POS Secure Enclave for Third-Party Interoperability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Point of sale/payment terminals have limitations in computer processor resources and cybersecurity, restricting their ability to interoperate securely with external systems and provide enhanced functionalities like loyalty rewards programs.

Innovation Solution

Adapting point of sale computing devices to interoperate with third party remote servers through application programming interfaces, using a data communications protocol for secure network connections, and implementing cryptographic keys for secure communications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If point of sale terminals are designed with limited computing resources for cost-effective deployment, then ease of manufacture and deployment are improved, but device complexity and interoperability capability worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecost-effective deploymentVSAvoidinteroperability capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a secure enclave as an intermediary component that mediates between the limited local processing capabilities of POS terminals and the requirements for complex external system interoperability. The secure enclave handles cryptographic operations and secure communication protocols, allowing the main terminal processor to remain simple while still supporting sophisticated external integrations through the enclave's protective interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical/software processing operations with cryptographic operations handled by dedicated secure hardware enclaves. Instead of requiring the main terminal processor to perform complex security functions, the system uses hardware-based cryptographic accelerators and secure bootloaders that automatically handle authentication and data protection, freeing the main processor to focus on simple transaction processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If point of sale terminals have limited interface capabilities for security reasons, then cybersecurity is improved, but ease of operation and functionality worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecybersecurityVSAvoidinterface capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the terminal system into distinct functional zones: a secure enclave for cryptographic operations and data storage, a secure application layer for authenticated processing, and an untrusted user interface layer. This segmentation allows the interface to remain simple and secure by separating user interaction from sensitive processing, where only authenticated and encrypted data flows between layers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements secure bootloading and trusted execution environments that establish cryptographic trust relationships before any user interaction occurs. The system performs security initialization and credential verification during boot-up, cushioning against potential attacks before they can affect operation. This beforehand security setup allows the interface to operate simply without compromising security during normal use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Device complexity

If point of sale terminals are designed as standalone devices for processing payment, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to external systems and services worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem architectureVSAvoidexternal system integration

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal secure communication interface within the enclave that can handle multiple external system integrations through standardized cryptographic protocols. The secure enclave provides a universal trust anchor and communication framework that works with various external services (payment processors, loyalty programs, inventory systems) without requiring different hardware architectures, allowing a simple terminal design to support diverse external integrations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250094980A1Systems and methods for data process integration

Publication Date: 2025.03.20 ROYAL BANK OF CANADA

AI summary

An improved approach is proposed for data process integration using point of sale computing devices where the point of sale devices are adapted to interoperate with third party remote servers hosting third party remote databases through application programming interfaces exposed as between the point of sale devices and access to the third party remote servers. A data communications protocol is proposed for establishing secure network connections for the flow of secure messaging between the point of sale devices and the third party remote servers. Latency-based communication channels and asynchronous processing are proposed based on cybersecurity sensitivity levels of specific communication flows.