Clock-Based Transaction Identification With Crash Recovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current electronic transactions between devices require complex and burdensome identification and authorization processes, are susceptible to fraud, and lack efficient methods for secure communication and crash recovery.

Innovation Solution

Systems and methods that utilize clock values and rates to uniquely identify parties in transactions, encrypt messages, and automatically recover from crashes by resetting the clock values of crashed systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If complex identification and authorization procedures are used to authenticate systems and ensure transaction security, then security and certainty are improved, but transaction time and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction securityVSAvoidtransaction processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by establishing clock synchronization and identity verification before transactions occur. Each system's clock is synchronized with a reference clock, and identities are pre-registered with expected clock values. This preliminary setup eliminates the need for complex real-time authentication procedures during actual transactions, thereby reducing transaction processing time while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical identification and authorization systems with a time-based synchronization mechanism. Instead of using traditional cryptographic authentication or complex verification protocols, the system uses clock synchronization and identity registration to authenticate systems. This substitution dramatically simplifies the authentication process and reduces transaction processing time while maintaining security through time-based verification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If traditional key-based authentication is used to access accounts, then access control is achieved, but the system becomes susceptible to fraud and tampering

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess controlVSAvoidfraud and tampering

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the authentication parameter from static keys to dynamic time-based values. Each system is identified by its clock value, which continuously changes as time progresses. This parameter change makes the system resistant to fraud and tampering because stolen or intercepted clock values become invalid after a certain time, eliminating the persistent vulnerability associated with static keys.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-service authentication where each system automatically proves its identity through its synchronized clock. Instead of relying on external authentication servers or key distribution, systems autonomously demonstrate their legitimacy by providing their current clock value, which is verified against the expected value based on the synchronized time. This self-service approach eliminates key-based authentication vulnerabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If multiple devices maintain consistent transaction records, then data integrity is improved, but system complexity and resource requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata integrityVSAvoidrecord consistency management

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system establishes equipotentiality by synchronizing all devices to a common time reference. When all systems operate with synchronized clocks, they naturally maintain consistent records without requiring complex coordination protocols. The time synchronization creates a shared temporal framework that allows all devices to operate independently yet remain consistent, eliminating the need for complex record reconciliation mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #12Equipotentiality

4Device complexity

If simple device identification methods are used, then system complexity is reduced, but security and authentication capability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveidentification processVSAvoidauthentication capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system achieves universality by making the synchronized clock serve multiple functions: it acts as both a timekeeping mechanism and an authentication credential. The same clock synchronization process that enables time coordination also provides security authentication, eliminating the need for separate identification and authentication systems. This multi-functionality maintains high security while minimizing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250392585A1System identification based on determined clock information

Publication Date: 2025.12.25 DAY JOHN W

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for recovering from a crash while transmitting messages between multiple devices of a communications network, or multiple nodes of a multiprocessor system, for example. The messages can include instructions related to transactions such as reading and/or writing values to a database, and a clock value and/or clock rate of one or more of the devices can be used to confirm the parties to the transaction before completing or authorizing the transaction and modifying the related database.