Mutual Authentication for Secure Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Secure containers located in unsecure public locations face risks of fraudulent access due to lack of assurance that the container is properly managed by the intended entity, leading to transaction security threats and increased business costs for maintaining physical locations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a computer-implemented method and system for mutual authentication between a user and the container administrator, using a mobile device to verify user identity and authenticate the container administrator, ensuring that both parties are who they claim to be before granting access to the secure container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If containers are placed in unsecure public locations for accessibility, then ease of operation is improved, but security reliability deteriorates due to fraudulent access risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a container administrator computer system as an intermediary between the user and the secure container. This mediator performs mutual authentication with the user's mobile device, verifying both the user's identity and the container's legitimacy before granting access. This intermediary layer enables secure transactions in public locations without requiring physical security infrastructure.
2Reliability
If physical security measures are implemented to protect containers in public locations, then security reliability is improved, but device complexity and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical security infrastructure (locks, guards, secure facilities) with an electronic authentication system. The container administrator computer system uses digital authentication factors and mutual authentication protocols to provide security, eliminating the need for complex physical security measures while maintaining or improving security reliability.
3Device complexity
If traditional authentication methods are used without mutual verification, then device complexity is reduced, but security reliability deteriorates due to inability to verify container legitimacy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the container administrator computer system receives authentication information from the user's mobile device, verifies it against stored reference authentication factors, and then provides feedback by sending authentication factors back to the mobile device for mutual verification. This two-way feedback loop ensures both parties are authenticated, preventing fraud while maintaining manageable system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for mutual authentication of a user and a container administrator computer system. A container administrator computer system receives a request from a mobile computing device for a user to access a secure container. The request includes a user identifier. The administrator system receives a first authentication factor corresponding to the user. The administrator system authenticates the user by verifying that the first authentication factor matches a first reference authentication factor associated with the user identifier. The administrator system sends a second authentication factor associated with the administrator system to a human-machine interface associated with the secure container or the mobile computing device. The administrator system receives a notification of authentication of the administrator system using the authentication factor. The administrator system transmits an unlock signal to unlock the secure container.