Location-Linked NFTs for Rapid Physical-Environment Access Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems face challenges in efficiently and securely managing access to physical environments due to delays in authentication and authorization processes, particularly in scenarios requiring seamless point-to-point movement.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for generating and validating non-fungible tokens (NFTs) linked with physical environments, where NFTs are earned based on predefined conditions such as location proximity, using smart contracts to authorize access to physical or virtual locations, and integrating these with smart locks and entry controllers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If traditional authentication and authorization processes are used for secure access to physical environments, then security is maintained, but access speed and efficiency deteriorate due to delays in authentication processes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-generating NFTs that encode authentication and authorization data before access is needed. These NFTs are created in advance based on user credentials and access requirements, so that when a user approaches the entry controller, authentication occurs instantly by validating the pre-prepared NFT rather than processing traditional multi-step authentication at the moment of access.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical authentication systems (physical keys, cards, biometric scanners with centralized verification) with a cryptographic system based on NFTs and blockchain technology. The entry controller validates access by cryptographically verifying the NFT's digital signature and smart contract conditions, eliminating the need for centralized authentication servers and reducing verification time to near-instantaneous operations.
2Productivity
If traditional access control systems are implemented, then authorization can be managed, but scalability deteriorates due to complex authentication and authorization processes that cannot handle high-volume rapid access
Solution Approach 1:
The NFT serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as an authentication credential, an authorization token, and an access key all in one. The single NFT contains encoded permission sets that can grant access to multiple different entry controllers across various physical environments, eliminating the need for separate authentication and authorization systems and enabling scalable deployment across numerous locations without proportionally increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The smart contract embedded in or associated with the NFT performs self-service validation at the entry controller. The NFT automatically proves its own validity and the user's authorization by presenting its cryptographic signature and smart contract conditions, without requiring the entry controller to query external authentication servers or databases. This self-contained validation mechanism enables high-volume rapid access while reducing the complexity of centralized control systems.
Data Source
AI summary
An aspect can include obtaining, from a device of a user, location data, obtaining, from the device in response to a determination that the location parameter identifies a physical location of a physical environment, a public key of the user, generating, based on the public key and a private key of the user, an NFT linked with the user and the physical environment, determining, in response to a determination that the device satisfies a distance threshold to an entry controller at the physical location, that the NFT and the public key are compatible with a control structure of a smart contract, and transmitting, in response to the determination that that the NFT and the public key are compatible with the control structure of the smart contract, an instruction based on the NFT to modify operation of the entry controller to permit entry to the physical location.