Transaction Receipt Encryption for Remote Auditor Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for recording and verifying sales transactions at point of sale lack tamper-proof data recording and transmission, making it difficult for external auditors to verify accounting data, and are not easily accessible for customers to detect fraudulent activities.
Innovation Solution
A method where data about transactions, including location, time, and purchase price, is encrypted and transmitted to a registration and transmission unit, which creates an encrypted transaction log and operating log, sent to a publicly inaccessible data storage facility, allowing external verification and detection of manipulation attempts, with the identification number on the payment receipt serving as an access code for verification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If payment receipts are recorded electronically in the accounting system, then the recording process is automated and efficient, but external auditors cannot access the data remotely and must visit the merchant's premises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a registration and transmission unit as an intermediary device that bridges the gap between the point of sale and external auditors. This unit collects payment receipt data, encrypts it, and transmits it to a publicly inaccessible data storage device, enabling remote auditor access without compromising the confidentiality of accounting data stored at the merchant's premises.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates an encrypted copy of the payment receipt data that can be accessed by auditors independently of the original accounting system. The identification number on the payment receipt serves as a key to access the encrypted data, allowing auditors to verify records without accessing the merchant's internal systems.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional data transmission methods are used, then the system is simple to implement, but the data can be manipulated and tampered with
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies encryption as a parameter change to the data transmission process. The registration and transmission unit encrypts the payment receipt data using a encryption rule before transmission, transforming the data from a readable format to an encrypted format that cannot be manipulated. The decryption rule allows authorized parties to read the data while preventing tampering.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms through the operating log that records all operations of the registration and transmission unit. This log provides accountability and detection capabilities, allowing the system to monitor and detect any manipulation attempts while maintaining simple data collection processes.
3Device complexity
If no verification mechanism is implemented, then the system remains simple, but fraudulent activities cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback through the operating log that records all operations of the registration and transmission unit. This log provides accountability and detection capabilities, allowing the system to monitor and detect any manipulation attempts while maintaining simple data collection processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The registration and transmission unit acts as an intermediary that verifies the authenticity of payment receipt data before transmission. It uses the encryption rule and identification number to ensure that only valid, unmanipulated data is transmitted and stored, making fraud detection possible without complex verification systems at the point of sale.
4Speed
If payment receipt data is stored locally at the sales outlet, then access is fast and simple, but external auditors cannot verify the data remotely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data storage and access functions into two separate systems: a local storage system at the sales outlet for fast access during transactions, and a remote publicly inaccessible data storage device for auditor verification. The encryption mechanism allows both systems to function independently without performance compromise, enabling simultaneous local speed and remote verification capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for storing and checking data about transactions, in which transactions a purchase price (KP) is paid and a payment document (7) is handed over at a point of sale of a commercial enterprise (H). Data about the location, time, and purchase price of the transaction are transferred from the point of sale to a recording and transmitting unit (1) arranged at the point of sale, which creates a transaction log and an operation log on the basis of an encryption specification that identifies the recording and transmitting unit (1), and the recording and transmitting unit (1) sends the transaction log and the operation log to a publicly inaccessible data memory (5), which is accessible to a checking station (P). According to the invention, the recording and transmitting unit (1) sends the identification number (IN) to a payment document printer or a stamping device of the point of sale for output on the payment document (7), and in encrypted form - encrypted using the help of the purchase price (KP) - to a data memory (6) that can be publicly accessed by inputting an access code, wherein the access code is the identification number (IN) output on the payment document (7) together with the purchase price (KP).