Wearable Device Authentication Token Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-security environments face challenges in ensuring continuous and strong authentication for access to protected devices, as existing methods often require repeated multi-factor authentication and lack efficient mechanisms for monitoring user presence and device proximity.

Innovation Solution

A wireless authentication system using wearable devices that continuously monitor user presence and proximity through sensors, providing a secure token for access to multiple protected devices within a defined digital leash length, and automatically re-authenticating upon removal or loss of contact, thereby enhancing security and convenience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If repeated multi-factor authentication is required for access to protected devices, then security is improved, but user convenience and access efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication securityVSAvoidaccess convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs strong multi-factor authentication in advance before the user needs access to protected devices. The wearable device stores authentication credentials and automatically validates them when the user approaches protected devices, eliminating the need for repeated authentication interactions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A wearable device acts as an intermediary between the user and protected devices. It contains authentication credentials and communicates with protected devices to verify user identity, replacing direct repeated authentication interactions between users and multiple protected devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If continuous authentication monitoring is implemented, then unauthorized access prevention is improved, but system complexity and resource consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunauthorized access preventionVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wearable device autonomously monitors authentication status and user presence without requiring complex external monitoring systems. It independently detects when the user removes the device or goes out of proximity range and automatically invalidates credentials or notifies the protected device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous authentication validation through the wearable device's constant presence detection capabilities. Sensors continuously monitor whether the user is wearing the device and whether they remain within proximity range, providing ongoing security without requiring repeated discrete authentication events.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS9898880B2Authentication system using wearable device

Publication Date: 2018.02.20 INTEL CORP

AI summary

A wearable device (“WD”) stores a token after its wearer completes a successful strong authentication on a primary protected device (“primary PD”). Other protected devices (“secondary PDs”) recognize the stored token as representing a strong authentication and grant the user access while the user continues to wear the WD within a “digital leash-length” proximity. The WD constantly monitors whether the user continues to wear the device. Upon sensing that the user has removed the WD, the WD deletes, disables, or invalidates the token, The user must then repeat the strong authentication to gain further access to the protected devices.