Handy Terminal Common Keyboard Secure PIN Entry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing portable information terminals require multiple devices and increased manufacturing costs due to separate keyboards and displays for application programs and PIN input, limiting portability and convenience while being vulnerable to PIN theft when sharing these components.

Innovation Solution

A handy terminal with a payment capability that uses a common keyboard for both application programs and PIN input, featuring a payment program legitimateness judging unit to ensure secure PIN entry by detecting credit card insertion and using program hash values to verify the legitimacy of the payment program, preventing unauthorized access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate keyboards and display devices are provided for PIN input and application programs, then security against PIN theft is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity against PIN theftVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the keyboard and display device into two functional modes: a first mode for application programs and a second mode for PIN input. The same physical components are reused with different functional assignments based on the detected operating mode, avoiding the need for separate dedicated hardware while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic functional switching of the keyboard and display device between two modes. The control unit detects which mode should be active and dynamically changes the function of these components accordingly, allowing the same hardware to serve different purposes at different times.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If separate keyboards and display devices are provided for PIN input and application programs, then security against PIN theft is improved, but manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity against PIN theftVSAvoidmanufacturing costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functionality of separate dedicated PIN input devices with the main application program interface into a single unified system. The keyboard and display device serve both purposes by having their functions dynamically switched based on the detected mode, reducing component count and manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the keyboard and display device universal components that can perform multiple functions: serving as the application program interface in the first mode and as the PIN input interface in the second mode. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If a common keyboard is used for both application programs and PIN input, then device complexity and manufacturing costs are reduced, but vulnerability to PIN theft increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidsecurity against PIN theft

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary detection of the operating mode before allowing PIN input. The control unit detects whether the terminal is in application program mode or PIN input mode, and only enables PIN input functionality when the second mode is detected, preventing unauthorized PIN capture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If two portable information terminals are prepared (one for PIN input, one for application programs), then security against PIN theft is improved, but portability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity against PIN theftVSAvoidportability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functionality of two separate portable information terminals into one unified device. The single terminal contains a control unit that can detect and switch between application program mode and PIN input mode, combining what would have been separate devices into one portable unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the portable information terminal universal by enabling it to perform both application program execution and secure PIN input functions. The same terminal adapts its functionality based on the detected mode, eliminating the need to carry multiple devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10491395B2Handy terminal and payment method to be used in same

Publication Date: 2019.11.26 STEERETAIL CO LTD

AI summary

There is provided a handy terminal in which inputting of an application program and of a PIN is executed and a keyboard and a display device are commonly used thus security is secured with a simple system. A card reader control program 23b in the keyboard unit memory 23 detects an insertion state of a credit card and notifies a detected key code from the keyboard control program 23a to a payment program on the main board 2. A main CPU 12 calculates a program hash value provided to the payment program and a program hash value at the time of execution of a payment program 11b and encrypts and decrypts these hash values using a secret key, encrypted key, and public key so that these hash values are not stolen. The main CPU 12 compares the program hash value provided to the payment program 11b with the program hash value to be used at the time of the execution of the payment program 11b.