Electronic PIN Delivery via Physical Card Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current paper-based PIN mailers are expensive, inconvenient, and insecure, as they can be tampered with using image processing attacks and are not tamper-proof, making it difficult to ensure only the intended recipient accesses the sensitive information.
Innovation Solution
Generating an encryption key based on information from a physical banking card, encrypting a secret electronic document, and sending it to the user, who must authenticate using the physical card to receive a decryption key, thereby providing an additional security layer without requiring secure communication channels or additional software.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If paper-based PIN mailers are used to deliver secrets, then the delivery method is simple and widely accessible, but the cost increases and security is compromised due to tampering attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the physical paper-based PIN mailer with an electronic document that contains the secret. This electronic copy can be securely transmitted and viewed only by the authorized user through encryption, eliminating the security vulnerabilities of physical mailers while maintaining delivery functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical delivery system (physical mailers) with an electronic system. The secret is encoded in an electronic document that can be transmitted digitally and decrypted only by the authorized user, replacing the vulnerable physical delivery mechanism with a secure electronic one.
2Ease of manufacture
If paper-based PIN mailers are used, then the delivery process is straightforward, but the time required for delivery increases and convenience is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the physical mail delivery system with electronic transmission. The encrypted document can be sent instantly via email or other electronic channels, eliminating the time required for physical transportation and mail processing while maintaining the simplicity of the delivery process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If paper-based PIN mailers are used to deliver secrets, then the distribution method is universally accessible, but the cost of printing and postal delivery increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses electronic documents instead of physical paper mailers. The secret is encoded in a digital format that can be transmitted and viewed by authorized users without requiring physical printing or postal delivery, significantly reducing costs while maintaining universal accessibility through electronic channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical printing and postal delivery system with electronic transmission. This replacement eliminates the costs associated with printing paper mailers and postal services while maintaining the ability to deliver secrets to any user with electronic access.
4Device complexity
If paper-based PIN mailers are used, then the delivery system is simple to implement, but additional security measures are required to prevent unauthorized access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the simple but vulnerable paper-based system with an electronic system that incorporates built-in security features. The electronic document includes encryption and authentication mechanisms that automatically control access, eliminating the need for additional physical security measures while maintaining system simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
Securely providing secret information, such as PINs, to users via an encrypted electronic document is disclosed. The user might receive the encrypted electronic document as an attachment to an e-mail or might access the encrypted electronic document from a web site, as two examples. In order to open the encrypted electronic document, the user may need to provide some information that is on a physical banking card that was issued to the user. Therefore, an extra level of security is provided in that the user needs to be in possession of the physical banking card that may have been delivered by traditional mail, as well as the encrypted electronic document which is delivered via an electronic network.