Visible Pattern Authentication for Wireless Device Pairing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication protocols require manual user intervention for pairing devices, leading to potential errors and delays in establishing secure connections.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method where an initiating device transmits a wireless communication request and detects a visible electromagnetic pattern displayed by a peripheral device, decoding it to generate a passcode and echo it back for authentication without user intervention, using camera technology and special video image processing software.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual user intervention is used for device pairing, then authentication security is maintained, but pairing time and user effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication securityVSAvoidpairing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical interaction of manual passcode entry with an optical system. The initiating device uses its camera to capture and decode a visual pattern (barcode or QR code) displayed on the peripheral device, automatically obtaining the passcode without user intervention. This substitution maintains security while eliminating manual input time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service pairing where the initiating device automatically performs the authentication process. After displaying the visual pattern, the peripheral device and initiating device automatically exchange and verify passcodes without requiring user action, making the system serve itself through automated optical recognition and data exchange.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If manual passcode entry is required, then authentication accuracy is ensured, but user error potential increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication accuracyVSAvoiduser error

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates manual passcode entry by replacing it with automated optical recognition. The camera captures the visual pattern and the device automatically decodes the passcode, removing the human element that introduces errors such as wrong digit entry or confusion between similar characters. This ensures authentication accuracy while eliminating user error potential.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a visual copy (barcode or QR code) of the passcode that can be automatically read. Instead of requiring users to manually transcribe the passcode, the camera captures an optical copy of the pattern, and software automatically decodes it, eliminating transcription errors and ensuring accurate authentication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Ease of operation

If automated pairing is implemented, then user convenience is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent leverages the existing camera and display components of mobile devices, which are already universal features in modern smartphones and tablets. By making these existing components serve the additional function of automated pairing, the system achieves user convenience without adding dedicated hardware, thus limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The visual pattern (barcode or QR code) serves as an intermediary that bridges the initiating device and peripheral device. This intermediary carries the passcode information in a format that can be automatically captured and decoded, enabling convenient automated pairing while keeping the system architecture relatively simple through the use of standard encoding formats.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 enables secure, automated, and error-free pairing of electronic devices with reduced user interaction, allowing for convenient and efficient establishment of wireless connections.

Implementation Method 1

the initiating device detecting a visible electromagnetic pattern displayed on the peripheral device... using camera technology

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoelectric Effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS10251057B2Authentication for device connection using visible patterns

Publication Date: 2019.04.02 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

Wireless communication is established between electronic devices by an initiating device transmitting a wireless communication request to a peripheral device; the initiating device detecting a visible electromagnetic pattern displayed on the peripheral device in response to the wireless communication request; the initiating device decoding the visible electromagnetic pattern to generate a passcode; and the initiating device echoing the passcode to the peripheral device to authenticate the wireless communication request without user intervention.