Device Authentication Using PUF and Graphical Security Features

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for authenticating electronic devices are limited in ensuring the genuineness of both the chip and its associated body, as they can be vulnerable to attacks where a genuine body is paired with a fake chip, necessitating a more robust authentication mechanism.

Innovation Solution

A method that combines a Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) with a graphical security feature, where a response from the chip is linked to a reference from the body using a mathematical function, and verified by a machine distinct from the device, enhancing the authentication process through the use of Optical Variable Ink, Microtext, relief printing, and other advanced printing technologies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If only a chip-based PUF is used for authentication, then the authentication process is simple, but the device can be vulnerable to attacks where a genuine body is paired with a fake chip

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication reliabilityVSAvoidauthentication mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges two authentication mechanisms: a chip-based PUF (Physical Unclonable Function) and a body-based graphical security feature. The chip contains a PUF that generates a response, while the body contains a graphical security feature with a reference value derived from that response. Both must be verified together, combining hardware (chip) and visual (body) authentication elements to prevent chip replacement attacks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The authentication system is segmented into two distinct components: the chip portion and the body portion. The chip executes the PUF and stores a reference, while the body contains a graphical security feature with another reference. This segmentation ensures that both components must be genuine and properly paired, as each contains authentication data that verifies the other's authenticity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If a graphical security feature is added to the body, then the authentication robustness increases, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice genuineness verificationVSAvoiddevice manufacturing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The PUF response is generated and the graphical security feature is created during the device manufacturing process, before the device is deployed. The reference values are embedded in both the chip and the body during initial production, ensuring that the authentication credentials are established beforehand and do not require complex post-manufacturing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 approach effectively guarantees the integrity of the chip and body by making it extremely difficult to reproduce the graphical security feature, thus preventing unauthorized replacement and ensuring the device's genuineness.

Implementation Method 1

A Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) is a function that is embodied in a physical structure and is easy to evaluate but extremely difficult to predict. When a physical stimulus is applied to the structure, it reacts in an unpredictable way due to the complex interaction of the stimulus with the physical microstructure of the component.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical Unclonable Function:

Implementation Method 2

The graphical security feature may comprise at least one element selected from the group consisting in Optical Variable Ink, Microtext, relief printing, rainbow printing, UV printing, Holographic overlay, Diffractive Optically Variable Image Device, changeable laser image and multiple laser images.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical Variable Ink:

Implementation Method 3

The graphical security feature may comprise at least one element selected from the group consisting in Optical Variable Ink, Microtext, relief printing, rainbow printing, UV printing, Holographic overlay, Diffractive Optically Variable Image Device, changeable laser image and multiple laser images.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHolographic overlay:

Implementation Method 4

The graphical security feature may comprise at least one element selected from the group consisting in Optical Variable Ink, Microtext, relief printing, rainbow printing, UV printing, Holographic overlay, Diffractive Optically Variable Image Device, changeable laser image and multiple laser images.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffraction: Diffraction

Data Source

PatentUS9544154B2Method of authenticating a device

Publication Date: 2017.01.10 THALES DIS FRANCE SA

AI summary

The invention is a method for authenticating a device which comprises a chip and a body carrying the chip. The body comprises a graphical security feature. The method comprises the steps of:running a first physical unclonable function for generating a first response representative of the chip,extracting a first reference from the graphical security feature,authenticating the device by checking that said first response and first reference are linked by a preset mathematical function.The extracting step and the authenticating step are carried out by a machine distinct from the device.