Electronic Circuit Temporary Locking After Failed Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing authentication mechanisms for electronic circuits, such as smart cards, often require replacing the card or involving the provider to unlock after excessive incorrect attempts, leading to unnecessary expenses and infrastructure requirements, and fail to differentiate between fraudulent attempts and genuine errors.
Innovation Solution
A method that temporarily disables circuit functions when a threshold of abnormal operations is exceeded, using a charge retention circuit with capacitive elements to set a duration-independent disable period, allowing the circuit to recover without external intervention, compatible with direct code comparisons and signature verifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If permanent blocking is implemented after threshold of incorrect authentication attempts, then security is improved, but device complexity and loss of time increase due to card replacement or provider intervention requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic blocking mechanism where the electronic circuit automatically transitions between locked and unlocked states based on the duration stored in the retention circuit. This eliminates the need for static permanent blocking and external unlocking infrastructure, resolving the contradiction between security and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic circuit performs self-unlocking by automatically resetting the blocking state after a predetermined duration expires. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for provider intervention or external unlocking systems, reducing both device complexity and operational overhead while maintaining security
2Reliability
If card replacement is implemented when authentication threshold is exceeded, then security is improved, but loss of substance and productivity decrease due to card disposal
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of permanent card blocking, the patent implements a temporary dynamic blocking state that automatically expires. This allows the same card to be reused after the predetermined duration, preventing card disposal while maintaining security during the blocking period
Solution Approach 2:
The patent recovers the blocked state automatically after the predetermined duration expires, eliminating the need to discard or replace the card. The blocking mechanism is temporarily activated and then recovered, preventing material loss while maintaining security
3Reliability
If provider intervention is required to unlock the circuit, then security is improved, but ease of operation and productivity decrease due to infrastructure requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic circuit autonomously manages its own blocking and unblocking states based on the predetermined duration stored in the retention circuit. This self-service capability eliminates the need for provider intervention or external unlocking infrastructure, improving ease of operation while maintaining security
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking duration is predetermined and stored in the retention circuit before the blocking event occurs. This preliminary setup allows the circuit to automatically execute the unblocking action after the specified duration, eliminating the need for external intervention and improving user independence
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution avoids the need for card replacement and provider intervention, reduces costs, and enhances security by allowing temporary blocking of fraudulent attempts without permanently disabling the circuit.
Implementation Method 1
said disabling duration is set by at least one charge retention circuit having at least one first capacitive element
Implementation Method 2
exhibiting a leakage through its dielectric space
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a circuit for protecting at least one piece of information contained in an electronic circuit by disabling at least one function of the circuit in case of detection of a number of abnormal operations greater than a threshold, in which the disabling of the function is temporary, of a duration independent from whether the circuit is powered or not.