Proximity-Based System For Automatic Application Or Data Access And Item Tracking
Patent No. US11095640 (titled "Proximity-Based System For Automatic Application Or Data Access And Item Tracking") was filed by Proxense Llc on Nov 26, 2018.
What is this patent about?
’640 is related to the field of electronic authentication and radio frequency identification (RFID). The patent addresses the problem of inefficient and insecure user authentication, particularly in environments like healthcare where frequent logins and logouts are required to access sensitive data. Existing methods relying on usernames and passwords are time-consuming and pose security risks.
The underlying idea behind ’640 is to use a portable digital key (PDK) that wirelessly communicates with a reader to automatically authenticate a user. The PDK stores a profile uniquely associated with the user, including a biometric profile and an authentication interval. The reader receives this information and, if the PDK is within a defined proximity and the authentication interval is valid, automatically logs the user in to a coupled device. This eliminates the need for manual login credentials and enhances security.
The claims of ’640 focus on a system comprising a PDK, a reader, and a coupled device. The PDK stores a user profile and an authentication interval. The reader wirelessly communicates with the PDK, receiving the profile and authentication interval. The device is configured to automatically log out the user when a specified criterion relative to the PDK is met, such as exceeding a defined proximity. Claim 17 focuses on a device comprising a reader and an authentication server, where the server logs out the user after the PDK exceeds a defined proximity.
In practice, the system works by having a user carry a PDK that contains their authentication information. When the user approaches a reader connected to a computing device, the reader wirelessly receives the user's profile and authentication interval from the PDK. If the current time is within the authentication interval, the user is automatically logged in. If the PDK is moved beyond a certain distance from the reader, the system automatically logs the user out, ensuring that the device is secured when the authorized user is not present.
This approach differs from prior solutions by providing a seamless and secure authentication process that does not require manual user input. Unlike traditional RFID systems that may only provide basic identification, ’640 incorporates biometric data and authentication intervals for enhanced security and convenience. The automatic logout feature further differentiates it by ensuring that devices are locked when the authorized user is no longer in proximity, preventing unauthorized access.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the early 2010s when ’640 was filed, systems commonly relied on username/password combinations for authentication, at a time when biometric authentication was gaining traction but was not yet universally adopted. At a time when mobile devices were becoming more prevalent, hardware or software constraints made secure and seamless access to applications and data across different devices non-trivial.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner allowed the claims because the applicant's remarks and amendments filed on 01/04/2021 made the reason for allowance evident. The substance of these remarks, along with the prosecution history and search results, demonstrated that the claims were patentable over the prior art of record. Therefore, a separate statement of reasons for allowance from the examiner was deemed unnecessary.
Claims
This patent contains 20 claims, with claims 1 and 17 being independent. Independent claim 1 describes a system involving a personal digital key, a reader, and a device that automatically logs out a user based on criteria related to the digital key. Independent claim 17 describes a device with a reader and an authentication server that logs out a user based on the proximity of a personal digital key. The dependent claims generally elaborate on and refine the elements and conditions described in the independent claims.
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Date
Description
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US11095640
- Application Number
- US16200580
- Filing Date
- Nov 26, 2018
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Aug 2, 2031
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents