Personal Area Network Device Association via Acoustic Stimulus Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for associating devices in personal area networks (PANs) are cumbersome, requiring PINs or passcodes, and fail to provide quick and secure re-association, especially in shared device environments where multiple users need to connect and disconnect frequently.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where PAN devices use a stimulus, such as a spoken keyword or tone, to initiate association, with each device recording the time of the stimulus and comparing elapsed times to ensure simultaneous receipt, allowing secure and flexible association without the need for PINs or passcodes, using input mechanisms like speech detectors or tone generators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If PIN or passcode authentication is used to form device associations, then security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to the need to remember and enter codes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/manual system of entering PINs or passcodes with an acoustic signal-based system. Devices capture audio signals (claps, snaps, whistles, or custom sounds) and use these as authentication triggers, eliminating the need for manual code entry while maintaining security through unique sound pattern recognition.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables devices to automatically authenticate and associate with each other based on captured audio signals. The devices self-configure the association without requiring user intervention for code entry, while still implementing security verification through the unique audio pattern matching process.
2Reliability
If manual association methods are used in shared device environments, then security is maintained, but productivity deteriorates due to time-consuming re-association processes
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-configures devices with association rules and audio signal recognition capabilities before use. When a device needs to associate with another, the user simply triggers the pre-programmed audio signal, and the device automatically completes the association process based on pre-established parameters, eliminating time-consuming manual re-configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the time-consuming manual process of entering association codes with rapid audio signal capture and processing. The acoustic authentication system enables association to occur in seconds rather than minutes, significantly improving productivity in shared device environments where frequent re-association is required.
3Device complexity
If devices lack input mechanisms like keyboards, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates due to inability to enter PINs or passcodes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the need for mechanical input devices (keyboards, buttons) with acoustic signal capture. Devices like wireless headsets or sensors that lack physical interfaces can now authenticate and associate with other devices by capturing audio signals through their microphones, maintaining their simple form factor while enabling full association functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The audio-based authentication system provides a universal solution that works across all device types regardless of their input capabilities. Whether a device has a keyboard, touchscreen, or no input mechanism, the acoustic signal-based association method provides a consistent, easy-to-use interface that leverages the universal presence of microphones in modern electronic devices.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system are provided for associating devices in a personal area network (PAN). Device association is initiated by applying a stimulus to two devices simultaneously, the timing of the stimulus identifying devices to be paired thereby eliminating the need for PINs and passcodes in pairing devices. Upon stimulation the devices record a timestamp (404) for the stimulus and begin searching (406) for other in-range devices with which they can associate. Upon finding an in-range device an association request (408) is sent containing the elapsed time since the stimulus was applied. The in-range device compares the received elapsed time against its internal elapsed time since receiving the stimulus (412) (416) to determine if the stimuli occurred simultaneously to both devices. If the stimuli were substantially simultaneous, then the devices form a PAN association (418).