sensors to function incorrectly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of magnetic field anomalies into a beneficial authentication feature. Instead of simply discarding magnetic field data as erroneous, the system records the unique magnetic field signature (including anomalies) as a cryptographic key. The harmful magnetic interference becomes a unique identifier that authenticates the physical location and device, turning an environmental disadvantage into a security advantage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces magnetic field recordings as an intermediary layer between the physical environment and the authentication system. Rather than directly using raw magnetic sensor data for orientation (which fails), the system creates processed magnetic recordings that capture the environmental signature, then uses these recordings as mediators for authentication purposes, decoupling the orientation function from the problematic magnetic data
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 authentication by ensuring accurate determination of device or user identity through unique magnetic recordings, improving security and access control in various environments.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic recording includes a unique time series of measurements made by one or more magnetic sensors (such as, for example, magnetometers)
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a method includes accessing a first series of first magnetic values that represents a first magnetic recording that includes a first set of first magnetic measurements. Each of the first magnetic values represents one of the first magnetic measurements. The method includes accessing a second series of second magnetic values that represents a second magnetic recording that includes a second set of second magnetic measurements. Each of the second magnetic values represents one of the second magnetic measurements. The method includes approximately aligning the first and second series with each other; calculating a difference between the first and second series as aligned with each other; and determining a similarity between the first and second series based on the difference.