Secure Digital Content Exchange via SMS and Intermediary Server
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current document capture and retrieval systems require users to enroll in web-based services with credentials and maintain network connectivity for digital content transfer, which can be cumbersome and unreliable, especially in situations without stable wireless connections.
Innovation Solution
A method for securely exchanging digital content between a scanning appliance and a mobile device using SMS, where the content is transferred to a data storage server and accessed via a URL sent via text message, eliminating the need for credentials and network connectivity between devices, and ensuring resilient data transfer through asynchronous and temporary storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If users enroll in web-based services with credentials for document capture and retrieval, then digital content can be stored and accessed, but the process becomes cumbersome and requires maintaining network connectivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the credential verification step from the data transfer process. Instead of requiring users to login with usernames and passwords, the system uses SMS-based one-time codes that are automatically verified, removing the cumbersome credential management while maintaining security and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary SMS message system between the scanning appliance and the user's mobile device. This intermediary facilitates automatic authentication and content delivery without requiring direct network connectivity or complex credential management, simplifying the user experience while ensuring reliable data transfer
2Ease of operation
If direct network connection is required for digital content transfer, then data can be transferred between devices, but the system becomes unreliable in situations without stable wireless connections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a content delivery network (CDN) as an intermediary server that stores digital content temporarily. The scanning appliance uploads content to the CDN, which then delivers it to the user's mobile device via SMS-triggered downloads. This intermediary approach eliminates the need for direct device-to-device network connections, allowing reliable data transfer even when wireless connections are unstable or unavailable
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-uploading digital content to the CDN server before the user needs it. The content is staged on the intermediary server in advance, so when the user receives an SMS notification, the content is already available for immediate download without requiring real-time network synchronization between devices
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for exchanging digital content between a scanning appliance and a mobile device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises: transferring digital content via a network to a remotely accessible data storage server, the digital content being generated from a document; receiving, in response to user input via a first graphical user interface, a phone number; sending a first text message to a first device after validating the phone number, the first text message including a code; receiving, in response to user input via a second graphical user interface, the code being input by a user; sending a second text message to the first device, the second text message including an address of the digital content in the network; monitoring whether the digital content has been accessed; receiving a request for the digital content from the first device, the request including the address retrieved from the second text message; and sending, in response to the request, the digital content and an indication of a type of the digital content to the first device, the type information for use by a browser in determining software on the first device capable of rendering the digital content on a display of the first device.