IP Library Granted Patent US 8,984,591
Granted Patent B2
US 8,984,591 · App. 13/716,786 · Granted Mar 17, 2015

Authentication via motion of wireless device movement

Inventor: Keith A. McFarland (Annapolis, MD)
Assignee: TeleCommunications Systems, Inc.
H04W12/06H04W12/08H04W4/027
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,984,591
App. No.
13/716,786
Filed
Dec 17, 2012
Granted
Mar 17, 2015
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2434
USPC
726/4
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 (24)

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.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 3, 2016
From: COMTECH EF DATA CORP.; COMTECH XICOM TECHNOLOGY, INC.; COMTECH MOBILE DATACOM CORPORATION; TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, INC.
To: CITIBANK N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 037993/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 20, 2012
From: MCFARLAND, KEITH A.
To: TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 029508/0023 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61576755 · Dec 16, 2011
Related Publication 20130160088A1 · Jun 20, 2013