Microcircuit Board Data Verification and Personalization

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need to verify and personalize microcircuit cards with both an identification module for a mobile telephone network and a memory module, ensuring that the data stored in these modules align with predetermined rules to prevent unauthorized configuration and ensure proper operation within electronic devices.

Innovation Solution

A method is proposed that involves verifying the data stored in the identification and memory modules of microcircuit cards by comparing them against predetermined rules, with steps to recover and record data between these modules, ensuring that the data aligns either by being identical or following a specific relationship, and an electronic device is configured to perform these verification and personalization processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If data verification between identification module and memory module is implemented, then security and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata integrityVSAvoidverification process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing verification data in both the identification module and memory module during manufacturing. This allows the verification process to simply compare pre-configured values rather than performing complex real-time validation, thus improving reliability while minimizing added complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses copying by duplicating verification data across two separate modules (identification module and memory module). This simple copy-compare mechanism ensures data integrity without requiring complex verification algorithms, resolving the contradiction between reliability improvement and complexity increase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If data verification is performed during card operation, then unauthorized configuration is prevented, but operation speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidcard initialization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

Verification data is prepared and stored in advance during manufacturing, so that during card operation only a simple comparison needs to be performed. This preliminary preparation minimizes the time required for verification during actual use while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs only the essential verification comparison without additional complex security checks. By doing just enough verification (comparing pre-stored values) rather than exhaustive validation, the system maintains security while minimizing impact on operation speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If personalization data is stored in read-only memory areas, then data integrity is improved, but flexibility for user customization decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata integrityVSAvoiduser customization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments memory into different areas: read-only areas for verification data (ensuring integrity) and potentially writable areas for user customization data. This segmentation allows simultaneous achievement of data integrity for critical verification information and flexibility for user-defined parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different memory areas have different access characteristics - verification data is stored in read-only locations to ensure integrity, while other areas may allow writing for customization. This local differentiation of memory properties resolves the contradiction between integrity and flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3961506B1Method for verifying a microcircuit board, method for customising a microcircuit board, microcircuit board and associated electronic device
Publication Date: 2024.07.24 IDEMIA FRANCE SAS
  • EP3961506B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3961506B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A microcircuit board (2) includes an identification module in a mobile telephone network (4) storing a first piece of data, and a memory module (6) storing a second piece of data. A method for verifying this microcircuit board (2) when it is housed in an electronic device (32) includes a step of verifying that the first and second pieces of data conform to a predetermined rule. Methods for personalizing the microcircuit board, the microcircuit board, and the electronic device are also described.