PIN-Embedded Card Encryption via Segmented Symbol Masking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for protecting personal information on credit cards and documents are inadequate, as they fail to prevent unauthorized access and use of sensitive data, leading to security issues when these documents fall into the wrong hands.
Innovation Solution
An encryption method that replaces select elements of account and identification constructs on cards and documents with special symbols, where these symbols represent the associated PIN, ensuring only the PIN holder can complete the construct for secure transactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the entire account number is displayed on credit cards and documents, then ease of operation is improved, but security is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The account number is segmented into visible portion and hidden portion (represented by X symbols). The visible portion allows basic identification while the hidden portion containing PIN digits remains protected. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing partial visibility for operational convenience while maintaining security through concealed critical digits.
Solution Approach 2:
X symbols serve as intermediaries that mask the hidden portion of the account number. These symbols act as a visual barrier that prevents unauthorized viewing while allowing the user to understand the structure and length of the account number. The intermediary maintains both security (by hiding PIN digits) and operational ease (by showing the overall format).
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the entire account number is blocked with special symbols, then security is improved, but ease of operation is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of blocking the entire account number, only the critical PIN-containing portion is segmented and hidden with X symbols. This selective segmentation maintains security for the most sensitive digits while preserving usability by leaving the rest of the account number visible for reference and entry.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the account number have different visibility qualities. The beginning and ending digits are visible while the middle portion containing the PIN is hidden. This local differentiation of quality (visibility) optimizes both security (hiding critical information) and usability (showing sufficient information for operation).
Data Source
AI summary
An encryption method to protect the identification and account constructs displayed on cards, like identification cards and credit cards, or on paper medium like hospital or bank statements, where these constructs are comprised of numbers, and/or characters, and/or symbols and where the encryption method works by replacing some of the elements comprising the account construct with a special symbol(s) to avoid revealing the entire construct to unauthorized people and where the numbers and/or characters replaced by the special symbol(s) represent the personal identification number (PIN) associated with the construct. The method is designed to be utilized by issuers of cards like hospitals, governments and banks, and used as a process to protect the cardholder account information or account statements on paper medium. To provide the entire construct, the user simply replaces the special symbol(s) with his PIN. Without the PIN, a person will not be able to complete the construct.