Secure Mobile Device Pairing via Self-Signed Keys
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mobile card readers are often expensive, difficult to install, and do not significantly enhance the user experience, and existing systems lack secure communication capabilities between devices for efficient card transaction processing.
Innovation Solution
Establishing secure communication between mobile devices using a WiFi hotspot, where one device receives transaction details and another device processes the card swipe, enabling secure communication without an external network, and displaying targeted advertising to enhance user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional mobile card readers are used, then card transaction capability is provided, but the system becomes expensive and difficult to install
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the card transaction system into separate functional components: a card reader device that reads card information and a mobile computing device that processes transactions. These segmented components communicate wirelessly, allowing the system to be deployed without complex centralized infrastructure while maintaining full transaction capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables standard mobile computing devices (smartphones, tablets) to function as card readers through wireless communication. By making the system universal and compatible with existing consumer devices, it eliminates the need for specialized, expensive card reader hardware while maintaining reliable transaction processing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If secure communication is established between multiple mobile devices, then distributed payment processing is enabled, but communication security requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a payment service system as an intermediary that coordinates secure communication between mobile devices. This mediator manages the pairing process, verifies device identities, and oversees the secure exchange of card information, thereby enabling distributed processing while maintaining security through centralized coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary pairing and authentication steps before actual payment processing. Devices establish secure connections and exchange cryptographic keys in advance, creating a trusted environment for subsequent transactions. This preliminary security setup enables versatile distributed processing without compromising communication security.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of establishing secure communication between a first mobile computing device and a second mobile computing device includes generating a first self-signed key at the first mobile computing device, pairing the first device with a second device, the pairing including receiving user input of a passcode and after receiving the user input sending the first public key to the second mobile computing device and receiving a second public key from the second mobile computing device, storing the second public key in a database of trusted devices, the database of trusted devices being stored in the first mobile computing device, receiving in the first mobile computing device a list of mobile computing devices connected to a mobile network, matching the list of mobile computing device against the database of trusted devices, and establishing secure communication between the first mobile computing device and the second mobile computing device.