PROXIMITY AUTHENTICATION USING A SMART RING
Systems and methods for authenticating users using a smart ring are disclosed. An exemplary method includes collecting contact data indicating a sequence of taps of the smart ring while a user is wearing the ring, a tap corresponding to contact between the ring and a component and the sequence of taps corresponding to a candidate pattern. The method further includes performing an authentication operation by (i) comparing the candidate pattern to an authentication pattern for a known user to determine whether the candidate pattern matches the authentication pattern and (ii) when the candidate pattern matches the authentication pattern, authenticating the user by updating a record to indicate the user has been identified and authenticated as the known user. In response to the record indicating that the user has been authenticated, the method includes, transmitting a signal to a second device controlling access to the resource, and receiving access to the resource.
1 . A method performed by a smart ring to unlock access to a resource, the method comprising:
detecting, by one or more sensors of the smart ring, a sequence of taps of the smart ring while a first user is wearing the smart ring;
identifying a candidate pattern from the sequence of taps, and wherein a tap of the sequence of taps corresponds to contact between the smart ring and a component external to the smart ring, wherein a first known user is associated with a first authentication pattern of taps and a second known user is associated with a second authentication pattern of taps different from the first authentication pattern of taps;
performing, by the processor of the smart ring, an authentication operation by:
comparing the candidate pattern to the first authentication pattern and the second authentication pattern to determine whether the candidate pattern matches the first authentication pattern; and
when the candidate pattern matches the first authentication pattern, authenticating the first user by updating a record to indicate that the first user has been identified and authenticated as the first known user; and
in response to the record indicating that the first user has been identified and authenticated, transmitting a signal to a second device that controls access to the resource.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting a sequence of taps of the smart ring comprises: detecting, via a tactile sensor and within a time period, a sequence of physical contact between the smart ring and the component.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting a sequence of taps of the smart ring comprises: detecting, via an accelerometer and within a time period, a sequence of physical contact between the smart ring and the component.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second device includes the component.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the component is distinct from and external to the second device.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving an identifier of the component from the component; and
wherein the transmitting a signal comprises transmitting the signal further in response to receiving the identifier.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
before detecting the sequence of taps, detecting, by the one or more sensors of the smart ring, an initial sequence of taps while the first known user is wearing the smart ring and while the smart ring is operating in an enrollment mode;
determining the first authentication pattern for the first known user based at least in part upon the initial sequence of taps; and
storing the first authentication pattern on a memory of the smart ring; and
wherein comparing the candidate pattern to the first authentication pattern comprises:
comparing the candidate pattern to the first authentication pattern for the first known user stored on the memory of the smart ring.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second device is a physical resource lock, and wherein the component is at least one of (i) included in the second device or (ii) a door of the physical resource.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the smart ring is a first smart ring, and wherein at least one of the second device or the component is a second smart ring.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the smart ring, in response to the record indicating that the first user has been identified and authenticated, determines that the first user is authorized to access the resource; and
wherein the signal indicates that the first user is authorized to access the resource.
11 . A smart ring, the smart ring comprising:
a housing configured to be worn by a user on a finger of the user;
one or more sensors included in the housing of the smart ring; and
a processor included in the housing of the smart ring and configured to:
detect, by the one or more sensors, a sequence of taps of the smart ring while a first user is wearing the smart ring;
identifying a candidate pattern from the sequence of taps, and wherein a tap of the sequence of taps corresponds to contact between the smart ring and a component external to the smart ring, wherein a first known user is associated with a first authentication pattern of taps and a second known user is associated with a second authentication pattern of taps different from the first authentication pattern of taps;
perform an authentication operation by:
comparing the candidate pattern to the first authentication pattern and the second authentication pattern to determine whether the candidate pattern matches the first authentication pattern; and
when the candidate pattern matches the first authentication pattern, authenticating the first user by updating a record to indicate that the first user has been identified and authenticated as the first known user; and
in response to the record indicating that the first user has been identified and authenticated, transmit a signal to a second device that controls access to the resource.
12 . The smart ring of claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to detect the sequence of taps of the smart ring by detecting, by a tactile sensor of the one or more sensors and within a time period, a sequence of physical contact between the smart ring and the component.
13 . The smart ring of claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to detect the sequence of taps of the smart ring by detecting, by an accelerometer of the one or more sensors and within a time period, a sequence of physical contact between the smart ring and the component.
14 . The smart ring of claim 11 , wherein the second device includes the component.
15 . The smart ring of claim 11 , wherein the component is distinct from and external to the second device.
16 . The smart ring of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive an identifier of the component from the component, and wherein the processor is further configured to transmit the signal to the second device in response to receiving the identifier.
17 . The smart ring of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
before detecting the sequence of taps, detect, by the one or more sensors, an initial sequence of taps while the first known user is wearing the smart ring and while the smart ring is operating in an enrollment mode;
determine the first authentication pattern associated with the first known user based at least in part upon the initial sequence of taps; and
store the first authentication pattern on a memory of the smart ring;
wherein the processor is configured to compare the candidate pattern to the first authentication pattern for the first known user by comparing the candidate pattern to the first authentication pattern stored on the memory of the smart ring.
18 . The smart ring of claim 11 , wherein the second device is a computing device executing software that controls access to the resource.
19 . The smart ring of claim 11 , wherein the smart ring is a first smart ring, and wherein at least one of the second device or the component is a second smart ring.
20 . The smart ring of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to, in response to the record indicating that the first user has been identified and authenticated, determine that the first user is authorized to access the resource;
wherein the signal indicates that the first user is authorized to access the resource.