Ultrasound Authentication Triggering for Low-Power User Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing authentication technologies for electronic devices, such as facial recognition, often introduce delays and unreliable triggering mechanisms, leading to undesired user experience due to power consumption and inefficiencies in initiating the authentication process.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing ultrasound signals to estimate the position and movement of an object, computing distance and trajectory values to initiate the authentication process based on predefined thresholds, ensuring seamless and efficient user access while maintaining device security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If facial recognition system is activated at regular intervals to detect a user, then user detection capability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic ultrasound emissions at controlled intervals to detect user presence. The controller transmits ultrasound signals periodically through the speaker and receives echoes through the microphone, enabling user detection while managing power consumption by adjusting the frequency and duration of these periodic actions based on device state and environmental conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary user presence detection using ultrasound before initiating the full authentication process. By detecting user presence in advance through acoustic echo analysis, the system prepares authentication resources and reduces the overall authentication delay without requiring continuous high-power monitoring
2Ease of operation
If authentication process is triggered by lift to wake function, then user experience is improved, but triggering reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces ultrasound-based presence detection as an intermediary mechanism between the lift-to-wake gesture and the authentication process. The controller analyzes acoustic echoes to confirm user presence before triggering authentication, ensuring that the authentication process is initiated only when a legitimate user is actually present, thereby improving triggering reliability while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the controller continuously monitors acoustic echoes and adjusts authentication triggering decisions based on detected user presence. This feedback loop ensures that authentication is triggered reliably by analyzing whether the acoustic signature indicates a genuine user interaction rather than accidental or malicious triggers
3Reliability
If authentication processes are loaded and executed after user engages button, then device security is maintained, but access delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-loading authentication processes and performing initial user verification through ultrasound detection before the user actually engages the button. By detecting user presence and preparing authentication resources in advance, the system reduces the perceived delay when the user interacts with the device while maintaining security through multi-stage verification
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous useful action by keeping authentication processes in a ready state and continuously monitoring for user presence through ultrasound. Rather than completely loading and executing authentication processes only after button engagement, the system maintains a continuous state of readiness that reduces delays while preserving security through progressive verification stages
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces delays and power consumption, providing a smoother user experience by accurately and efficiently initiating authentication, maintaining device security, and adapting to various user interactions and environments.
Implementation Method 1
generating a measured signal by receiving at an ultrasound receiver an echo of the ultrasound signal being reflected by an object
Implementation Method 2
an echo of the ultrasound signal being reflected by an object
Implementation Method 3
computing a distance value by the processing of the measured signal, said distance value being relative to the distance between the object and the electronic device
Data Source
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AI summary
Present teachings relate to a method for initiating an authentication process on an electronic device, the method comprising transmitting an ultrasound signal from an ultrasound transmitter, generating a measured signal by receiving at an ultrasound receiver an echo of the ultrasound signal being reflected by an object, analyzing the echo by processing the measured signal, and initiating the authentication process on the electronic device based on the processing of the measured signal. The present teachings also relate to a method for maintaining an authenticated state of an object. The present teachings also relate to an electronic device comprising an ultrasound system for initiating an authenticating process. The present teaching also relate to an electronic device comprising an ultrasound system for retaining an authenticated state of an object. The present teachings also relate to a computer software product for implementing any method steps disclosed herein.