Mobile Credential Library Automatic Hand-off

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile credentialing systems require users to manually enter lengthy authorization codes and host names, making it cumbersome to initialize and operate mobile devices for access control, especially in hotel loyalty applications, which can be inconvenient and prone to errors.

Innovation Solution

A method that sends an authorization code and host URL to a mobile credential library on a mobile device, establishing an ongoing trust relationship between the library and the credential service without user intervention, allowing automatic hand-off and enabling the mobile application to interact with access controls, thereby simplifying the initialization process and eliminating the need for users to know the authorization code or host URL.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If users manually enter authorization codes and host names to initialize mobile credentialing, then the system can establish trust relationships, but the process becomes cumbersome and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrust relationship establishmentVSAvoidinitialization process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by allowing the mobile application to automatically establish trust relationships with credential services without requiring user intervention. The application autonomously performs authentication and synchronization operations, eliminating the need for users to manually enter authorization codes and host names.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the mobile application acts as a mediator between the user and the credential service. The application handles the complex authentication and trust establishment processes in the background, translating user actions into proper service interactions without exposing users to technical complexities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the system requires users to know and enter authorization codes and host URLs, then security can be maintained, but user convenience is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile application autonomously manages security credentials by automatically obtaining and storing authorization codes and host URLs. The system performs self-service authentication where the application handles security protocols in the background, maintaining security requirements while eliminating the need for users to manually input sensitive information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If manual entry of account information is required for mobile credentialing, then authentication can be verified, but the process becomes time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication verificationVSAvoidinitialization time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring the mobile application with necessary credentials and establishing trust relationships before actual credentialing operations. The application automatically synchronizes with credential services in advance, so that when users need access, authentication is already verified and ready, eliminating time-consuming manual entry processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Device complexity

If the system uses centralized credential service deployment, then service management is simplified, but system scalability and load balancing are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice management complexityVSAvoiddeployment flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile application is designed with universal functionality to work with multiple credential service deployments across different locations and configurations. The application can automatically adapt to various service environments, enabling both centralized management and decentralized deployment scenarios without requiring different application versions or complex configuration by users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3228105B1Access control system with automatic mobile credentialing service hand-off
Publication Date: 2022.07.20 CARRIER CORP
  • EP3228105B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3228105B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3228105B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of initializing a mobile device to operate in a mobile credentialing system, the method including sending an authorization code and host URL from a hotel loyalty application to a mobile credential library of a mobile application on a mobile device, the mobile device operable to perform a first sync with a credential service to establish an ongoing trust relationship between the mobile credential library and the credential service such that the mobile application is operable to interact with an access control without the user of the mobile device knowing either an authorization code or a host location of the credential service.