Digital Signature Value-Bearing Indicium Online Ticketing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hardware-based systems for generating value-bearing indicia, such as postage and tickets, require specialized hardware for each user, leading to high costs and maintenance challenges, while software-based systems face security and validation issues in handling secure communications and physical ticket distribution.
Innovation Solution
A digital signature algorithm is used to generate value-bearing indicia, which are created by hashing user information to create a message digest and combining it with user data, allowing for secure online validation and printing without the need for specialized hardware, enabling users to print and validate tickets directly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hardware-based systems are used to generate value-bearing indicia, then security and validation are improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to requiring specialized hardware for each user
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces hardware-based cryptographic modules with software-based digital signature algorithms. Instead of requiring physical Postal Security Devices with cryptographic hardware, the system uses software algorithms (SHA-1 hashing and digital signature generation) that can be implemented on standard computers, thereby eliminating specialized hardware while maintaining security through mathematical cryptography
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal ticketing system where a single software-based platform can serve multiple users and purposes. The centralized server system can generate various types of value-bearing indicia (tickets, postage) for different users without requiring individual specialized hardware devices, making the system universally applicable across different users and applications
2Device complexity
If software-based systems are used to generate value-bearing indicia, then device complexity is reduced, but security and validation capabilities deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameters of security implementation from hardware-based cryptographic modules to software-based digital signature algorithms. By using SHA-1 hashing to create message digests and then applying digital signature algorithms, the system achieves security through mathematical complexity rather than physical security, allowing standard computers to function securely without specialized hardware
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a centralized server system that acts as an intermediary between users and the validation process. This server maintains a database of valid value-bearing indicia and provides online validation, mediating the security verification process and enabling software-based tickets to be validated remotely without requiring physical possession or specialized hardware at the user end
3Ease of operation
If physical ticket distribution is used, then ticket validation is simplified, but loss of time and convenience increase due to mailing and physical receipt requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates digital copies of tickets that can be transmitted electronically instead of physical tickets that must be mailed. Users receive tickets as data files that can be instantly transmitted via email or downloaded, eliminating the need for physical production, mailing, and handling of paper tickets while maintaining the ability to validate the ticket through digital scanning and database verification
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an online validation system that mediates between the digital ticket and the validation process. Instead of requiring physical ticket inspection, the system uses a centralized database to validate tickets electronically, allowing instant verification without physical handling and enabling remote validation at the point of use
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for generating a Value Bearing Indicium (VBI) for on-line ticketing applications. A VBI may be generated by hashing user information to create a message digest that is used to create a digital signature. The digital signature is combined with the user information to create a VBI that can be validated by a variety of stand-alone or on-line methods. An on-line ticketing application using the VBI is described.