Provisioning Token for Secure Digital Document Issuance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods fail to provide digital documents and their copies in a cryptographically secure manner, particularly for mobile devices, lacking secure authorization and linkage mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A method for generating a provisioning token that cryptographically secures the issuance of digital document copies by using a signed data record with hash values and salt values, ensuring authorization and linkage to a terminal device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If digital documents are provided for mobile devices, then accessibility and convenience are improved, but cryptographic security and authorization control deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility of digital documentsVSAvoidcryptographic security
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The provisioning token is segmented into multiple components: a data record containing hashed document identifiers and salt values, and a digital signature. This segmentation allows the token to be verified without exposing the actual document content or cryptographic keys, thereby maintaining security while enabling widespread access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The provisioning token acts as an intermediary credential that mediates between the document holder and the document verification system. Instead of directly sharing documents or private keys, users exchange provisioning tokens that contain verified document references, enabling secure third-party verification without compromising cryptographic security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If digital document copies are issued to multiple users, then accessibility is improved, but control over unauthorized access deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedistribution of document copiesVSAvoidunauthorized access
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by generating provisioning tokens in advance that contain pre-verified document identifiers and cryptographic proofs. These tokens are issued with built-in authorization constraints, allowing multiple users to access documents legally while preventing unauthorized access through cryptographic verification of the token's validity and scope.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If cryptographic verification is implemented for document issuance, then security is improved, but system complexity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity of document issuanceVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The complex cryptographic verification logic is extracted from the mobile devices and centralized in the provisioning authority's servers. Mobile devices only need to store and present provisioning tokens, while the complex verification of document identifiers, hash values, and digital signatures is performed remotely by the authority, reducing device complexity while maintaining high security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4428728B1Method for generating a provisioning token for a plurality of digital document copies
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 BUNDESDRUCKEREI GMBH
  • EP4428728B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4428728B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4428728B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for generating a digital provisioning token (170) by an issuing service. The provisioning token (170) entitles the holder to receive a first combination of a plurality of digital copies (176) to be issued, a plurality of digital documents (172) to be issued, with an end device (150, 151), and to cryptographically link the digital copies (176) to be issued to the end device (150, 151) during the issuance process.The procedure includes receiving a creation request to create the provisioning token (170) via a server (100) of the issuer service, identifying the requester using one of the issued digital documents (172) or the majority of issued digital documents (172), creating the requested provisioning token (170) in the form of a signed data record (602), and sending the provisioning token (170) to the identified requester.