Touch Data Security Using Device-Specific Noise Calibration Maps

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing touch systems face a security loophole where malicious parties can intercept and decipher touch data, compromising user privacy, especially since traditional encryption methods introduce latency and resource overhead.

Innovation Solution

The method involves transmitting touch data from a digitizer system to a host system without encrypting it, utilizing a unique noise signature as a form of encryption. The noise signature is removed by the host system using a digitizer calibration map, ensuring secure data transmission without increased latency or resource consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional encryption methods are used to protect touch data, then security is improved, but latency and resource overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidlatency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful noise signature, which was traditionally considered unwanted interference requiring removal, into a beneficial security feature. By intentionally preserving the noise signature in transmitted touch data and using it as an encryption key, the system achieves security without traditional encryption overhead. The noise that would normally need to be filtered out becomes the mechanism for secure transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical encryption/decryption system with a noise-based authentication system. Instead of using cryptographic algorithms that require computational resources and time, the system uses the inherent electrical noise signature of the digitizer sensor as the security mechanism. The host system verifies authenticity by checking whether the transmitted data contains the expected noise signature, eliminating the need for traditional encryption processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If traditional encryption methods are used to protect touch data, then security is improved, but resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidresource overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful noise signature, which was traditionally considered unwanted interference requiring removal, into a beneficial security feature. By intentionally preserving the noise signature in transmitted touch data and using it as an encryption key, the system achieves security without traditional encryption overhead. The noise that would normally need to be filtered out becomes the mechanism for secure transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical encryption/decryption system with a noise-based authentication system. Instead of using cryptographic algorithms that require computational resources and time, the system uses the inherent electrical noise signature of the digitizer sensor as the security mechanism. The host system verifies authenticity by checking whether the transmitted data contains the expected noise signature, eliminating the need for traditional encryption processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If noise signature is removed during transmission, then data quality is improved, but security is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata qualityVSAvoidsecurity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary noise removal selectively to specific portions of the touch data pipeline. The digitizer system removes noise from the raw sensor data before transmission to maintain data quality for accurate touch detection. However, the noise signature is intentionally preserved in a separate authentication channel or metadata, allowing the host system to verify security without degrading the quality of the touch position data that needs to be transmitted accurately.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12346523B1Secure transmission of touch data using a device-specific calibration map

Publication Date: 2025.07.01 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A method for secure handling of touch data includes receiving touch data from a digitizer sensor in response to a user interaction with a touch surface; transmitting the touch data from a first processor of a digitizer system to a second processor of a host system without removing a noise signature of the digitizer sensor; accessing, by the second processor, a digitizer calibration map that includes the noise signature of the digitizer sensor; and substantially removing, by the second processor, the noise signature from the touch data based at least in part on the digitizer calibration map.