MultiPayHSM Module for Payment API Translation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Payment application developers face challenges when switching from one payment Hardware Security Module (HSM) vendor to another, as they need to adapt their applications to different vendor-specific APIs, leading to development and testing costs, as well as potential errors.

Innovation Solution

A multiPayHSM module that transforms input requests and responses between different HSM APIs, allowing applications to seamlessly switch between HSM vendors without changes, using application-communications and HSM-communications converters to decode and encode data in a common format, enabling communication between applications and HSMs with different APIs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If developers adapt their applications to different vendor-specific HSM APIs when switching vendors, then the application can communicate with the new HSM vendor, but development and testing costs increase and potential errors occur

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAbility to switch between HSM vendorsVSAvoidDevelopment and testing effort

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary translation layer (multiPayHSM module) that sits between the application and multiple HSM vendors. This module translates requests from a common API format to vendor-specific API formats, allowing the application to switch vendors without modification. The intermediary absorbs the complexity of multiple vendor APIs, preventing this complexity from propagating to the application layer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The multiPayHSM module is designed to support multiple HSM vendors through a single unified interface. By implementing vendor-specific adapters within the module while maintaining a common API, the system achieves multi-functionality where one application can work with multiple HSM vendors without needing separate integration code for each vendor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If developers integrate their application with a specific HSM vendor's API, then the application can communicate with that HSM, but switching to a different HSM vendor requires application changes

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveCommunication with HSMVSAvoidAbility to switch HSM vendors

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The translation layer acts as a mediator that decouples the application from vendor-specific implementations. The application communicates with the common API, and the intermediary handles the vendor-specific protocol details, allowing seamless vendor switching without application changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the integration complexity into two distinct layers: a simple common API layer that the application interacts with, and a complex vendor-specific adapter layer that handles protocol translation. This segmentation isolates the switching complexity to the adapter layer, protecting the application from vendor changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If a single HSM vendor is used, then the application integration is straightforward, but flexibility and ability to switch vendors is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveApplication integration simplicityVSAvoidVendor switching capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The multiPayHSM module implements a universal interface that works with multiple HSM vendors. The common API provides consistent functionality across different vendors, while the internal adapter system handles vendor-specific variations, achieving both simplicity and versatility simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The translation layer serves as a mediator that preserves integration simplicity for the application while enabling vendor flexibility. By absorbing the complexity of multiple vendor protocols within the intermediary, the application maintains simple integration while the system gains adaptability to different vendors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20240338684A1System and Method for Payment Hardware System Module (HSM) Communications

Publication Date: 2024.10.10 MARVELL ASIA PTE LTD

AI summary

A system and corresponding method enable payment hardware system module (HSM) communications. The system comprises a multiPayHSM module that transforms an input request, sourced by an application, into a transformed request interpretable by a target payment HSM. The application is integrated, currently, with a current payment HSM that is different from the target payment HSM. The input request is uninterpretable by the target payment HSM. The multiPayHSM module transmits the transformed request to the target payment HSM for processing. The system enables the application, integrated with the different payment HSM, to