VR Entity Authentication Using Watermarks and Sensory Indicators

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Solution Overview

Problem

Virtual reality computing environments face security threats as resource-providing entities may not be who they purport to be, necessitating authentication of non-human entities and their virtual objects to ensure secure resource exchange events.

Innovation Solution

Authentication is performed through embedding watermarks, capturing physical characteristics, cryptographic frequency hopping, and electromagnetic signatures to verify the authenticity of sub-environments and virtual objects, with sensory-perceptible indicators notifying users of authentication status.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If resource exchange events occur in virtual reality computing environments, then users can engage in immersive resource exchange, but security threats arise as entities may not be who they purport to be

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource exchange capabilityVSAvoidentity authenticity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary authentication of entities and virtual objects before allowing resource exchange events to occur. Watermarks are embedded and verified in advance, and sensory-perceptible indicators are established to confirm authenticity prior to any resource exchange transaction, preventing impersonation attacks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces watermarks as intermediary elements that mediate between entities and virtual objects. These watermarks serve as verification tokens that authenticate the relationship between an entity and its virtual representation, enabling users to verify authenticity without direct access to the entity itself

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If authentication mechanisms are implemented in virtual reality environments, then entity verification is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveentity authenticationVSAvoidauthentication system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The authentication system operates autonomously by automatically embedding watermarks in virtual objects and continuously verifying their presence. The system self-manages the authentication process without requiring manual verification from users, reducing the perceived complexity while maintaining high reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs sensory-perceptible indicators that change appearance or properties to indicate authentication status. These visual or perceptible changes provide intuitive authentication feedback without requiring complex user interaction or understanding of underlying authentication mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

3Reliability

If watermarks are embedded in virtual objects for authentication, then entity verification is enhanced, but vulnerability to watermark copying increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevirtual object verificationVSAvoidwatermark impersonation risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic regeneration and re-embedding of watermarks in virtual objects. By continuously updating watermarks at regular intervals, the system prevents adversaries from copying or spoofing static watermarks, as the authentication token changes over time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs dynamic watermarks that change their properties or position over time rather than using static watermarks. This dynamic characteristic makes it difficult for adversaries to capture and reuse watermarks for impersonation, as the authentication element is in constant flux

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12481733B2Entity authenticator in augmented or virtual reality computing environments

Publication Date: 2025.11.25 BANK OF AMERICA CORP

AI summary

Authentication/verification of sub-environments that represent entities within an augmented/virtual reality computing network and virtual objects present in the sub-environment that represent individuals associated with the entity. In response to authentication, a sensory-perceptible indicator (e.g., visual, audible or haptic indicators) is presented to users of the virtual reality computing environment that notify the user that the entity or virtual objects representing the entity have been authenticated. Authentication may be performed via watermarks embedded in images present within the sub-environment, capturing and comparing physical characteristics of an authorized individual representing the entity, cryptographic frequency hopping and/or electromagnetic signatures.