Security Controller Authentication via Current Consumption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing security controllers in chip cards, such as SIM cards, are difficult to authenticate due to the inability to detect emulated or replicated analog signals, requiring significant overhead in terminal reconstruction and evaluation, which is resource-intensive and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a current consumer in the electric circuit that can be activated by the terminal to cause predictable additional current consumption, allowing the terminal to determine authenticity without requiring analog signal transmission or extensive external circuitry, leveraging existing current measuring capabilities in terminals like card readers or mobile phones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If analog signal output circuit elements are added to security controllers for authentication, then detection of genuineness is improved, but device complexity and terminal reconstruction overhead increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the authentication function from complex analog signal transmission and isolates it to a simple current consumer component within the security controller. This current consumer can be activated to produce a recognizable current consumption pattern, eliminating the need for complex analog signal evaluation circuits in terminals while maintaining authentication capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical analog signal transmission system with an electrical current consumption measurement system. Instead of using analog signals that require complex evaluation, the system uses current consumption patterns that can be detected by simple current measuring circuits already present in terminals, thus reducing device complexity.
2Reliability
If analog signal evaluation circuits are implemented in terminals to test security controllers, then authentication capability is improved, but productivity and operational efficiency decrease due to intensive processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes complex analog signal evaluation with simple current consumption measurement. Terminals already possess current measuring capabilities that can be utilized for authentication without requiring intensive processing or specialized evaluation circuits, thereby maintaining high operational efficiency while providing robust authentication.
Solution Approach 2:
The security controller itself provides the authentication signal through its current consumption pattern during normal operation. The current consumer component naturally produces a recognizable signature when activated, eliminating the need for separate evaluation circuits in terminals. The system uses existing operational characteristics for authentication rather than requiring additional intensive processing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If emulated security controllers are designed to perform logical operations according to specification, then compatibility is improved, but detection of emulation becomes impossible without additional hardware overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a localized current consumption characteristic specific to the genuine security controller through the current consumer component. This local quality feature (recognizable current consumption pattern) is embedded in the genuine controller but absent in emulated versions, allowing differentiation without affecting the overall logical compatibility and operational functionality of the security controller.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables efficient authentication of security controllers by detecting additional current consumption, preventing unauthorized operations and ensuring security without the need for extensive terminal reconstruction or analog signal evaluation, thus enhancing the security and efficiency of communication between terminals and electric circuits.
Implementation Method 1
a current consumer, which can be activated by the terminal to cause additional current consumption to a current consumption of the operation unit
Data Source
AI summary
In a system, there is communication between an electric circuit and a terminal within a scope of a terminal session, wherein the electric circuit has a current consumer for causing additional current consumption, and the terminal has a current consumption meter detecting the current consumption of the electric circuit and coupled to a checker checking authenticity of the electric circuit if the current consumption of the electric circuit has additional current consumption.