Airport Identity Management via Distributed Ledger
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current airport identity management systems are inefficient due to the lack of data sharing between independent organizations, leading to human errors, database inconsistencies, and reduced security, as travelers' identities are verified multiple times at each checkpoint, increasing costs and time consumption.
Innovation Solution
A distributed ledger system utilizing a global identity blockchain and security blockchains, where travelers register once on the global blockchain, and their identity data is shared securely among entities involved in their flight segment, using biometric data and secure cloud storage to enhance verification efficiency and security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If travelers' identities are verified at each checkpoint by independent organizations, then security is ensured, but verification time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple independent verification databases into a single shared database accessible by all checkpoint organizations. This allows travelers to be verified once against a consolidated database, eliminating repeated verifications at each checkpoint while maintaining security through shared access controls and audit trails.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared database serves multiple functions simultaneously: it stores traveler identity information, verification results, security clearance status, and travel authorization data. This universal database replaces multiple separate verification systems, reducing verification time while maintaining comprehensive security checks.
2Loss of information
If independent organizations do not share their databases, then data privacy is maintained, but database inconsistencies and human errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a shared database as an intermediary between independent organizations. This mediator enables consistent data access for all checkpoint entities while maintaining privacy through controlled access mechanisms. The shared database ensures all organizations work with the same verified information, eliminating inconsistencies without requiring direct data sharing between organizations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where verification results and security clearance status are continuously updated and reflected across all checkpoint systems. This ensures all organizations have access to the most current verified information, maintaining database consistency through real-time synchronization and audit trails.
3Reliability
If multiple third parties participate in the airport security process, then comprehensive security checks are performed, but data sharing becomes infeasible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the shared database into logically separated sections for different organization types (airlines, security agencies, immigration, border control). Each organization can access only the data segments relevant to their function, enabling comprehensive security checks while maintaining operational independence and simplifying data access control.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared database acts as a neutral intermediary that enables multiple third parties to participate in the security process without direct data sharing between them. All organizations access verified information through the mediator, making comprehensive security checks feasible while respecting organizational boundaries and data sharing constraints.
4Reliability
If travelers go through multiple identity verification checkpoints, then security is ensured, but the process becomes lengthy and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple verification steps into a single integrated verification process against the shared database. Travelers undergo one comprehensive identity check that validates all necessary information (identity, security clearance, travel authorization) simultaneously, eliminating the need to repeatedly present documents at each checkpoint and dramatically improving processing efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for supporting identity management of travelers in an airport using a distributed ledger system, wherein the distributed ledger system includes a global identity blockchain and several security blockchains, wherein the global identity blockchain is accessible by entities of the distributed ledger system, and wherein a security blockchain is employed for a predetermined flight segment, such that the security blockchain is accessible only by entities of the distributed ledger system that are involved in the predetermined flight segment, the method comprising: receiving, by the global identity blockchain, a registration request from a traveler via a traveler device, wherein the registration request includes a commitment for identity data that is uploaded by the traveler in a secure cloud storage, and wherein said commitment is recorded in the global identity blockchain; receiving, by the global identity blockchain, a result of an identity verification with respect to the traveler from a verifier entity, wherein said result is recorded in the global identity blockchain; receiving, by the security blockchain, a ticket registration transaction that is issued by an airline entity, wherein the ticket registration transaction comprises a unique traveler ID of the traveler, and issuing, by the security blockchain, an access control list update upon reception of consent by the traveler in order to allow one or more entities to have access to the identity data of the traveler stored in the secure cloud storage.