Academic Credential Verification with Blockchain, ECDSA, and AES

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current academic credential management systems are inefficient, prone to fraud, and lack decentralized authentication, leading to issues with security, privacy, and scalability.

Innovation Solution

A blockchain-based framework using the Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA) for secure credential management, incorporating decentralized storage and attestation by trusted entities, with data classification into 'Off-Chain' and 'On-Chain' categories, and encryption using AES to ensure tamper-proof and verifiable credentials.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If centralized credential management systems are used, then ease of operation is improved, but security and reliability deteriorate due to fraud and lack of decentralized authentication

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidsecurity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments credential management into multiple independent components: credential issuance by institutions, storage on blockchain, verification by employers, and attestation by authorized entities. This segmentation eliminates single-point failures and fraud risks associated with centralized systems while maintaining operational ease through standardized interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The blockchain acts as an intermediary layer between credential issuers and verifiers, providing a trusted, decentralized platform for credential storage and verification. This intermediary eliminates the need for centralized authentication authorities while ensuring security and reliability through cryptographic proof mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If digital transformation is implemented, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases due to blockchain integration and cryptographic operations

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveproductivityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service credential verification where employers can independently verify credentials using public keys and blockchain data without requiring complex centralized verification infrastructure. This self-service approach increases productivity while reducing the complexity burden on individual systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The blockchain-based credential system serves multiple functions: credential issuance, storage, verification, revocation, and attestation. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate systems into a single platform, improving productivity without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If decentralized storage is used, then reliability is improved, but loss of information increases due to distributed data management

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidloss of information

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary cryptographic hashing and digital signature generation before storing credential data on the blockchain. This preliminary action ensures data integrity is established upfront, preventing information loss or corruption during distributed storage while maintaining reliability through cryptographic verification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system stores cryptographic hashes and digital signatures on the blockchain rather than complete credential data. These cryptographic copies provide sufficient verification capability while minimizing information storage requirements and reducing the risk of information loss in distributed storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

4Reliability

If ECDSA digital signatures are implemented, then security is improved, but use of energy increases due to cryptographic computation

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoiduse of energy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs ECDSA digital signature operations only when credentials are issued or verified, rather than continuously. This partial action approach provides necessary security through cryptographic signatures while minimizing energy consumption by avoiding unnecessary computational operations during routine credential usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS20250219831A1Framework for storage and verification of academic credentials on blockchain technology

Publication Date: 2025.07.03 UNIVERSITY OF SHARJAH

AI summary

There is disclosed a method of authenticating credential data signed on a blockchain-based validation and authentication platform, the method being based a computer readable medium storing machine-readable instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to generate an ECDSA (Elliptic Curve Digital Signature) algorithm-based digital signature using a private key from an issuer, and authenticate the signed credential data via the ECDSA algorithm directly using a corresponding public key. As another aspect, a system for validating/authenticating academic credentials and facilitating equivalency between different credentials is disclosed comprising a blockchain for storing signed credential data and for processing transactions, a database for storing non-transactional data, a cryptographic algorithm for signing the credential data and for subsequently verifying the generated digital signatures; and a military grade encryption algorithm for encrypting the data put on blockchain.