Credential Device Security via Invisible Digital Watermark Encoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Payment cards are vulnerable to fraudulent activities due to visible information that can be copied or misused, leading to security issues and increased manufacturing costs from security features like holograms.
Innovation Solution
A credential device with an embedded chip and an invisible digital watermark within a printed image, where the second credential data is encoded and can only be decrypted by a master key, eliminating the need for visible data on the card and reducing manufacturing costs by removing the signature strip and hologram.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If visible information is printed on the payment card for transaction purposes, then the card can be used for payments, but the card becomes vulnerable to copying and fraudulent activities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the credential data from visible printed form and stores it in invisible digital watermark form within the image. The second credential data is encoded as an invisible digital watermark that cannot be read by humans or simple copying methods, thereby removing the vulnerable visible information while preserving payment functionality through the embedded chip and invisible data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional visible printed credential data with an invisible digital watermark encoding. This creates a copy-protected version of the credential information that cannot be easily replicated or misused, while still allowing authorized reading through the embedded chip infrastructure.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If security features like holograms are added to protect payment data, then fraud resistance improves, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive physical security features like holograms with an invisible digital watermark encoding system. This digital approach provides equivalent or superior security against fraud while significantly reducing manufacturing costs, as the invisible watermark can be embedded during normal printing processes without requiring additional expensive materials or complex manufacturing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes physical/mechanical security features (holograms, visible security printing) with a digital/invisible encoding system. The invisible digital watermark provides security through cryptographic encoding rather than physical complexity, replacing costly mechanical security features with a more efficient digital solution.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If all credential data is stored in the chip, then security against copying improves, but the ability to display information for transactions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple credential data sets (first and second credential data) into a single image with invisible digital watermark encoding. This combined approach allows the card to maintain security through the embedded chip while the invisible watermark provides additional layers of information that can be accessed when needed, merging the benefits of both chip storage and printable information display.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an invisible copy of the credential data within the visible image structure. The second credential data is encoded in invisible form within the same image that displays the first credential data, allowing authorized systems to access additional information without compromising the security of the primary visible information or requiring separate physical security features.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
There is provided a credential device (306) comprising a substrate, a chip (308) embedded in the substrate, the chip (308) having first credential data installed therein, and an image (312) printed on the substrate. Second credential data associated with the first credential data is encoded within the image (312) printed on the substrate. There is further provided a method of a manufacturing a credential device (306). The method comprises positioning a chip (308) on a substrate, the chip (308) having first credential data installed therein, embedding a chip (308) in the substrate, encoding second credential data associated with the first credential data within an image (312), and printing the image (312) on the substrate.