Patent Landscape Analysis Report on:

Biometric Authentication using Ultrasound Technology

We are glad to share with a comprehensive Patent Landscape Analysis for patent activities in the field of biometric authentication using ultrasound technology during the period of 1993 to till date.This landscape is based on published patent applications and granted patents in US jurisdiction and mainly focuses on theparameters, such as:Patent application publication trend (year wise), patenting activities of key players, patent filing trend,technologyanalysis etc.

In this emerging era of e-commerce, secure online transactions play a vital role. Though online transaction is a convenient option, yet it is prone to hacking, leading to frauds and related crimes. Thepasswords and PINs,commonly used for online banking,have become absolutely inadequate to protect security of user or consumer. Apart from this, in all spheres of life, especially in any public place or corporate world, security issues are increasing and there is always risk of an unauthorized person entering into restricted areas with an intention of theft, terrorist attack etc.In order to overcome such problems,biometric systems are often deployed at such places to ensure data security to the internet users. It also assists in authentication of an individual on basis of physical, physiological or behavioural characteristics.

There are several systems and products in the market that relate to biometric authentication and their demandis growing exponentially. With increasing demand, innovation and number of patents in this domain are also increasing. Patent has

an effective tool not just to protect such innovations but also to strengthen core technologies.Biometric is considered to be the most suitable authentication system for security as every individual is unique and hence identification of specific traits is a reliable way of authentication. As the specific traits cannot be borrowed, stolen or forgotten, counterfeiting is practically impossible, that makes biometric authentication an extremely effective technology for authentication of individual. Biometric characteristicsmay be physical, physiological or behavioural. Physiological characteristics relate to physiological parameters of body, such as, fingerprints, geometry of hand, finger or palm, retina, iris, and any of the facial features. Behavioural characteristics include parameters such as, signature, voice and keystroke pattern etc.

Biometric scanners, such as optical, capacitance, direct pressure, thermal, ultra sound are employed to carry out the process of authentication. However, ultrasound scanner is gaining popularity today for being highly accurate and moreover it is insulated from the effects of dirt, paint, ink and other image contaminants.

Below are some of the analyses with respective graphical representation.

1) PATENT APPLICATION PUBLICATION TREND

Fig 1: Patent Application Publication Trend

An analysis of patent applications that are published in the field of ultrasound based biometric authentication revealed that in the last five years, the number of patent applications published has increased drastically. Year 2013 has been a remarkable year with maximum number of published patent application.

2) PATENTING ACTIVITIES OF KEY PLAYERS

Fig 2: Patenting Activities of Key Players

An analysis for the patents granted in the field of biometric authentication using ultrasound technology revealed that ELWHA, a US-based firm, holds the highest number of patents in this field. Among the key players, ELWHA has been assigned with almost 22% of total number of patents in this technology.

3) PATENT FILING TREND

Fig 3: Patent Filing Trend

The chart represents the patent filing trend in the field of biometric authentication using ultrasound technology in the US jurisdiction till date

4) RECENT TREND IN TECHNOLOGY

Fig 5: Recent Trend in Technology

A technology analysis of the patents/patent applications filed in the field of biometric authentication using ultrasound during last five years revealed that number of patent under the IPC G06F (ELECTRICAL DIGITAL …) is increasing every year.

CONCLUSION

Hence, the landscape analysis carried out to identify the patenting activities in US in the field of biometric authentication using ultrasound technology clearly shows two things, firstly,  that  ultrasound based biometric authentication is becoming the most sought after authentication technology among various sectors like communication (AT&T), banking (AMERICAN EXPRESS and BANK OF AMERICA) and identification (APPLE, NEXTGENID) etc. and secondly although biometric authentication is not the primary sector of business for billion dollar companies like APPLE, IBM etc., according to this landscape study, these companies are showing significant interest in this field. This is evident by the fact that these companies hold more patent in this field than the companies’ whose main area of business is biometric authentication.

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