In-field Remote Fingerprint Authentication using Human Body Communication and On-Hub Analytics

Area of Science:

• Biometric Authentication
• Wearable Technology
• Cybersecurity

Background:

• Secure authentication is crucial for confidential data delivery in data-driven environments.
• Biometric authentication offers unique, non-transferable user identification.
• Tactical environments require remote, on-demand authentication for mobile users like soldiers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To envision and design an in-field, remote, and on-demand authentication system for tactical environments.
• To develop an energy-efficient fingerprint-based authentication framework for wearable devices.
• To ensure strong security for critical information delivery in challenging conditions.

Main Methods:

• Developed an in-field fingerprint authentication system integrating wearable sensors, template extraction (TE) algorithms, data encryption, and communication modules.
• Explored resource allocation for energy efficiency in small, wearable devices.
• Utilized Human Body Communication (HBC) for on-body data transfer and analytics on a central hub to maximize sensor lifetime.

Main Results:

• Optimized resource allocation for energy-efficient in-field fingerprint authentication.
• Demonstrated the feasibility of the framework using a custom-built hardware prototype with COTS components.
• Showcased the effectiveness of HBC and on-hub analytics for extending the operational life of energy-sparse wearable sensors.

Conclusions:

• The proposed system provides a feasible and energy-efficient solution for in-field biometric authentication in tactical settings.
• Integrating wearable fingerprint sensors with HBC and optimized resource management enhances security and extends device longevity.
• This framework supports secure critical information delivery in highly mobile and energy-constrained environments.