Customized Application Server for Secure Loyalty Cards

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional customer loyalty cards are labor-intensive to administer and carry, and their electronic counterparts face security threats due to variable benefits, with existing solutions not adequately addressing terminal-specific and user-specific customization needs, particularly in terms of data security and certification requirements.

Innovation Solution

A method for providing customized applications that can be downloaded to user terminals, such as mobile devices, which involves an application server storing identifying information and templates for different terminal types, allowing for terminal-specific and user-specific customization, and utilizing web applications to bypass certification requirements, with features like community messaging and caching to facilitate secure and cost-effective distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cryptographic techniques are used to make loyalty cards tamper-proof with variable benefits, then data security is improved, but device complexity and certification requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata securityVSAvoidcertification requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the application into multiple components: a certified core component that handles cryptographic operations and a customizable component that provides variable benefits. This segmentation allows the certified part to remain simple while the customizable part handles complexity, resolving the contradiction between security and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the certified application component) that mediates between the security requirements and the customization needs. This intermediary handles the cryptographic operations and certification requirements, allowing the rest of the system to focus on providing variable benefits without increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If customized applications are created for each terminal type with terminal-specific properties, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveterminal-specific customizationVSAvoidapplication creation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining templates for different terminal types with their specific properties. These templates are created in advance and stored in the application server, allowing rapid deployment of customized applications without creating each one from scratch, thus reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses parameter changes to adapt the application to different terminal types. By storing terminal-specific properties as parameters and dynamically adjusting the application configuration based on these parameters, the system achieves high adaptability without increasing manufacturing complexity, as the same base application can be parameterized for different terminals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If electronic loyalty cards replace traditional plastic cards, then ease of operation is improved, but security threats increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecard portabilityVSAvoidsecurity threats

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses copying by creating a certified digital copy of the loyalty card functionality that runs on the user's terminal. This digital copy incorporates cryptographic security measures while providing the convenience of electronic access, effectively replacing physical cards without compromising security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by implementing cryptographic security measures and certification requirements in advance during the application creation and deployment process. This proactive security approach cushions against potential security threats before they can affect the system, allowing electronic cards to provide ease of operation without increasing security vulnerabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP2652630B1Providing a customized application to a user terminal

Publication Date: 2016.05.11 INTELLIPOCKET

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AI summary

A user terminal (9-81 ) is provided with an application customized for terminal- specific properties. Terminal 1 (9-81 ) has a version of the customized application. An application server (9-90) stores ID of the user terminals and/or subscriptions, a template for the customized application and a feature set for several terminal types. Terminal 1 sends Terminal 2 (9-82) a community message (9-2) with a link directing Terminal 2 to the application server. Link activation in Terminal 2 initiates a request (9-6) to the application server that determines an ID and type of Terminal 2 based on the request (9-6). Based on the type, the application server determines terminal-specific properties Terminal 2. Based on the template and the terminal-specific properties, the application server creates the customized application, which comprises a feature to send the community message (9-2) to other terminals. The customized application is delivered to Terminal 2.