Credential Extension Sandbox for Secure QR Data Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data transfer systems face challenges in verifying the authenticity of data transfers and ensuring that only authorized devices and users can perform these transfers, while also protecting sensitive information from unauthorized access and bad actors.

Innovation Solution

The use of QR codes that are individually encrypted, single-use, and time-limited, combined with biometric authentication and a credential extension that limits data collection to authorized operations, ensures secure and authenticated data transfers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If information associated with device and transfer is collected to verify authenticity and authorization, then security and verification capability are improved, but data privacy protection and user trust deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transfer verification capabilityVSAvoidinformation exposure to entities and bad actors

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A credential extension is introduced as an intermediary component that operates within a sandboxed environment. This extension collects necessary device and transfer information for verification while being isolated from the main application and other system entities, preventing direct access to sensitive data by both legitimate entities and malicious actors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The verification system is segmented into distinct components: a sandboxed credential extension for information collection, a credential manager for credential handling, and a verification server for authentication decisions. This segmentation limits the scope of each component, ensuring that the credential extension can gather necessary data without exposing it to other entities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If QR codes are made one-time use for enhanced security, then unauthorized access is prevented, but operational convenience and transfer speed deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunauthorized access preventionVSAvoiddata transfer convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Credentials and QR codes are generated in advance and stored securely on the device before the actual data transfer is needed. When a transfer is required, the system retrieves the pre-generated credential and displays the QR code immediately, eliminating the need for real-time generation and reducing operational friction while maintaining one-time use security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If biometric authentication is required for QR code validation, then device authorization security is improved, but transfer speed and user experience deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice authorization securityVSAvoidauthentication time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The biometric authentication is performed automatically by the credential extension without requiring explicit user intervention. The system detects when authentication is needed and initiates the biometric verification process autonomously, using the device's built-in biometric hardware to verify user identity quickly and seamlessly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12632531B2Credential extension for data transfer

Publication Date: 2026.05.19 APPLE INC

AI summary

The present application relates to devices and components including apparatus, systems, methods, and computer-readable medium to utilize a credential extension for collection of information for a data transfer. The credential extension may be sandboxed which limit the information to be collected related to the data transfer and/or provide protection for the information collected related to the data transfer.