Wearable Device User Association via Physiological Profile Matching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wearable devices are vulnerable to unauthorized access and fraudulent transactions if lost or stolen, as existing technologies lack effective methods to ensure the device is securely attached to the authorized user.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize physiological information to associate a user with a wearable device by comparing obtained physiological data against a stored profile, updating a confidence parameter, and requiring additional credentials or blocking operations if the parameter falls below certain thresholds to prevent unauthorized transactions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If wearable devices store personal information and enable transactions, then device functionality and user convenience are improved, but vulnerability to unauthorized access and fraudulent transactions increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice functionalityVSAvoidunauthorized access risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary authentication by comparing physiological information against stored profiles before allowing device access or transactions. This advance verification ensures that only authorized users can utilize device functions, preventing unauthorized access while maintaining full device functionality for legitimate users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Physiological information serves as an intermediary verification mechanism between the user and the device system. Rather than direct access, the system mediates authentication through biological data comparison, creating a secure layer that protects personal information and transactions while enabling convenient access for authorized users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If physiological information is continuously monitored and compared, then user authentication security is improved, but system complexity and processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication securityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system utilizes the user's own physiological information, which is continuously available through wearable sensors, to perform self-authentication. This eliminates the need for external authentication infrastructure, reducing system complexity while maintaining high security through continuous physiological monitoring and profile comparison.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback by constantly monitoring physiological information and comparing it against stored profiles. This real-time verification creates a dynamic authentication system that adapts to user states, improving security without requiring complex discrete authentication steps, as the verification occurs continuously in the background.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If additional credentials are required when confidence parameter is low, then transaction security is improved, but user operation time and convenience deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction securityVSAvoidauthentication time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial authentication measures by requiring additional credentials only when the confidence parameter falls below a threshold, rather than always demanding full authentication. This selective approach maintains transaction security for uncertain cases while allowing rapid access for confident matches, reducing average authentication time without compromising security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The authentication requirement dynamically adjusts based on the confidence parameter derived from physiological information matching. When physiological data strongly matches the stored profile, the system grants immediate access; when confidence is low, it dynamically requests additional credentials. This dynamic adaptation optimizes both security and user convenience based on real-time authentication confidence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4092550A1Method and system for associating a user with a wearable device

Publication Date: 2022.11.23 VISA INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION

Figure 1A
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Figure 1D~1E

AI summary

A method and system are provided for associating a user with a wearable device. The method includes: obtaining physiological information of a user of a wearable device; comparing the obtained physiological information against a stored physiological profile, wherein the stored physiological profile is built up over time from obtained physiological information; and, based on the comparison, updating a confidence parameter indicating the extent to which the obtained physiological information matches the physiological profile.