CH715473A2 - Method for securing access to the use of watch functions. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for securing access to the use of functions of a watch, comprising the following steps: authentication (10) of the wearer of the watch in order to authorize access to said functions; control (13) at a fixed period of the development of at least one characteristic of the wearer's bodily attribute with a view to retaining / canceling the authorization to access said functions.

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a method of securing access to the use of functions of a watch and a system implementing such a method.

The invention also relates to a watch comprising such a system and a computer program.

Prior art

A watch includes a set of functions which can be used by the wearer. In addition to setting the time or date, such functions may concern the use of confidential or private data specific to the bearer and useful for accessing personalized services. These data are for example keys, certificates, authentication codes, passwords and personal codes which allow a secure connection of the watch to a private network of a company, an authentication with secure servers such as a bank server. , or secure messaging for sending and receiving signed and / or encrypted emails. Therefore, we understand that it is important to be able to secure access to the use of the functions of such a watch.

To do this, we know in the state of the art methods providing secure access to the use of the functions of a watch by strengthening the authentication criteria authorizing this access for example by implementing additional authentication steps relating to biometrics.

However, one of the major drawbacks of such methods is related to the fact that once the wearer of the watch is authenticated, it is then possible for any individual to have access to the functions of the watch, in particular in the case where it was stolen.

It is understood that there is a need to find an alternative solution, in particular which does not have the drawbacks of the prior art.

Summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a method of securing access to the use of functions of a watch which is reliable and robust.

[0008] Such a method has the advantage of ensuring the identity of the wearer of the watch in an automatic, transparent and non-intrusive manner for the wearer.

In this design, the invention relates to a method for securing access to the use of functions of a watch comprising the following steps: authentication of the watch wearer in order to authorize access to said functions; control over a fixed period of the development of at least one characteristic of the wearer's bodily attribute with a view to retaining / canceling the authorization to access said functions. In other embodiments: the control step comprises a sub-step of determining at least one measurement of a signal resulting from the acquisition of the body attribute characteristic of the wearer; the control step comprises a sub-step of comparison between said at least one measurement and a reference threshold; the comparison sub-step includes a phase of removing the authorization to access said watch functions if said at least one measurement is significantly different or different from the reference threshold; the comparison sub-step comprises a phase of conservation of the authorization to access said watch functions if said at least one measurement is substantially equal to or equal to the reference threshold; the method comprises a step of defining at least one characteristic of the body attribute of the wearer whose evolution is to be checked; the method comprises a step of generating reference thresholds relating to the characteristics of the body attribute of the authenticated wearer, and the body attribute characteristic of the wearer is chosen from the physiological, bodily and / or biometric features of the wearer.

The invention also relates to a system for securing access to the use of functions of a watch implementing such a method, the system comprising the following elements interconnected: a processing unit, at least an element for the acquisition of characteristics of the body attribute of the wearer, an input interface and interfaces for broadcasting visual and / or sound information.

The invention also relates to a watch (100) comprising such a system.

Advantageously, the watch is a connected mechanical watch.

The invention also relates to a computer program comprising program code instructions for the execution of the steps of this method when said program is executed by a processing unit.

Brief description of the figures

Other features and advantages will emerge clearly from the description which is given below, for information and in no way limitative, with reference to the appended figures, in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a watch comprising a system for securing access to the use of functions of a watch, according to an embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 2 is a flow diagram relating to a method for securing access to the use of these functions, according to the embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

