Sensor Access Rights Management via Physical Presence Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing home and office automation systems lack effective solutions for managing access rights, particularly in scenarios where users change over time, such as tenants or employees, leading to security and privacy concerns, including risks from hackers, insiders, and unauthorized access.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a proof of physical presence protocol (PoP) that requires users to perform actions involving sensor devices to verify their presence, sending notifications to registered users, and aggregating responses to approve or reject access requests, thereby ensuring only legitimate users can modify access rights.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional access control methods are used, then ease of operation is maintained, but security against unauthorized access and insider threats deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary verification process between the user and the access control system. A proof of physical presence protocol acts as a mediator that requires users to perform specific actions (such as picking up a device, opening a door, or turning on a light) to verify their physical presence before access rights can be modified. This intermediary step enhances security without significantly complicating the overall user experience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system requires preliminary verification of physical presence before allowing access control modifications. The proof of physical presence protocol must be completed beforehand - requiring users to perform detectable actions and receive verification - before any access rights can be granted or transferred. This preliminary action prevents unauthorized access while maintaining ease of operation for legitimate users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If access rights can be transferred between users, then adaptability improves, but security against unauthorized transfer deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransferability of access rightsVSAvoidsecurity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the central authority sends notifications to registered users about access modification requests and receives their responses. This feedback loop ensures that transfers of access rights are authorized by legitimate users rather than unauthorized parties, enabling adaptable access management while maintaining security through user confirmation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If constant administrator involvement is required, then security is maintained, but device complexity and operational overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidadministrative overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables users to independently verify their own physical presence and initiate access control modifications without requiring constant administrator intervention. The proof of physical presence protocol allows users to self-verify through detectable actions, and the system automatically processes these verifications through notification and response mechanisms. This self-service capability maintains security while significantly reducing administrative overhead and system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11477209B2Managing access rights of transferable sensor systems

Publication Date: 2022.10.18 AMBER SEMICON INC

AI summary

An apparatus comprises at least one processing device comprising a processor coupled to a memory. The processing device is configured to receive from a requester a request to modify a parameter of an access-controlled account associated with a set of sensor devices. Responsive to receipt of the request, the processing device initiates at least one instance of a proof of physical presence protocol, the proof of physical presence protocol requiring performance by the requester of at least one action involving at least one sensor device of the set of sensor devices associated with the access-controlled account. Responsive to successful completion of at least one instance of the proof of physical presence protocol, the processing device sends at least one notification to each of one or more registered users of the access-controlled account. The processing device approves or rejects the request based at least in part on at least one of a number and a type of responses to the one or more notifications.