Digital Credentialing via Distributed Ledger Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for digital credential management lack secure and efficient methods for verifying user identities and accessing sensitive information, leading to potential data theft and misrepresentation issues.
Innovation Solution
A digital credentialing system utilizing a distributed ledger to securely store and verify credentials, employing cryptography and smart contracts for authentication, allowing users to prove their identity by providing valid credentials that are validated against stored information, ensuring legitimacy and preventing revocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If digital credentials are used for authentication, then security and trust in identity verification are enhanced, but system complexity increases due to the need for distributed ledger infrastructure and smart contract integration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a distributed ledger system as an intermediary layer between credential issuers and verifiers. This mediator provides a trusted environment for credential storage and verification, eliminating the need for direct trust relationships between all parties while maintaining system security.
Solution Approach 2:
The credential verification process is designed to be self-service, where the distributed ledger automatically validates credentials through smart contracts without requiring manual intervention. The system autonomously checks credential authenticity, expiration, and revocation status, reducing operational complexity despite the underlying technical infrastructure.
2Reliability
If cryptographic verification methods are implemented, then data theft and misrepresentation are reduced, but processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
Credentials are pre-verified and stored on the distributed ledger with embedded cryptographic signatures at the time of issuance. This preliminary verification eliminates the need for complex real-time cryptographic computations during authentication, as the ledger has already validated the credential's authenticity and integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses cryptographic hashes and digital signatures as compact representations of credential data. Instead of verifying entire credential documents, the system verifies cryptographic proofs that are much smaller and faster to process, maintaining security while reducing computational overhead and processing time.
3Reliability
If distributed ledger technology is used for credential storage, then credential revocation and validation are improved, but storage requirements and system resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential verification data from full credentials and stores it on the distributed ledger. Instead of storing complete credential documents, the system stores cryptographic hashes, verification keys, and essential metadata, significantly reducing storage requirements while maintaining validation capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The distributed ledger stores different types of data with different quality requirements. Frequently accessed verification data is stored with high redundancy for fast access, while less frequently accessed credential details are stored with lower redundancy. This local quality differentiation optimizes storage efficiency while ensuring validation reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
The system for credential authentication comprises an interface and a processor. The interface is configured to receive a request from an application for authorization to access, wherein access to the application is requested by a user using a user device. The processor is configured to provide a login request to the user; validate a login response; determine a user authentication device based on the login response; provide a proof request to the user authentication device; receive a proof response; determine that the proof response is valid using a distributed ledger; generate a token; and provide the token to the application authorizing access for the user.