FIG. 1 shows a watch 100 comprising a system for securing access to the use of functions of this watch 100. Such a system 1 is included in watch 100 which is preferably a connected mechanical watch 100 with hybrid display. This system 1 comprises more precisely in a non-limiting and / or non-exhaustive manner: <tb> - <SEP> a processing unit 2 comprising hardware and software resources in particular at least one processor cooperating with memory elements; <tb> - <SEP> an interface for broadcasting visual information 3 such as a hybrid display dial provided with a first analog display component and a second digital and / or alphanumeric display component ; <tb> - <SEP> an interface for broadcasting sound information 4 such as a loudspeaker; <tb> - <SEP> a communication interface; <tb> - <SEP> an input interface 9 such as a keyboard or even a tactile interface included for example in the interface for broadcasting visual information 3; <tb> - <SEP> of the elements of acquisition 8 of characteristics of the body attribute of the carrier comprising: <tb> <SEP> • <SEP> at least one biometric sensor 5; <tb> <SEP> • <SEP> at least one body expression sensor 6, and <tb> <SEP> • <SEP> at least one physiological sensor 7.

In this system 1, the processing unit 2 is connected inter alia to the interfaces for broadcasting visual and sound information and to the acquisition elements 8 of the body attribute characteristics of the wearer.

The biometric sensor is able to participate in measurements of physical or biological characteristics specific to the wearer. Regarding the body expression sensor 6, it is able to acquire non-limiting and non-exhaustive movements, gestures, steps of the wearer. To do this, these body expression sensors 6 can include one or more inertial sensors of the accelerometer, gyroscope or miniature multi-axis gyrometer type such as multi-axis sensors manufactured in MEMS technology, capable of detecting angular speeds and linear accelerations along several axes. combining accelerometers and / or gyroscopes. With regard to the physiological sensor 7, it is able to measure the parameters relating to the functioning of a body of the carrier such as, for example, the pulse, the saturation of the blood with oxygen, the impedance of the skin, the blood pressure , respiratory rate, respiratory arrhythmia, skin temperature, sweating rate, blood oxygen saturation or blood flow.

In general, each sensor is capable of converting a body attribute characteristic of the wearer that it has acquired into a signal, which signal is then transmitted to the processing unit 2 which determines at least one measurement from processing of this signal.

Such a system 1 of the watch 100 is capable of implementing a method of securing access to the use of the functions of the watch 100, shown in FIG. 2. Such a method aims to ensure non-intrusive and automatic way of identifying an authenticated wearer so that he can use the functions of watch 100 all the time he wears it without having to re-authenticate himself. The functions of watch 100 can relate to setting the time, the date or even the use of a stopwatch, a navigation system, a pedometer, an activity tracker, a messaging system. , access to confidential or private data specific to the bearer and useful for accessing personalized services, etc.

This method includes an authentication step 10 of the wearer of the watch 100 in order to authorize access to the audited functions of this watch 100. This step 10 allows the wearer to provide proof of his identity. Indeed, the wearer can interact with the input interface 9 for authentication using an authenticator or a secret code.

This method then comprises a step 12 of defining at least one characteristic of the wearer's bodily attribute, the evolution of which is to be checked. This characteristic of the wearer's bodily attribute is chosen from the physiological, bodily and / or biometric features of the wearer. Such a step 12 can be carried out automatically by the processing unit 2 which then defines a random number of body attribute characteristics of the wearer whose progress must be monitored. Alternatively, these bodily attribute characteristics whose evolution is to be controlled can be selected by the wearer via the input interface 9 and the broadcasting interfaces 3, 4. As an example, three characteristics body attributes whose evolution is to be controlled can be selected: a temperature, a psychogalvanic reflex, a gesture. As will be seen below when one of these characteristics has a significant variation, then the authorization to access the function of watch 100 is deleted because the wearer and owner of watch 100 is no longer in his possession. In this context to use the functions of watch 100 again, it is necessary to authenticate.

Subsequently, the method comprises a step 13 of controlling the period of change in at least one characteristic of the body attribute of the wearer in order to keep / delete the authorization to access said functions. During this stage, the determined period is a period of regular or irregular monitoring of the development of the characteristic of bodily attribute. This period can be configured automatically by the processing unit 2 or defined by the wearer. By way of example, the characteristic of body attribute can be checked over a determined period of a few seconds or a few minutes. Such a control step 13 therefore verifies during this period the evolution of this characteristic of bodily attribute. This evolution of the characteristic can be stable, that is to say that it does not present any variation, or on the contrary present a variation. Such an evolution is determined as will be seen below relative to a reference threshold.

