NFC Integrated Circuit Authentication Logic

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Solution Overview

Problem

NFC-SEC technology lacks mutual authentication between devices, allowing unauthorized users to exchange shared secret information for encrypted communication, compromising security in near field wireless communication systems.

Innovation Solution

An integrated circuit and communication method that determines authentication information based on the history of non-contact communication with another apparatus before executing encrypted communication, ensuring secure mutual authentication through the generation of authentication information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If NFC-SEC technology is used to enable encrypted communication, then communication security is improved, but vulnerability to unauthorized access increases due to lack of mutual authentication

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication securityVSAvoidunauthorized access

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing mutual authentication between devices before establishing encrypted communication. The authentication information is generated and verified in advance, ensuring that only authorized devices can exchange shared secret information. This prevents unauthorized users from intercepting or compromising the encryption key establishment process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces authentication information as an intermediary mechanism that mediates between devices before encrypted communication begins. This intermediary authentication step verifies device identities and ensures that both parties are authorized to communicate, thereby preventing unauthorized access while maintaining communication security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If mutual authentication is implemented, then security against unauthorized access is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunauthorized access preventionVSAvoidauthentication mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of authentication by using authentication information that is generated dynamically based on device identities and communication context. Rather than implementing complex cryptographic protocols, the system uses simplified authentication parameters that can be verified through basic comparison operations, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10694378B2Integrated circuit, communication method, computer program, and communication apparatus

Publication Date: 2020.06.23 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

There is provided an integrated circuit capable of performing more secure encrypted communication using near field non-contact wireless communication. The integrated circuit including a communication processing section configured to communicate with another apparatus through non-contact communication, and an encryption information generation section configured to make a determination on generation of authentication information used to mutually authenticate the other apparatus in performing non-contact communication with the other apparatus depending on presence or absence of a history of non-contact communication with the other apparatus, before the communication processing section executes communication of encrypted information with the other apparatus. The integrated circuit allows more secure near field non-contact wireless communication to be performed.