Authenticating Infrastructure Modules via Electronic Tokens
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for authenticating networking equipment, such as those in mission-critical networks, face challenges with rapid authenticity determination due to the need for physical inspection or photographic analysis, which can be time-consuming and require highly trained engineers, especially as counterfeit products become more sophisticated.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising an authentication device and a calibration device that uses an authentication application, authentication tokens, and Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) to verify the authenticity of equipment, allowing for remote authentication without the need for physical inspection or highly trained engineers, leveraging smartphones and secure connections to HSMs for efficient and secure verification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If physical inspection or photographic analysis is used for authenticity determination, then accurate verification can be achieved, but the process becomes time-consuming and requires highly trained engineers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection processes with automated electronic authentication. The system uses an authentication module that communicates with a database to automatically verify product authenticity using electronic identifiers, eliminating the need for physical inspection by trained engineers and significantly reducing processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The authentication system enables self-service verification where the authentication module automatically queries the database and receives authenticity determination without requiring human intervention. The system performs self-verification by comparing electronic identifiers against stored authentication data, allowing rapid automated processing.
2Reliability
If physical inspection methods are used, then thorough analysis is possible, but the process requires highly trained engineers and cannot rapidly handle high volumes of authentication requests
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual expert inspection with an automated authentication module that electronically verifies product authenticity. The system uses database queries and electronic identifier comparison to reliably determine authenticity without requiring trained engineers, enabling high-volume processing while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a database as an intermediary between the authentication module and the products being verified. The database stores authentication data and provides automated verification, serving as a mediator that enables rapid, reliable authentication without requiring human experts to directly examine each product.
3Extent of automation
If photographic evidence analysis is used, then some automation is achieved, but insufficient or poor quality photographs cause delays and require re-submission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces photographic evidence-based authentication with electronic identifier-based verification. The authentication module reads electronic identifiers directly from products and queries the database, eliminating the need for photographs entirely. This substitution removes all delays related to photo quality assessment and re-submission requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A user device is provided that includes an authentication application that runs on the user device. A calibration device is also provided that includes authentication algorithm configuration information and an authentication token. The user device is connected to the calibration device to receive the authentication algorithm configuration information and the authentication token. The user device then supplies to a target device to be authenticated an authentication request that includes the authentication token. The user device receives an authentication response from the target device. The user device then analyzes the authentication response with the authentication application based on the authentication algorithm configuration information to determine whether the target device is authenticated.