Sound Wave Microphone Authentication in Closed Spaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sound collecting systems face difficulties in authenticating multiple devices effectively, particularly in wireless communication systems, leading to challenges in secure and controlled authentication within closed spaces.

Innovation Solution

A sound emitting device with a communicator that sends authentication information via audio or light signals, limited to a specific range, allowing only intended sound collecting devices within a closed space to receive and process the authentication, thereby preventing unauthorized access and ensuring secure device authentication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If wireless communication is used for authentication between sound collecting devices, then communication convenience is improved, but authentication reliability deteriorates due to inability to control authentication scope

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication convenienceVSAvoidauthentication reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a localized authentication field using sound waves that are confined to a specific spatial region (closed space). The sound wave authentication information is transmitted only within the enclosed area defined by the sound emitting device and sound collecting devices, making the authentication scope local rather than global. This allows convenient wireless communication while ensuring that only devices within the specific space can authenticate, thereby improving authentication reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses sound waves as an intermediary medium for authentication between devices. Instead of direct electrical or wireless connections that are hard to control, the sound wave acts as a mediator that naturally confines authentication information to a physical space. The sound collecting device receives authentication information through sound waves, and the sound emitting device transmits authentication information via sound waves, creating a controlled authentication channel that balances convenience with reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple sound collecting devices are added to the system, then functional versatility is improved, but authentication complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional versatilityVSAvoidauthentication complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by enabling any sound collecting device within the closed space to participate in authentication using the same sound wave-based mechanism. The authentication system is designed so that multiple devices can be authenticated without requiring device-specific complex authentication protocols. Each device simply needs to receive and respond to sound wave authentication information, providing functional versatility while maintaining relatively simple authentication procedures for each individual device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the authentication process into distinct phases: authentication information transmission by the sound emitting device, reception by sound collecting devices, and authentication decision-making. This segmentation allows multiple devices to be authenticated independently through the same process, reducing overall system complexity. The authentication information is transmitted as separate sound wave signals that can be received by multiple devices simultaneously, avoiding the need for complex multi-device authentication coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If authentication scope is expanded to cover larger areas, then device accessibility is improved, but security deteriorates due to increased risk of unauthorized access

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice accessibilityVSAvoidunauthorized access risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by confining the authentication field to a specific closed space. The sound wave-based authentication naturally limits its reach to the enclosed area, providing device accessibility within that space while maintaining security. The physical boundary of the closed space acts as a natural barrier that prevents unauthorized devices outside the space from receiving or transmitting authentication information, thus balancing accessibility with security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from traditional two-dimensional wireless authentication to a three-dimensional sound wave-based authentication that utilizes spatial confinement. By embedding authentication information in sound waves that propagate through the third dimension (vertically and laterally within the enclosed space), the system creates a volumetric authentication field. This dimensional approach allows broad accessibility within the space while the physical boundaries of the space provide automatic security filtering for unauthorized external devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS11593471B2Sound emitting device, sound collecting device, microphone authentication system, and microphone authentication method
Publication Date: 2023.02.28 YAMAHA CORP
  • US11593471B2 patent drawing
  • US11593471B2 patent drawing
  • US11593471B2 patent drawing

AI summary

In a microphone authentication method, a sound emitting device sends authentication information to a sound collecting device. The sound collecting device receives the authentication information and sends a collected sound signal to the sound emitting device. The sound emitting device receives the collected sound signal sent from the sound collecting device that has received the authentication information within a partitioned space. The sound emitting device emits a sound based on the collected sound signal.