Development of a protocol for authenticating the transmission of login credentials between devices through sound token
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5433/1679-0375.2026.v47.54814Keywords:
Sound authentication, FSK modulation, scoustic, OAuth 2.0, Goertzel algorithmAbstract
This paper proposes an alternative authentication system for devices with limited input interfaces, eliminating manual typing or QR code scanning in the OAuth 2.0 protocol. The methodology establishes an acoustic communication channel in which a transmitter sends a verification code to a receiving smartphone. FrequencyShift Keying modulation is used, operating between 15 and 20 kHz, a range silent to humans and less susceptible to common noise. Unlike established libraries such as ggwave, which use multi-tone modulation (MFSK), thus requiring high processing power and an audible frequency range to operate efficiently, the proposed methodology is structured for commercial equipment to operate at high frequencies with low computational cost. Decoding at the receiver uses an adaptation of the Goertzel Algorithm as a digital filter and envelope detector, ensuring low computational cost. Reverberation interference is also mitigated by temporal guard intervals. Tests varying distance, packet size, and transmission rate were analyzed via a Generalized Linear Model. Results indicate high robustness against noise, proving the viability of a functional and discrete authentication method for consumer devices.
Downloads
References
Bistafa, S. R. (2018). Acústica Aplicada ao Controle do Ruído (3rd ed.). Blucher.
Bounchaleun, A. (2019). An Elementary Introduction to Fast Fourier Transform Algorithms. https://math.uchicago.edu/~may/REU2019/REUPapers/Bounchaleun.pdf
Denniss, W., Bradley, J., Jones, M. B., & Tschofenig, H. (2019). OAuth 2.0 Device Authorization Grant (RFC No. 8628). Internet Engineering Task Force. https://doi.org/10.17487/RFC8628
Everest, F. A., & Pohlmann, K. C. (2021). Master Handbook of Acoustics (7th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
Gerganov, G. (2022). Ggwave: Ggwave github projectI [Computer code]. GitHub. https://github.com/ggerganov/ggwave/blob/master/include/ggwave/ggwave.h
Google Developers. (2025). Oauth 2.0 for tv and limited-input device applications [Application Programming Interface]. https://developers.google.com/identity/protocols/oauth2/limited-input-device?hl=pt-br
Guimarães, D. A., & de Souza, R. A. A. (2015). Exploring Practical Aspects of the FSK Modulation with Non-Coherent Matched Filter Detection. Revista de Tecnologia da Informação e Comunicação, 5(1),17–23. https://inatel.br/docentes/documents/dayan/Publications/77.pdf
Hromadová, V., Kasák, P., Jarina, R., & Brida, P. (2022). Frequency Response of Smartphones at the Upper Limit of the Audible Range. In Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Conferences [Proceedings]. 2022 ELEKTRO, Krakow, Poland. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9803475
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. (2006). Lecture 20: The Goertzel Algorithm and the Chirp Transform. MIT OpenCourseWare, 6.341 Discrete-Time Signal Processing. https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/6-341-discrete-time-signal-processing-fall-2005/resources/lec20/
Nielsen, J. (1993). Usability Engineering. Academic Press. https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.5555/2821575
Paula, G. A. (2025). Modelos de Regressão. Instituto de Matemática e Estatística, Universidade de São Paulo. http://www.ime.usp.br/~giapaula/textoregressao.htm
Proakis, J. G., & Salehi, M. (2008). Digital Communications (5th ed.). McGraw-Hill.
Puhlmann, H. F. W. (2015). Transformada Discreta de Fourier – Algoritmo de Goertzel. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281034964
Tormim, M. R. (2023). Protocolo de Transmissão por Proximidade com Dados sobre Som [Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso, Universidade Federal de Catalão]. https://prod.ufcat.edu.br:1337/uploads/monografia_pfc_FINAL_marcelo_ribeiro_tormim_8193942231.pdf
Vafaei, S. (2018). Frequency Response of TVs. https://www.rtings.com/tv/tests/sound-quality/frequencyresponse
Vieira, G. F., & Costa, E. d. S. (2012). Avaliação Acústica de Ambientes Fechados: Estudos e Medições. In Associação Brasileira de Engenharia e Ciências Mecânicas, CONEM 2012 Engenharia em Destaque [Anais]. 7º Congresso Nacional de Engenharia Mecânica, São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil. https://www.abcm.org.br/anais/conem/2012/PDF/CONEM2012-1839.pdf
Watson, B. (2001). FSK: Signals and Demodulation. (Tech-note). WJ Communications. (Originally published in Watkins-Johnson Company Tech-notes Vol. 7 n. 5, 1980). https://pt.scribd.com/document/781910367/0-WJ-Tech-Note-Vol-7-No-5#google_vignette&content=query:2001,pageNum:8,indexOnPage:0,bestMatch:false
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Bruno Henrique Fonseca Stranak, José Carlos Pizolato Junior, Fabricio Archeleigar Kitazawa
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
The Copyright Declaration for articles published in this journal is the author's right. Since manuscripts are published in an open access Journal, they are free to use, with their own attributions, in educational and non-commercial applications. The Journal has the right to make, in the original document, changes regarding linguistic norms, orthography, and grammar, with the purpose of ensuring the standard norms of the language and the credibility of the Journal. It will, however, respect the writing style of the authors. When necessary, conceptual changes, corrections, or suggestions will be forwarded to the authors. In such cases, the manuscript shall be subjected to a new evaluation after revision. Responsibility for the opinions expressed in the manuscripts lies entirely with the authors.
This journal is licensed with a license Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International.
