Apple is looking to get into the business of unique device identification, Patently Apple reports. While technology already exists that can transfer information between two devices quickly and securely (ie: Bump), Apple plans on revolutionizing the process.
In the case of a mobile-device data transfer, according to Patently Apple, “one or more cameras of the first device could capture images of the device environment. The first device could process the captured images to detect a second device in the field of view, and to identify one or more cameras of the second device.”
That means, if my camera sees your device, it can sign off on it and send you a particular set of data. All you have to do is display a particular key on your phone’s display to confirm.
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The patent application goes on to explain several uses of the technology, including sharing gaming information, sharing documents, VPN access, passwords and biometric security, and retail.
[CNET]