Intel’s Applications Lab has filed a patent (US 2011/0277023) entitled ‘Audible authentication for wireless network enrollment’ which would allow wireless devices to connect to the router via a series of sounds.
The description of the patent reads:
“With one or more described techniques, an unauthorized wireless device audibly emits a uniquely identifying secret code (e.g., a personal identification number (PIN)). In some implementations, the audible code is heard by the user and manually entered via a network-enrollment user interface. In other implementations, a network-authorizing device automatically picks up the audible code and verifies the code. If verified, the wireless device is enrolled onto the wireless network.”
The technology is aimed at simplifying the set-up of wireless devices, but is it really that time-consuming to punch a few digits into your router? We think we’d still prefer the silent way, though it’s worth noting that you could set-up an audio password with your voice or a clip of music so it doesn't have to be a series of annoying bleeps. It would certainly be helpful for the visually impaired, who may not be able to see the passwords currently found on tiny labels on the back of wireless devices.
Full details of the patent can be found here.
