Group-based authentication technique

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for use in conjunction with an electronic device, the computer-readable storage medium configured to store program instructions that, when executed by the electronic device, causes the electronic device to perform operations comprising:

• receiving, from a second electronic device, information that specifies or that corresponds to one or more distortions of a sensor and one or more environmentally dependent distortions associated with a set of environments, wherein the second electronic device comprises the sensor that performs measurements of a physical parameter and the measurements of the physical parameter performed by the sensor comprise the one or more distortions associated with the sensor, wherein the one or more distortions of the sensor comprise semi-stable, time variation of the one or more distortions of the sensor are associated with an internal makeup of the sensor, and the one or more distortions of the sensor vary among different instances of the sensor, wherein the measurements of the physical parameter further comprise one or more the environmentally dependent distortions associated with the set of environments, and wherein the sensor has an accuracy exceeding a manufacturer specification associated with the electronic device;
• determining, based at least in part on the information, the one or more distortions of the sensor and the one or more environmentally dependent distortions associated with the set of environments;
• comparing the determined one or more distortions of the sensor with historical values of the one or more distortions of the sensor and the one or more environmentally dependent distortions associated with the set of environments with historical values of the one or more environmentally dependent distortions associated with the set of environments;
• and
• selectively authenticating an individual associated with the second electronic device based at least in part on the comparisons, wherein, during a given time interval, the selective authentication is denied when the second electronic device is located in a second environment that is not included in the set of environments.

A method for selectively authenticating an individual, comprising:

• by an electronic device:
• receiving, from a second electronic device, information that specifies or that corresponds to one or more distortions of a sensor and one or more environmentally dependent distortions associated with a set of environments, wherein the second electronic device comprises the sensor that performs measurements of a physical parameter and the measurements of the physical parameter performed by the sensor comprise the one or more distortions associated with the sensor, wherein the one or more distortions of the sensor comprise semi-stable, time variation of the one or more distortions of the sensor are associated with an internal makeup of the sensor, and the one or more distortions of the sensor vary among different instances of the sensor, wherein the measurements of the physical parameter further comprise the one or more environmentally dependent distortions associated with the set of environments, and wherein the sensor has an accuracy exceeding a manufacturer specification associated with the electronic device;
• determining, based at least in part on the information, the one or more distortions of the sensor and the one or more environmentally dependent distortions associated with the set of environments;
• comparing the determined one or more distortions of the sensor with historical values of the one or more distortions of the sensor and the one or more environmentally dependent distortions associated with the set of environments with historical values of the one or more environmentally dependent distortions associated with the set of environments;
• and
• selectively authenticating the individual associated with the second electronic device based at least in part on the comparisons, wherein, during a given time interval, the selective authentication is denied when the second electronic device is located in a second environment that is not included in the set of environments.