MaaS Roaming Identity Using Decentralized Credentials for Privacy

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing MaaS solutions lack privacy protection for passenger data during roaming mobility services, particularly when using centralized identifiers that may compromise personal information across different jurisdictions.

Innovation Solution

Implement a decentralized identifier (DID) based system to manage passenger credentials, using a decentralized ledger like Hyperledger Indy, ensuring privacy and reducing the need for centralized authorities, and enabling secure mobility service access across different providers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a centralized identifier system is used for managing passenger data in MaaS, then service coordination and booking efficiency are improved, but passenger privacy and data security are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice booking efficiencyVSAvoidprivacy risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a decentralized identifier (DID) as an intermediary that mediates between passenger privacy requirements and service coordination needs. The DID system acts as a mediator that enables service providers to verify passenger eligibility without accessing sensitive personal information, thus maintaining privacy while ensuring service coordination efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts sensitive personal information from the identifier system itself. Instead of using centralized identifiers that contain personal data, the system separates the identification function from personal information storage. The DID contains only cryptographic keys and identifiers, while personal data remains encrypted and stored separately, eliminating the privacy risk associated with centralized identifier systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If decentralized identifiers are implemented for passenger credentials, then privacy protection is enhanced, but system complexity and implementation difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprivacy protectionVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal DID system that can be used across multiple MaaS providers and different mobility services (public transport, ride-sharing, car-sharing, etc.). This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate identity management systems, reducing overall system complexity despite the advanced cryptography involved.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The DID system enables passengers to self-manage their credentials and control access to their information without requiring centralized authority intervention. This self-service capability simplifies the operational complexity by eliminating the need for centralized identifier management infrastructure, even though the cryptographic backend is sophisticated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If passenger profiles are shared across multiple mobility service providers, then service accessibility and convenience are improved, but data security risks and compliance difficulties increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice accessibilityVSAvoiddata security

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by allowing different levels of information disclosure to different service providers based on specific service requirements. Each provider receives only the minimum necessary information verified through DID credentials, rather than universal full-profile sharing. This selective information disclosure maintains security while enabling service accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary verification of passenger credentials and eligibility before service access is granted. The DID credentials are pre-validated against service requirements, and only authorized information is made available to providers in advance. This preliminary action ensures data security is maintained while enabling seamless service accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12518265B2Communication network, communication network node, user equipment, and method for providing mobility as a service

Publication Date: 2026.01.06 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

The present disclosure generally pertains to a communication network for providing a distributed ledger having a plurality of network nodes comprising circuitry configured to: provide a passenger profile of a passenger to a roaming mobility service provider in response to a booking request, wherein the passenger profile is provided from a home mobility service provider; and provide passenger information based on the passenger profile to a transport operator for allowing a passenger to use a mobility service of the roaming mobility service provider.