NFC Fare Payment Security via Terminal-to-Reader Encryption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for paying public transit fares using near field communication (NFC) require a user terminal to have a security chip, leading to high hardware costs and limiting accessibility for devices without this feature.
Innovation Solution
A method where the user terminal establishes an NFC connection with a fare-collecting device, encrypts and transmits the account ID, and the fare-collecting device decrypts and determines whether to send the account ID to a server for fare deduction, eliminating the need for a security chip on the user terminal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a security chip is installed on the user terminal to enable NFC fare payment, then payment security is improved, but hardware cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the security chip from the user terminal and relocates the security functions to the fare-collecting device. The user terminal only needs to perform encryption of the account ID, while the fare-collecting device performs decryption and verification, eliminating the need for a security chip in the user terminal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary encryption algorithm as a mediator between the user terminal and fare-collecting device. The account ID is encrypted before transmission and decrypted/verified at the fare-collecting device, providing security without requiring a security chip in the user terminal.
2Reliability
If a security chip is required on the user terminal, then fare collection security is improved, but device accessibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the security chip requirement from the user terminal, extracting the security verification function and placing it in the fare-collecting device. This allows any device with NFC capability to be used for fare payment without needing a security chip.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the fare payment system more universal by allowing any NFC-capable device to function as a fare payment terminal. The security verification is handled by the fare-collecting device, enabling widespread device compatibility while maintaining security.
3Ease of operation
If the account ID is transmitted unencrypted, then transmission simplicity is improved, but data security deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary encryption to the account ID before transmission. The user terminal encrypts the account ID using a pre-shared encryption algorithm, and the fare-collecting device decrypts and verifies it, ensuring data security while maintaining transmission simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments of the application disclose a method and apparatus for paying a fare. When a user takes a public transit means, the user terminal establishes an NFC connection with the fare-collecting device of the public transit means, the user terminal transmits the encrypted account ID of the user to the fare-collecting device, and the fare-collecting device may request a server to deduct the fare from the account of the user.