Smart Card Certificate Selection and Import Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Smart cards require complex operations and dedicated personnel to initialize additional certificate/private key pairs for new purposes, and existing systems may lose information about certificates during device upgrades, limiting their usability without manual intervention.

Innovation Solution

A computerized device enables users to select and import certificates from a smart card, verify the smart card's presence and permissions, and store hashes to ensure continued functionality even after upgrades, allowing users to perform desired operations without dedicated personnel intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If dedicated personnel use dedicated equipment to initialize certificate/private key pairs in smart cards, then security and reliability of the initialization process is improved, but device complexity and operational complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity of certificate initializationVSAvoidcomplexity of initialization process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables users to perform certificate initialization and selection operations independently through the computerized device interface. Users can select certificates from the smart card without requiring dedicated personnel or specialized equipment, making the system self-sufficient while maintaining security through automated verification processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The computerized device acts as an intermediary between the user and the smart card. It provides a user-friendly interface that automatically handles the complex certificate selection and import processes, translating simple user actions into secure certificate operations without requiring direct manual initialization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If certificates are manually imported and selected from smart card, then flexibility and adaptability for new purposes is improved, but loss of time and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility for new purposesVSAvoidtime for certificate initialization

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-configures and stores multiple certificates in the smart card during initial setup. When a user needs to use the smart card for a new purpose, the system automatically selects and imports the appropriate pre-stored certificate, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual initialization while maintaining flexibility for various purposes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides automatic feedback by detecting the smart card's presence and automatically presenting available certificates for selection. This automated feedback loop eliminates manual intervention steps and reduces the time required to prepare the system for new operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If device upgrades are performed, then system updates and improvements are achieved, but loss of information about certificates occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem updatesVSAvoidcertificate information loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a backup or protective mechanism that preserves certificate information during upgrades. By storing certificate hashes and maintaining reference links in the computerized device, the system cushions against information loss and ensures certificates remain accessible even after device upgrades

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements verification feedback during and after upgrades to confirm certificate integrity. It checks certificate hashes and provides feedback to ensure certificates were not lost or corrupted during the upgrade process, allowing users to verify certificate availability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8745395B2Enabling use of a certificate stored in a smart card

Publication Date: 2014.06.03 MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LTD

AI summary

If a smart card is to be used for a particular purpose, and there is no certificate initialized on the smart card for this purpose, a computerized device enables a user to select one of the certificates already installed in the smart card for the particular purpose. The selected certificate may be imported into the computerized device.