Dynamic QR Code Validation via Segmented Static and Time-Varying Components

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Solution Overview

Problem

QR codes can be easily copied and reproduced, leading to authenticity issues in applications where location-specific or time-sensitive information is critical, such as physical check-ins or promotions, as there is no guarantee that the scanned QR code is original and not a copied replica.

Innovation Solution

Enhanced QR codes incorporate a dynamic component with auxiliary data, such as time-varying codes and location information, which can be validated using a server-based system to ensure authenticity, including visual watermarks and radio frequency signals, to prevent unauthorized replication and ensure valid scans occur at the correct location and time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If QR codes are made simple and easy to produce, then ease of manufacture is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to easy copying and reproduction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidreliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The QR code is divided into two distinct parts: a static component that can be easily reproduced and a dynamic component that contains location and time information. This segmentation allows the simple static QR code to maintain ease of manufacture while the dynamic component ensures reliability by preventing copying.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The QR code transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one by incorporating location-specific and time-varying information in the dynamic component. This dynamic element changes with each valid scan, making replication impossible while maintaining the simplicity of the overall QR code structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If QR codes are enhanced with dynamic components and validation systems, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovereliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A validation server acts as an intermediary between the QR code components and the scanning device. The server receives the static and dynamic components, performs validation, and returns a token. This intermediary handles the complexity of validation logic remotely, keeping the scanning device simple while ensuring reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If validation is performed server-side, then reliability is improved, but loss of time increases due to validation processing

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidloss of time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The dynamic component contains pre-computed location and time information that is ready for immediate validation. The validation server performs preliminary checks on this pre-formatted data, reducing the time needed for validation compared to processing raw data from scratch.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9418326B1Enhanced quick response codes

Publication Date: 2016.08.16 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

A method for validating a quick response code includes steps or acts of: receiving a captured enhanced quick response code that included a static component and a dynamic component; validating the quick response code in the static component using the auxiliary data in the dynamic component; and returning a token when the quick response code is validated.