Offline Encryption Key Distribution Using Single-Use Payment Tokens
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional payment processors experience service interruptions due to technical issues or network connectivity problems, leading to temporary unavailability of encryption keys and preventing online merchants from accepting payments, resulting in lost sales and customer frustration.
Innovation Solution
A system that enables offline distribution of encryption keys using a payment processor, allowing transactions to proceed even when the server is offline by generating and using Single-use Tokens that represent payment information without exposing the server to sensitive data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the payment processor server is always online to provide encryption keys, then payment processing availability is improved, but service interruptions still occur causing loss of payment capability
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by generating and distributing Single-use Tokens to merchant servers before the payment processor goes offline. These tokens are created in advance and stored locally, enabling merchants to continue processing payments even when the payment processor server is unavailable. This pre-distribution of cryptographic materials ensures payment capability persists during service interruptions.
2Productivity
If encryption keys are distributed offline to merchant servers, then payment processing continues during server downtime, but security risks increase from local key storage
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses Single-use Tokens that are ephemeral and designed for one-time use only. Each token is generated, distributed to the merchant server, used for a specific payment transaction, and then becomes invalid. This disposable nature means that even if a token is compromised or stolen, it cannot be reused, and the merchant server never stores long-term cryptographic keys. The short-living characteristic ensures that tokens expire quickly, minimizing the window of security exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The Single-use Token acts as an intermediary between the payment processor server and the merchant server. Instead of the merchant server directly storing or handling sensitive cryptographic keys from the payment processor, the token serves as a secure proxy that enables offline payment processing without exposing the merchant server to direct key management risks. The token mediates the cryptographic operations, allowing the merchant to process payments offline while the payment processor retains control over the actual key materials.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the payment processor server remains offline, then security is improved by reducing attack surface, but payment processing capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by distributing Single-use Tokens to merchant servers before the payment processor goes offline. These tokens are created in advance and stored locally, enabling merchants to continue processing payments even when the payment processor server is unavailable. This pre-distribution of cryptographic materials ensures payment capability persists during service interruptions while the server remains offline and secure.
Data Source
AI summary
The subject technology enables encryption key distribution when a processor is in offline mode. When offline, key distribution servers can distribute private/public key pairs in place of the processor. The servers can distribute a public key to a user device for encryption of data. The encrypted data can be provided to the processor, which can return a token in response to provide to the first server.