Digital Key Backup With Authenticated Duplicate Key Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing key duplication process is often inexact and lacks efficient tracking of duplicate keys, leading to issues with key availability and management, especially when original keys are misplaced or unavailable.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a QR code or NFC tag embedded with key information and a security certificate, allowing users to register keys on a central server, validate duplicates through multi-factor authentication, and track key usage, ensuring accurate duplication and management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional key duplication methods are used, then key duplication is simple and quick, but the duplication precision and tracking capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by embedding a code with key information and security certificate in an NFC tag or QR code on the key before duplication. This pre-encoded information enables precise tracking and verification during the duplication process, ensuring manufacturing precision without requiring complex real-time verification systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical key duplication tracking with electronic/digital systems. NFC tags, QR codes, and server-based digital registries substitute for manual tracking methods, enabling precise key information storage and verification while maintaining operational simplicity.
2Loss of information
If key information is stored digitally on a server, then key tracking and management accuracy improve, but data security risks and system vulnerability increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments key information into two parts: a code containing key information and a separate security certificate. This segmentation allows the server to store and track key information accurately while the security certificate provides independent verification, reducing the security risk associated with centralized data storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses multi-factor authentication that requires both the code and security certificate verification, going beyond single-factor authentication. This excessive verification action ensures accurate key tracking while maintaining high security standards by requiring multiple validation steps.
3Reliability
If multi-factor authentication is implemented for key duplication, then unauthorized duplication is prevented, but the duplication process time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication by having users scan the code with their smartphone, which automatically retrieves and verifies the security certificate from the server before the duplication process begins. This preliminary verification establishes authorization reliability while minimizing the time required during the actual duplication operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service authentication where the user's smartphone automatically handles the verification process by scanning the code and communicating with the server. This eliminates the need for manual verification steps, maintaining high authorization reliability while reducing the time and complexity perceived by the user.
4Loss of information
If a central server registry is used to track keys, then key management and accountability improve, but system vulnerability and single point of failure risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the key management functionality between the central server registry and local devices. Each key contains an embedded code with security certificate that can be independently verified, allowing the system to maintain accurate tracking through the server while also providing local verification capability that reduces dependency on continuous server availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates digital copies of key information in the form of codes with security certificates that are stored both on the server and locally on the key itself. This copying enables the system to maintain accurate tracking records on the server while the local copies provide resilience against server failures, improving overall system stability.
Data Source
AI summary
A key can be provided with a code that uniquely identifies the key or uniquely identifies the lock for which the key is to be used. A server can store information correlating unique key codes for keys with bitting information for those keys. Upon receiving a valid request from a remote device, the server can send bitting information to a remote key making machine and direct the key making machine to make a duplicate key.