ASIC Authentication Chip Isolating Sensitive Actions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current authentication systems for mobile devices lack robustness, particularly in preventing unauthorized access and exposure to sensitive information, as they rely on common software and hardware components that can be compromised by less secure applications.
Innovation Solution
An application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) is embedded within user devices, isolated from other components, to process sensitive actions for specific applications, using a dedicated chip that includes identity verification, personal authorization, and pseudo-random number generation, ensuring secure authentication and encryption protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If common software and hardware components are used in mobile devices, then device complexity and ease of manufacture are improved, but security reliability deteriorates due to potential compromise by less secure applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the authentication function into a separate dedicated authentication chip embedded in the mobile device. This authentication chip is isolated from the main processor and other components, creating a segmented architecture where critical authentication operations occur in a protected environment. The segmentation allows the device to maintain common hardware components for general use while isolating security-critical functions to a separate, more reliable component.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dedicated authentication chip as an intermediary component between the user/application and the authentication verification process. This intermediary handles all authentication credentials and verification operations, acting as a mediator that protects the main system from direct exposure to authentication mechanics. The intermediary chip can be embedded within the device or provided as a separate authentication device, but in either case serves as a protective layer that enhances security reliability without requiring complete system redesign.
2Reliability
If sensitive authentication actions are processed by common device components, then ease of operation is improved, but exposure to unauthorized access increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the authentication processing function from the common device components and places it in a dedicated authentication chip. This extraction removes the vulnerability of sensitive authentication actions from the general-purpose processor and operating system environment, where they could be compromised by less secure applications. The authentication chip handles credential verification independently, taking out the security-critical path from the potentially compromised main system while maintaining seamless operation for the user.
3Reliability
If multi-factor authentication with multiple credentials is required, then security reliability is improved, but loss of time increases due to additional authentication steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple authentication credentials and verification methods into a single integrated authentication chip. Instead of requiring separate physical tokens, cards, or devices for different authentication factors, the chip consolidates multiple credentials (such as biometric data, cryptographic keys, and authentication algorithms) into one unified component. This merging allows the system to perform multi-factor authentication internally within the chip, maintaining high security reliability while reducing the time loss associated with handling multiple separate authentication artifacts.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, computer program products, and methods are described herein for authenticating a user using an application specific integrated circuit embedded within a user device. The present invention is configured to receive an indication that a user has initiated an application on the user device; determine that the application is associated with the application specific integrated circuit embedded within the user device; activate the application specific integrated circuit based on at least determining that the application is associated with the application specific integrated circuit; receive an indication that the user has initiated an execution of an action, via the application, with an entity; and execute the action using the application specific integrated circuit based on at least receiving the indication that the user has initiated the execution of the action.