Authentication via motion of wireless device movement

• US 8,984,591 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2012
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: McFarland, Keith A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tabor, Amare F
• Application Number:
  US13/716,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20130160088A1
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 726/4, 726/28, 455/411
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/68 Gesture-dependent or behaviour-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information

Abstract

Motion of a wireless device is pre-registered as authentication credentials, then later matched, to provide motion-based authentication for access to software, service, etc. The wireless device may contain any number of gyroscopic, distance, positional or compass sensors—any or all of which are measured during a physical gesture or motion or the wireless device while the user is holding the wireless device. Recorded measurements of the specific motion then identifies the authorized user. If measurements of an attempted motion suitably matches the pre-registered and valid authentication credentials for the service or device, then the motioned wireless device is authenticated for use by the user. Such motion is difficult, if not impossible, for a user to pass on to another individual—even if they wanted to, making it the ultimate security technique.

Claims

1. A method of authenticating access to a wireless device to a restricted service, comprising:

receiving a series of motion measurements of a motion parameter along each of a plurality of sequential identification points, each motion measurement including at least one of yaw, pitch and roll from a given wireless device attempting access to a restricted service;

comparing said series of motion measurements to a user selected, pre-registered authenticating motioning of said given wireless device; and

authorizing said given wireless device to access said restricted service when said series of motion measurements matches said pre-registered authenticating motioning.

2. The method of authenticating access to a wireless device to a restricted service according to claim 1, wherein said motion measurement at each identification point includes:

height of travel of said motioning.

3. The method of authenticating access to a wireless device to a restricted service according to claim 1, wherein said motion measurement at each identification point includes:

a distance from a reference object.

4. The method of authenticating access to a wireless device to a restricted service according to claim 1, wherein:

said reference object is a fixed object.

5. The method of authenticating access to a wireless device to a restricted service according to claim 1, wherein said motion measurement at each identification point includes:

a compass heading measurement.

6. The method of authenticating access to a wireless device to a restricted service according to claim 5, wherein:

said compass heading measurement is an average compass heading measurement over said authenticating motioning.

7. The method of authenticating access to a wireless device to a restricted service according to claim 1, wherein said motion measurement at each identification point includes:

an accelerometer measurement.

8. The method of authenticating access to a wireless device to a restricted service according to claim 7, wherein:

said accelerometer measurement is an average accelerometer measurement over said authenticating motioning.

9. The method of authenticating access to a wireless device to a restricted service according to claim 1, further comprising:

prompting said wireless device for input of a motion-based authentication credential.

10. The method of authenticating access to a wireless device to a restricted service according to claim 1, further comprising:

presenting to said wireless device a visual aid displaying a result of an input attempted authentication motioning.

11. The method of authenticating access to a wireless device to a restricted service according to claim 1, further comprising:

requiring empirical pre-registration of said authorizing motioning through actual motioning of said wireless device.