Devices, systems and methods for security using magnetic field based identification

• US 8,752,200 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2011
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Varshavsky, Alexander, Li, Kevin Ansia
• Primary Examiner(s): PERUNGAVOOR, VENKATANARAY
• Application Number:
  US13/180,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20130019292A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 726/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/805 Lightweight hardware, e.g. radio-frequency identification [RFID] or sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3231 Biological data, e.g. fingerprint, voice or retina network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using biometrical features in a packet data network H04L63/0861
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/68 Gesture-dependent or behaviour-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/79 Radio fingerprint

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for determining an electromagnetic signature for authenticating a device, a user, and/or a location. In exemplary embodiments, a magnetometer captures an electromagnetic signature which is then compared with one or more authorized electromagnetic signatures. If the electromagnetic signature matches an authorized electromagnetic signature, then access is granted. The magnetometer is integrated into a communication device having a processor and a logic. The magnetometer captures an electromagnetic signature of a surrounding environment and detects motion of the communication device through the captured electromagnetic signature. The logic on the communication device locks or unlocks features of the device based upon the captured electromagnetic signature. In further embodiments of the subject disclosure, the magnetometer is in communication with a server which authenticates a user or communication device to provide access to a remote location.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that stores a first authorized electromagnetic signature and instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

sending, at a first time, a first electric current through a magnetic source to create a first electromagnetic signature in an environment, the first authorized electromagnetic signature associated with the first electromagnetic signature,

receiving, from a communication device located in the environment, a detected electromagnetic signature captured via a magnetometer associated with the communication device, the detected electromagnetic signature corresponding to a magnetic field created when the communication device is gestured in the environment, and

determining whether the detected electromagnetic signature matches the first authorized electromagnetic signature.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise in response to determining that the detected electromagnetic signature matches the first authorized electromagnetic signature, sending a signal to an accessible unit to grant access to a user of the communication device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the magnetic source comprises an electromagnet.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory further stores a second authorized electromagnetic signature and wherein the operations further comprise sending, at a second time, a second electric current through the magnetic source to create a second electromagnetic signature in the environment, the second authorized electromagnetic signature associated with the second electromagnetic signature, wherein the first authorized electromagnetic signature stored by the memory is hashed according to the first time and the second authorized electromagnetic signature stored by the memory is hashed according to the second time.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising receiving a biometric input.

6. A method comprising:

storing, at a system comprising a processor, a first authorized electromagnetic signature;

sending, at a first time by a system comprising a processor, a first electric current through a magnetic source to create a first electromagnetic signature in an environment, the first authorized electromagnetic signature associated with the first electromagnetic signature;

receiving, by the system from a communication device located in the environment, a detected electromagnetic signature captured via a magnetometer associated with the communication device, the detected electromagnetic signature corresponding to a magnetic field created when the communication device is gestured in the environment; and

determining whether the detected electromagnetic signature matches the first authorized electromagnetic signature.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the magnetic source is an electromagnet.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

storing a second authorized electromagnetic signature; and

sending, at a second time, a second electric current through the magnetic source to create a second electromagnetic signature in the environment, the second authorized electromagnetic signature associated with the second electromagnetic signature, wherein the first authorized electromagnetic signature stored by the memory is hashed according to the first time and the second authorized electromagnetic signature stored by the memory is hashed according to the second time.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising in response to determining that the detected electromagnetic signature matches the first authorized electromagnetic signature, sending a signal to an accessible unit to grant access to a user of the communication device.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising receiving a biometric input.

11. A method comprising:

detecting, by a device comprising a processor, an electromagnetic signature, the electromagnetic signature being detected by a magnetometer coupled to the processor;

determining, by the processor, whether a match between the electromagnetic signature and at least one of a plurality of authorized electromagnetic signatures exists;

granting, by the processor, authentication when the match is determined; and

wiping a memory of the device when a mismatch between the electromagnetic signature and the plurality of authorized electromagnetic signatures is determined.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising creating a magnetic field.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the magnetic field is created by placing a plurality of permanent magnets around a room.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the magnetic field is created by powering a plurality of electromagnets around a room.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising dynamically powering at least one of the electromagnets to create a dynamic electromagnetic signature.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein granting authentication when the match is determined comprises allowing access to a feature of the device.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein granting authentication when the match is determined comprises allowing access to an accessible unit.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising gesturing the device, wherein the magnetometer captures the electromagnetic signature of the gesture.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising changing the magnetic field.