Secure Card Image Encoding for Hidden Payment Indicia
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing secure cards are vulnerable to fraud due to readily visible card indicia, making them susceptible to theft and fraud, and current security measures are inconvenient for users.
Innovation Solution
A secure card with imperceptible card indicia, where sensitive information like account numbers and expiration dates are encoded within an image on the card, which can only be decoded using a user device after successful authentication, combining visible and imperceptible parts for enhanced security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If card indicia are made visible for user convenience, then ease of operation is improved, but security is worsened due to susceptibility to theft and fraud
Solution Approach 1:
The card information is segmented into two parts: visible indicia and imperceptible encoded information. The visible part provides user convenience while the encoded part contains the sensitive data needed for transactions, separating the functions of display and security
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary device (mobile device with imaging device and processor) is introduced to capture the image, process it to generate image data, and decode the card information. This intermediary layer prevents direct exposure of sensitive information while enabling authorized access
2Reliability
If card information is encoded within an image to enhance security, then security is improved, but ease of operation is worsened due to complex retrieval process
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service operation where the user's own mobile device performs the authentication, image capture, processing, and decoding functions. The card itself serves as the encoded image source, eliminating the need for additional hardware readers or complex manual processes
Solution Approach 2:
The card information is pre-encoded into the image in an imperceptible manner during card issuance. This preliminary encoding allows for rapid retrieval during transactions, as the decoding process simply needs to process the pre-prepared image data rather than generate or search for information
Data Source
AI summary
A secure card associated with an account of a cardholder is disclosed herein. The secure card includes a card face with imperceptible card indicia including at least a portion of at least one of an account number, a name, a card verification value, or an expiration date. The card face includes an image. Imperceptible card indicia are encoded within the image.