Directional ATM Authentication for Man-in-the-Middle Prevention

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

ATMs face increasing security challenges, particularly man-in-the-middle attacks, which compromise financial transactions by intercepting user interactions, leading to potential financial losses and risks for both institutions and clients.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a cardless ATM system that uses directional antennas to verify the presence of the user through a mobile device, ensuring transactions are only authorized when the user is physically located in front of the ATM, utilizing encryption keys and one-time passwords generated via a secure mobile app.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If cardless ATM authentication is implemented using mobile devices, then transaction convenience is improved, but security vulnerability to man-in-the-middle attacks increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction convenienceVSAvoidsecurity vulnerability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces directional antennas as an intermediary component between the ATM and the mobile device. These antennas transmit signals in specific directions to verify the user's physical presence at the ATM location, creating an additional security layer that mediates between the convenience of cardless access and the need to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary security verification by using directional antennas to confirm the user's location before allowing the transaction to proceed. This preliminary anti-action prevents potential man-in-the-middle attacks by ensuring the user is physically present at the authorized ATM location before authentication is completed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If position detection using directional antennas is implemented, then security against man-in-the-middle attacks is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity against attacksVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The directional antennas serve multiple functions: they transmit authentication signals, detect user position, and verify physical presence at the ATM. By making the antenna system multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate dedicated position detection devices, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity while maintaining enhanced security

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12518601B2Securing a cardless ATM authentication through position detection

Publication Date: 2026.01.06 CAPITAL ONE SERVICES LLC

AI summary

Systems and methods include a kiosk that performs an electronic payment transaction based on instructions received from a portable device of a user. The system further includes a transmitting device electrically coupled to the kiosk. The transmitting device is configured to transmit a first signal to the portable device at a first direction. The system further includes a receiving device electrically coupled to the kiosk. The receiving device is configured to receive a second signal from the portable device at a second direction. The transmitting device and receiving device are positioned such that the first and second direction enable determination of a position of the user, where the processor enables the electronic payment transaction to be processed only when the portable device is at a location relative to the kiosk. The location is disposed within a transmission path coextensive with both the first direction and the second direction.