Secure Mobile Commerce Reader Protocol Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile commerce systems face increased risks of intercepted communications, compromising confidential user data and financial information, due to the lack of encryption in existing protocols, and the impracticality of replacing millions of deployed transponders with new encrypted ones.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that distinguishes between old and new transponders, enabling encrypted communications with new transponders while maintaining backward compatibility with old ones, using symmetric-key or asymmetric-key encryption protocols, and hybrid approaches to secure mobile commerce transactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If encryption is implemented in mobile commerce communications, then security against interception is improved, but compatibility with existing unencrypted transponders deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The reader dynamically adapts its communication mode based on the transponder type detected. The system transitions between unencrypted and encrypted communication protocols in real-time, allowing the same reader to work with both old unencrypted transponders and new encrypted transponders without requiring hardware changes or system reconfiguration
Solution Approach 2:
The communication protocol parameter (encrypted vs. unencrypted) is changed based on the transponder type. The reader detects whether a transponder is new or old and adjusts the encryption parameter accordingly, enabling seamless operation with both types while maintaining security for new transponders
2Reliability
If all transponders are replaced with new encrypted ones, then security is improved, but system complexity and deployment cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reader is designed with multi-functionality to handle both unencrypted and encrypted communication protocols. This universal capability allows the system to maintain security through encrypted communications with new transponders while continuing to support the existing large deployment of unencrypted transponders, avoiding the need for complete system replacement
3Loss of information
If encrypted communication protocol is used, then data confidentiality is improved, but communication compatibility with existing protocols deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The communication protocol is dynamically selected based on transponder type. The reader detects the transponder type and switches between unencrypted and encrypted protocols in real-time, ensuring data confidentiality for new transponders while maintaining protocol compatibility with existing unencrypted transponders
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for secure communications in a mobile commerce system having a pre-defined communications protocol. The method and system are backward compatible, providing reader configured to distinguish between a first type of transponder using an unencrypted protocol and a second type of transponder using an encrypted protocol. The reader determines the type of transponder and alters its communications protocol accordingly. The encrypted protocol provides for encrypted communications within the constraints of the existing pre-defined communications protocol.