Offline Promotion Verification Using Local Decryption Keys
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Entertainment kiosks face delays in processing special promotions when offline due to the need for verification with a host server, which is undesirable.
Innovation Solution
A promotion verification method that records and decrypts promotion codes locally, allowing for verification and application of promotions without a connection to the host server, using stored keys and promotion information to determine validity and applicability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the kiosk connects to the host server to verify promotion codes, then the reliability of promotion verification is improved, but the transaction time increases due to network dependency and server communication delays
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by downloading and storing promotion verification data (promotion codes, keys, and metadata) in the local database before the kiosk goes offline. This allows the kiosk to verify promotions locally without real-time server connection, eliminating network delays while maintaining verification reliability through pre-cached authoritative data
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from centralized server-based verification to local distributed verification by storing promotion data and cryptographic keys locally in the kiosk's database. Each kiosk becomes an independent verification node that can validate promotions autonomously using locally stored encryption keys, eliminating the single point of delay (server communication) while maintaining verification integrity
2Productivity
If the kiosk stores promotion codes and keys locally, then the transaction speed is improved by enabling offline verification, but the device complexity increases due to local storage and decryption requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates simplified copies of the verification functionality by storing encrypted promotion data and public keys locally in the database. The kiosk uses lightweight decryption operations with stored keys rather than full server communication protocols, reducing computational complexity while enabling fast offline verification. The complex cryptographic verification logic is replaced by simple local decryption and comparison operations
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts only the essential verification elements (promotion codes, encryption keys, and validity metadata) from the complex server verification system and stores them locally. This extraction eliminates the need for complex real-time server communication protocols and database queries, leaving only simple local decryption and validation operations that significantly reduce system complexity while maintaining verification capability
3Loss of time
If the kiosk operates offline without server connection, then the loss of time is reduced by eliminating network delays, but the reliability of promotion verification deteriorates due to inability to verify code validity
Solution Approach 1:
Before going offline, the kiosk performs preliminary synchronization with the server to download and store authoritative promotion data, including valid promotion codes, encryption keys, and metadata (expiration dates, applicable items). This pre-cached data enables reliable offline verification without network delays, as the kiosk possesses verified reference data locally for comparison against presented promotion codes
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements local feedback mechanisms by storing cryptographic keys and validation rules in the database alongside promotion data. The kiosk can independently verify promotion codes against stored keys and check validity criteria (expiration, applicability) using locally stored metadata, creating a self-contained verification loop that maintains reliability without external server feedback during offline operation
Data Source
AI summary
A promotion verification method which is based upon locally stored information. The promotion verification method includes recording entry of a promotion code by a computer, determining a key from the promotion code by the computer, and applying the key to obtain promotion information associated with the promotion code by the computer.