HID awarded new gesture-based access control patents
10 July, 2013
category: Contactless, Smart Cards
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted several patents for HID Global’s gesture-based access control methods.
HID’s gesture-based solutions uses 3D motion sequences to ensure privacy, security and convenience when using RFID-based devices like smart cards and NFC-enabled smart phones. The latest patent additions joins HID Global’s existing IP portfolio of more than 1,000 pending and issued patents.
The company’s newest solutions enables the user to define a series of hand motion sequences or gestures as the control operation and authenticating factor for an RFID-based device. As an example, a user could use HID’s gesture solution in conjunction with an RFID smart card, and upon presenting that card to a reader, rotate the card 90 degrees to the right and then back to the original position to enable the card to be read. In this case, the motion of rotating the card back and forth constitutes the gesture utility.
HID maintains that the addition of a gesture or motion utility significantly reduces the prospect of a rogue device covertly stealing the user’s RFID credential in what’s called a “bump and clone” attack.
HID’s gesture-based solution opens new possibilities for authentication especially when used in conjunction with NFC-enabled mobile phones. Additionally, users can define gesture-based passwords, easily adding another factor of authentication to a phone-based transaction.
In addition to recognizing 3D motions (left, right, forward and backward), HID’s user-defined, gesture-based passwords can also work in a two-dimensional capacity similar to that of a combination lock. Actions that can be undertaken using the gesture solution include unlocking or locking apps or physical doors, or allow the user to discretely send an emergency signal at the time of transaction.
The new patents granted to HID Global for its gesture-based solution are US 8,427,320 and US 8,232,879. HID has also received notice that the European Patent Office intends to grant a patent as well.