Privacy Preserving Authentication With Physical Biometric Proof
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital authentication methods face challenges in balancing privacy preservation with the need to verify identities securely, as they often require the presentation of government-issued IDs, which can lead to privacy violations and profiling, especially in digital environments.
Innovation Solution
An integrated smart entity combining a visual indicator and a persistent memory with a unique picture identifier, where the visual indicator and memory are physically inseparable, allowing for secure authentication without disclosing additional private information, using near-field communication and zero-knowledge proof protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If government-issued ID is presented for authentication, then identity verification reliability is improved, but privacy protection deteriorates due to disclosure of personal details and enablement of profiling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the authentication process into two independent parts: a physical component (visual indicator on ID card) and a digital component (picture identifier in memory). This segmentation allows the system to verify identity through the physical-digital binding without requiring disclosure of additional personal information, thus maintaining privacy while ensuring reliable authentication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a picture identifier as an intermediary element that links the visual indicator on the ID card to the digital credential. This intermediary enables the system to establish a binding between physical and digital identities without directly comparing personal details or requiring disclosure of private information, thereby protecting privacy while maintaining verification reliability.
2Reliability
If picture of holder is embedded in credential and verified by verifier, then authentication security is improved, but privacy protection deteriorates because pictures are sent to verifiers enabling data collection and profiling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the picture comparison function from the digital verification process and places it in the physical domain. The visual indicator on the ID card is compared with the holder's picture in the physical world, eliminating the need to transmit digital pictures to verifiers. This extraction maintains authentication security while preventing privacy violations through digital data collection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a visual indicator on the ID card as a copy or representation of the holder's picture that can be compared physically without requiring the original digital picture to be transmitted. This copying approach allows verification without creating a digital trail of personal images, thus maintaining security while protecting privacy.
3Ease of operation
If digital credential is used for authentication, then ease of operation is improved, but privacy protection deteriorates due to data collection and correlation of attributes over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the physical ID card with digital credential capabilities by embedding a visual indicator and picture identifier in a single integrated entity. This combination allows users to authenticate using their existing physical ID while gaining digital verification benefits, maintaining ease of operation without requiring separate digital identification systems that would enable comprehensive data collection.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method for privacy preserving authentication augmented with physical biometric proof is disclosed. The computer-implemented method comprises providing an integrated smart entity comprising both, a visual indicator of a physical entity and a persistent memory storing picture identifier data. The visual indicator and the persistent memory are physically inseparable. The computer-implemented method further comprises comparing the visual indicator and a related feature of the physical entity to be authenticated, receiving an output value of a function having the picture identifier data as argument and a verifiable credential. Upon determining that the output value of the function and the received verifiable credential are satisfy a matching predicate, confirming the verifiable credential.