Mobile Device Access Control Using MAC-Based Trust Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Pairing a mobile device with resources at a premises, such as speakers or network access, can be difficult and may require sharing sensitive information like passwords, posing security risks.

Innovation Solution

A system that determines a mobile device's trustworthiness by comparing its MAC address to a contact list or calendar, allowing trusted devices to access resources without manual pairing and without disclosing sensitive information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual pairing is used to connect mobile device with resources, then access control security can be maintained, but the pairing process becomes difficult and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess control securityVSAvoidpairing process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a gateway device as an intermediary that automatically manages the pairing process between mobile devices and resources. The gateway device receives device identifiers, determines trustworthiness, and facilitates automatic pairing without requiring manual user intervention, thus maintaining security while simplifying the pairing process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing trust relationships and storing device identifiers in advance. When a mobile device attempts to connect, the gateway device has already prepared the authentication framework, allowing for rapid automatic pairing without time-consuming manual steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If password disclosure is required for network access, then network security can be maintained, but sensitive information must be shared with visitors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork securityVSAvoidsensitive information sharing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the sensitive password information from the authentication process. Instead of requiring password disclosure, the system uses device identifiers (such as MAC addresses) that do not contain sensitive information. The gateway device performs authentication based on these extracted identifiers, maintaining network security without requiring users to share passwords

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces the traditional mechanical password-based authentication system with an automated identifier-based system. The gateway device automatically compares device identifiers against stored trusted device lists, substituting the manual password exchange mechanism with an automated security verification process that does not involve sharing sensitive information

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20250330474A1Systems And Methods For Managing Access Control

Publication Date: 2025.10.23 COMCAST CABLE COMM LLC

AI summary

Systems and methods are described for managing access control. An example method may comprise receiving an address associated with a user device. An identifier may be determined based on the address. Based on the identifier, the user device may be determined to be associated with a trusted user. Based on the determination that the user device is associated with the trusted user, the user device may be granted access to a trusted network service.