Smartphone Camera Ticket Validation via Image Decryption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Public transport network operators face high costs and dependency on third-party service providers when issuing rechargeable contactless cards for public transport tickets, and existing smartphone-based solutions using NFC have limited user adoption and require constant communication, which is unreliable in areas with poor electromagnetic wave propagation.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a mobile terminal with a camera and wireless communication to capture and decrypt an image of a unique access control point identifier, establishing a wireless connection for ticket validation, and updating and checking the validity of a transport ticket stored on the terminal, allowing for decentralized ticket management and independence from specific service providers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rechargeable contactless cards are used as transport ticket media, then ticket validation reliability is improved, but operator cost and user dependency on specific media increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by enabling smartphones to function as transport ticket media using existing cameras and processors, eliminating the need for specialized rechargeable cards. The mobile terminal's camera captures images, decrypts data, and validates tickets using standard components already present in smartphones, making the system universally applicable without requiring users to carry or manage specific ticket media.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by transferring the ticket validation functionality from specialized media to the mobile terminal's existing camera and processor. The camera captures an image of the ticket data, which is then decrypted and validated by the mobile terminal's processor, effectively copying the ticket verification process to a more accessible and versatile platform.
2Ease of operation
If NFC technology is used for smartphone-based ticketing, then contactless ticket validation is improved, but user adoption is limited due to few smartphones equipped with NFC chips
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves universality by utilizing the camera and processor, which are standard components in virtually all smartphones. This approach eliminates the need for NFC chips or other specialized hardware, making the ticketing system compatible with all smartphones regardless of whether they have NFC capability, thereby dramatically increasing adaptability and user adoption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical/electronic NFC communication system with an optical system using the camera to capture ticket images. This replacement allows ticket validation to occur through image capture and cryptographic verification rather than requiring close-proximity electromagnetic communication, expanding compatibility to all devices with cameras.
3Measurement precision
If permanent communication between smartphone and central server is required, then ticket validity checking is improved, but system reliability deteriorates in areas with poor electromagnetic wave propagation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-loading encrypted ticket data and validation algorithms into the mobile terminal before travel. The smartphone captures the ticket image, decrypts it locally using pre-installed cryptographic keys, and validates the ticket offline without requiring real-time communication with the central server. This ensures ticket validation reliability in areas with poor electromagnetic wave propagation while maintaining accuracy through pre-configured security protocols.
Data Source
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AI summary
The method comprises the following steps: presentation of a mobile terminal (30) to an access control point (14), capture of an image (24) carried by the access control point (14), and representative of an encoded item of computer data, by means of a camera (36) of the terminal (30), and decryption, by the terminal (30), of the image (24) captured by the camera (36), so as to deduce therefrom the encoded item of computer data, which is a unique identifier of the access control point (14), establishment of a wireless connection (22) between the mobile terminal (30) and the access control point (14), by the mobile terminal (30), by means of the unique identifier of the access control point (14) decrypted, transmission to the access control point (14), by the mobile terminal (30), of an entitlement for access to the reserve zone, which entitlement is stored in its memory (38), via the wireless connection (22), and control of the validity of the data of said access entitlement by the access control point (14).