This control step 13 then comprises a substep for determining 14 at least one measurement of a signal resulting from the acquisition of the body attribute characteristic of the wearer. During this substep 14, for a configurable determined duration, the acquisition elements 8 collect at least one characteristic of the wearer's bodily attribute which is subsequently transmitted to the processing unit 2 in the form of a signal.

Thereafter, the control step 13 comprises a substep of comparison 15 between said at least one measurement and a reference threshold. In this method, the reference thresholds can be created, as soon as the wearer has been authenticated and his identity is certain, and this, during a step 11 of generating reference thresholds relating to the bodily attribute characteristics of the wearer authenticated. During this step, once the wearer of the watch 100 is authenticated, the processing unit 2 determines at least one measurement of a signal resulting from the acquisition of the bodily attribute characteristic of the wearer, measurement which is then archived in the memory elements of the processing unit 2. The reference thresholds can therefore be automatically determined by the processing unit 2 or configured by the wearer during an adjustment process aimed at guiding the wearer in the definition of these thresholds reference.

This comparison sub-step 15 includes a phase 16 for removing the authorization to access said watch functions 100 if said at least one measurement is significantly different or different from the reference threshold. In this case, access to the functions of watch 100 is then deleted because the wearer and owner of watch 100 may no longer be in his possession. Therefore in this context to use the functions of watch 100 again, it is necessary to authenticate.

The comparison sub-step 15 also includes a conservation phase 17 of the authorization to access said functions of the watch 100 if said at least one measurement is substantially equal to or equal to the reference threshold. In this case, the control unit again performs, according to the determined period, the determination sub-step 14 for the same characteristic of the body attribute of the wearer or for another characteristic of the body attribute in order to perform another time. the comparison sub-step 15.

Thus, the invention allows to permanently control automatically and non-intrusively the identity of the wearer of the watch in particular as soon as he is authenticated.

The invention also relates to a computer program comprising program code instructions for the execution of steps 10 to 17 of this method when said program is executed by the processing unit 2 of the watch 100.

Claims (12)

1. Method for securing access to the use of functions of a watch (100) comprising the following steps: - authentication (10) of the watch wearer (100) in order to authorize access to said functions; - control (13) over a fixed period of the development of at least one characteristic of the wearer's bodily attribute with a view to retaining / canceling the authorization to access said functions. 2. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the control step (13) comprises a substep for determining (14) at least one measurement of a signal resulting from the acquisition of the characteristic of body attribute of the bearer. 3. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the control step (13) comprises a sub-step of comparison (15) between said at least one measurement and a reference threshold. 4. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the comparison sub-step (15) comprises a phase of deletion (16) of the authorization to access said watch functions (100) if said at least one measurement is significantly different or different from the reference threshold. 5. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the comparison sub-step (15) comprises a conservation phase (17) of the authorization to access said watch functions (100) if said at least one measurement is substantially equal to or equal to the reference threshold. 6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a step of defining (12) at least one characteristic of the body attribute of the wearer whose evolution is to be checked. 7. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a step of generating (11) reference thresholds relating to the characteristics of the body attribute of the authenticated wearer. 8. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the characteristic of the wearer's bodily attribute is chosen from the physiological characteristics, of bodily and / or biometric expressions of the wearer. 9. System for securing access to the use of functions of a watch (100) implementing the method according to any one of the preceding claims, the system (1) comprising the following elements interconnected: a unit processing (2), at least one element for acquiring characteristics of the body attribute of the wearer (8), an input interface (9) and interfaces for broadcasting visual and / or sound information (3, 4 ). 10. Watch (100) comprising a system (1) according to the preceding claim. 11. Watch (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it is a connected mechanical watch (100). 12. Computer program comprising program code instructions for the execution of the steps (10 to 17) of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8 when said program is executed by a processing unit (2).